Maurice Allen has worn many various hats in life. He’s a U.S. Military veteran, a husband, a father and a soccer coach.
He’s additionally a “soldier coach.”
Allen, a retired Military communications specialist, is simply one of many greater than 1,800 “soldier coaches” licensed by way of the veteran charity Troopers to Sidelines that was capable of finding a renewed objective after his navy service.
Maurice Allen enlisted within the U.S. Military in 2012 and served for 4 years, which included his deployment to Afghanistan in 2014-15. (Maurice Allen)
“I performed highschool soccer. I sort of all the time knew I wished to be a coach. I used to be going to go to play faculty soccer out of highschool and as an alternative went energetic responsibility Military and was stationed at Fort Hood,” Allen instructed Fox Information Digital in an interview.
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Allen put his dream of teaching on maintain to serve his nation and, finally, to pursue his schooling. He enlisted in 2012 and served for 4 years, which included his deployment to Afghanistan in 2014-15.
His story is like many others. Nevertheless, after finishing his service, Allen knew he wished to return to teaching. With that in thoughts, he earned his Bachelor’s diploma and a Masters of Schooling in Sports activities Administration on the College of Mary Hardin-Baylor and later an Schooling Specialist diploma from Valdosta State College.
Throughout that point, nonetheless, Allen was in search of one thing that was only for veterans. That was when he got here throughout Troopers to Sidelines.
He reached out to Harrison Bernstein, the president and founding father of Troopers to Sidelines, a veteran service charity group whose mission is to supply a renewed sense of objective to members of the navy group by way of teaching whereas additionally serving the youth group.
They stored involved and, finally, Allen was capable of attend one of many Troopers to Sidelines seminars.
“It is simply an incredible group that basically places our veterans on the forefront. And it is one thing that I strongly imagine in, and it is simply been an incredible alternative.”
This system is free and is on the market to veterans, service members, navy spouses and gold-star households. (Troopers to Sidelines)
SOLDIERS TO SIDELINES FOUNDER ON A MISSION TO HELP VETERANS AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
Bernstein instructed Fox Information Digital that the concept for a training program designed for service members happened in 2010 after his time with the Washington Commanders, the place he served as an assistant energy and conditioning coach for 3 years.
“I used to be teaching highschool soccer and a colleague of mine was adamant about serving to out service members within the space get entangled in teaching soccer, as a result of the information was simply riddled with individuals getting back from the Center East in search of objective, in search of a strategy to reconnect and to seek out some renewed happiness and objective,” Bernstein defined.
“And so it was truly a colleague who urged that we deliver a number of the native veterans out to highschool soccer observe and make them a part of the group and train them tips on how to coach soccer.”
Bernstein admitted that he was not initially within the concept. He was engaged on perfecting his personal teaching approach with the hopes of returning to the NFL. However after a lot persistence, Bernstein obliged and held a seminar that simply six individuals attended. To his shock, Bernstein’s plans for his future had shifted in that second and Troopers to Sidelines was born.
Greater than 1,800 soldier coaches have now been licensed by way of this system throughout eight completely different sports activities. Veterans make up 38% of licensed coaches, whereas retired and energetic responsibility make up one other 25% and 27%.
This system is free and accessible to veterans, service members, navy spouses, and gold-star households. After finishing the certification course of, Troopers to Sidelines provides continued studying with on-line coursework, webinars, workshops and extra.
Those that have accomplished the certification course of have gone on to teach in any respect ranges. For Bernstein, although, essentially the most affect will be seen in those that coach on the youth stage.
Maurice Allen is the pinnacle soccer coach at South Paulding Excessive Faculty in Georgia. (Maurice Allen)
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Allen presently serves as the pinnacle soccer coach at South Paulding Excessive Faculty in Georgia. He beforehand coached at completely different 5A-8A colleges throughout Texas, Florida and Georgia. Nevertheless, within the spring, Troopers to Sidelines helped to introduce him to a brand new alternative.
Allen turned the primary soldier coach to land an internship with an NFL group, the New York Jets. He labored with the group throughout necessary minicamp and OTAs.
“It was simply actually, actually intriguing simply to see how they function and the way they observe, the teaching factors and the way intricate it’s coming from highschool as much as the NFL,” Allen stated. “However simply to see the extent of element preparation and the ins and outs of this system and the way they impart with one another and the teaching workers talk. And it was by far probably the greatest experiences that I have been part of and made some actually good connections and received to be taught.”
Maurice Allen was the primary “soldier coach” to get an internship with an NFL group this previous spring. (Maurice Allen)
Allen stated the expertise opened his eyes to the potential of teaching on the highest stage. For now, he’s taking all that he realized and repurposing that data inside his personal group. He’s additionally seeking to proceed spreading the mission of Troopers to Sidelines.
“There is a group exterior of the navy that you could be a part of and be part of, and that is Troopers to Sidelines,” Allen stated of these service members transitioning out of the navy.
“It provides you a objective, and you’ll contact so many lives, whether or not or not it’s youth, center college, highschool, faculty or the NFL. There’s so many lives and so many individuals that you could are available in contact with and affect. So my message for any veteran on the market that’s or seeking to transition, and even when you’re nonetheless energetic responsibility and also you’re teaching a youth or center college group, Troopers to Sidelines is for you.”
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