Me as AYSO Soccer coach

Who would have believed this stuff would work this well. I am coaching under 9 boys. I learned nothing about teaching formations or positions, let alone any actual plays. They had the kids doing figure 8's around cones. The kids hated it and it was hard to teach. The kids weren't learning.
The kids can't get enough of it. Neither can I. It is a lot more fun playing and coaching when the team wins. The kids do not want to come off the field when I sub them.
This is what I have used that has been very helpful. Fight for the ball. My kids were stealing the ball.
I am playing the kids in the position I feel will help most. It was very helpful to learn how to assign positions. We play "Dribble Across A Square Game" to start each practice. The kids love it. Then we move on to "Dribble Around Cone and Back Relay Race", followed by the "Dribble, Turn and Shoot Race", first team to 10 goals wins. The kids love the competition.
We have played "Pass to Space, Run With Ball and Shoot" game. This teaches two important things. Pass to space, not players feet, and run with the ball, don't stop it. I make this a relay race also, they love it.
Even though it may be a bit advanced, I have played "3 Man Direct, Wing Attacking Game". This teaches the players to go to the goal, and to center the ball. Great.
The "Corner Kick Simulation" game is very good. I had them play until the attackers scored, or the defenders cleared the ball to the side.
I have shied away from "2 Team Keep Away" because last year I tried a version of it and all I had was a big pile of kids kicking at the ball. I will try again.
I plan to try "Kick Balls Onto Other Field" and "Pass It Through Game".
I have one question. All the kids want to play Forward now, since we are scoring so much, and the fullbacks don't get very much action. I am rotating each kid in to forward. Any thing I can tell the kids besides "It is a team effort"? They all want the glory.
It is great to have confidence in my team.

Me as SIPA director

It was an interesting period. I used to be director of events and web on SIPA. Silicon Valley Indian Professionals Association. Thanks to SIPA. I got a good friend Raman Daksh. I used to get sponsorship for SIPA. It was a challenge to bring a potential sponsor for this non-profit organization. There were various levels of sponsors we used to have, like diamond sponsor, annual event sponsor and monthly event sponsor. To get the core benefit out of our members, I used to recommend company's to become a long term sponsor like a period of 2 years.

Once again I still remember the thoughts that I served a non-profit community for around 5 years and at the end of the day we have a satisfaction that we did something good to the society.

Click here for SIPA

Our love that gives us pleasure

Udavum Karangal - we sponsor a couple of girls for the education and upkeep. I strongly feel that poor girls must be educated to support themselves. Udavum Karangal is a big organisation with various activities like orphanage, old age home, handicapped children's rehab, mentally retarded kids rehab etc., But they charge like Rs. 50,000 for the complete education expenses for a girl /boy until grade 12.. I think. They keep you informed about your sponsored kid's progress and you can visit them whenever you visit India. Alternatively, we do send few thousand rupees or so for every birthday or wedding day to feed them on this special occasion. In my opinion, it doesn't matter how much you do, it matters only that you want to do something for the needy and that is a great thing... There are tons of orphanage and old age homes that need help, but we can't support every one of them.. so we do send few dollars as and when we can to a few orgs and we do visit the place regularly during our visit to India.. like visiting our family and spend a day with them. It is a great feeling and I always come out of there with tears in my eyes. you can check them out in the net before you make a decision. Pay a visit once , see for yourself and then decide to send money periodically for your favourite cause, if it is worth it. In the US, I do donate 25 to 50$ per charity like cancer society, PTAs, redcross, and such organisations as I live and enjoy here and this country gave me so much, and I will be grateful as well. I am an 'active hero' named by redcross for regularly donating blood. My dad & my uncle started helping charities by going to blind school, and helping them. At the end of the day, you have a satisfaction that you did something good to the society.