SUU Student Gets Hands-on Coaching Experience

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CEDAR CITY, Utah, September 27, 2017 -- Mikael Simpson, a senior

communications major at Southern Utah University gained valuable

hands-on experience when she coached a 5 on 5 soccer team for an

annual fundraising tournament. The competition was held in

Parowan on July 15, and consisted of nine adult coed teams, 12 high

school coed teams and five middle school coed teams. The fundraiser

was put on by the Parowan High School girl’s soccer team.

 

Parowan High School has been holding the 5 on 5 Soccer Tournament since 2010. Each year, teams from all over Utah come to compete from 9 a.m. until the tournament is over, usually around 10:30 p.m.

 

Simpson formed and coached a team for the 5 on 5 Soccer Tournament for a school project. She wanted to find out firsthand whether or not she wanted to pursue coaching as a possible career for her future.

 

“I found out that I’m really not all that interested in becoming a coach,” she said. “I admire coaches and all of the work and stress they go through, but I’d rather be the player.”

 

Southern Utah University prides itself on giving students an extra “edge” upon graduating by requiring them to plan, prepare, execute and reflect on a 40 hour project. These are designed to help students develop certain skills and gain important experience before entering the competitive world of graduate school or the workplace.

 

“I’m grateful for what I’ve learned through my project,” Simpson said. “I feel like it will not only set me apart for future jobs, but it has also helped me discover more things about myself and what I want,” she said. ###

 

To learn more about the 5 on 5 Soccer Tournament, contact Richard Thatcher at (435) 477-3368. For more information about Mikael Simpson’s project, go to https://mikaelthatcher4.wixsite.com/edge or email her at mikaelthatcher4@gmail.com.