By Shawn Smajstrla
Read more at DfwVarsity Soccer Insider
Kennedale coach reaps twice the rewards while directing boys, girls {{more}}
Kennedale soccer coach Michael Strange could pull off a rare double this year. He could end up with two coach of the year awards ? and it would be hard to say he hasn?t earned them. {{more}}
After directing the boys for three years, he also took on the girls varsity this season following former coach Jena Pickett?s departure late in the summer.
?On a typical day I?m on the field from 1 until 6 p.m. between JV boys, varsity boys and varsity girls,? Strange said.
Strange has probably spent even more time on the phone trying to coordinate game schedules. The Wildcats have attempted to play boys and girls games at the same site when possible, or break up games onto different days. But there are times like Friday when the boys (7-6-2) play in Keene at 4 p.m. and the girls (10-2-2) play in Venus at 6. That means Strange will be racing from one city to the next.
The teams don?t seem to mind sharing a coach, though, and in fact Strange feels it may have even brought the program closer, especially given the shared travel and the ?friendly? scrimmages. The boys and girls do occasionally square off in practice, which Strange maintains is a testament to his Lady Kats.
?Most schools I would guess the girls are probably not talented enough to handle that kind of pressure,? he said.
The transition was aided by the fact that Strange trained the girls team during its school period last season, so there was already some familiarity. The bigger transition is probably the one Strange must go through when moving from one practice to the next.
?You have to change personalities,? he said. ?I definitely approach the girls differently than I approach the boys. But it helps that the girls are so skilled.?
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