As junior Keatyn Spendlove sprinted toward the ball, preparing to break past the defense, a familiar voice called out from the sideline. “Watch your line!” assistant coach Andrew McRobbie shouted. But McRobbie isn’t just any coach — he’s also her stepfather.
Athletes like Spendlove navigate a dynamic on their respective school sports teams: Their fathers aren’t only supporting them from the sidelines as parents — but also as official team coaches.
Her stepfather, McRobbie, is both her high school coach and the director of coaching at the Allstars United Soccer Club.
McRobbie, originally from Scotland, grew up playing soccer before coming to the U.S. to build Allstars United. Spendlove played for the 07 Elite Clubs National League-Regional League (ECNL-RL) team at his club before moving to Silicon Valley Soccer Academy’s (SVSA) 07 Girls Academy team in her sophomore year. Although no longer under his direct supervision, Spendlove believes his guidance has continued to play an instrumental role in her development as a player, especially during her high school soccer seasons.
Spendlove finds value in her stepfather’s constructive criticism, saying: “It definitely helps having a familial connection. Since we know each other so well, it makes communication easier.”
However, having a parent as a coach doesn’t come without its drawbacks.
“A lot of people have this false idea that everything is handed to the coach’s child,” Spendlove said. “For me, it’s the opposite. I feel like I have to work harder because he has such high standards.”
Volleyball player’s coaching role
Sophomore Iris Jin — whose father, Derek Jin, is an assistant coach for the school volleyball team and a former coach for her club team at Panda Volleyball Club — also recognizes some of the advantages of being coached by someone so close to them.
“It’s helpful because [my dad’s] like an extra set of eyes for me,” Iris said. “Most parents watch from the sidelines, but since he’s on the court, he can see things up close and help me make corrections, even outside of practice.”
Jin’s father introduced Iris to the sport to her during the pandemic, when he encouraged her and her sister to start playing at home for exercise. What began as a simple way to stay active soon turned into a passion for Iris, leading her to join club teams and begin more serious training. When she joined Panda Volleyball Club at 14, he became an assistant coach for her team. Though coaching her has been rewarding, he admitted it took time to balance being both a parent and a coach.
“It wasn’t always easy,” Derek said. “At first, she didn’t always want to listen to me as a coach, but we figured it out and grew closer because of it.”
This additional feedback has become a key driver in Iris’s improvement. Instead of confining corrections to the court, her dad’s advice often carries over into their home life.
At home, her father works with Iris on drills using a setter net and a rebounder, which has helped her refine and strengthen her wrist skills. These extra efforts have better prepared Iris for both club and school competition.
For both athletes, their father-daughter coaching relationship has shaped their approach to playing their sport, blending the personal and competitive in ways that few student athletes experience. While it’s not always easy, the benefits of having someone so invested in their success outweigh the occasional challenges.
“No matter how a game goes, I always know my dad is right there beside me — both as a coach and as my biggest supporter,” Spendlove said.
