Kent United soccer coach wins national award

Published 12:34 pm Monday, March 21, 2016

Eric Walter, a soccer coach for Kent United, has won the Positive Coaching Alliance’s Double-Goal Coach Award presented by TeamSnap for his positive impact on youth athletes.

Kent United is the competitive select program offered through Kent Covington Youth Soccer.

Walter, who also coaches soccer at Bellevue High School, is one of 50 national recipients of the Double-Goal Coach award, given to coaches who strive to win while also teaching life lessons through sports. The award includes a $200 prize, a certificate and recognition through the Positive Coaching Alliance’s websites and newsletters.

“Eric helps his team win on and off the pitch,” said Jim Thompson, founder and CEO of Positive Coaching Alliance, a national non-profit aimed at developing better athletes and better people through youth and high school sports. “By creating a positive, character-building youth sports experience and serving as a Double-Goal Coach, Eric helps youth develop into better athletes and better people.”

Walter said his experience playing youth and high school soccer inspired him to coach.

“Soccer was an integral part of my life,” Walter said in a press release. “Outside of my mom and dad, the most important people in my life were my soccer coaches, so I got started coaching soccer as soon as I could.”

Walter said his coaching philosophy “revolves around building a second family” for his players.

“I really want them to feel a part of something. I want this to be a memorable experience for them,” he said. “Going to tournaments as a 12-year-old with my teammates were some of the best times of my life, so I really want to build that camaraderie. Also, I want to teach some of the greatest life lessons you can learn about perseverance, integrity and accountability.”