Tom Shields is the technical director, boys’ ECNL director and USL2 head coach at STA Soccer in Randolph, New Jersey.

Tom was formerly coach of Hull City Ladies and the University of Hull, in his native England. He was also an assistant and NCAA Division I title-winning coach at Central Connecticut State University, and director of player performance and pedagogy at Rutgers University. He also holds a masters degree in sports psychology.

SCW caught up with Tom at the United Soccer Coaches Convention, where he spoke about his progressive, holistic, player-centred coaching approach…