Many athletes take a long time to warm up to a new coach, especially if they have had the same one for a long time. Getting a new coach means that you have to learn their coaching style, and how they cope with games and practices.
Kinnelon Girls Soccer (KGS) has received a new coach: Steven Racine. Although Racine has coached at Kinnelon High School previously, he has not coached here in years and is seeing a completely new group of players. He has also coached at Morris Catholic High School and Morris Knolls High School for nearly 40 years. Many of his athletes are already comfortable with him as a person because he is also a history teacher at KHS. As a coach, Racine plans to bring new knowledge and improve the team’s skills.
While Junior Kendal Koger respects her new coach, she is still adjusting to his new coaching style, “I like the new coach this year but he could also be strict at the same time.”
Some students believe that this new learning technique for the game is beneficial, while others think it does not make sense. Having a new coach can also be helpful in the sense that everyone gets to learn new drills compared to going over the same ones all the time.
Junior Paige Drazenovic says, “I believe that our coach this year is more on top of everything, and is definitely more motivated.”
Most people believe that having a more motivated and diverse coach is better than having a coach who practices the same every day. Having a motivated coach makes athletes more motivated and encouraged.
Sophomore Caitlin Wagner states, “The new coach this year has been on top of leading our team with success. We have our ups and downs occasionally but most of the time we are on our game.”
KGS currently has a record of 5-1. Most of the work that they have done might be a lot but in the end, they have made a major comeback.
According to Madison Gigante, “Even though we have to run a mile every day, in the end, I feel like it pays off since we have won so many games. This season has been going pretty well for us so far, and we continue to do the same work that we have been doing.”
Soccer is not an easy sport for most people, especially at a high school level. Having a new coach puts another layer of pressure on athletes, but KGS seems to be adapting to Racine well.
