it just got harder...

For most of you, you may remember how enthusiastic I am for the sport of soccer. I was never much of a player, but mediocre players can make good coaches and I was passionate about teaching kids how to play. Part of my move to Spain was a chance and to accept the challenge of coaching in a country where from birth, soccer is a part of their existence!

Well it is both difficult and easy at the same time. The hard part is explaining what I want from my team during practices and games. It´s hard for me to explain exactly what I am trying to teach them but it´s easy at the same time since they are 5 steps ahead of kids I am accustomed to teaching. they are all physically and mentally fit to play. I dream of getting a few teams from America here to try their skills against the likes of the teams here in Spain.

In order to coach, one has to get a license to coach. Before I left America, I got my National D license (National "A" being the highest and fof those who coach for a living). Two weekends in the cold and wet soccer fields of Norfolk and I had hit my goal. But things just got harder here in Spain.

You see for the next 8 weeks, 3 days a week, I am enrolled, against my will, in coaching classes. I am not sure if this is mandatory or for a license of any sort, but it´s all in Spanish. Well truth be told, the material is in Spanish but the conversations in the class are in Catalan. in comparison, it´s like taking a class in some backwater Louisiana Creole classroom. for the most part I can pick it up but I am in no way able to conversate.

So far we are two weeks into this endeavor with a test coming up Monday. I am still goig forward with it. If i fail...I fail. but if you know me, I hate failing...