Meet John Barata
New England's Most Decorated Soccer Coach
John Barata is one of the most decorated and accomplished soccer coaches in the Northeast, with a proven track record of developing all-star athletes and quality coaches.
In 2013, he founded The Beautiful Game Soccer Academy to spread his passion and wisdom for the world’s greatest sport. Through interactive training programs, camps, and clinics, John has been able to positively influence thousands of kids as they transition from young athletes into mature competitors. Many of John’s players have gone on to play for some of the best colleges and teams in the country. In addition to player development as a United States Grass Roots Educator, John shares his passion with future coaches.
Coach Barata’s dedication to the sport is unmatched and his passion is contagious. John completed his 15th season as Head Coach of the Oliver Ames High School Boys Soccer Team. Most recently, he has tremendous success winning back-to-back the MIAA 2022 and 2023 State Championships with OA, and also received the United Soccer Coaches National Coach of the Year Award - Youth. During Coach Barata’s tenure, he has over 200 wins and led his team to two Massachusetts State Championships.
Since taking over as Head Coach of the Oliver Ames Boys Soccer team, John has had tremendous success with multiple league titles and 3 Massachusetts state titles.
- 2023 MIAA State Champions
- 2022 MIAA State Champions
- 2015 MIAA State Champions
- 3-time MIAA South Sectional Champions
- 2-time Final Four Champions
- 2-time MIAA State Finalists
- 10-time Hockomock League Champions
- 14 MIAA State Tournament Appearances (No MIAA tournament in 2020)
John has also received awards and acclaim for his hard work and dedication with the Oliver Ames Boys Soccer program and Legacy Soccer Club.
- 2022 United Soccer Coaches National Coach of the Year Award - Youth
- 2022 EMSCA Coach of the Year
- 2022 Boston Globe Coach of the Year
- 2021 MIAA Coach of the Year
- 2020 Massachusetts Youth Soccer Girls Competitive Coach of the Year
- 2018 New England Soccer Journal's 50 Most Influential People in Soccer
- 4-time Hockomock Sports – Coach of the Year
- 2017 United Soccer Coaches Association – Coach of Significance Award
- 2015 Eastern Massachusetts Coach of the Year
- 2014 Boston Globe Coach of the Year
- 2012 EMSCA Coach of the Year
John currently holds several national accredited coaching licenses:
- US Soccer Director of Coaching License
- US Soccer Coach Educator "C" License
- US Soccer Federation “A” License
- United Soccer Coaches - Master Coach and Leadership Certificate - University of Delaware
- US Soccer Federation Grass Roots License Instructor
- United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma
- United Soccer Coaches Director of Coaching Diploma
- US Youth Soccer National Youth License
The Start of Something Amazing
Coach John has seen tremendous success iover the years... In 2005, John became the Director of Coaching for Easton Youth Soccer. The National Soccer Coaches of America Association later honored him with the Premier Diploma, one of the highest honors in professional coaching. In 2006, John earned his USSF A License, the second highest coaching degree in the United States.
- 2005 Director of Coaching – Easton Soccer
- 2005 NSCAA Premier Diploma
- 2006 USSF A License
- 2008 NSCAA Diploma
Building a Tradition of Winning
In 2009, Oliver Ames hired John as head coach of the boys soccer team. Under Coach Barata’s guidance, the OA team qualified for the state tournament in his inaugural season. Over the next 8 years, Coach Barata’s teams earned 8 consecutive appearances in the state tournament. John built a culture of excellence at Oliver Ames that would later yield great rewards for player and parents. During this time, John was inducted by the Halls of Fame at Immaculate High School and Assumption College. He was named to the South Shore Stars “40 under 40” and received the Rosemary Wahlberg Children’s Choice Award.
- 2009 Head Coach for Oliver Ames High School
- 2009 Hall of Fame Induction – Immaculate High School
- 2011 South Shore Stars “40 under 40 Award”
- 2011 Rosemary Wahlberg Children’s Choice Award
- 2011 Hall of Fame Induction: Assumption College
Can't Won't Stop
Further honing his coaching skills, John earned his US Youth Soccer National Youth License. He became General Manager of the Real Boston Rams, one of Massachusetts’s premier soccer clubs and winner of National Soccer Franchise of the Year. After years of developing the Oliver Ames soccer program, John led the OA Boys Soccer Team to their first State Final appearance in school history.
- 2012 USYS National Youth License
- 2013 General Manager for Real Boston Rams – National Franchise of the Year
- 2014 MIAA D2 State Finalist
What's Next?
In the past decade, John has led the Oliver Ames Boys Soccer Team to TEN Hockomock League Titles and four MIAA State Championship appearances. In 2017, Coach Barata reached an Oliver Ames milestone with over 100 wins as head coach. Also in 2017, John was chosen as the Executive Director for the Northeast Soccer League, where he continues to train and develop youth athletes all across New England. Most recently, he won back-to-back MIAA State Championships with Oliver Ames Boys programs and also received recogniation as the United Soccer Coaches National Coach of the Year Award - Youth.
- 2015 MIAA D2 State Champions
- 2016 Milestone of 100 wins reached
- 2017 Executive Director – Northeast Soccer League
- 2017 United Soccer Coaches Association – Coach of Significance Award
- 2017 Hockomock Sports – Coach of the Year
- 2017 MIAA D2 State Finalist
- 2022 United Soccer Coaches National Coach of the Year Award - Youth.
- 2022 MIAA State Champions
- 2023 Milestone of 200 wins reached
- 2023 MIAA State Champions