|
Post by Sparkey on Jan 22, 2009 7:22:44 GMT -6
How would you experienced coaches answer the following question. What has coaching meant to you? Coaching has meant a lot to me, but I have difficulty putting my thoughts into words. Thanks for your input.
|
|
|
Post by kboyd on Jan 22, 2009 9:17:18 GMT -6
I'm going into my 17th season this year and the thing that I have said from day one is that I personally got a lot out of football as a player and I still feel that I owe a lot back to the game. Above that coaching has allowed me to be an influence on a huge number of kids and I really do feel that it is an honor to be able to work with these kids. In fact, I thank the parents every year for allowing me to be a part of their kids lives. Of course, I have a tremendous amount of fun with it all and I think that when it stops being fun I won't be as effective as a coach and will probably hang up the whistle.
|
|
|
Post by justryn2 on Jan 22, 2009 12:37:31 GMT -6
I volunteer coach at the middle school level; 7th and 8th grade. I would say that coaching has allowed me to give something back to the community but that just isn't true. I truly believe that I get so much more out of coaching than I give. I am really embarrassed when someone wants to thank me for coaching.
Coaching has given me an outlet for my competitive side. Without coaching, I honestly couldn't do my day job (software engineer). Also, all of the reading and studying I do to become a better coach has made me a better employee. I'm more willing to put in a little bit extra to help "the team" and I am more focused on doing my part to help reach the team goals.
Finally, believe it or not, coaching gave me the motivation I needed to quit smoking. I had been a pack-a-day smoker for well over 20 years. But two years ago, realizing that as head coach for a group of 12 and 13 year old's, I was going to be a role model for young men at a highly impressionable age, I managed to give them up and haven't touch a cigarette since.
|
|
|
Post by touchdownmaker on Jan 22, 2009 12:38:54 GMT -6
COACHING IS MY FIRE WITHIN.
it is part of who I am, what defines me, how people know me. It is the thing that builds the best relationships, life long, lasting and meaningful friendship and respect.
|
|
|
Post by coachorr on Jan 22, 2009 15:55:41 GMT -6
DC OHIO, Thank you, for the great story. My story is very similar, and I will never forget the feeling I had when I put my last Human Resource Management job in the rearview mirror. I actually remember seeing the white fence around the plant, disappear in my mirror as I drove away. Since then, my life has never been the same.
Great story brother, thanks again.
|
|
|
Post by kboyd on Jan 22, 2009 16:02:17 GMT -6
Awesome story dcohio - it's nice to see things work out for people who are responsible and do the right things.
|
|
|
Post by touchdowng on Jan 24, 2009 19:35:15 GMT -6
What has coaching meant to me? It has meant that I have a title that is almost as important as "Dad" and that would be "Coach."
In many ways we become a surrogate parent to many of our players. Sometimes we don't even know it until many years later when a player comes back and shares something that they learned from you and your program that has stayed with them and helped them through difficult times. We know that we are helping the obvious players who have troubled lives but little do we know what type of influence we have on every players life that we touch.
I believe as I gained more experience with working with young people it became obvious to me that the only thing that truly matters at the end of the day is, "did I help that kid become a better person through the game of football?"
I hope I have.
|
|
|
Post by coachcreme on Jan 26, 2009 21:33:19 GMT -6
I've been coaching a short time but helping turn young men into men...Seeing that this game of football is just like life...What you put into it is what you get out of it... The joy I get from seeing players grown on the field and just as much off the field...ALONG WITH THE WINS...
Like someone said early this game has gave so much to me...So I owe it to the game to be there for the kids just like my coaches who were there for me... because of the coaches they had... thats the beauty of this game of life we call football.
I one thing which has worked for me is always keeping 100% real to my kids the good and the bad....And letting them know this...it has gone a long way with building strong relationships with players. They come to me to talk about everything.
|
|
|
Post by jpdaley25 on Jan 27, 2009 6:14:52 GMT -6
It's not just what I do, it's who I am.
|
|
|
Post by eaglemountie on Jan 27, 2009 6:34:36 GMT -6
Coaching to me has meant being able to keep my sanity and remain part of a football team, player/coach, for over 18 consecutive years.
If I wasn't apart of a team in some fashion I would drive everyone around me absolutely insane.
|
|
|
Post by struceri on Jan 27, 2009 14:48:04 GMT -6
i'd be lost without coaching!
|
|