By M.G. Clarke
The intensity level at Gaston United Soccer Club (GUSC) just raised 10 notches—now that Jeff Phillips has been appointed director of the club’s Academy program. Parents of children on Jeff Phillips-coached teams have plenty of stories of their coach finding ways to motivate players. His pregame and halftime speeches have become almost Lombardi-esque. During one game last spring in which his U9 Recreational team had lost their way, Phillips looked his players in their wandering eyes and said: “I’m from the Show-Me State. Show me something! Don’t tell me what you’re going to do in the game. Show me!”
Funny thing is, Phillips isn’t even from Missouri; the Charlotte native stole the line from his college coach, Philmore George, who would utter the line every chance he got. But it proves that Phillips will go to any lengths to make his point and motivate his players. “I love this game; it’s in my blood, and to see the kids playing, learning and developing a love for the same sport I love is priceless,” he says. (Phillips was featured in the June 4 issue of the Gaston Gazette.)
Phillips joined Gaston United in the spring of 2010, raising his hand to head up its Recreational program. The married father of two couldn’t resist the opportunity to get involved. He jumped right in—overseeing all operations for the Rec program, which had 120 kids at the time. He found coaches, secured practice fields, created rosters, emailed parents and—at the same time—coached two teams himself.
“I believed in the program and saw great potential,” says Phillips, a 37-year-old Charlotte firefighter. “To grow is a huge goal, but growth in the right direction. Numbers are good, but if kids are being left behind, not developing basic skills, not forming a genuine love for the game, then it is useless. Improving our coaches’ knowledge of the game is a major priority. At younger age groups, the coach is probably the first person to teach soccer to them; it can make or break a child’s view of the game.”
That’s the kind of talk that caught Jarrette Brathwaite’s attention. GUSC’s executive director approached Phillips about running the club’s fledgling Academy program, which has four teams and four coaches. Under Phillips’ leadership, GUSC’s Rec program saw a 20 percent growth from spring to fall, and many of his former Rec players have committed to play in GUSC’s Academy, which is also seeing an upswing in numbers. That’s momentum on which the club wants to build—and carry on to the Academy.
“Jeff brings not only experience but a great passion for the game, with a demonstrated ability to share his passion, skills and techniques successfully with the younger age groups—a talent and ability often overlooked when clubs make coaching determinations,” says Brathwaite. “If you’re building a grassroots program, it’s important to find the person who can translate a program, curriculum and club paradigm to a child with effectiveness. Jeff has done that successfully within the club, and we look for him to continue.”
As for his style, Phillips describes it as disciplined, with a dash of fun mixed in. “With younger kids, it’s hard to keep their focus for long periods of time, which can be frustrating,” admits Phillips, whose own children—Riley, 9, and Caden, 7—play on his U9 Rec team. “As coaches, it’s our job to find ways to keep them engaged.”
Phillips himself started playing the game at age 9, late by today’s standards, after seeing a man juggling a ball in the street. An inquisitive kid, Phillips had never before seen anybody juggle a soccer ball. The man showed him a couple of tricks, and Phillips was sold. “After that, I saw an FA Cup match with Liverpool playing Everton. That was it, I was hooked!”
Primarily an offensive player in his youth, Phillips attended West Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte and did a stretch in the Olympic Development Program (ODP). He attended Mount Olive College, playing all four years, followed by a stint with the Charlotte Eagles.
“College forced me to play with skill and vision,” says Phillips, who still plays, in the Charlotte Premier Soccer League. “The college game at that time was power soccer, kick-and-run to a speedy striker. I did not have the pace as a striker in that environment, so I relied on skill, finesse and creativity. It actually served me well; I scored quite a few goals, had an assist record and had an overall good college career.”
But now, Phillips is content with being a teacher—and fostering a skill-driven environment for young kids. “Whether they are new to the game or a few years into kicking a ball, they get the fundamentals they need to excel for the future and develop an extremely passionate love for the game,” he says. “Recreation, to me, is the introduction, where the foundation is being built. If the first impression fails, it is hard to recover. My role at the Academy will be an extension of my job with Recreation.”
A parent of two players on Phillips’ team believes the Academy will benefit greatly from the Jeff Phillips Experience. “Jeff will offer a balanced mix of strategy and fun with each training session,” says Eric Willman, whose sons Kyle, 9, and Ryan, 7, have played for Phillips for two years. “He approaches each practice, friendly or match with a singular focus: to motivate the team to their best on-field performance while learning and having fun.”
As expected, Phillips is happy to take on this task—at least until the next opportunity comes around. “In 10 years, I hope to be the assistant coach to “King” Kenny Dalglish for Liverpool FC! Seriously!”
Nobody doubts him.
