Episode 160: A Conversation About Coaching Education You’ll Wish You Heard Sooner

Michael Prunty is a college and high school soccer coach from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

He found 3four3 around the same time that I did. (We both estimated 2009.)

Over the years, Michael and I have exchanged messages and Tweeted back and forth. But this conversation you’re about to hear is the first time we actually spoke to each other.

You’re going to hear Michael talk about coaching education. He has some strong feelings about the way we teach the game here in America. He went as far as starting a website to share his thoughts.

Here are a few lines from his website:

“The purpose is to develop a site for myself that I can document and share my continued growth as a coach. At this point in my coaching journey, I felt isolated and was searching for places to grow and be mentored. I had grown disenchanted by the current coaching education set-up. I had completed my courses through the NSCAA and felt those courses really helped to develop my earlier methods and also provided me the tools to examine the “why” behind my work. They provided me with a base to work from, but that is not enough for a coach to reach their potential. Informal education through watching other coaches work, social media, and personal reflection has proven to be just as important in my growth as a coach.”

Here are links to Michael’s website and to his Twitter.

One of Michael’s former players, Mandy Pocho, has already been on the show. He actually encouraged Mandy to reach out to us when she first moved to California and she made the drive from the Bay Area to Orange County just to hang out and BBQ with the 3four3 crew.

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Other relevant episodes and resources:

• Kevin Kelly’s “1,000 True Fans” essay
  
• Development Academy Coach Joey Cascio Breaks Down A Session
  
• Finally, An Episode About Youth Soccer Coaching and Player Development with Pete Stuart
  
• Nick Rogers Talks About Using Street Soccer to Speed Up Player Development, Add Flavor and Change the Culture of the Game.

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