ALITHSA Volunteer Recognition Program

Coaches Steve and Bobbi Schroeder - U14 Mixed

ALITHSA would like to recognize U14 Mixed Coaches Coaches Steve and Bobbi Schroeder for their "above and beyond" volunteer work.

One of the nominations they received said:

"We think Bobbi and Steve Schroader are going beyond being good coaches, they are wonderful people and a great inspiraton to both parents and children. They think learning to play soccer is important, but they stress the vital aspects of sportsmanship and getting along just as much."

We took a few minutes of their time to get to know them a little better.

ALITHSA:

How long have you been involved in soccer and in what forms?

Steve and Bobbi:

Steve has been coaching since our oldest son, Steven, now 22yrs started playing soccer at the u-8 level. They didn't have a coach so I volunteered him. We knew nothing about the game but we were willing to learn. Then our daughter, Robyn. wanted to play and they needed a coach so he helped with our son's team and coached hers. I started in as team mom around this time just to help him stay organized. Well, the third comes along and he wants to play at the u-6 level Steve asst. coached that team and the next year he started coaching Daniel's team. So, now he had our daughters team and Daniel's team I would help out with team mom stuff or if he couldn't make a practice I would go and run a practice with some of his asst. coaches. Finally, our fourth, Christopher, wanted to play. Steve had the two teams so I decided I would coach Christopher.One of us had to as Christopher is Deaf and needed a coach who could sign. When Daniel was in his second year of u-14 Christopher moved up to Daniel's team It would be the first time we ever had two kids on the same team. (There had been a few years that we had four kids playing in four different places and we head coached three of the teams. Thank God for the wonderful asst. coaches and parents we had.) that is when we started coaching together and it has been fun. Daniel went off to play for Jacobs last year and we are now approaching our last season of coaching one of our kids as Christopher will be in H.S. next year hoping to play for the Eagles as has all three of his older siblings.

ALITHSA:

What are the three top things for you as a coach?

Steve and Bobbi:

Discipline, Respect and HAVING FUN!

ALITHSA:

What is the most important part of teaching good sportsmanship?

Steve and Bobbi:

To instill into the children starting day one they are part of a team, to respect each other and respect the other team, too. Both teams want to win but someone has to lose accept it and be strong enough to applaud the other team and strong enough not to rub it in when you win.

ALITHSA:

Tell us about your most special soccer memory or event.

Steve and Bobbi:

We have one that really has nothing to do with being on the field. A twelve yr old deaf girl from Carpentersville wanted to play soccer, both her parents were also deaf. So, she joined our daughter's team course my husband, my daughter and I signed because of our son. Most of the girls and one mom came to our house once a week in the winter time between seasons so they could learn how to sign and communicate with their teammate. The mom signed to me that her daughter felt like a princess and she herself was proud and touched that these girls would give up their time for her daughter. All of us as coaches teach communication is important out on that field - how awesome these kids took it one step further! The girls were sad when she left to go to the school for the Deaf. They would miss their teammate. Her parents always told us how happy they were that we took the time to help give their daughter a place on the team and a chance to play soccer she didn't have in her town.

ALITHSA:

How in your mind can we make soccer in ALITHSA as creative and fun as possible?

Steve and Bobbi:

Remember these are just kids especially the little ones, you need to keep your practices moving, interesting, and different. Sometimes, just taking a variation of kickball and playing with a soccer ball and the kids can't catch it they need to trap and driibble and pass it to the pitcher you've made it different yet you are teaching the basic soccer skills. Another thing the kids like are tournaments, offering more in-house torunaments would be fun, Bring back soccer day at Jacobs. Our teams enjoyed participating in those evenings and they got to watch the high school kids play.

ALITHSA:

Anything special you would like to share with all of us in ALITHSA about being a volunteer?

Steve and Bobbi:

Being a volunteer is not about accolades it's about being proud of these kids watching them grow up and their parents telling you, you are like a second mom to my kid he listens to you. Or, coach my son or daughter doesn't want to play for anyone but you. Seeing kids after you finished coaching them and they come up to you to tell you how they are doing and you get to revel in their successes. Going to a Jacobs game to cheer for your kid and at the same time cheering for the one on Dundee-Crown because we coached him/her for so long we can't help but think of them as one of ours, too. It's even about the time you can spend with your own kid. That's important. You are out there with him/her not just dropping them off for your own free time you are involved with them at the same time you are involved with the other kids. You develop pride in watching them mature into team players and skilled athletes at every practice. That's the joy you get out of volunteering, your heart overflows with gratitude that you were allowed to be part of that child's life and we thank the parents for allowing us to be. Over the years we have had some of the best parents - they support their kids and they have supported us to them we say thank you. You guys have all been awesome!

ALITHSA:

Thank you Steve and Bobbi!

If you know of any ALITHSA coach, asst. coach, team mom, referee or coordinator that goes above and beyond, please let us know about it. We want to regularly recognize those that stand out from the crowd.

Please send your nominations and the reason for the nomination to mvp@alithsa.org.

Home Page Recreational Program Travel Program Registration Parent Participation Rec Schedules Travel Schedules FAQ Medical Waiver Form Maps to Parks Incident Report Form Volunteer Recognition Referee Information The Laws of the Game ALITHSA Constitution Board Meeting Minutes Contact Us		ALITHSA Volunteer Recognition Program Coaches Steve and Bobbi Schroeder - U14 Mixed ALITHSA would like to recognize U14 Mixed Coaches Coaches Steve and Bobbi Schroeder for their "above and beyond" volunteer work. One of the nominations they received said: "We think Bobbi and Steve Schroader are going beyond being good coaches, they are wonderful people and a great inspiraton to both parents and children. They think learning to play soccer is important, but they stress the vital aspects of sportsmanship and getting along just as much." We took a few minutes of their time to get to know them a little better. ALITHSA: How long have you been involved in soccer and in what forms? Steve and Bobbi: Steve has been coaching since our oldest son, Steven, now 22yrs started playing soccer at the u-8 level. They didn't have a coach so I volunteered him. We knew nothing about the game but we were willing to learn. Then our daughter, Robyn. wanted to play and they needed a coach so he helped with our son's team and coached hers. I started in as team mom around this time just to help him stay organized. Well, the third comes along and he wants to play at the u-6 level Steve asst. coached that team and the next year he started coaching Daniel's team. So, now he had our daughters team and Daniel's team I would help out with team mom stuff or if he couldn't make a practice I would go and run a practice with some of his asst. coaches. Finally, our fourth, Christopher, wanted to play. Steve had the two teams so I decided I would coach Christopher.One of us had to as Christopher is Deaf and needed a coach who could sign. When Daniel was in his second year of u-14 Christopher moved up to Daniel's team It would be the first time we ever had two kids on the same team. (There had been a few years that we had four kids playing in four different places and we head coached three of the teams. Thank God for the wonderful asst. coaches and parents we had.) that is when we started coaching together and it has been fun. Daniel went off to play for Jacobs last year and we are now approaching our last season of coaching one of our kids as Christopher will be in H.S. next year hoping to play for the Eagles as has all three of his older siblings. ALITHSA: What are the three top things for you as a coach? Steve and Bobbi: Discipline, Respect and HAVING FUN! ALITHSA: What is the most important part of teaching good sportsmanship? Steve and Bobbi: To instill into the children starting day one they are part of a team, to respect each other and respect the other team, too. Both teams want to win but someone has to lose accept it and be strong enough to applaud the other team and strong enough not to rub it in when you win. ALITHSA: Tell us about your most special soccer memory or event. Steve and Bobbi: We have one that really has nothing to do with being on the field. A twelve yr old deaf girl from Carpentersville wanted to play soccer, both her parents were also deaf. So, she joined our daughter's team course my husband, my daughter and I signed because of our son. Most of the girls and one mom came to our house once a week in the winter time between seasons so they could learn how to sign and communicate with their teammate. The mom signed to me that her daughter felt like a princess and she herself was proud and touched that these girls would give up their time for her daughter. All of us as coaches teach communication is important out on that field - how awesome these kids took it one step further! The girls were sad when she left to go to the school for the Deaf. They would miss their teammate. Her parents always told us how happy they were that we took the time to help give their daughter a place on the team and a chance to play soccer she didn't have in her town. ALITHSA: How in your mind can we make soccer in ALITHSA as creative and fun as possible? Steve and Bobbi: Remember these are just kids especially the little ones, you need to keep your practices moving, interesting, and different. Sometimes, just taking a variation of kickball and playing with a soccer ball and the kids can't catch it they need to trap and driibble and pass it to the pitcher you've made it different yet you are teaching the basic soccer skills. Another thing the kids like are tournaments, offering more in-house torunaments would be fun, Bring back soccer day at Jacobs. Our teams enjoyed participating in those evenings and they got to watch the high school kids play. ALITHSA: Anything special you would like to share with all of us in ALITHSA about being a volunteer? Steve and Bobbi: Being a volunteer is not about accolades it's about being proud of these kids watching them grow up and their parents telling you, you are like a second mom to my kid he listens to you. Or, coach my son or daughter doesn't want to play for anyone but you. Seeing kids after you finished coaching them and they come up to you to tell you how they are doing and you get to revel in their successes. Going to a Jacobs game to cheer for your kid and at the same time cheering for the one on Dundee-Crown because we coached him/her for so long we can't help but think of them as one of ours, too. It's even about the time you can spend with your own kid. That's important. You are out there with him/her not just dropping them off for your own free time you are involved with them at the same time you are involved with the other kids. You develop pride in watching them mature into team players and skilled athletes at every practice. That's the joy you get out of volunteering, your heart overflows with gratitude that you were allowed to be part of that child's life and we thank the parents for allowing us to be. Over the years we have had some of the best parents - they support their kids and they have supported us to them we say thank you. You guys have all been awesome! ALITHSA: Thank you Steve and Bobbi! If you know of any ALITHSA coach, asst. coach, team mom, referee or coordinator that goes above and beyond, please let us know about it. We want to regularly recognize those that stand out from the crowd. Please send your nominations and the reason for the nomination to mvp@alithsa.org.