“If it’s not fun, why are you there?” wrote youth soccer coach, Jim McCarthy.

Those words are just one of the three main keys to success for our Coach of the Week, Jim McCarthy. He has been coaching boys and girls soccer teams of all ages in Pasadena, California for ten years. McCarthy’s learned many valuable lessons while being the coach of many youth sports teams. He’s found that it has helped him become a better father, CEO, and husband.

McCarthy and his wife Amanda have two children, Jake, 12, and Elizabeth, 10. Both Jake and Elizabeth have been playing soccer for a number of years and absolutely love the game. Elizabeth is currently playing for the Aquamarines, which McCarthy is presently coaching. His wife does a great job helping out every team with snacks, parties and more. AYSO and youth sports have become a very important part of the whole McCarthy family.

When McCarthy is not spending time with his family or coaching, he has a very busy schedule as the CEO of Goldstar. The skills that McCarthy has developed at Goldstar as the CEO in turn has helped him with his leadership and management skills as a coach who tries to bring out the best in the young athletes that he is mentoring.

Congratulations again to our Coach of the Week, Jim McCarthy. Now, let’s take a look at his top three keys to success that have helped guide him over the years.

Coach McCarthy’s Keys to Success:

• Remember Why you’re There

Everyone wants to win but it is not the most important part of youth sports. “It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the emotions of winning, but in 10 years, no one will care about that”. McCarthy tells us. He understands that as a coach you’re there to teach the team skills that will not only be helpful on the playing field but throughout life as well.

• Make it Fun

There are always going to be moments that are not fun, but the overall experience should make the kids want to come back for more. In the end, McCarthy wants to show all his players how much fun and beneficial youth sports really can be.

• Play Your Team's Strengths

Over his ten years as a coach, McCarthy, has learned to use his teams strengths to make them very competitive. For example he understands that you don’t want to run a fast break all the time if you team is not fast. Take a step back and look at your team’s strengths and weak points. See what they’ve got, us it and then push them to the next level.

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