Building a successful soccer program is just as much about team building exercises as it is kicking a ball around on the pitch for Katie Scali.

Scali, the Flowery Branch girls soccer coach, is just as likely to rally the team together for a trip to an art studio, for instance, as she is for a grueling practice on a cold spring day.

Her approach seems to be working.

This year, the Lady Falcons (13-7) set a school record for least number of goals allowed (22) en route to their first undefeated region record, the Area 8-AAAA title and a trip to the second round of the state playoffs.

"We're more like a family than a team," Scali said.

For her efforts, Scali is The Times' Soccer Coach of the Year.

Scali started this season on what she believes was the right foot with its "Gut Day" in January, immediately after the roster was set.

This year, that entailed an approximately five-mile hike for the Lady Falcons and games during the day at the Elachee Nature Center.

During the year, Scali likes to keep things lively and not overly serious with a wide array activities, which included a day of carving pumpkins at her home, each player creating a soccer-themed painting on a canvas at a local art studio during another outing, and most recently, a yard sale this weekend to raise money for the program.

During the season, the team also does team dinner nights the day before a game, along with spontaneously playing "stupid games" as a group.

What Scali sees as a result is a program that has a tight bond through its outside activities that carries over to the soccer pitch.

"This team has a real sisterly love," Scali said.
"And they want to do well for each other, not just for me."

Now that Flowery Branch is getting used to success on the field, it expects the same in the future.

This year, the Lady Falcons were led by a group of sophomores and juniors, and most played significantly the previous year when they made the third round of the state tournament.

Scali said that defense is the biggest strength of the team with a bunch of unsung heroes like Morgan Glenn, Alex Lee, Kylie Sain and Lauren Dunn, who are all returning next season.

Now that Flowery Branch has established itself in Class AAAA, Scali hopes that the Lady Falcons can make the next step forward next year.

"If I could fast forward, the goals we had this season will be repeated," Scali said.

"We want to go even further in the playoffs next season."