Yardling Soccer Coach: 'Getch' Loves Kids Best

Every day during soccer season for the past 14 years, freshman soccer coach Dana Getchell '53 has taught Math at the Manter Hall School above Elsie's until noon, then headed for the practice field. He remains there until darkness drives him away.

Soccer is more than a game to "Getch," as he prefers to be called. It is a passion, a means of developing human beings. "I love soccer and I love to work with kids," he says.

Each fall, he must mold a squad of young freshmen into a soccer team and somehow, he always manages to win. But winning is not everything to Getch.

"Records are fun to look at, but they don't mean much. My position on soccer is that we're not out to win games. My job is to teach the guys discipline, the value of friendship, how to work with other human beings. to respect other people's opinions, and to get real enjoyment out of soccer," he said.

Perfection Personified

"Getch is an extremely conscientious coach, a perfectionist, but what really impresses me about him is that he has an equal concern for the best player and the worst." Harvard Athletic Director Adolph Samborski said. "He just loves the game so much, and he wants everyone to feel the same way." he continued.

Varsity soccer coach Bruce Munro calls Getch "the most conscientious freshman soccer coach that I know of. His strongest point is that he is an excellent teacher as far as basic skills go."

Getch is a labyrinth of memories. He knows the starting line-up of each team that he has coached in his 14 years. and he can replay most of their games with uncanny accuracy. Through soccer, he knows men all over the world, and many who have remained at Harvard. For example, JV soccer coach Seamus Malin played under him in 1958.

"It's enjoyable working with guys, to do something with their lives and to see them using the university properly. I'm proud of the fact that my guys turn out to be medical doctors or Ph.D.'s. I'm most proud on graduation morning in the Yard when guys come up to me and thank me for helping them get started at Harvard." he says.

Winning

In his 14 years, Getch has established an amazing winning tradition for freshman soccer teams. He has produced four undefeated teams-in 1960, 1961, 1967, and 1968, Last year's team had a perfect 10-00 record.

Getch had an 8-2 record in his first year as Yardling coach, and the most games his team has ever lost was four in 1957. Since then, no Getchell coached squad has dropped more than two games in a season.

The 9-0-1 1967 squad included many of this year's varsity players. Goalie Bill Meyers allowed only three goals all season, and forward Solomon Gomez sparked the team to an 8-1 victory over Yale that year.

Then there was last year's perfect 10-00 mark. "A perfect record is a once-in-a-lifetime thing." Getch mused. The team had a pouter beer mug inscribed 10-0-0" before their final game with Yale, and presented it to Getch after they won.

Undergrad Heroics

One of the most cherished memories from Getchell's undergraduate days here came in the 1952 Yale game. Soccer was at a low point at Harvard, and Crimson teams had been shut out in Yale game for three years.

The game was evenly played, however, and went into overtime. Then there was a penalty shot called for the Crimson. Getch took the penalty shot and put the ball into the net, and Harvard held on for a 2-1 win. The victory knocked the unbeaten Elis out of contention for the national championship.

As a teacher, a coach. or just a friend, Getch is what you might call a "character." Surely, no one who has known him will ever forget him. As he prepared his 6-1 Yardlings for their last three games this week, he paused to say, "It's been a wonderful 14 years." Then his thoughts turned back to Princeton, Brown, and Yale.