Coach Kerry Corbett

Whitby Football Club (FC)

By Total Sports Durham

Kerry is a passionate and very experienced female coach in both the recreational and competitive soccer streams, spanning age groups U3 through adult. She has spent almost all of her coaching career at Whitby FC, developing skilled, confident and creative players.

Recognizing that a coach’s influence on a young player should be taken very seriously, Kerry’s coaching philosophy emphasizes long term development while having fun in a disciplined environment. Kerry’s coaching methods encourage respect, sportsmanship, competitiveness, problem solving and teamwork while growing players technically, tactically, socialemotionally and physically.

Throughout the pandemic Kerry has been keeping players motivated through optional online training, encouraging players to share videos highlighting their efforts and accomplishments. Players are then showcased on her social media, much to their delight.

Recognizing that coaching females is very different than coaching males, Kerry has been very active in identifying and mentoring future female coaches, including welcoming parents to her coaching staff and providing training/mentoring. Kerry often invites the club’s teen players to assist with her female LTPD teams as wonderful role models. Her own daughter, Alyssa, has been a competitive coach and a referee with the club and continues to visit past players when she’s home from university. Years later the players still ask about Alyssa and when they will have an opportunity to see her next. The resulting bond has been very inspiring and beneficial for everyone involved!

When a concussion forced Kerry to hang up her game cleats, Kerry joined the Steering Committee for ‘Heads Up! Durham’, representing players, parents and coaches in promoting her passion for concussion awareness and prevention within Durham Region. She continues to be an active player in this space.

CERTIFICATIONS

From Ontario Soccer:

1. Community Coach – Children; Youth; Senior 2. FUNdamentals 3. Learn to Train 4. Making Ethical Decisions 5. Concussion Protocol – Making Headway in Soccer 6. Ontario Soccer C-Licence Certified

• Emotional Intelligence and Building Stronger Relationships –

Coaches Association of Ontario • Diploma in Sports and Exercise Nutrition

COACHING INVOLVEMENT AT WHITBY FC

• Competitive lead coach since 2009 (Girls: 2001, 2011, 2013) • Recreational coach for over 8 years (Boys 2004 consistently plus adhoc as needed) • Lead coach for U7 FUNdamentals program as an introduction to U8 LTPD • Lead coach for ‘U3 the Ball and Me’ program • Assessment of players during the trial/assessment process • Part of the team ensuring Return to Play ran smoothly per

COVID protocols • Technical coach for Brace Academy and Individual Skills

Development programs • Involved in Female Coach Mentorship Programs with Ontario

Soccer, Durham Region Soccer Association, and Whitby FC