Soccer Nation:

Jacques Ladoueur: TVSA Hawks GU12 and BU18

SN: Who were the coaches you played under/coached with who shaped your style of coaching? What did they teach you?

JL: Andrew Dinitto, Lincoln Philips, Markovich, Agon Pichacheck and Ron Newman. They taught that being fit physically allows you to play the way you want; never steal the creativity of a player instead teach them how and when to use it; love the people you coach because they can tell if you do not care about them as a person; and be a great coach on the field while you’re playing.     

SN: What is your style of coaching?

JL: Attacking. Everyone on the field can be a threat to score. Very creative soccer. Letting the players control the game. 

SN: Who are the players you are particularly proud of on or off the soccer field?

JL: The players that give everything they've got.

SN: What do you look for in a player?

JL: First touch, ball control, ability to create and break down a defense, vision on the field and speed of thinking.

SN: What advice would you give to any player looking to become a professional soccer player?  What advice would you give to parents?

JL: To the players: Be willing to work harder than all the people you play against. Practice on your own. Be willing to play any position to learn the game better. Watch and dissect how the pros play and work on making every person you play with better. Learn to be a leader and set a great example for hard work and learn how to encourage the people you play with.

To the parents: You are never going to make your kids professionals and switching clubs every year is not the answer. Focus on helping kids develop. Create and environment for kids to fall in love with the game. Let the coach do the coaching and find the good things your kid did and praise them. Leave the mistakes for the coach

SN: Your team is playing for the championship title and they are down by three at the half. What do you say in your halftime pep talk?

JL: Play with a sense of urgency. Let’s get one goal as quick as possible, win 50-50 balls because that will change the momentum in the game and let’s put a string of four to six passes together to get the opponent chasing  more. 

SN: Who is your favorite professional soccer player?

JL:

SN: If you could, would you change anything about soccer what would it be?

JL: Remove the throw-in from the outdoor game make it a free kick when the ball goes out. It makes the game more exciting and creates more scoring opportunities.

SN: Favorite Quote:

JL: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your path.”