{"id":2887,"date":"2026-06-09T12:05:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T12:05:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=2887"},"modified":"2026-06-09T12:05:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T12:05:34","slug":"nc-soccer-coach-embodies-the-impact-of-mentors-from-youth-soccer-to-world-cup-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=2887","title":{"rendered":"NC soccer coach embodies the impact of mentors, from youth soccer to World Cup level"},"content":{"rendered":"
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WAXHAW, N.C. (WJZY) \u2014 Arm-in-arm, a North Carolina youth soccer team is strikingly open and honest with each other.<\/p>

Read more \u2018Son thinks I didn\u2019t show up\u2019: Greensboro father upset after being locked out of high school graduation<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, circle of trust,\u201d said Coach Alex Kraemer, bringing his youth team together for a talk.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to have a real solid talk about what we can and can\u2019t do tomorrow,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

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Nothing is off limits in the \u201ccircle of trust.\u201d Often, the players address each other directly about issues on the field. It\u2019s an exercise in direct and respectful communication.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need you guys, more than anything, as a defensive player; listen to Sebastian; he\u2019s making the right calls,\u201d Kraemer says.<\/p>\n

The circle is just one way Coach Kraemer teaches soccer and life skills to his 14-and-under Railrunners of the Waxhaw Soccer Club.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe try and help instill a healthy attitude towards community and helping each other out,\u201d he told Queen City News.<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s one side where you want to teach the game,\u201d Kraemer says. \u201cBut it\u2019s more being a role model for the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe\u2019s a really good coach. He taught me how to play as a team,\u201d said Nelson Tagre, a center back who has opened up and is much more confident since playing for Kraemer.<\/p>

Read more World Cup ref from Somalia who was denied entry to the US was about to make history for his country<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s taught me to always be kind to people, especially on the soccer field, because you don\u2019t know what people are going through at certain times,\u201c says Luciano Figueiredo, who\u2019s a striker.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m not doing it for the recognition; I\u2019m doing it for the kids,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen you see them play with more confidence, that\u2019s where something unlocks me to say we\u2019re doing a good job out here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel proud to have the coach who won that to be my coach,\u201d said Figueiredo.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a really good mentor,\u201d Tagre says.<\/p>\n

In their circle of trust, the Railrunners bond in pursuit of a common goal.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for sharing that,\u201d he told Luciano in the circle. \u201cAgain, this is constructive criticism, guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re not nervous, that\u2019s not good,\u201d he stressed to the team. \u201cIf you\u2019re too nervous, that\u2019s not good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we can build good characters here, they\u2019ll be good people later in life,\u201d Kraemer said.<\/p>\n

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Here in their huddle, they learn what leadership looks and sounds like.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust remember what we practiced today is what we\u2019re going to try to use tomorrow,\u201d says Kramer.<\/p>\n

Looking for more positive news in your day? Check out The Bright Side \u2600\ufe0f<\/strong><\/p>\n

The FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 in the US, Canada, and Mexico and continues until July 19 on Queen City News.<\/p>\n

For world-class players, the journey to the international stage usually begins with mentors who teach them to respect the game and their teammates.<\/p>

Read more Hurricanes coach Rod Brind\u2019Amour not disclosing goaltender decision for Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final<\/a><\/p>\n

In Waxhaw, Coach Kraemer embodies the life lessons learned through soccer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WAXHAW, N.C. (WJZY) \u2014 Arm-in-arm, a North Carolina youth soccer team is strikingly open and honest with each other. \u201cCome on, circle of trust,\u201d said Coach Alex Kraemer, bringing his youth team together for a talk. \u201cWe need to have a real solid talk about what we can and can\u2019t do tomorrow,\u201d he says. Nothing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2879,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nNC soccer coach embodies the impact of mentors, from youth soccer to World Cup level - Raleigh Moving News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=2887\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NC soccer coach embodies the impact of mentors, from youth soccer to World Cup level - Raleigh Moving News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"WAXHAW, N.C. (WJZY) \u2014 Arm-in-arm, a North Carolina youth soccer team is strikingly open and honest with each other. \u201cCome on, circle of trust,\u201d said Coach Alex Kraemer, bringing his youth team together for a talk. \u201cWe need to have a real solid talk about what we can and can\u2019t do tomorrow,\u201d he says. 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