SWM Kickers Final Run Begins at Target USA CUP

Under bright skies and unusually cool weather, the SWM Kickers, a U17 girls team from southwest Michigan, were engaged in pool play in their first trip to the Target USA CUP.

But, while skies were clear there are clouds of uncertainty on the horizon as the Kickers are also playing their last season for longtime head coach Gil Urban.

“We know it’s our last year so we’re trying to go as hard as we can and we’re trying to make it as far as we can and win as many games”, says Sweeper Paige Leis. “But, it’s definitely in the back of our minds that this is our last shot, so.”

The Kickers situation is unique in a couple of ways. First, their roster consists of players who play at three rival high schools. Also, because the high school season in Michigan just ended, their games at USA Cup are their first of the season for this club team.

Not a problem says Coach Urban.

“ Almost all of them are also multi-sport athletes”, says Urban. “Our club and I support that philosophy. The kids get diversity in their athletics as well as to be the best that they can be in every sport.”

The Director of the SWM Kickers soccer club, Urban started coaching most of these girls when they were just 10. Now, competing in the U17 tournament, these girls have won at all levels along the way, and they expect to win here at Target USA Cup as well.

Says Right Half Emily Lockman, “I feel like when we were younger we wanted to kick it into space all the time but now we’re playing more controlled game and then I think he just has high expectations but, we do it every game so, it’s good.”

Despite not having a large pool of players to pick from, Urban’s way is that there are no “starters” on his team, the lineup is always changing, and each player will play half of every game. Winning, Urban says, is a byproduct of giving the girls the confidence to solve problems on the pitch by themselves.

“I learned a lot of team building, and just a lot more skill level, more confidence when I’m playing on this team”, says Defender Beatrice Letekas. “So, yeah I think just playing on this team makes me grow even more as a player to play during high school as well.”

These girls have learned a lot of life lessons from Coach Urban along the way. But, believe it or not, the one that may stick with them the longest actually came from TV soccer coach Ted Lasso.

“There’s this thing we say it’s called Goldfish”, says Lockman “Just remind yourself that don’t think about it, keep playing, don’t think about the mistake you just made just continue on.”

“A goldfish can’t remember from one second to the next what he did so when you do a dumb thing say to yourself, Hey,I’m a goldfish”, adds Urban. “That means, step up and play your best game and forget about what happened the last mistake.”

Despite the success he’s had over his 40 years as a coach Urban says that this will be his last team as a head coach. This group is clearly special to him, and while he is on no hurry for this final season to end, when he watches them on the pitch he’s confident that they will be winners in life, too.

“They need to have the connections that make them want to help each other on the field and not criticize each other for not passing them the ball or not being in the right spot”, says Urban. “I want them to say, I’ll cover for ya, I’ll be there for ya, and if you can do that in life, that you’re supportive of the team and work together you’ll be a great person in anything you do.”