A-Rod’s new era

“I had some coaches who praised me, thought I could do nothing wrong, that celebrated every pass and every shot I took, even if it skyrocketed way over the crossbar. 

“But I think the balance between a coach that really cared for me versus one that pushed me, that’s the coach that I really look back and value. I hope I can be that for the soccer players that I coach too.”

Rodriguez is very much at the start of her coaching journey, and is happy to admit she is learning on the job.
I ask her what some of the challenges in transitioning from player to coach have been.

“Boredom,” she concedes. “I’m so used to training every day, getting up, enjoying the workout grind, filling my competitive bucket. It’s difficult to do that when you’re not on the pitch with your cleats, suited up. 

“It’s also interesting in college soccer, where there are so many rules and constraints about time on the field and training hours. 

“I joked to someone that I feel a little bit handcuffed in some capacity in the college game, only because you don’t get to train the players every single day of the year.

“They are student athletes, and that’s part of their journey, but I’m still working out the kinks and how to deal with that too.”

Though it is on the grass where she has the most fun, Rodriguez says she is very open to the idea of learning all the acts of college coaching.

The US great said: “If that’s extra hours in the office learning how the academic side works, or just learning everything about student athlete coaching and what that’s going to be like, that’s my plan of attack.

 

"I have a head coach and other assistants who can help me grow as a coach..."

“Part of my own development process is learning the ropes. I love that I jumped in as an assistant coach because I have a head coach above me and other assistants next to me who can help grow me as a coach.

“The biggest thing that I want to gain now is experience.”

And what about her experience as a player - how can that transfer to the players she coaches? It’s back to that sign in her office.

 

“I have very high expectations, not only for myself, but for my players,” Rodriguez said. 

“Having been to the highest level and been around people who are in that elite level of thinking, hard work and grit, I want to keep surrounding myself with people like that. 

“It’s the environment that I think I thrive best in. I appreciate the best and I want to be a part of the best.

“As I go through this coaching journey, I absolutely will look for players and people to surround myself with, who are going to continue upping the level of ongoing improvement every day.”

It is clear that Rodriguez is keen to imbue on her new roster the standards she maintained throughout an incredibly successful playing career.

But how can coaches go about building that winning mentality in others? What’s the recipe for success that she has learned from her time in locker rooms?

“Don’t cut corners, be diligent and always fall back on a positive and respectful culture,” she says. “I find that good teams have good people on them, and you teach them to work hard and do all the right things.

“I want to keep encouraging that, because I think that hard work, discipline and respect all go a very long way.”