Winning.

There is nothing else in the world like it. Determination. Passion. The desire to win. The thrill of excitement that sends adrenaline rushing through one’s entire body. “What causes this”, one may wonder? Sports. It is the one thing that brings the entire universe together to embark upon competition in which the most elite group of people-both male and female, of all ethnicities, will compete against one another, representing all of which they believe and live for.  

My name is Alli McKain. I am a multi-sport athlete, a fierce competitor, and a seasoned coach.

Sports are my passion, and my passion is contagious. I am located in Los Angeles, California and I am part of the 2-3.5 percent of females that coach male teams. I am Head Coach of a JV Boys Soccer Team at the high school level, the Assistant Coach of the Boys Varsity soccer team, and I oversee the Boys Frosh soccer team.

My extensive background as an Athletic Director, Soccer Director, Health Coordinator and District Physical Education Specialist has well prepared me for the education that I provide my players, coaches, and fellow educators.  My clinics spread throughout Los Angeles, and include all ages and communities. Along with my extensive background in sports, I also find love and joy working with at-risk youth, including New Directions in Los Angeles, California, Graduate Florence Academy in Florence, South Carolina, and One Family in Jerusalem, Israel.   

I specialize in skill development, teaching athletes the mechanics and proper technique of the game. When athletes learn discipline, they see results, they grow more confident, and that shapes their character. Teamwork is an essential component and foundational principle within the Allite program. It promotes cooperation and an awareness of others that impacts life, whether in the classroom or workplace. As they strive for excellence in their sport, they become a powerful player filled with passion, loving what they do. Excellence becomes a state of mind.

I bring leadership and impart my passion for sports wherever I go. See you on the court and field!

Born To Coach.

I was born to coach. Coaching is a gift that comes naturally to me; a gift that my parents, as well as many others, saw in me in early childhood. Along with the ability to coach, just as strong in me was a passion for impacting and investing in the lives of others.

I grew up poor. I lived in a house a few streets beyond project housing. The funny thing is, I was completely unaware of our financial hardships.

I had a bike, a basketball, and a soccer ball.

I had all that I needed.

Everyday I played outside; whether I wanted to or not. My father was a coach and was known in the community for his intensity and obsession with sports. Athletics had just as much precedent in our household as education, sometimes more after a tough game.

Athletes choose to play sports for a number of reasons. I excelled on the field to compensate for my failures in the classroom. It was not that I did not care about school or want to succeed academically. I have always been intrinsically motivated and highly competitive, with an exceptional work ethic. It was simply that no matter how many hours I spent memorizing index cards, staring at my math problems, or identifying parts of speech in English, I was, at best, a mediocre student.

On the weekends, my mother and father took my brothers and I down to the projects to play sports with the other children in the neighborhood. My dad coached, and within his coaching, he included lessons on character and moral development, words of strength and encouragement, and messages of resilience.

I took those words to heart when I became a coach and Athletic Director. I have given my life entirely to my student athletes and players. What I love most about coaching is seeing a child succeed. I want them to experience the emotion of accomplishment, rather than discouragement of failure. I know the feeling of failure all too well. I also know the role athletics played in building my own confidence, discipline, and character.

When I began coaching, I began changing lives. I discovered that through my leadership on the field and court, I could break down barriers and model for my players the attributes of growth, intention, teamwork, sportsmanship, and pride.

Within my Athletic program, athletes begin training with the attitude “if I don’t make it, at least I tried, and I did my best.” However, with abundant support, specific feedback, and individualized instruction, they persevere through, not just making it, but succeeding. Every training session is designed to prepare athletes for the big game. Sometimes that big game is a soccer showcase, a basketball game, a tennis match, a swimming relay, or a baseball tournament, and sometimes that big game is life. 

Why I Coach.

I impact athletes of all ages and change their lives. That is the primary reason I coach. It’s a privilege, and it’s my passion. I use sports to help players build skills, learn discipline, become more resilient, and discover how powerful they truly are.

I coach so that I can share my childhood experience of overcoming adversity through sports with other athletes who might be struggling. I struggled in school with multiple learning disabilities, and it was through physical education and sports, that I finally found success.    

I coach so that I can create a safe, affirming environment for players to be themselves, risk trying something outside of their comfort zone, make mistakes, learn from their mistakes, and grow. In that kind of safe space, athletes are free to discover their passions and pursue them with vigor.

Each kid has a story.

Knowing their story helps me tailor my instruction to each of them and tap into their unique potential. In return, my athletes appreciate that I have taken the time to discover their interests, understand the obstacles they have overcome, and take pride in their accomplishments. Their stories help bridge the gap between us, as they realize how much I care and want them to succeed, and how much I am rooting for them. They respond by giving me their best effort.

What I love most about coaching is seeing a child succeed. I want my players to experience the emotion of accomplishment, rather than the discouragement of failure. Through physical education and sports, I am able to break down barriers created through dysfunctional families, poverty, and low academic performance and reach every athlete, including the philosopher, artist, and musician. I accomplish this task through a diverse, multicultural curriculum, which includes innovative physical activity that I have developed throughout the years of my coaching career. No matter who the athlete is and where they come from, when they leave the field or court, they will have experienced success and grown in confidence.

Accolades

• Fundamentals of Coaching, California, 2017

• Registered Athletic Administrator, 2016

• Single Subject Teaching Credential, K-12, California, 2016

• U.S. Soccer Federation, National License F, 2016

• Masters of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Lesley University, Cambridge, Mass. 2015

• South Carolina Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance State Presenter, South Carolina, 2015

• Selected to serve on Florence District One Leadership Committee, South Carolina, 2015

• Selected to rewrite the Florence District One Curriculum for all grade levels, South Carolina, 2015

• Facilitator and Presenter for District Professional Development for Florence District One Physical Educators, South Carolina, 2014

• Middle School/High School Physical Education Workshop, South Carolina, 2014

• Elementary Physical Education Workshop, South Carolina, 2014

• Physical Education Teacher of the Year Nominee, South Carolina, 2011

• Teaching Credential, South Carolina, 2007- Present

• Bachelor of Science, Physical Education, Lander University, 2006

• Diversity Award, Lander University, 2006

• Collegiate 101 Swimming Coach, Lander University, 2005

• Founded Lander University Women’s Rugby Club, 2004