Huddle #56 – Chat with KSI Coach Lee ‘Doc’ Docherty

Lee ‘Doc’ Docherty is a KSI Coach currently studying Level 2 who has been involved in the game of soccer his whole life, playing and coaching at various levels throughout the world. Upon leaving the British Army, Doc has dedicated himself to coaching soccer players of all ages, helping players reach their fullest potential both on and off the field. Doc founded UKSD as a way to not only bring soccer to all players regardless of race, gender, and socio-economic circumstances, but to use the game to help teach life skills to each participant, while developing leadership traits and creating opportunities for young people to become actively engaged within their own communities, and others around the world, through community service and social issue education.

​In addition to his work with UKSD, Doc is the head coach of the Barnstable high school girls varsity soccer team, where he also works as a health and wellness teacher. Doc also works with youth, teen, and collegiate athletes across Cape Cod and the South Shore area as a physical preparation and performance coach.

This is what Doc has said about his KSI Coach education journey:

The course was really eye opening; the content was quality and really got me thinking. I have been in the ‘fitness’ world for around 20 years in many different facets and have completed lots of educational courses within that time, none have matched the sheer amount of content and overall in depth explanation of the why’s, what’s, and how’s. There is plenty to walk away from to think about, process, and reflect upon.

I am really loving the in-depth approach to the principles and system that you use when designing programs. In all of the years I have been in the ‘fitness’ world and education courses I have taken, I don’t think that I have ever seen anything really geared towards the athlete as an individual. I have guilty of getting caught in the trends and bullshit at times but have seen how the majority of things are just noise, and don’t any consideration into the long-term health and overall development of the individual athlete. In my opinion, the lack of understanding and all out ‘hoorah’ in the US when it comes to physical training (the bigger and stronger is better) is hurting young people across the board. Hopefully I can help prevent that in the kids I work with!! Quality stuff!

The focus on flexibility and its overall benefits to overall joint health and injury prevention was great insight. The lack of flexibility implementation within training is pretty much non-existent and doing any flexibility is frowned upon, especially within the world of soccer, where dynamic stretching is the only acceptable way! Since adopting pre-activity stretching routines and trying to implement full sessions to flexibility instead of ‘conditioning’ sessions (which has been firsthand ridiculed by other coaches) has received both great feedback from players and overall improved performance and a lessened rate of injuries.

And the lines of movement system continues to amaze me when looking at ways to try and help develop a more balanced training program. It really helps to have the ability to look at flaws that could ultimately lead to imbalances and injuries. 

The course was brilliant, loved the content and the whole philosophy. Lots to process and reflect on. Really positive experience and excited to learn more!”