Executive Director of Coaching and Player Development, Nashville Soccer United
Josh Severns
josh@nashvillesoccerunited.com
Coaching Experience
Josh Severns comes to Nashville Soccer United after serving in many soccer coaching capacities in Middle Tennessee over the last 10 years. Josh has been a youth soccer club Executive Director, TN ODP staff, ODP Region Camp staff, and Coaching Education instructor. Josh was also the Assistant Coach for Nashville Soccer Club’s PDL team in the summer of 2017.
Prior to arriving in Nashville, Josh was the head men’s soccer coach at Shorter University, in Rome, GA from 2006-2011 and head women’s coach from 2007-2010. While at Shorter, Josh coached multiple All-Americans, numerous All-conference players and had 3 players progress to the pro-level. His teams garnished Academic awards as well. For his efforts, Josh was named the Men’s Soccer Coach of the year and Men’s Sports Coach of the year in 2008 for the Southern States Athletic Conference.
Josh currently holds a USSF A license, US Soccer Grassroots Instructor license, USC (formerly NSCAA) Premier Diploma and USC GK Level 1 and 2 Diplomas. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in English from Birmingham-Southern in 2000 and a Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies from Jacksonville State University in 2009. He and his wife Leslie, live in Nashville with their kids, Mack Calvert who is on Spalding University’s Men’s Soccer team, daughter Madie Calvert who is attending Occidental College this fall, and ten year old daughter Luella.
A note from our former Executive Director of Coaching and Player Development Earle Davidson
Former Executive Director of Coaching and Player Development
Earle Davidson
US Soccer National “A” License
Former NCAA Division I Head Soccer Coach
Fun & development go hand in hand. The key is creating a fun, safe environment that encourages development.
It begins with comfort on the ball. We build confidence with touches (Controls, dribbles, turns, shots, etc). As the players age and progress, we add concepts and increase the skill set, including team play. The addition of topics expands understanding and skill. Sessions become increasingly position/game specific as they age because we want players to find success in the game. By doing so, we develop comfort and understanding in game situations. Sessions will relate directly back to the game they will play on the weekends, be that 4v4, 7v7, 9v9 or 11v11. This does not mean we will be playing 9v9 in practice, but rather painting a picture to represent that using small-sided games. Everything comes down to decision making. Comfort on the ball & the understanding of what is going on helps players to make confident decisions. We want the game to make sense, so we teach this format in practice. The main vehicle for teaching is playing different types of games to illustrate components of soccer.
Guided discovery is an integral aspect to what we do. We want the participants to feel ownership of the process, so mini discussions are commonplace. Where does this skill fit into the game? How can you use it? Does it suit you? We also pitch in little chats about the game. What do they like about it? What pros do they favor? Are you ready for the US National team game this weekend? Additionally, we chat about non-soccer things or how the game relates to being active, having fun, healthy living, being outdoors, etc.
While this may seem instruction heavy. individual creativity and freedom to play are vital and encouraged at every opportunity. Sessions are active. I fell in love with this game many years ago in New Jersey growing up watching the New York Cosmos play. What really attracted me to the game was that it was up to me, as a player, to make decisions within the team. Players learn to cooperate with their teammates, yet retain the opportunity to show individuality.
- Earle Davidson
