SPOKANE, Wash. – Mike Pellicio has the perfect blend of experience for his new role: an extensive coaching background in soccer while working as a special education teacher at Shadle Park.
His newest job title: Head Coach of the Spokane Impact.
The new competitive club is about to begin tryouts for its very first season. What makes this team unique? Well, the roster will be strictly filled with athletes that have intellectual disabilities.
Blending two of Pellicio’s passions makes the role easy to offer and easy to accept. But it’s not just his resume on paper that makes him stand out: it’s also his attitude and approach.
“I subbed two days in a row in a special education class and I had been in many. But in this particular one, I asked the kids on day one what their favorite color was, and on day two I brought them each a balloon in that color,” said Pellicio.
It’s that easy to make someone with exceptionalities feel seen. That’s the goal Coach Pellicio has with the Spokane Impact and the Inspire Soccer league. He wants to have a hand in giving local players an opportunity they haven’t had before.
“For players to achieve things that they never thought possible. That’s the target. If all that means is coming out to the tryout for some people, that’s great. If all that means is going out to Knoxville and scoring eight goals… that’s a tough topic, but if that’s what your goal is, I want you to achieve that too.”
The Spokane Impact will let players play competitively and travel to three other cities and play against their Inspire League teams. Knoxville, Houston, Colorado Springs and Spokane will each host a match beginning this fall.
Though these four teams are heading into uncharted waters – Coach Pellicio says the similarities with teaching and coaching will help him navigate the journey.
“You’re leading the group as the teacher, but then you’re consistently pulling people off to the side and you know, ‘hey let’s address this, let’s see if we can get better at this.’ In soccer you do a lot of that. You lead the team and you pull the player aside and you ask them to do something different or correct something or you give them some praise because they need it. I imagine both those things are going to perfectly blend together for Spokane Impact.”
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Tryouts begin July 15 and continue on July 17. For more information on qualifications for participating athletes: click here.
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