Post by 19delta on May 12, 2012 21:52:43 GMT -6
A little background...
I spent the first 9 years of my career as a high school coach (including 1 year as varsity head coach). After 2009, I got out of high school coaching and started coaching junior high and youth ball. I coached the 7th and 8th grade team at the school where I work and I also started a 5th/6th grade program in the town where I live. So, the last two years, I coached a total of four teams.
Last year was, hands-down, the worst season I ever had coaching football. Couldn't WAIT for the year to end...basically, think of every bad thing you have ever heard about in regards to youth coaching and I experienced it last year with my 7th and 8th grade team.
When the season mercifully ended, I really thought I was done. I thought that season was a coach killer. My confidence was shot and, because the 7th and 8th grade season had taken so much out of me emotionally, my 5th and 6th graders really suffered.
Anyway, I figured that I would give it one more shot this year. I quit the 7th/8th grade job and am just concentrating on 5th/6th grade football.
Well, we had our parent/player meeting 2 weeks ago and we are going to have 40 kids on the team...had so many kids come out, I had to order extra helmets and shoulder pads...nice problem to have! In fact, I think we are almost going to be able to 2-platoon our 6th grade team and will be able to play a ton of 5th graders.
We just had our first of several voluntary "minicamps" today that we have scheduled between now and the start of the season in July. It was a blast...the kids hustled, had fun, and learned. Parents were very complimentary of the organization, structure, and content of practice.
Today, I realized why I love coaching so much and what it means to me. I know that there will be bad days that come with the good days, but I'm glad I gave it another year.
Thanks for listening!
I spent the first 9 years of my career as a high school coach (including 1 year as varsity head coach). After 2009, I got out of high school coaching and started coaching junior high and youth ball. I coached the 7th and 8th grade team at the school where I work and I also started a 5th/6th grade program in the town where I live. So, the last two years, I coached a total of four teams.
Last year was, hands-down, the worst season I ever had coaching football. Couldn't WAIT for the year to end...basically, think of every bad thing you have ever heard about in regards to youth coaching and I experienced it last year with my 7th and 8th grade team.
When the season mercifully ended, I really thought I was done. I thought that season was a coach killer. My confidence was shot and, because the 7th and 8th grade season had taken so much out of me emotionally, my 5th and 6th graders really suffered.
Anyway, I figured that I would give it one more shot this year. I quit the 7th/8th grade job and am just concentrating on 5th/6th grade football.
Well, we had our parent/player meeting 2 weeks ago and we are going to have 40 kids on the team...had so many kids come out, I had to order extra helmets and shoulder pads...nice problem to have! In fact, I think we are almost going to be able to 2-platoon our 6th grade team and will be able to play a ton of 5th graders.
We just had our first of several voluntary "minicamps" today that we have scheduled between now and the start of the season in July. It was a blast...the kids hustled, had fun, and learned. Parents were very complimentary of the organization, structure, and content of practice.
Today, I realized why I love coaching so much and what it means to me. I know that there will be bad days that come with the good days, but I'm glad I gave it another year.
Thanks for listening!
