Coach Erik Oman came out to the Commodore fields on Bainbridge Island to educate a group of Bainbridge Island Football Club coaches young and old, but mostly young players who are products of the Bainbridge academy themselves, on the basics of coaching young children.

Oman is a coach in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and also director of coaching at Emerald City Football Club.

During his visit on Tuesday, June 19, Oman demonstrated a coaching philosophy that revolved around fun, positive attitudes and encouragement and most of all, nurturing a love of the game and self confidence in young children.

“This was a great opportunity for our young coaches to learn from one of the best educators around,” said Ian McCallum, director of coaching at Bainbridge Island FC.

Each coach received a diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The Bainbridge coaches will now use this knowledge on summer camps and with fall teams (ages 3 to 18 years).

The club will be running more coach educational classes in August, McCallum added.

Registration is open for Bainbridge fall soccer for players from 3 to 18. Visit www.bifc.net for more information.