|
Jay Franklin has resided in East Tennessee for more than 30 years. He was a standout defender and four year starter at Hixson in Chattanooga. While there, he was awarded best defensive player and most improved and also received several all state nominations.
Despite opportunities to continue playing at the collegiate level, Franklin decided to pursue an academic career in college at the University of Tennessee. He earned his BA in 1992, MA in 1999, and PhD in 2002. He is currently Assistant Professor of Archaeology at ETSU. Franklin has continued to play in adult soccer leagues since high school and retains an avid love for the beautiful game.
Franklin has coached youth soccer for eight years in Knoxville, Memphis, and the Tri-Cities. He has coached for AYSO Region 275, Germantown Soccer Club, West Tennessee Futbol Club, Impact NE, and Fusion FC. Franklin currently assists with the Fusion academy teams, U10 and U12. He holds the USSF “D” and National Youth licenses as well as the NSCAA Advanced Regional Diploma. He is also a USSF Grade 8 referee. Franklin resides in Johnson City with his wife, Kandi, and three boys, Conor (‘94), Miller (‘97), and Briar (‘02).
Excerpts from my coaching philosophy
I am an educator, a parent, and a former soccer player. It seems natural to me to be involved in youth soccer. I believe my first responsibility to each player and the team is to be a teacher. I try to set the example that I wish my players and their parents to emulate.
I am always hopeful for a successful season. If players have learned new skills and are more confident in their abilities by season’s end, then I would consider that a success. If each child has become more comfortable with his/her soccer ball then progress has been made. If a child is excited about returning to play again (the next season), then that is a success. Finally, I am a very competitive person and like winning as much as anybody. However, it truly is not the most important thing, especially for children. In fact, winning can often inhibit proper learning and individual development.
I love coaching because I love the game of soccer. I fell in love with it the first time I stepped on a pitch at 12 years of age. I am excited about the prospect of helping to develop that love in a new generation of young players. My experiences growing up playing soccer were great. I do not remember a season when I was not happy playing. That having been said, in retrospect, from the beginning I was placed in a system of play and became a system player. There was very little room for creativity or personal innovation. As a soccer coach today, I understand that it was inhibiting. In short, I became a good tactical player but never really developed as a technically skilled or creative player. Therefore, my current philosophy is to encourage young players to become very comfortable with a soccer ball. A player should never be afraid to possess the ball in the game. A player should be comfortable anywhere on the field.
|
