Surf SC’s New Senior Boys Director of Coaching Josh Henderson
A youth soccer club reflects the leadership at the top and San Diego’s Surf Soccer Club – one of America’s top youth soccer clubs — has just announced a new Boys Senior Director of Coaching, Josh Henderson.
In today’s competitive youth soccer market, the coaches and players’ on-field soccer performance is often influenced from the club’s leadership. San Diego powerhouse, Surf SC has just announced that Josh Henderson is the new Boys Senior Director of Coaching. Henderson, who just left FC Golden State as Academy Director, comes to Surf SC with the goal of taking the youth soccer club to the next level and building a hugely successful boys side.
The emphasis will be on changing the culture at Surf SC. “It is always about the culture of the club and moving Surf SC forward,” said Henderson. “My goal is to make sure every player, every team and every coach from the U8 to U18 level is as successful as possible.” Henderson also brought over Cody M. Worden from FC Golden State. Worden is the new Boys Director of Coaching and will report directly to Henderson. Both Henderson and Worden have U.S. Soccer National “A” licenses.
Henderson, who joined FC Golden State in 2012 after the New York Cosmos Academy closed its West Coast program, has worked as a Technical Director or Director of Coaching in the Southern California area since 2004. With a passion for developing players on US Soccer Development Academy teams – Henderson’s goal is to help Surf SC succeed on all levels. Looking to provide clear direction and fulfilling a leadership role, Henderson said, “Surf SC is a sleeping giant. Surf SC has been one of the top 5 clubs in America for the last 25 years. Coming to Surf SC is a dream job. The position of Boys Senior Director of Coaching is one of the best jobs in America.”
The emphasis will be on changing the culture at Surf SC. “It is always about the culture of the club and moving Surf SC forward,” said Henderson. “The most important part of building a club and developing players is the quality of the coaches and their focus of the players,” said Henderson. “Everyone’s attitude is important.”
With the goal of building a more family-oriented culture, Henderson wants an environment where the club’s coaches believe in each other and want each other to succeed. “I want Surf SC coaches competing not against each other but competing together and doing what it takes to make the club – and each other – successful.”
Ask how he would judge coaches, Henderson replied, “I will be judging coaches by the implementation of ideas and their attitude more than their initial results on field.”
Excited about the vast talent pool in America’s Finest City, San Diego is home to tens of thousands of youth soccer players. “The Surf SC has earned respect across the nation and has experienced a lot of success, particularly on the boys side in the 8 years old to 13 years old age range, but there is a disconnect at the older ages.”
Henderson who does not have a preferred formation believes good soccer is a mind set. With a strong passion for controlling the soccer ball, Henderson said, “It is about a mentality, a philosophy of pressuring the ball. If you lose the ball on the field, you immediately work hard to get it back. We play possession-oriented style of soccer. We want to help players learn when to pressure the ball in a game and how to move forward and always look for opportunities to score. The game is the players chance to show what they have learned in practice.”
“I always wanted to be the best soccer player I could be,” said Henderson who retired from playing professional soccer in 2003. Henderson was drafted in the 2000 MLS Super Draft by Chicago Fire and played for the MLS LA Galaxy and then the NASL Richmond Kickers and Charleston Battery. Henderson also played in Scotland for the Glasgow Rangers reserves after being on the U20 National Team.
“Now, I want help every player exceed expectations,” said Henderson. “The goal is to create an environment that is successful. I am inspired to help youth players move forward.”
Surf SC will soon kick off focused training sessions for Academy players designed to offset weaknesses and meet the needs of developing players. “Assessing individual weaknesses and the strengths of Surf SC ‘s USSF Academy players is important for achieving better results on the field. We want to help providing positional specific training to help players be successful in their position. The focus is on the players because it is their game.”
“It is a great job to be here and I really look forward to getting to know everyone at Surf.”
Henderson and Worden make a great team and share the same philosophy. Worden is also thrilled to join the club and when asked why did he leave Golden State simply replied, “Because it is Surf.”
