Coach Abel Rios

I’m excited to be joining a club focused on community and player development!

We are growing in the North Dallas area. Super excited to welcome Coach Abel to the club a recent UEFA C license holder who also invests himself in CPD courses throughout the year.

Coach Abel will be out of our McKinney area.

“Just be a good coach.”

These words mean more to me as a coach now more than ever.

When I decided to coach this wonderful sport, I had no idea how I would get parents and players to buy into my methods.

I was hesitant, but wanted to learn. I signed up for a course and was hooked on the information.

During this course, we had to organize sessions for over 40 coaches, there was no way we would have enough players to get through each one.

My coaching mentor made one phone call.

In 30 minutes, the facility was filled with over 100 kids.

We got through the day and the kids really enjoyed themselves.

After, I asked how that was possible. He looked me in the eye and smiled and spoke those words.

I knew in that moment I was on the right path.

Contact 1 complete for this FA Wales course.

I’m here in Wrexham to finish the course. It’s going to be a fun and intense weekend that’s for sure (for both Wrexham AFC and myself).

I’m so lucky to have such a supportive family that lets me dream as big as I want to.

I dislike this time of year.

Tens of thousands of kids get a letter from their school coach that they didn’t make the cut for their school’s soccer team.

It’s absurd.

These kids, some of them who participate in a soccer program outside of school, often feel like they aren’t good enough.

The sorry part about it is that these coaches have time to work with these players to get them to a level of standard that helps them make their school’s team.

But instead, they cut them.

They’re sent home with a letter and tell them they “don’t meet the standard”.

These coaches tell adolescents that they’re not good enough, when in reality they just aren’t developed enough. There’s a difference.

Development takes intention. It takes patience. It takes coaches who see potential, not just current performances.

School sports are supposed to provide access to sports. They are meant to build culture, confidence, leadership, and resilience.

Of course there has to be a standard. Of course there has to be accountability. But when the default answer is to cut instead of teach, we’ve missed the point.

We can raise the level without lowering opportunity.

If we really care about the game, and about kids, then development has to matter more than ego.

That’s the standard.

I love winning. Every coach does.

But I don’t emphasize winning at the expense of development.

If the only thing we care about is the scoreboard, we miss the bigger picture. We stop taking risks. We stop trying new ideas. We stop learning.

My focus is on building players who understand the game, make good decisions under pressure, and can solve problems on their own. That does not always lead to the prettiest result in the short term.

It does lead to better players in the long term.

Winning is a byproduct of doing the right things consistently. Good habits means good decisions, confidence in the game, and learning to be accountable.

I want players who can win today, and still be prepared to win at the next level.

If you believe development comes first, support it. Measure progress, not just results. That’s how we build better players and better teams.

I recently heard the phrase, “The team doesn’t need a life coach.”

And I understand where that comes from.

But good coaching has never been just about drills, formations, or tactics.

Every training session and every match puts players in moments of pressure. They have to make decisions, respond to mistakes, communicate with teammates, manage emotions, and stay confident when things are not going their way. Those moments directly affect performance.

Teaching players how to handle those situations isn’t life coaching.

It is player development.

Soccer is the environment we use to build habits like accountability, resilience, composure, and confidence, because those traits show up on the ball, off the ball, and when it matters most.

You can teach technique all day.
But if a player can’t think clearly under pressure, handle adversity, or trust themselves, the game will always expose it.

Development isn’t loud.
It isn’t motivational speeches.
It is consistent standards, honest feedback, and helping players grow in ways that last longer than a single season.

That’s the kind of coaching I believe in.

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If you are a parent, player, or coach, I would love to hear your thoughts.

What do you think matters most in long-term player development?

Humbled and grateful.

THANK A COACH! All month long, Steel Nation is encouraged to send in a thank you to their coach to let our coaches know why they’re thankful for them. Next up: Coach Abel Rios from Steel United Texas! 🩷

“Thank you, Coach Abel Rios, for always being there during the tough games. Thank you for all of the troubleshooting and support you have given the whole team. You are the best coach ever!”

I’m definitely lucky to have such a fun group of athletes and parents.

THANK A COACH! All month long, Steel Nation is encouraged to send in a thank you to their coach to let our coaches know why they’re thankful for them. Next we have: Coach Abel from Steel United Texas! 🩷

“I am very thankful for Coach Abel! I appreciate the time, effort and care he’s shown in helping me grow as both a player and a person. Your encouragement has made a big difference in my confidence and love for the game.”