Y Coach Beanie Clapper,
Youth Soccer Girls’ Recreation Coach of the Year
Youth sports at the Y embody our mission to promote youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The YMCA of the Triangle is extremely proud to announce one of our volunteer coaches, Beanie Clapper, has been named the 2024 NC Youth Soccer Girls’ Recreation Coach of the Year by the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association (NCYSA). This is the second time Beanie has won their Coach of the Year award and his twentieth year serving as a volunteer coach at the Kraft Family YMCA. He has coached The Wave, Kraft’s very first U12 girls team, for 18 consecutive years.
The Triangle Y Soccer Club (TYSC) nominated Beanie for this honor due to his outstanding contributions to our soccer club and mentorship to players and fellow coaches. His fun training sessions, willingness to donate endless hours of time to his own team and others, commitment to being a constant student of the game and dedication to sportsmanship he demonstrates and encourages amongst players and parents makes him a deserving recipient of this award. His colleagues reported, “it is hard not to get excited about playing soccer, or just being on a team, with Coach Beanie!”
Beanie says, “There is NO place I'd rather be than out on the field with the kids. I can't even begin to tell you how much fun it is and the joy it brings to my life.” Beanie’s favorite thing about coaching is the freedom to be unique and creative. “I like to think I provide a unique experience that strikes a nice balance of fun and skill development. My motivation is knowing what I bring to the soccer field makes a difference in the players I coach.”
TYSC Hotspurs’ Head Coach, Dan Davie, is thankful to have been on the receiving end of Beanie’s willingness and drive to help where there was a need. Dan shared that because of Coach Beanie’s efforts, the Hotspurs players and Dan personally as head coach, have seen tremendous growth and development in the past year. He stated, “it is a testament to Coach Beanie’s coaching that he is able to create that same sense of inner drive to improve no matter the age, gender, or skill level of the players, and to do so in an environment where the players find joy in the improvement.”
Keys to Success
After a game, Beanie is known to gather all players and parents to specifically point out some of the great things players may have done during the game such as passing sequences that lead to a goal or defensive efforts that turned the attack the other way; it’s rarely about the goals themselves. His fellow coaches commented that Beanie is always learning and continuously improving his coaching by reading and researching new ideas for games and skill development. He regularly discusses these ideas with other coaches and creates solid practice plans by collaborating with others to incorporate ALL the good ideas. These plans have been shared at all levels from U5 – U10, a true benefit to the coaches and players of our club. Beanie also coaches weekly skills clinics and works to develop relationships with both players and parents, furthering everyone’s enjoyment of the game.
Beanie Clapper’s advice for fellow coaches and players?
“Fun is not optional, it's mandatory. I always say if the coach isn't having fun, it'll be hard for the players to have fun. Make everything you can fun! Finding the perfect balance between fun and skill development can be tough, but if you find it, your families will love you for it. Oh, and wear crazy socks at all times!”
Get Involved
If you would like to make a difference in the lives of youth by serving as a coa
ch, please sign up to get involved. Youth sports are ongoing and there is always a need for great coaches willing to serve.
