On Monday and Wednesday evenings, a handful of Texas Rush soccer players had the opportunity of a lifetime-to be trained by MLS Professionals. Dynamo Head Coach Dominic Kinnear, along with Assistants Tim Hanley, John Spencer, and Defender Kevin Goldthwaite were the trainers for the clinics which totaled five hours over two days.
When asked what it's like to have her young footballer trained by Kinnear, Pam Coffman said "It's the ultimate." Coffman, mother of Rush player Austin Coffman, said "We're very excited to have Dominic Kinnear here to work with our kids. It's inspirational." Austin Coffman, Texas Rush U16 Swoosh, said that having Kinnear as a trainer has drastically improved his game. He said that it's made him faster and better at passing and at shooting. "Having Dominic Kinnear as a trainer has improved every aspect of my game," Austin said.
John Spencer, Dynamo Assistant and former footballer for Chelsea FC of the English Premier League, was one of the professionals that worked with the Rush boys during the two sessions. He said "We got a chance to put on the same sessions and do the same exercises that we do with the Dynamo on a day-to-day basis."
Texas Rush (formerly Xtreme Soccer Club) of The Woodlands, TX is 34 teams strong on its competitive side, and at about 96 teams on its recreational side. "We're continually growing" said Ken Graham, Texas Rush Administrator. He said that the club has 18 teams competing in first division, and nine in super2. Graham went on to say that they are adopting the practice of hiring professional coaches. Instead of having "trainers" and volunteer parent coaches, the professional coaches hired by Texas Rush manage the teams on game day.
