Every month on the Surf Nation coaches newsletter, we aim to recognize one of our coaches who embodies our values, exceeds our standards, and leads by example on the sidelines and in the community.
This month’s coach is Jordan Raper from Match Fit Surf. Jordan took some time to share his influences, views, and sources of inspiration with us recently:
What was your motivation to coach?
I wasn’t good enough as a player!. Honestly, my family played a big role. My grandfather was a coach and a teacher. My dad was a coach and a teacher.I didn’t know if I’d be any good at it but, I just wanted to be around the game. I was scared to death when I was in Long Island as a 21-year-old working for a guy called Gary Book. but I’ve loved it. I mean, 29 years later and I’m still doing it.
Who were some of your first real influences when you started your coaching journey?
Again, my father played a big role here. Growing up, I basically went to watch him play every week. and then watch him coach. Watching him work at Forest, Leeds, and Doncaster, and just watching him and how he handled things with humor. He got the best out of his players and he knew how to motivate. He was tactically astute. I tell him now he just moans too much but he was my biggest influence and because of what he did, I wanted to do it too. I still look to him if I’ve had a bad day or a good day for that, it’s either “good job son”, or “get your head up and go on with it.”
Is there a team (past or present) that you model your playing style on?
I am mesmerized by what Bielsa did at Leeds. Absolutely mesmerized by it. But it’s not like I go, “All right, that’s what I have to do.” Because I feel like if you do that, you’re just changing your identity every two minutes. I would say that I look for ideas in a lot of areas but I don’t have a particular set of ideas that I’m going to stick with., I guess you’re pretty much the same kind of coach that you were as a player, right? And for me, that’s about mentality and a desire to win.
Is there a player (past or present) that inspires you when you watch them play?
Paul Gascoigne was special. Growing up, I wore number seven because of Bryan Robson, even as a Leeds fan. I loved Glenn Hoddle too, but Gascoinne just had everything and did everything. People say he threw his career away in the FA Cup final and he did this and that. Yeah, he did. He was a flawed genius, but he was a genius. He probably wanted to win too much.
What was your advice to other clubs or coaches?
I would say that you’ve got to be true to what you believe in. Building a club is like you’re making, a ceramic piece of work.. You’re always molding it a little bit but you know what you want it to look like. You just have to move around and change it a little bit. And you’ve got to stay true to your values. This industry has a way of really putting you down, So, don’t take anything personally. Stick to your values and surround yourself with good people that you trust and value. I think those are the most important things. And don’t listen to the noise because there’s going to be plenty of people that want to put you down.
What do you feel that MatchFit Surf does better than anyone else as a club?
I think we’ve done a really good job of adapting. We are a bit like a chameleon. We didn’t go into the DA even if we could have. We stood stuck to what we thought our principles were – which is that high school soccer is important in this area. and we’re very loyal to what we do and very true to our principles. So, I would say that that’s the biggest thing. Is it better than everybody else? I couldn’t speak to that because there’s a lot of good clubs in the country. but if I was to be asked what could you come in and help us in our club from your experience, I’d say the ability to stick true to what we’ve had but what we need to adapt.
