Survival Guide for Coaching Youth Soccer

Lindsey Blom has been involved in soccer for more than 20 years. As a former collegiate and semiprofessional player, she stays active in the game through coaching. She has coached boys and girls for more than 10 years at the recreational, select, high school, and state Olympic developmental levels. During her coaching tenure, she has teamed up with her husband, Tim, on many occasions. Their similar coaching philosophies yet different styles have allowed them to develop athletes who have gone on to compete in college. Lindsey currently teaches in the sport and exercise psychology program at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), carries a USSF D coaching license, and is a certified consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).

Tim Blom has had a unique opportunity to see, play, and coach soccer at a variety of levels over 25 years. Tim played soccer at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, and his passion for the game led to his involvement in training and coaching. In Statesboro, he ran clinics for young recreational players, coached boys' and girls' club teams, and served as an assistant high school coach. He also served as the league development coordinator, overseeing player development and coaching education. He and his wife, Lindsey, worked together to win five West Virginia Club State Championships; they followed that with two more club state championships in Mississippi. Tim currently teaches mathematics at North Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is the head coach of the women's soccer team. His coaching philosophy is based on teaching the life lessons of teamwork, sportsmanship, and hard work while always keeping soccer fun. Tim also has a USSF D coaching license and is a member of the NSCAA.