Knowledge, playing ability and experience are all useful assets as a soccer coach.

Looking the part is something any coach can get right, but it is amazing how many don't.

Turning up in construction boots, with soiled jeans and looking like something the cat's dragged in, will mean the coach better do a super job with his practice.  He or she is 0 for 1 before the practice gets goings.

Jeff Tipping, the Director of Coaching for the NSCAA, when he came on board as the full-time director a few years ago, insisted that the staff instructors adhered to a strict dress code.  We were and still are sponsored by Adidas.

So it was red shirt, black shorts, red socks on Sunday; navy blue shirts, red shorts and navy socks on Monday; and so on.

As Jeff said at the time, "If you can't coach, you better look like a coach!"  I totally agree with him.

There is much more to coaching than looking the part, but it is a great start.

Pity our Dad Coach hasn't quite got the message below.  He's tried hard, but he is just a tad out of date. 

Ah, well!  Nice try!