St. Albert Soccer Association head coach Graham Wood was recognized by the provincial governing body as a respected teacher of the sport who impacted the lives of thousands of players and coaches.
The leader of the SASA development centre was presented with the Bert Goldberger Technical Leadership Award at the Alberta Soccer Association awards banquet last Saturday in Calgary.
The award is selected by the ASA technical committee and presented to an individual who has demonstrated technical leadership in an effort to enhance the reputation of soccer in Alberta. The recipient should lead or inspire others to improve the game of soccer from a regional, provincial, national or international perspective.
“I was very honoured. This is something that comes from your peers and it’s in the name of a man I have so much respect for. I’ve known Bert for 30 odd years and he gave me my very first ASA assignment 30 years ago and has given me a lot more since. He was instrumental in me getting my licenses and national license. He’s been a mentor for me and a good friend over the years,” Wood said.
SASA president Kevin Jones has worked with Wood for more than 25 years and said he exemplifies all of the qualities expressed in the following quotation by author and motivational speaker, Israelmore Ayivor: “A good coach is a caring parent, a wise teacher, an exemplary pastor, a passionate friend and a devoted mentor.”
“Your passion for the game, your love of coaching and your friendship has changed me and thousands of athletes across this province forever. You have helped them and me become not only better players and coaches but also better people. On behalf of all them I thank you,” said Jones in the speech he wrote to introduce Wood at the banquet that was read by Tasha Oatway-McLay of St. Albert.
“Graham is a masterful teacher of the game. He is able to present the game in such a way that he deepens a player’s understanding of the tactical and technical aspects of soccer,” Jones said.
“Graham works with his athletes to support their progress. He has supported players through both personal and academic challenges and continues his support long after the players leave his mentorship.
“The level of personal respect that the players, both past and present, have for Graham is evident by the great number that want to continue playing on teams he coaches and by the vast number that remain in contact with him many years after their playing days have ended.
“Whether working with U4 parents or Classics ladies and all abilities in between, Graham enthusiastically shares his love of the game and in doing so builds his students’ knowledge and enjoyment of soccer.”
Wood relishes the opportunity help individuals learn more about the game.
“Ever since I met Bert 30 years ago I’ve been involved in coach training for the NCCP, the national (coaching association) body, and I’m also doing licenses and conducting and assessing licensed coaches,” said Wood, a SASA fixture for 15 years and head coach for the last 10 years after taking over the post from Neil Turnbull. “I work mostly with coaches in St. Albert. It’s my job to help them and mentor them but I've also done it for many coaches around the Edmonton area.”
Wood started coaching U10 and U12 teams in Britain, where he earned an England Football Association Preliminary Badge.
After moving to Edmonton, Wood coached the Ajax club and was head coach for the Victoria men’s team.
At the ASA level Wood served as staff coach while coaching a variety of provincial teams, including U15 boys, U23 Western Canada Games and U20 Canada Summer Games teams.
The member of the ASA technical committee also acts as an assessor and instructor of coaches in the provincial B and C programs and is an instructor of the theory and technical components in the National Coaching Certification Program.
His work with the Canadian Soccer Association includes instructing players at the national training centre and coaching a U18 national development squad.
Wood was also the head coach of the NAIT men’s team for 16 years and received two Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Fair Play Awards, was selected ACAC coach of the year three times and was the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association coach of the year in 2005. At NAIT his teams earned eight ACAC medals and three CCAA national medals.
Wood’s stint with NAIT led him to St. Albert, where he has lived for 24 years after 10 years in Edmonton, to assist youth players. With the SASA development centre he is responsible for planning and programming for all levels of youth soccer in St. Albert. He also designed a development program that puts SASA as a leading force in long-term player development in Alberta and Canada.
“Most of my on-field activity, where I hope to spend most of my time, is evenings and weekends and through the winter time, it’s evenings and weekends but during the day I still have the soccer academy at St. Edmunds (in Edmonton) that I go to three times a week,” said the St. Edmunds’ academy director who is part of the coaching staff at the St. Francis Xavier Soccer Academy.
Wood, 67, has no desire to stop teaching students of the game.
“I just love it. It’s something I can’t give up. It’s my passion. It’s something I’m not ready to give up yet. I don’t feel 67, not even close. I’m still pretty physically active so as long as I can offer something I’ll carry on doing it,” said the father of two sons and proud grandfather who credits his wife, Pat, for allowing him to share his enthusiasm for soccer to the masses.
