May 1 — JAMESTOWN — The Becker family’s love affair with football began in the 1990s.
“My parents actually started a soccer program in Groton, South Dakota, and then for the next 10 years they started programs across South Dakota in different cities and communities,” said the head women’s soccer coach. Jamestown University, Nick Becker. “They never played. It was just one of those things where it was a small town and we had this new sport popping up.
“At the time we had a team and a lady who had just moved to town who we thought knew what football was, so they gave her the job of coach,” he said. “We lost every game the first year. The second year, all the same kids showed up and we scored a goal that year. Then we split into two teams, and from the third year onwards we didn’t lose a game for two years. The kids saw the success, the sport was growing, everyone loved it and it was something unique for me.
Nick played club football, South Dakota ODP, and high school. He played four years at Presentation College.
Although he proved to be talented as an athlete, Nick also showed talent as a coach.
“When we were 14 – we didn’t have enough parent volunteers at the time – so they said here’s your team – go coach,” Nick said. “So that’s how I got hired as a coach at a younger age.”
Nick served as a graduate assistant at Northern State University for the women’s soccer program from 2008-10. He also coached for the South Dakota ODP program, Hub City Soccer Club and conducted skills and conditioning camps. In 2012, Nick was offered his current role as head coach of the UJ women’s team.
The city of Buffalo is where his children got their start.
Layla, Becker’s oldest daughter, started playing youth soccer at age 4.
“I really like the sport and many of my family are also big football fans,” said Layla. “I really fell in love with football about two years ago when I started playing for different teams and attending camps to improve. My father always encouraged me to improve and to never give up. I don’t want me to play for other teams and sign up for skills camps.”
Nick has been coaching Layla at club level for the past six years.
“They sometimes don’t get along very well,” Nick said of being a father and a coach. “You have to walk that fine line. Usually, on days when she’s mad at me, she tells me that she would find our rival and then she would play for them and beat me someday.
“Teaching her what to do and when she actually gets it right is a fun, aha moment,” he said. “Seeing her succeed is fun. It’s always hard to see her fail, but I need to let her see how she reacts and overcomes it to get better. Now in high school, I don’t provide much input unless she asks. I try I let it be her thing, but I try to help her when necessary.
According to his daughter, Nick did a good job walking the fine line.
“I like having my dad as a coach because he knows how to push me better than other coaches and he also makes me play in new positions on the field as well as making me try out new skills,” she said.
Even though it’s almost always football season in the Becker household, Layla said she uses the off-season time to stay active. Layla is alternating between soccer and track training and an off-season volleyball camp this spring. During the winter, Layla plays hockey. She also coaches soccer independently year-round.
In the eight games Layla has played in so far this year, she has been credited with five goals and four assists to earn the No. 1 individual scoring title. She is tied with freshman Briella Martin with nine points.
“What most of my coaches like about me is that I’m willing to play different positions and I can always adjust to where I’m playing,” Layla said. “But this high school season I’ve been playing forward and I really enjoy it.
“Some of my goals for this high school season include helping my teammates and myself work to improve, as well as encouraging myself and others as well,” she said. “I want to continue excelling in my soccer career and improving so that maybe one day I can play at the college level.”
Layla is in her second season playing for the Jays’ college team. On May 1, the Blue Jays women’s team was 7-1 and gave up just three goals – all against Minot on April 23. Last year, Jamestown saw state tournament qualifiers hosted by the JHS girls and boys soccer programs. .
“She’s always been fast and athletic and understands the game very well,” Nick said of his daughter. “She still has a long way to go, but she’s doing well. She likes to show up and compete against the older kids. She’s not going to give up. I think we’ve done a good job with the development of the youth soccer club here in town. We have established a good base with the club here in the city. That’s why the high school teams are doing well.
