Mr. Batoh: The Key to a Strong Team and Season

By Camilla Norton ’25

​Mr. Batoh, JV Girls Soccer coach and French teacher, gets interviewed about his season, and how he achieved an almost perfect record. The overall season record was (10-1-1).

What was your mindset going into the season as the new JV Girls Soccer coach?
“Very positive. But I did not want my girls to see that I was very positive, since I didn't want to display my assurance, but rather apply pressure so that they would push themselves. I strongly believe that 80% is winnable through mindset, 20% is sport. My focus was on mentality, and then waking up the dominant strength in them.”
 
Were there any specific factors that led to this season's record?
“Having a good mindset, teamwork, determination, and them believing in themselves. They believed in me and they believed in each other.”
 
How did you motivate your players?
“First of all, telling them the truth, and making them believe in themselves.”
 
What was the truth?
“If something goes wrong, I tell them, and I show them how to fix it.”
 
What were some of the highs and lows of the season?
“For me, my mindset stayed the same: my expectations were always high whether or not the team we were playing was good or bad. The highest was when we beat Loomis, and I know that when we play Pomfret again, we will win.”
 
Is there anything you'll change for next year?
“I'll put a strong emphasis on passes and filling the empty spaces.”
 
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
“Always having a positive vibe and environment, because without them that's not good at all. Belief comes first – your mindset is what's most important. The game is played physiologically, if you don't win physiologically then you've lost.”