John Wedge || back to coaches list

U9 Boys West Assistant Coach
U10 Boys Assistant Coach

Biography
John grew up in England, attending Southgate School, London, N.14 where he was soccer captain.
 
Between 1984 and 1992 John played club soccer in England, Scotland and France. At the college level he played for the College of North-East London (1992-3) and the University of Reading (1993-6), where he was varsity vice-captain and a winner of the Universities Athletic Union Plate. He played for the University of Illinois from 1996-98. Since 2003 John has been Commissioner of the USFCI Adult League.  
 
John began coaching in 1992 when he took the English FA's Preliminary Coaching Award, and coached as an assistant throughout college. Between 2003 and 2007 he coached in the youth programs of Champaign and Urbana Park Districts.  John holds his NSCAA National Youth Diploma.
 
Coaching Philosophy
John believes in soccer as a great form of enjoyment and self-expression, and above all that is what he wants players to get out of their time at practice and in competition. Along the way, he structures coaching to provide an opportunity to direct the players in some other things: core soccer skills and instincts, an idea of how to work with others as part of a team, striving towards improvement and achievement, and a sense of themselves, teammates and opponents alike as individuals who share a passion for soccer.