The final day of the GLS Summer Camps were the playoffs. We got to the fields early to set up the goals, line the fields and hoist nets, to give the kids a very professional feel to their final day. There were alot of parents coming so we set up a concessions stand and with every $5 purchase, a family pass was given to the Erie Admirals upcoming playoff game which was dubbed Fan Appreciation Day. Anyone wearing an Erie Admirals shirt could get in for free with a paying adult. We brought in referees for the final day so we would not have to worry about making those decisions whilst coaching. The whole day was an enormous success, with both my 10 year old boys and my 14 year mixed teams making the finals, but only my younger group won.
After the games had finished we held a trophy ceremony for MVP of the Final, Coach's Players and Player of the Year. these trophies were given out as an incentive to come back next year, as the groups generally stay together throughout the years.
Went to a Volunteer event with the team at the Bayfront Maratime Centre. This was a project that the Erie Admirals had highlighted as a community outreach event. These events are integral for spreading the brand around the community and making good connections with the city of Erie. Our job was to help the rebuilding of a boatshed roof, so team captain Gavin Stabbe and I coordinated the event. We escorted 10 other players down to the bay front to partake in the event. At the conclusion of the event, we struck an agreement with the employees of the BMC to run some coaching camps with some of the disadvantaged local children who loved soccer. We also gave them free tickets to our next 3 home games and a signed photo of the team.
Attended another local parade in Erie, where I was asked to promote another local club event. We were having another kids go free game day for anyone who played for the Erie junior soccer clubs. We set up an autographing and photograph booth, where the kids could come have a poster signed and get to meet some of the players. It was set up by Colleen a few weeks back and involved me meeting members of the teams with their families, giving them an informational flyer whilst also trying to persuade them and their families to come along and watch our home games in Erie.
Went to a Block Party in Erie where I was asked to promote a club event to the local community. We partnered up with the Red Cross, so that we could raise money for them whilst giving exposure to the Erie Admirals brand. We were selling 50/50 raffle tickets and wrist bands for the Red Cross. The Erie Admirals were working for was having a kids go free game day for anyone who played for the EYSA junior soccer clubs. It was set up by Colleen a couple months back and involved me meeting members of the teams with their families, giving them an informational flyer whilst also trying to persuade them and their families to come along and watch our home games in Erie. I ended up handing out all of my flyers so hopefully there will be a decent crowd at the game.
As part of the agreement to host our home games at Cathedral Prep High School, we were required to host a camp for the school. This was held at the Gates of Heaven fields. I was required to contact all the clubs from Erie to Cleveland to gather enough people for the camp. I attracted 140 players and we were able to host a camp for the week. The camp went from 9-4 Monday-Friday. the clubs were split up into age groups and the Erie Admirals players took one team each. I took the 13-14 years girls for the week. The camp was split into three 2 hour sessions with a 1 hour lunch break.
The first 2 hours was to be technical drills, to improve individual aspects of the players games. This was so that all the players were at full attention for the most important part of the camp. The second session were all fun, skills-based games. This was followed by the hour lunch break. After lunch it was all scrimmages to see off the rest of the day.
As part of the Admirals outreach plan, I worked a soccer camp in Girard, PA for a week. Girard is about 30 mins away from Erie, so they were in the player net which the Erie Admirals looked to draw from. The Admirals would take players from within 60 miles away, so Girard was definitely a target.
These kids loved soccer but as they lived outside of Erie they had little knowledge of the Erie Admirals. The skill levels of these kids was very basic, so the drills we set up had to match their ability. At the conclusion of the camp we handed out free t-shirts and tickets to the next home game. It was a success as 18 of the 40 kids we coached that week turned up to the next home game, and 7 of them ended up signing up to the Erie Admirals Youth Club.
Met with Sam Tojaga again with some other coaches to set up the GLS Camp. I would be coaching two teams, three times a week. We talked through a quick plan of how the sessions would be set up and what would be coached, according to the level of the kids we were assigned to. We split up the names we had from the applicants and made teams according to their age group. We then had a quick teaser session inside the FamilyFirst Sports Park dome for all the kids.
Worked a soccer camp with the Erie Boys and Girls Club. This took place on the campus of Penn. State- Behrend on their brand new turf soccer facility. They were disadvantaged kids who had never played soccer before and it was my job to educate them and hopefully have a few of them join the Erie Admirals Youth set up. The camp went for 3 days from 9-12 and at the conclusion 3 kids had signed up to the Admirals. This camp was a lot of hard work as not many of the kids had any interest in soccer, so the concentration levels faded very quickly. To combat this we just had to introduce basic playground games into our sessions to keep the kids laughing and smiling so that when we switched to soccer drills they would all be happy to do so. This event was sponsored by Burger King, the Erie Admirals major sponsor, so all the kids were extremely happy getting a kids meal at the end of the day.
i loved working with these kids, but it was sad hearing some of their stories. These kids had a lot going in their life, especially for how young they were so it was nice to be able to work with them, and put a smile on their faces.
We also set up through the Erie Admirals NPSL club a day where all proceeds of ticket sales and concessions would go towards the Erie Boys & Girls Club.
Met with Sam Tojaga, the owner of the Erie Admirals Youth Club to help set up future camps. John believed that developing a relationship with the youth setup was integral to the team as it created a pathway for the youth players to follow to help their development. Today was the orientation for the young players and was a general overview of what was going to happen in the camp. It was held in Family First Sports Park’s Dome. Alongside 7 other coaches we each ran 8-minute circuits for each of the 7 groups. We dressed in Erie Admirals uniform so they could identify us with the brand. At the conclusion of the session we handed out tickets to the kids to encourage them to come to our game. John knew that the club would make money from this give away as the kids would bring their parents, which would increase ticket and concession sales boosting club revenue. The marketing of the Erie Admirals to the youth setup was very smart as it is a tough market to crack. The fact that we were able to start relationships with the kids we coached helped sell the Admirals to them, as it gave them people to look up to and they wanted to see us in action.
Attended the Annual Golf Fundraiser for the Erie Admirals. Met with several potential sponsors of the club. I was partnered with Rick Martin, a local car dealer. It was my job to ensure that we were able to use his vans for transport for the team, free of price, and our pitch was that we would advertise his business in the match day program and during announcements mid game. After a round of golf with the other sponsors we sat down at dinner to discuss the details of possible sponsorships. I was delighted to hear that Rick Martin agreed to lend us 4 vans for every away trip free of charge. He also said that bumper stickers of EASC would be handed out with every sale, further promoting the club. This was a massive coup for the club as we required to transport 18 players every weekend around the Great Lakes region and this was the most cost-effective method.
Travelled to Berkeley, MI with assistant coach Neill Brown to prepare a scouting report for FC Sparta and Detroit City FC. We were going to play them next week so we thought it would be a good idea to watch the two play each other to compile some notes on the two teams. I had to focus on FC Sparta and highlighted any threats I saw in their attacking players.
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