Another voice in the conversation on Rush Soccer’s Core Value of Accountability is Executive Director Nik Penn. Penn detailed the importance of this core value within the club:

“I was involved in the development of the Rush Accountability Chart and felt that there are some things in being part of Rush that are non-negotiable.  If you want to be part of the Rush and are on board in moving the club forward in a common direction, then being held accountable for your actions is essential.  Our goal was to encourage our clubs to hold themselves accountable to this common direction, knowing this would help drive everyone forward together.

First and foremost our job is to educate the young people under our responsibility.  To show the players that the club, the directors, and the coaches are accountable for their actions is a good step to help encourage this behavior in the future.  For the coaches this may be following through with playing time, the philosophies of the club or holding structured developmental practices.”

With extensive experience playing and coaching internationally, Penn sees the need for continuing to talk about accountability with players, coaches and staff, and pushing everyone to hold the standard.

“Staying true to the Rush Philosophy is something that I work hard in hold myself accountable to in my coaching role.  For example, following the 4:1 Positive to Instructional coaching style, looking to give 50% playing time over the year and ensuring players are playing in multiple positions over the season are all examples of how I try to stay accountable to the players.  Being a coach for Rush is something that is expected of me, and in order to help the organization move in this direction I need to work on being accountable to these philosophies. I am not perfect, and I fail everyday, but my goal is to try as my players, families and superiors remind me to be accountable.”

Penn concluded with what the Rush Core Values like Accountability can do to shape soccer in the United States, not just Rush Nation,

“I feel like the one thing that is troubling in the U.S. Soccer landscape is how distanced youth coaches feel from working to help develop players for the national team or local professional teams. From my experiences in Europe where everyone is accountable for the growth of the nation’s team, I think U.S. Soccer would do well to implement this more.

In the U.S., because of the structure of multiple leagues, that have different rules, requirements and goals it is easy for clubs to focus solely on themselves and not the bigger picture.  They become accountable to themselves, because, for instance, if I do not like the way something is run as a coach I can just go switch leagues, and therefore are not accountable to the bigger goal. If there was a single structure, with everyone focusing their efforts in the same direction, then it would be easier to hold clubs accountable. The DA league, for example, has specific requirements that clubs are held accountable to for those specific top level teams. This should be nationwide.”