Sun Prairie Soccer Club

I was born in Casablanca, Morocco. I am married, with four children and two grand children.

I came to USA in 1981; I spent seven years studying in UW Madison, as undergraduate and graduate student.  I lived in Madison, WI from 1981 - 1994; Yuma, AZ from 1994 - 1996, and San Diego and Los Angles, CA from 1997-2003, then I came back to Madison in 2003.

After spending few years as a kid learning soccer in the street, I started playing club soccer at the age of 10 years old with one of the best team in Morocco (Raja de Casablanca). At age seventeen, I had a chance to play in the premier team at the professional level with another club in Casablanca. I left soccer, after receiving an academic scholarship from the government of Morocco to go study in France. Few years later while I was visiting my cousin in Germany, I played few games with amateur clubs. One day a recruiter approached me. Thereafter, he introduced me as a soccer player to a first division team FC KOLN soccer club. I had a great opportunity to play for the richest soccer club in Germany at that time, but the death of my father at the age of 55 years old made me gave up the one lifetime opportunity. I decided to go back home to be with my family. At that time, to be next to my mother was more important to me than soccer.
I did have a chance to go back to Germany once more to play soccer, but it happened at the semi professional level. However, it was a great soccer learning experience.
When I came to Madison in 1981, I met a friend who introduced me to a soccer team. First, the club’s name was Dynamos, and then it changed name to Amira and at the end to Blackhawk. I played with same team more than 10 years in the premier and major divisions, before I moved to AZ.
 

My first coaching experience started as a head coach with Deforest HS for boys and girls. After developing their program, I moved on to be a head coach for East HS boys. There I coached for three years. When I was In AZ, I spent few years coaching U16 and U17 boys.
When I came back to Madison in 2004, I spent few years with MYSC, and few more years with Madison FC and the last couple of years with the GDU, before I came to SPSC.

I referee soccer since early 80’s, first as college and USSF referee.  Now I do few games a year as WIAA referee.

The players give more back to me than I can ever give to them.  To see that first goal, that first assist, the first spark of confidence and leadership...that's what it's all about. It’s more than a game of soccer – it is developing character and integrity while teaching strong, creative fundamental soccer.

Every player has a hidden strength be it physical or mental. Give all the kids a chance, be patient, nurture each player, they will all blossom at different times so never give up on them. Some rise quickly, some rise slowly, but all will rise up at some time.

Small sided games, fundamentals, always the fundamentals, you have two feet and you WILL use both of them. Strength of individual skills makes for a strong team.

2 practices per week, SPSC varsity summer camp, motivation to work on the oftentimes boring fundamentals. Respect the game, the coaches, the referees, and remember that the first priority is to have fun

I enjoy working with kids.  When my oldest son started playing sports I realized that I came to all the practices and games anyway, so why not coach as well?  The connections I have made over the years with the athletes and their families have been very rewarding.

Player development will be our primary focus, even if it comes at the expense of wins and losses.  We will strive to be as competitive as possible; however, competitiveness in games will come as a result of the players' hard work and determination rather than a win-at-all-costs attitude.  I would like to see these kids develop to the point where they are playing state-level soccer.

Unlike most soccer coaches I came into the game a bit later in life, when my boys started playing.  In the past eight years I have learned the game, attended clinics and most recently been fortunate enough to work closely with one of the better soccer minds in Sun Prairie.  Players will work hard in practice and will understand what is needed to become better at soccer.  Players will not be locked into a certain position, but may see a significant amount of time at a position they are best suited.

Make soccer a priority.  I understand that most kids play multiple sports and it is possible to do so when the player and his family make the commitment.  Players should attend two practices a week during each season.  Additionally, the player is encouraged to maintain and improve his skill set by putting in time during the "off season" with extra soccer clinics, Varsity Winter training (6 Weeks) and Summer Select training (6 Weeks).  Players should respect all coaches, support all teammates, work hard and be creative. Smaller clinics may be held with a subsection of players on occasion to address needs specific to his position or the team.

I love this game and I want to repay that which was given to me. Sun Prairie’s young soccer club is ideal for laying a foundation to build better soccer players and great teams. I’m excited to learn this side of the playing field and thoroughly enjoy teaching the sport that defined me growing up. I’m confident my passion and time coupled with willing kids will result in a stronger SPSC.

Create a positive training environment for kids to enjoy the game of soccer. Develop their technical skills, install discipline and plant seeds that will help develop the responsibilities needed for their soccer futures.

I’m still trying to find a style of coaching since I’ve only been coaching a few years. I’ve experienced over 13 Years of playing in different soccer clubs and I want to show the kids my love and enthusiasm for the game. I’m thankful now for those coaches who sacrificed their time and gave me opportunities for growth as an athlete and as a human being…the ultimate goal for our future soccer players.

The players need to show respect to coaches, teammates, referees, parents, and other teams. They need to show up for practices and be ready to learn. Each of them should train on their own and stay fit outside of practices and games. In addition, attend off season training camps when possible.

Of course it started with my son in Kinderball but has grown much larger than that.  If I have the means and ability to positively influence the life and development of a child then I cannot think of anything else that I would rather do.  It takes a village to make a man (or woman). 

My view of youth soccer is about player development.  Player development means acquiring the necessary skills to enjoy the game.  I believe that any child can play any position (and should have an understanding and respect for each position).  I also believe (and teach) clean aggressive play, great sportsmanship and respect for the competition.

My style centers around the fun!  Fun is so much more than just joking around; it’s the satisfaction of learning a skill and doing it well.  Fun is learning that competition is not a negative word.  Fun is learning that when you trust and respect other teammates then great things can happen.  Fun is growing the confidence to be creative and also knowing when to use it.  It comes down to knowing that you can make a difference on the soccer field and hopefully, applying some of these building blocks to having a happy productive life.

Commitment to the team and answerable to the team.  Classic teams have a limited number of players and the fields keep getting larger.  Teammates will need breaks and will expect you to be responsible for your part of the field.  That said, commitment and effort are the price of admission while camaraderie and skill are the reward with ‘fun’ being the sticky stuff that holds it all together.

When I played club soccer and High School soccer everyone saw me as a coach when I was old enough to do it. Now look at me! I am on my 8th year of coaching.

Enthusiasm! I would like to instill in my players the same love of the game I feel every morning when I wake up in my official Beckham pajamas and every evening when I fall asleep in front the television with the Fox Soccer Channel blaring.

Constant motion and activity.  Players learn the game best when they are playing small games and activities.  The more touches, the more mistakes, the more self-corrections and more instruction leads to more individual and team success.  I want my players to become confident, creative and cohesive, but most importantly I want them to have fun!

Attend two practices a week during each season, one session of Varsity Winter training (6 Weeks), Summer Select training (6 Weeks.) Improve your skills on your own or with parents, friends and relatives! Respect all coaches, support all teammates, work hard and be creative. Smaller clinics will be held with a subsection of players on occasion to address needs specific to our team.

To share my love for soccer in hopes of creating life-long fans of the beautiful game.

Winning is NOT the definition of success; it is a result of being successful.  There are many successes on the soccer field during both training and competition.  My job is to help the girls achieve, recognize and celebrate their successes.

Provide tons of positive reinforcement; teach the principles of attack and defense through age-appropriate trainings; foster team cohesiveness through challenging yet fun team-building exercises

Commitment to the team by (1) having a positive attitude, (2) working hard in practice and games (mentally as well as physically), (3) attending practice regularly, (4) showing respect at all times for the game, the coaches, the referees, and the opponents.  

I coach because I have found that many valuable life lessons are learned through sport and feel that I can help youth become successful both on and off the field. I enjoy being afforded the opportunity to be able to act as a mentor and help others learn from my experiences. I also love this game and want to share that love with others in hopes that the love continues to perpetuate itself in future generations.

I am a proponent of possession soccer and align my coaching accordingly. I also strive to instill a solid understanding of the fundamentals of soccer in hopes that each player could be able to play / be successful in every position on the field. To me, success and winning are not mutually inclusive events. Emphasis will be placed on playing smart, sound soccer over getting a good score line.

I try to keep a healthy balance of fun and hard work. I believe that when a person enjoys what he/she is doing, he/she will be willing to work harder. I lead by example and fashion my attitude and actions to model how I would like players to behave. I subscribe to the notion that the game is the best teacher for younger/newer players. Practices will be inundated with small-sided games, thus forcing players to problem-solve through the application of technique.

I am aware that many children play multiple sports and that scheduling conflicts may occur. I ask that players make the greatest possible commitment to soccer that they are able to make. Players should inform their coach or a teammate when they are unable to attend practice or a game. Players should show up ready to play and to try their hardest. I ask that players show respect for: self, teammates, coaches, opponents, officials and the game at all times. I also ask that players keep an open mind; cooperation is key when working as a cohesive unit. Lastly, I ask that the players have FUN!

To help the kids improve personally and physically through athletics.

Develop players on the field by teaching about commitment, self growth, team.  Soccer is a beautiful game, played by intelligent people.  I believe in ball control, if the other team doesn't have the ball they can't score.   Most of the technical stuff can be worked on at hame, and should be.  Your ability can be greatly improved by two simple things- a ball and a wall.

Fundamental, Fundamentals Fundamentals.  Small sided games with an emphasis on movement.  I believe that you need to have discipline but have fun while playing and practicing.  This is a game at the end of the day.

Hard work and commitment to the team and themselves.  Soccer has great individual moments, but it is more about playing as a team.

I initially started coaching as a way to stay involved with my kids activities, knowing that I had information that I could pass on to them.  As I began coaching I enjoyed watching the growth of all the kids (On the field and off). As an added benefit to coaching, I regularly learn something new about soccer that I can apply to myself and my own teams.

Give the players the love of soccer by teaching skills and tactics in a positive and fun environment.  By making each player the best soccer player they can be, my goal is to have each player continue playing soccer throughout their life as I have.

I believe in the small-sided approach taught by the USSA and rooted in the Dutch style of coaching.  This approach gives players a lot of opportunities to touch the ball and situations that players can more easily see what is being taught during that practice session.

Attend all scheduled team practices.  While at practice, be ready to learn, work hard and have fun.  Be respectful of all coaches, teammates and referees.  Attend additional clinics as well as practice on your own to improve your abilities.

Attend or watch soccer games (Professional, College or High School levels).  Enjoy the games, but also look at what the successful teams are doing.  Focus on an individual player for a period of time and watch what they do with and without the ball.  My current favorite club team to watch is Barcelona.  They play a beautiful free flowing possession game with lots of passing and movement.

Because it beats 'coaching' from the parents' sideline and I find it very rewarding.

Have fun in practice and games, develop individual skills and teamwork, and strive to be competitive.

Build skills through challenging and competitive practices using a mix of small sided games and activities to strengthen individual skills and teamwork.

Attend two practices a week during each season, extra clinics (see below,) Varsity Winter training (optional), Summer Select training (optional). Improve your skills on your own or with parents, friends and relatives! Respect all coaches, support all teammates, work hard and be creative. Smaller clinics will be held with a subsection of players on occasion to address needs specific to our team.

At an early age while basking on the beaches of Southern France during my summer school breaks, I realized that this American would never play “Le Beau Jeu”, but I could possibly be a coach. After many years of playing, I realized that someone had taken the time to pass along their love of the game to me. So I’m “Just paying back”!

I prefer to look at myself as a teacher of future soccer coaches. Someday when these current players are parents themselves; I want them to drive up in their customized minivan, step on the pitch while toting a bag of soccer balls, and ask me to retire so they can teach their own players. I’ve been fortunate to have a handful of former players go on to play college soccer, coach high school soccer and many more who are now coaching their own children.

Everything is done with the future in mind. I want to ensure that our players are learning, improving year to year, while developing both technical and tactical skills with long term goals in mind.

I understand that all players will develop at different ages, thus I stress the development of our players technical skills first. Upon graduating to the full-size fields, I introduce the tactical portion of the game.

Attend 2 out of 3 practice sessions per week, SPSC Varsity Training (winter), JD’s High Impact Cardio Training (summer), 2 instate and 2 outstate tournaments. Players should also have the desire to cultivate their own love of the game by practicing on their own. Respect for teammates, coaches and referees.

Primarily because I think I can provide a positive experience for our players and help them to develop as players and people.  I very much see this as a community service.  The reward comes when you bump into ex-players to find that they actually want to talk to you.

My focus is on developing players to improve both technically and tactically & making them realize that their best soccer weapon is their brain.  I also really want the kids to have fun (but in a disciplined environment)– that way they will want to come to practice.  I try to as encouraging and positive as I can be when offering criticism and advice.  No-one likes to be shouted at or dealt with in a negative fashion.

I emphasize the value of possession – which means ball control and field vision are paramount.  I find small sided games are a great tool – players are involved most of the time and the skills I want them to improve are very much required.

Be at practice on time or let me know (3 sessions per week) & get picked up on time.  Listen to your coaches & try your best.  Respect yourself, your team mates, your coaches, the referees and your opponents.  Try hard in games to the final whistle – even if the game is already lost.

I love soccer.

Learn how to play soccer properly and attractively. We pass, we defend, we shoot, and we learn how to play goalkeeper all while having the best time you have ever had. Soccer is the greatest sport in the world if taught in the right way by the right people, and fortunately I am one of those people.

I am a guy who can do without the fancy tricks and moves; I prefer to coach the basics, first.  You must learn to crawl -- a great first touch, simple pass and a correct shot -- before you learn to fly.

We will go to exotic places to experience another part of the US and how soccer is played in those places (Even if it is just to Illinois or Iowa). I promise to only coach kids in the necessities of soccer and make them highly proficient. I am a guy who can do without the fancy tricks and moves; I prefer to coach the basics, first.  You must learn to crawl -- a great first touch, simple pass and a correct shot -- before you learn to fly.

Years ago, it dawned on me that I would rather watch my daughter score her first U8 goal than see my favorite professional football team win the Super Bowl. I would rather instruct, mentor and encourage the children in our community than cheer on ten-million dollar athletes. 

Positive Player Development and Mentoring are paramount. It is not enough to teach proper technique and tactics, or strive to create the most competitive team possible. Every coach has a responsibility to encourage and inspire our children and young adults to greater heights not only on the practice field but also in life.

I delight in the Dutch-style of coaching through small-sided and conditioned tactical games; however, for purposes of concentrated technical work, I do slip in the occasional fast-paced Coerver routines.

Attend two practices a week during each season, extra clinics (see below,) Varsity Winter training (6 Weeks), Summer Select training (6 Weeks.) Improve your skills on your own or with parents, friends and relatives! Respect all coaches, support all teammates, work hard and be creative. Smaller clinics will be held with a subsection of players on occasion to address needs specific to our team.