Saddleback United coach Monica Smith now has bragging rights to a nationally recognized coaching award. 

Smith was one of 20 coaches from across the country, who was recently honored by the Positive Coaching Alliance as a Double-Goal Coach, receiving national acknowledgment and a cash prize of $200 from Liberty Mutual.  Recipients of the award are coaches whose first goal is winning, and whose second, more important goal is teaching life lessons through sports. 

“[Monica] brings a positive attitude with very technical training,” Saddleback United Director of Coaching Jamie Arroyo said. “She allows players to challenge themselves and provides the confidence needed to succeed at higher levels of play.”

Smith was nominated for the award by her Saddleback United GU10, soon to be GU11, team.  Parents and players wrote letters to the PCA explaining why they felt Smith embodied the principals of the Double-Goal Coach.  She was selected as one of the top 50 finalists before having a phone interview with PCA.  Shortly afterward she was one of 20 chosen as a recipient.
Smith was honored to be chosen for the award but is still a bit speechless in the aftermath of it all.

“I think some time later it will hit me that I was recognized in such a large way,” Smith said. “I am thankful for an organization like the Positive Coaching Alliance and what they stand for.” 

Smith grew up playing AYSO soccer at 7-years-old. She graduated from there to club soccer where she played for Fountain Valley and then later for North Huntington Beach Soccer Club. She competed in the ODP GU19 level for one year before heading off to play for Cal State Dominguez Hills, which won the NCAA Division II championship her sophomore year.

Throughout her soccer career, Smith had coaches who have influenced her in some way, both positively and negatively. However, most of her current coaching style is something that has developed from her own personal coaching experiences.

“I try to learn from my mistakes and the different situations I have been in,” Smith said. “I also look at successful coaches and try to determine things that make them successful.”

The 14-year coaching veteran doesn’t take her role as a coach or mentor lightly.  She loves having the opportunity to impact young lives and help shape their character in a positive way.

“I hope that they will be able to use certain things that they’ve learned while being on my team to influence them later in life,” Smith said.

Although Smith is a licensed Physical Therapist and certified Athletic Trainer, she is currently employed as a full-time mother.  While some athletes or coaches who win national awards shout out that they will celebrate their winnings with a trip to Disneyland, Smith isn’t so sure that will be her plan of attack.

“I’m not sure yet what I will do with my cash prize, but most likely it will not be going to Disneyland.  I wouldn’t even be able to get my whole family in the park,“ she said jokingly.

Smith on her Double-Goal Philosophy: Every time we step onto the field to play a game we’re trying to win.  That’s what we’re supposed to do and it’s what drives the competitive nature in us.  We train, we strategize and we hope that at the end of the game we have the winning score.    In training to win, I require my players to give 100 percent effort every time they step onto the field whether it’s practice or a game.  Great success comes when everyone is doing their part and I remind my team that if one player is not doing her job, it affects the whole team.  However, there is so much more about playing competitive sports than just the scoreboard at the end of a match.  In fact, there are lessons to be learned from both wins and losses.  Teaching life lessons through the sport of soccer is something I strive for with my team.  I want them to develop character qualities such as, discipline, commitment, determination, setting, striving for and achieving goals, learning from mistakes, never giving up, teamwork, being supportive, showing respect to others, helping others, not being self centered, having confidence, etc.  Some of the things we’ve done as a team to assist in developing these traits have included a book discussion on famous athletes, writing down individual and team goals and attaching them to the soccer bags, inspirational movie nights and community service events like handing out water at triathlons, collecting food for the Orange County homeless shelter and baking cookies for the Marines and their families.  We also have the “100 Club” where each player who gets to 100 juggles gets a “100 Club” t-shirt, a certificate, and gold star on her jersey.  For every 100 juggles after that, additional stars are placed on her jersey.