The Great Bend Recreation Commission is looking for a few good coaches.

GBRC announced Thursday it is still looking for volunteer coaches for its upcoming youth indoor soccer season, but GBRC staff said the need for coaches is constant. Assistant Sports Director Paul Zamarripa said the Rec often experiences a shortage of volunteer coaches for its youth sports programs year-round.

“We (always) have a need for coaches – for every season, for every sport,” he said.

Zamarripa and Athletic Recreation Supervisor Aaron Fuller say there are several misconceptions about coaching youth sports that often keep interested people from stepping into those roles. One of the most significant, Fuller said, is that a person needs to have previous experience coaching or needs extensive knowledge in the sport to be successful with coaching.

In reality, they said, all someone really needs to step in as a rec coach is a heart to help kids.

“It’s a good way to give back and give the kids someone to look up to and just help them have a fun and memorable experience,” Fuller said. “That way (the kids) can look back and relish the fun they have with their coach and their teammates.”

Anything else a coach needs to be successful, the Rec provides.

For each sport, the Rec holds a coaching clinic prior to the start of the season to acquaint coaches with basic rules, drills, how to substitute players and how to run practices. For the upcoming indoor soccer season, that clinic will be held Dec. 2.

For those who have not coached before, Zamarripa said the Rec has staff who can come to a practice and help demonstrate the basics of how to conduct practices, so that new coaches don’t feel lost in their early practices.

In addition to clinics and hands-on teaching, the Rec also has books, DVD’s and more to help coaches learn more about the coaching experience and about the sport they are looking to coach.

The time commitment per week is also less than people might think, Fuller said. On average, once games begin, coaches only need to commit to about two hours per week.

You don’t have to have a kid on the team, either, Zamarripa said, just a desire to help the kids learn and grow.

For the indoor soccer season in particular, they are hoping to have remaining coaching positions filled by the end of this week with games beginning Saturday, Dec. 4. The hope is to allow coaches to have at least one practice with their team prior to the start of games.

Those interested in volunteering can fill out a volunteer coaches’ application on the Great Bend Rec website at www.greatbendrec.com, contact the GBRC Sports Department at 620-793-3755, or visit with staff at 1214 Stone St.

For more information on Great Bend Rec sport offerings contact the Sports Department at 793-3755 ext. 117 or 793-3755 ext. 118 or visit online at www.greatbendrec.com.