Adrienne Hobbs – U10 Girls Soccer Coach and Mother
What inspired you to become a volunteer coach for youth soccer?
I never played soccer outside of gym class, so I don’t know much about the game—certainly not about coaching! I was mostly interested in being a support for the team. During Anna’s first season of soccer, she had three coaches, and I played the role of “bench mom” several times. Each of the coaches encouraged me to put my name down as an assistant coach for the spring league. They assured me I’d have plenty of support from the head coach and wouldn’t feel lost. I really enjoy being a cheerleader for my daughter, and I figured—this way I even get to be on the bench—so why not?
What impact do you hope to have on the players you coach?
I work in a male-dominated industry, so empowering girls is especially meaningful to me. I know how easy it is to develop the mindset of “I can’t do that,” so I want these girls to recognize that they can do whatever they put their minds to—even if it’s hard at first. I want them to set goals and achieve them, and I want them to feel encouraged and supported along the way.
Can you share some positive experiences or what you enjoyed most about coaching?
I loved watching these girls score their first goals throughout the season. I loved seeing their determination shine when playing against a tough team—even if they didn’t win in the end. Their positive attitudes at practices and during games were amazing, and it was so rewarding to watch their communication and teamwork grow as the season progressed.
Reflecting on the past year, what advice would you share with other moms or women considering coaching?
Do it! Watching your kids’ games is great—but nothing compares to being on the sidelines when they come off a great shift and you get to hear their excitement in real time. And if it was a rough shift, you can help turn their attitude around before they head back onto the field—because no one knows your kid like you do. At this age, being a good coach is less about knowing the strategy of the sport and more about knowing how to talk to kids in a way that matters. And you can definitely do that.
What support or resources have been most helpful in your coaching role?
Other coaches! Having a head coach and a couple of assistant coaches is perfect—we really are a team working toward a common goal. Just being at practice helped me learn some drills and skills for myself too. I followed Coach Jeff’s lead for most of the season, during both practices and games, and he was incredibly helpful.