Turning his passion for soccer, and his commitment to the kids in Langton, into a winning combination.
Cory Matheson teaches out in Langton, but decided that he wanted to connect with the kids in his community more – signing up to coach soccer, a sport he grew up playing and loving.
His father coached him growing up and he saw this as an opportunity to get involved, even though his daughter isn’t quite old enough to play yet.
He is getting a good head start though, with this past year seeing him coach two teams alone – a U11 and a U14 team.
This was his first year coaching a younger team like U11 and said not only was it a blast to see the kids so involved and enthusiastic about it, but to see the parents just as excited about the games was a pleasure to see.
He still loves coaching those older kids though, noting you see the kids grow year after year and it is amazing to see them develop into these great athletes.
As an educator, he knows all about the social and health benefits of outdoor sports and thought this would be a great way for him to build a stronger bond in the community and also foster friendships among his players and encourage outdoor activities.
He remembers playing soccer growing up, and a lot of those big memories revolved around comradery with his team and things like his hotel stays as they travelled for games.
He says while the games are always fun, it’s special when, near the end of the year, he hosts a coaches and parents vs. players game.
He says these kids may not remember each game they played at 10 or 13 years old when they grow up, but hitting the soccer field with their parents and maybe even scoring a goal or two on them will be a memory that can last a lifetime.
He added that coaches are always needed in Langton, noting the shorter season is a great incentive to get involved.
He received several nominations and was shocked, but appreciative, of that community support.
You can hear our full interview with Cory below.
Written by Matt LeBlanc