By Janelle Davis

 

Arlington Soccer rec player Oliver “Olli” Mulchandani is just 18 years old but already has put together an impressive resume to demonstrate his passion and leadership.

 

He is currently a teacher’s assistant for an AP computer science course at Yorktown High School, where he is a senior. In addition, Mulchandani is the president of the school’s Spanish Honors Club. An Arlington Soccer player since kindergarten, Mulchandani has been a part of the club in several different capacities, including Players First Leadership Council member, referee and volunteer coach.

 

Since his sophomore year, Mulchandani has been a rec coach with Arlington Soccer. He spent one season working with fourth graders and the next four coaching eighth graders with his friend as his assistant coach.

 

When asked about the challenges of asserting authority over kids as a young person himself, Mulchandani responded, “We’ve got a group that listens more than you’d expect from eighth graders.

 

“They respect us, and we have a really good relationship,” continued Mulchandani, who will be attended the University of Virginia in the fall to study computer science. “We really are only a few years older than them, and I think that actually helps us, because we’ve been in their shoes.”

 

Mulchandani was initially attracted to coaching because he has been a lifelong soccer fan and player. Describing himself as never being “the best on the team,” Mulchandani was inspired to get involved with soccer in a way that would give him a new perspective. Though coaching comes with its challenges, such as “managing so many different personalities while maintaining team unity,” Mulchandani has found coaching incredibly rewarding.

 

Mulchandani’s leadership skills extend beyond just the field. He was an inaugural member of Arlington Soccer’s Players First Leadership Council (PFLC) – a collective high school group of Arlington Soccer rec and travel players and referees serving as leaders and educators within the Arlington community and beyond. The council’s mission is “to help support an athletes’ personal development and enable them to reach their full potential off the field.” Members of the PFLC serve as Arlington Soccer ambassadors, and assist in event planning, brand building and peer mentorship.

 

Mulchandani’s experience as a member of the PFLC has been both fun and insightful. His unique three-pronged perspective – as a player, coach, and ref – has proven to be valuable in leading his peers with their efforts to build the Arlington brand. As a high school senior, Mulchandani is grateful for the opportunity to develop professionally with PFLC – helping to run clinics and create campaigns for important topics such as positive sideline behavior.

 

“It’s been so cool to see how the club functions behind-the-scenes, and getting a sense of all the work that goes into it,” he said.

 

When asked about some of his favorite work with the PFLC, Mulchandani enthusiastically replied, “I really enjoy all of the clinics that we put on. Going out there and getting to teach hundreds of little kids is awesome.”

 

He has enjoyed witnessing the impact that he and his fellow council members have been able to contribute to the club. Mulchandani shared that the most important thing he’s learned with PFLC is how to collaborate effectively in a group full of leaders with a lot of big ideas. “I think we’ve been able to do that quite well.”