We heard from Alex Davis on nominating his soccer coach for the Play It Forward Coach of the Year contest, and read his 3rd place winning entry here.  Now we get a chance to here from Coach Madison himself, the man behind the entry!

Name:  Mark Madison
Years as a coach: Current School, 8  
Favorite sport: Soccer
Hometown: Paducah, KY
Alma mater: Murray State University
 
Fave sports moment from your life:
Playing in the Final Four in the Kentucky High School State Soccer Tourney (1993)
 
Who were your role models growing up?
Mark Spivey – High School Soccer Coach
Stan Lafferty – Then my girlfriend’s father.  Now my father in law until his passing in August of this year.  The greatest man I have ever known.  These men made me who I am today.  Without question, I owe them more than I could ever repay.
 
Were you surprised that Alex nominated you?
Very surprised.  Not something I would ever have thought I deserved or earned. 

He titled it: The man, the myth, the legend.  Is it hard to live up to that?

 Hahahaha.  I think it’s a bit of an overstatement.  We have worked to set high expectations in this program.  I suppose I have to remember that it works both ways.   

Two years after coming to coach at Heath High School, you took the team to the State Championships.  How did you do that?

Well, our third year we were into the State Tourney.  We made it as far as the final eight that year.  Of course, you have to remember that Kentucky Soccer is not classed in Soccer.  So regardless of size you have to play through all the teams in Kentucky.  Our average enrollment at Heath is 650.  The average team we play against is closer to 1000.  The tournament in this state is huge.  So making that the third year was a great accomplishment.

The truth is that Heath always had the talent, they just needed a few of the missing parts.  It took about two years to get the kids to believe in my system of play and philosophy.  Once that was accomplished, the program flourished.  It was a matter of players adapting to a completely different methodology and focus.  We became a team, not just 11 players on the pitch.  Once the boys were together on and off the field, the rest fell into place.  They had to become family, similar to brothers.  And this made the difference.
 
Alex talks about how you get the team to solve their own internal problems. What does that mean? How do you encourage them to do that?
Just like a family, the team will always have internal conflict.  They will argue, they will disagree.  And this has to be addressed up front, as a team.  If two of my players have a problem, it involves the whole team.  Often I will have both players together and I will mediate between the two.  And at times, a solution doesn’t occur immediately.  And I believe this reflects real life.  They learn very quickly that for the betterment of the team they have to set their disagreements aside. And more times than not, this brings about resolution gradually.  I don’t expect my players to hug and make up immediately, but I do expect them to respect the team as a whole and work together to succeed.  This cannot be accomplished with internal conflict.

What was the journey like for the kids that went from your program to play college soccer?
The adjustment can sometimes be eye-opening.  Most of the players have never experienced the demands of a college level program.  In high school, soccer is played for the school, for pride, among other things.  In college, the game becomes somewhat of a career, especially for those athletes on scholarship.   The hours are longer, the pressure is greater, and the expectations rise.  It typically takes the athlete a few weeks to adjust, but once they settle in to the new routine they typically flourish.

What's one of the biggest challenges facing coaches today?
Bureaucratic nonsense.  I believe that covers the majority of problems. 

What's the best thing about your job?
As a coach who teaches in my high school, I get to interact with my players on a daily basis.  I cannot stress the importance and difference this makes.
 
Any advice to young soccer players? Or to new soccer coaches?
Young players have to start differently than I did.  The philosophy of development and progression has to change in America.  Players need to develop gradually and with those of the same skill level.  Not by age.  If you can play with the bigger kids, then move on.  There is no reason to stay stagnate if you have bypassed those that are your own age.

For the younger kids, don’t just go to a field and shoot at a goal.  That really doesn’t help anything.  Scoring makes up very little of the game of soccer.  It’s more about the skill of the player.  The ability to control the ball, see passing options, develop the play.  It doesn’t take a soccer God to place a ball inside of a soccer net.  But it takes a solid player to develop the opportunity for others or themselves to score.

To new coaches, take your time.  Programs and players will not develop overnight.  Find a good coach and model what works for them.  Don’t be afraid to admit when you’re wrong or something doesn’t work.  Your players will respect you more if you can admit your own mistakes.
 

It's 8am on Saturday.  You are:
A) in your jammies eating cereal watching cartoons.
B) on the field, kickin a soccer ball.  Sun's up, your up.
C) reviewing tapes of famous soccer games.
--> D) sleeping! C'mon, it’s Saturday! 

(If it’s during the off season.  During season I’m probably at a match or tourney.)

Bobby Knight of John Wooden?
Bobby Knight, one of my all time favorites

Coffee or tea?

Neither, Diet Coke

Defense or offense?

Offense

Disco or country?
I hate both

Crabapples or sourgrass?
Crabapples

Carpe diem or look before you leap?
Carpe Diem

Thanks Coach Madison!  Congratulations on your 3rd place win and have fun in D.C.!