By admin 
WAXHAW, N.C. (WJZY) — Arm-in-arm, a North Carolina youth soccer team is strikingly open and honest with each other.
“Come on, circle of trust,” said Coach Alex Kraemer, bringing his youth team together for a talk.
“We need to have a real solid talk about what we can and can’t do tomorrow,” he says.
Nothing is off limits in the “circle of trust.” Often, the players address each other directly about issues on the field. It’s an exercise in direct and respectful communication.
“I need you guys, more than anything, as a defensive player; listen to Sebastian; he’s making the right calls,” Kraemer says.
The circle is just one way Coach Kraemer teaches soccer and life skills to his 14-and-under Railrunners of the Waxhaw Soccer Club.
“We try and help instill a healthy attitude towards community and helping each other out,” he told Queen City News.
Whether it’s at the youth level or the World Cup, players can point to influential people like Coach Alex who instill confidence along the way, both inside and outside the lines.
“There’s one side where you want to teach the game,” Kraemer says. “But it’s more being a role model for the kids.”
“He’s a really good coach. He taught me how to play as a team,” said Nelson Tagre, a center back who has opened up and is much more confident since playing for Kraemer.
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“He’s taught me to always be kind to people, especially on the soccer field, because you don’t know what people are going through at certain times,“ says Luciano Figueiredo, who’s a striker.
The North Carolina Youth Soccer Association named him an outstanding recreational coach, recognizing Kraemer for his approach to the role as both a father figure and a mentor.
“I’m not doing it for the recognition; I’m doing it for the kids,” he says. “When you see them play with more confidence, that’s where something unlocks me to say we’re doing a good job out here.”
“I feel proud to have the coach who won that to be my coach,” said Figueiredo.
“He’s a really good mentor,” Tagre says.
In their circle of trust, the Railrunners bond in pursuit of a common goal.
“Thank you for sharing that,” he told Luciano in the circle. “Again, this is constructive criticism, guys.”
“If you’re not nervous, that’s not good,” he stressed to the team. “If you’re too nervous, that’s not good.”
“If we can build good characters here, they’ll be good people later in life,” Kraemer said.
Here in their huddle, they learn what leadership looks and sounds like.
“Just remember what we practiced today is what we’re going to try to use tomorrow,” says Kramer.
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The FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 in the US, Canada, and Mexico and continues until July 19 on Queen City News.
For world-class players, the journey to the international stage usually begins with mentors who teach them to respect the game and their teammates.
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In Waxhaw, Coach Kraemer embodies the life lessons learned through soccer.