Jamie Meshew: The importance of learning as a coach

Jamie Meshew is a coach educator with US Soccer.

She has also been on the coaching staff for the St. Kitts and Nevis women’s national team and has coached numerous ages and levels of play over the course of her career.

Jamie holds the USSF A License, USSF National Goalkeeping License and the United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma.

Sam Snow caught up with her to discuss the importance of coach education, finding your coaching ‘why’ and supporting more women in coaching…

SS: When did you start coaching?

JM: I’ve been a coach for as long as there have been players younger than me around!

I started coaching local clinics and camps in my hometown when I was 14 and earned my first coaching license at 16.

As a former goalkeeper, I always saw myself as a bit of a coach on the field and the transition was an easy one when I was done playing. I continued to pursue coaching education to further develop myself and earned my A license before I turned 30.

I’ve coached youth, Olympic Development Progam, high school, college, semi-pro, and international teams.

SS: What was the first coaching course you attended? Do you remember much from that course?

JM: The first coaching course I attended was an old-school F license in my hometown when I was 16.

I don’t have a ton of memories of that course, but as I progressed through the pathway the things I remember most have been the connections with fellow student coaches and the opportunity to read and analyze the game differently.

Throughout my journey, I only ever had one female coach educator, and less than 10 fellow student-coaches were female in all the courses I have attended combined - hence why paying it forward for other women in coaching is so important to me.

SS: So how did you get into coaching education and teaching courses?

JM: I was thrown into coaching education years ago, almost by accident.

At the time, I was one of very few women in my area that held an A license and there was an old E license course being offered locally that had an educator drop out [at the] last minute. I agreed to help, and dove in
headfirst without really understanding what was needed.

Over time, the process to become a coach educator has become more standardized and supported. I have since had the opportunity to learn so much about andragogy and course facilitation, in addition to coaching-specific theory and methodology.

I love teaching all courses because I get to connect with coaches at all levels and help them along their pathway. I am especially grateful for opportunities to mentor other women and be an example of women in coaching education.