The soccer program at Bluffton University located in Bluffton, Ohio in conjunction with the Bluffton University Department of Athletics and as an active member of the Division III National Collegiate Athletic Association seeks to prepare athletes for life as well as vocation, for responsible citizenship, for service to all peoples and ultimately for the purposes of God’s Kingdom.*
As a soccer coaching staff, this mission statement is characterized by these particulars in the following areas:
Academic
Ø To challenge and support each athlete on the playing field and in the classroom.
Ø To provide a superior training environment that fosters critical thinking and problem solving skills for use in match play and in life.
Ø To educate the University campus and broader Bluffton community on what quality collegiate soccer represents. ( i.e.: citizenship, service to the community, “giving back to the game”)
Physical-Mental
Ø To train athletes while incorporating current pedagogical methods as deemed appropriate by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and the United States Soccer Federation, as well as other internationally recognized coaching schools.
Ø To raise each athlete’s physical and mental level of play through appropriate conditioning and psychological skills training.
Ø To prepare each athlete as well as the entire team for success in competition.
Spiritual-Social
Ø To encourage athletes to reflect on the significance of their own spirituality as they compete and work with each other toward common goals.
Ø To foster a sense of belonging and support within the team and the greater
Ø To instill a sense of individual and team pride, along with a belief that one’s individual ability can make a difference both on the soccer field and in life.
* Bluffton University Mission Statement: Shaped by the historic peace church tradition and nourished by a desire for excellence in all phases of its programs, Bluffton University seeks to prepare students of all backgrounds for life as well as vocation, for responsible citizenship, for service to all peoples and ultimately for the purposes of God’s universal kingdom.
