Lehigh Valley Xtreme: About Coach Wilson
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| Coach & team celebrating a tournament victory |
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Mark’s Background:
Mark Wilson has been the trainer and coach of the Lehigh Valley Xtreme since their formation during the summer of 2004. Mark is a native of Scotland and has been coaching for 12 years. He is currently the director of marketing for United Soccer Academy Inc. and the US Sports Institute, the leading providers of youth soccer & sport education on the east coast.
Coach Wilson played youth level soccer through high school and then for the University of Paisley (Scotland). He captained the team during his final year & assisted in the development of all University soccer operations. After Paisley, Mark played at the men’s club level in Scotland and made some appearences in exhibition games for MLS (including one against the NY Metrostars at Giants stadium!). Mark is still an active team member for Allentown SC in the men’s open division of the LVSL.
Mark has coached soccer for more than 12 years. He began his coaching career at the youth and collegiate level in Scotland. Mark then crossed the Atlantic to coach both boys and girls high school teams in New Jersey. Mark has been involved with the NJ ODP program as a lead evaluator since 2000 and continues to coach boys & girls soccer from U10 through U19. Mark is presently head coach of the Lehigh Valley S.C.'s. elite U-14 (Xtreme) & U-18 girls teams.
Mark’s Coaching Philosophy:
Like everything in life, success starts with preparation. It has always been my goal as a coach to prepare players on the soccer field with the right attributes and integrity that prepares them for success in life. Most coaches, when asked what they are preparing their players for, will tell you it's for high school, ODP, college or even the professional game. I agree with that but as coaches we have the empowerment to educate our players in life lessons that will prepare them for whatever they choose to be. Building a strong team philosophy certainly helps and one of my objectives is to ensure that players know that the team comes before the individual (remember the saying, 'there is no "I" in "TEAM"'!).
At the individual level comes CHOICE. Every successful person or soccer player that I have ever met has arrived there because they made a choice and worked hard. Soccer starts with skill and that is where the individual part comes in. I believe that if players do not have a solid foundation with their own personal skills then they are hurting the good of the team. Ball skills come from hours and hours of personal practice time and are refined on the field through coaching. Players that choose not to practice their skills also choose not to succeed.
Mark’s Coaching Certifications:
NSCAA Premier Coaching Diploma, 2005
NSCAA Advanced National Coaching Diploma, 2002
NSCAA National Coaching Diploma, 2001
U.S. Soccer Federation Licensed, 2000
SFA Coaching youth footballers, 1999
SFA Youth team management module, 1999
SFA Physical preparation module, 1999
SFA Basic First Aid certificate, 1997
SFA Working with youth footballers certificate, 1997
SFA Early Touches certificate, 1997