The USSF E-License Coaching Course that was held at the Smith River Sports Complex on the weekend of July 23-25 proved to be a huge success, despite the sweltering 100+ degree heat that the class of 14 was forced to endure. Course instructor Kate Samsot of DC Stoddert Soccer managed a class of students that had experience in coaching that ranged from the college level all the way to the u-4 level, and she was able to pull the best from them throughout the 18 hour course.

The PYSL was proud to graduate more than 10 of its coaches from the program at the end of the weekend, a feat which PYSL Director of Coaching Enda Crehan finds outstanding. "The level of coaching within our program is really spiking, and much of it can be credited to these coaching courses," Crehan said, "The improved training sessions in the youth levels that will result from these courses will translate into improved players as they grow older...I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see more college scholarships being thrown into our area over the next few decades or so."

Samsot, who made the trip to Martinsville from the Richmond area for the weekend, was impressed with the resilience of the coaches through the scorching temperature. "I hope many of you go on to earn your ’D’ [level certificate]...and maybe have a few of you up here teaching in the future," she said to the class during her concluding talks at the end of the course.

The PYSL is now proud to claim more than 25 USSF Certified Coaches within its program, placing it among the leaders for certified coaches per capita in the area. When asked to comment on this, an enthusiastic Crehan just said, "Let’s keep rollin’ baby!"

The Graduating Class

Instructor Kate Samsot addresses the class prior to a demonstration.                         Instructor Kate Samsot and Daryl Perdue demonstrate
                                                                                                                                       for the rest of the coaches