Having mentioned this idea before, I wrote about soccer players having other interests...sometimes...and might (later) in high school choose another sport for fun ...rather than soccer. That would seem awkward to a "dyed in the wool" soccer coach, but we coaches have to accept that high school offers other likable sports that the athlete might recognize...and decide to choose.

Tyler, a genial, likable, good soccer player caught my attention immediately in his first seventh grade game at Ben Franklin Middle when he made his first assist in this first game of his first season. As a coach who recognizes quality when he sees it, I made him aware of such a good move in the first game...!! Tyler did well his two years at middle school and proved to be an enjoyable player. Tyler played soccer into high school...scored often....did well..making district and maybe region teams. (As always, I enjoy following my players and enjoying their successes). There was another sport that occupied Tyler's life that proved interesting for me as a coach to be aware of and observe from afar.

Tyler, his brother, mother, and father were heavily invested in snow skiing. For 2 to 4 months of late fall through late February, the family traveled to a certain ski resort (have forgotten its name)...sometimes on weekends...sometimes for several days...to engage in complete skiing...sometimes maybe competitively.........but almost every weekend. From what I hear and have seen pictures of , they were thoroughly involved....and very successful. They won competitions often enough and enjoyed the skiing that this coach has surmised from different opinions that they might move up there. Actually having talked to Tyler, I might get the impression that snow skiing might win out over soccer. Additionally, Tyler is a junior at a West Va. college that has those skiing grounds on campus or very near a skiing resort. It is my understanding that he also instructs skiing and is involved deeply in other areas.

I have written all this to clarify my thinking. An athlete can be outstanding in one sport or more...and it's not up to me or any coach to make judgment. We should realize and accept that the individual makes his own decisions...based on his own free will. Knowing that Tyler was skiing might have worried me because of soccer, but we have a responsibility to not judge .... to be flexible....and to support our players in whatever they may do.