SIUE women's soccer coach Lynda Bowers attended the third annual NCAA Women's Coaches Academy (WCA) in Denver, Colo., last month. She was fortunate to attend the event because nearly 100 coaches were put on a waiting list.

Celia Slater, founder of the WCA and former basketball coach at University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, led the one-week intensified seminar on many aspects of coaching. It is staffed mostly by women, and they are the best at what they do: Judy Sweet (NCAA Senior Vice-President for Championships and Education Services; Dr. Charlotte West (Former Associate Athletic Director at SIUC and the woman who helped bring women's athletics to its forefront within the NCAA); MaryAnn Salerno (co-founder of Interchange Media Inc.; Certified trainer in change management, conflict resolution, success style profiles, and organizational ethics); these are just a few of the staff members.

Q: What was the most important concept you brought back from the conference
A: There are so many things. But the most important was that networking is absolutely essential. We had networking every night. We just practiced how to introduce ourselves and get our names out in the world of athletics. Since the WCA was represented from people across the country, I found this really fun and interesting.

Q: What do you plan on implementing within the 2005 team?
A: I learned numerous strategies on team building and conflict resolution. This also will be essential in building team chemistry.

Q: What aspects of coaching did you learn about?
A: Coaching encompasses so many things. We did not discuss that many coaching strategies, but we did discuss the following: Team and staff management; legal issues; recruiting; interviewing; conflict resolution; managing the unexpected; coaching the millennium athlete; mental toughness; dealing with change; ethics; public speaking; history of women in sport; Title IX; how the NCAA really works; dealing with diversity; and developing a philosophy.

Q: What was your favorite session?
A: Understanding the Millennium Athlete. We had a fabulous speaker -- Jim Hundrieser, of Lynn University. He gave us the characteristics of all students born after 1982. It was really eye-opening and funny. We, as coaches, have to realize that kids from different generations definitely learn differently. The main thing was that kids today are very technological and need to know everything instantly. Also, they are trying to reverse all of the negative trends that the baby boomers set. They are incredibly busy, involved in community service, dominated by girls, believe in big-brands, very intent on going to college, have very demanding parents, very team-oriented, and could give up television for the internet.

Q. After being at the session, where do you think you stand as a head coach?
A. I learned that I need to get more organized! We were basically walked through what GOOD organization should be. I use to think I was somewhat organized. I'm pleased that I took the time to attend the WCA because it was the single most rewarding experience I have had so far in my coaching career.


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