Emma Forsythe is a force to be reckoned with. Petite, blond and soft-spoken the 16 year-old-turned soccer coach led her team of girls to a triumphant victory in the Valley Cup soccer tournament this past weekend.
The victory is made sweeter by the fact – this team was the underdog. Starting the season late because they lacked a coach, the team called themselves “We Are Heros” and hoped for the best. They were rewarded not just with a winning team but a unique experience as well.
At a time when the rank of adult volunteer coaches thins out, leaving more than a few teams high and dry, teen coaches have been known to step up to the plate. Such was the case with Forsythe. She’d been a soccer player for five years and even done a bit of coaching in the past. Despite that, she was surprised to get a call from Sam Honey, president of the Sonoma Valley Youth Soccer Association, asking if she was interested in coaching a girls’ Under-14 team.
After the tiniest hesitation to figure how a full junior-load at Justin-Sienna would fit into the mix, Forsythe jumped at the chance and began organizing practices, learning names and ordering uniforms.
“It was a real challenge to balance school work, friends and my own soccer schedule with being a coach,” said Forsythe who plays Under-19 Select Soccer here in the Valley and on the Justin varsity team in the spring. “Plus I had to do research and work hard to keep practices fun and age appropriate. It was a huge commitment that I didn’t quite understand when I took on the job but I don’t regret a minute of it.”
Shrugging off the extra work, Forsythe quickly whipped her girls into shape, working them hard during practices until the team was ready for its first game, which they won. The rest of the season was a mixed bag of wins and losses but the team came together, strengthening with each game regardless of outcome.
For the girls, it was a rich, new experience to be coached by a peer rather than an adult volunteer. “Emma was the best,” said Lucy Purdom. “She always made practice fun but taught us lots at the same time. We all thought it was a great season and a great team.”
One of a number of team parents who stepped up to oversee practices, Steve Bossio said, “I think it’s always great for young girls to have other women as role models. In Emma’s case, not being much older than the team she’s coaching means they can relate to one another and sympathize as well. I also think both Emma and the girls on the team learned a lot this season. Emma about what it takes to be responsible for a team of girls and to make decisions and the girls learned a lot about soccer and really working together as a team.”
“My parents stress leadership and coaching was a great way for me to gain those skills. But it has also made me a better soccer player because now I have so much more respect for my coaches and the time that goes into coaching. It’s changed the way I practice and play and really taught me to get my priorities straight,” said Forsythe.
Forsythe believes other teens are capable of coaching but are unaware of the opportunity. “Coaches for the upper age groups are hard to come by because of the time commitments but if your coach doesn’t know what they’re doing, the season isn’t beneficial for the player. This is where teen coaches can step in and it’s really something the league should talk more about.
Forsythe also not coaching not only gives high school students something to do after school and on weekends, but it looks good on college applications as well.
“What an impressive and inspiring coaching job by Emma,” said Honey. “I had trouble keeping my composure during the awards ceremony, knowing what we had gone through to keep the team together and what transpired. Emma is a special person and the reception she got from her team showed that.”
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