COLE CHAPLESKI Q&A

I want them to feel inspired, excited and motivated to do more, to explore more and to grow more. I want them to feel like they really can dream as big as they want in terms of what kind of player and person they want to become. More than anything, I want them to feel that their experience is full of fun and enjoyment in the moment that is now.

Presence! Athletes need to be able to get out of their head and into the present moment in order to be able to access the best of their abilities. Too often players are stuck in their head thinking about making sure they don’t make a mistake, what coaches or other players may think etc instead of just doing it for the sake of doing it, to express themself and to help the team win. Repetition based training with a focus on kinetics and body mechanics i.e how things feel in the moment gives a player something to focus on that keeps them out of the mental space that can impede them, and the more a player has built up feel and muscle memory from repetition, the more they can just let go and drop in when it’s time to actually perform.

Zinedine Zidane when I was growing up. Favorite now, Lionel Messi

Players who are driven, ambitious and curious. Players who are willing to put themselves out there and really go for it, make mistakes in order to learn and develop. Players who have the courage to give themselves permission to step into who they want to be.

Jim Davidson, head coach of Broomfield High School for the past 30 or so years (just retired) and Erik Bushey, former Rush Academy coach and current Rapids 2 head coach. Both coached with such passion and depth that it made us players feel like what they were doing was important, that it mattered and that elicited passion in ourselves, which I believe has to be our driving force and is why I coach with the same passion every time I step out there, for the players and for myself.

Passion and presence. A player that really cares about what he or she is doing and is taking things moment by moment with a sense of trust and let-go can do great things.

Focused, detailed, intentional

The small, subtle details that make more and more of a difference the higher the level gets. This can apply to technique, mentality, etc. Or remembering that players need to have a sense of freedom when they step out there.

“Bravo!” or “Good effort!”

Jim Carey in one of his serious roles

I wear it as a badge of honor because of what the Farm FC stands for, its ethos and the core values that it;’s built upon. I have a great deal of respect and reverence for the Farm and what they’re trying to accomplish in the local soccer community, and to be trusted to help contribute and push it forward makes me feel like I am an extension of what they are trying to do, and that means a lot to me.

Playing Career: Colorado Rush, Broomfield High School, University of Denver Coaching Career: Colorado Rapids, Colorado Rush, Metro State University Awards: State Champion, NSCAA All-American, Gatorade Player of the Year, All-Summit League