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Post by tiger46 on Feb 27, 2008 0:05:58 GMT -6
Coaches,
Maybe I should have posted this in the youth forums. But, it may be applicable to coaches on any level.
I coach in what would be considered an inner-city youth league in other cities. I do what I can to inspire my kids to realize that they can be anything that they want to be. There's nothing special about me. But, I try to be an example of what a positive male role model can accomplish in life. In all honesty, when I started coaching, I never thought the idea of coaching football to little kids could bend my mind towards such lofty pursuits in my own personal life.
I know we as coaches have many inspirations. I see many threads that can attest to that. But, I don't see nearly as many threads about when players inspire us.... when they "get to you". And, I think that's one of the most rewarding factors of why I coach.
I remember, as a player, the team bringing tears to the eyes of a tough-as-nails coach when we made a comeback win after hafltime on a bigger(large 3A vs. small 3A), much more talented team that had a coaching staff that he had issues with. And, we did it all for him.
We didnt' even know the particulars- and, we didn't need to. Nobody was going to mistreat our coach and get away with it.
In my three short years of coaching youth football, my players have given me so many moments of inspiration on and off the field. They drive me to be a better coach and person. In their own way, their actions and attitudes are worth more than what Gen. Patton, Sun Tzu, MLK or, Vince Lombardi could ever have said to inspire me.
I just know other coaches, at one time or another, have to feel that.
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Post by davecisar on Feb 27, 2008 7:05:49 GMT -6
When a Minimum pay type player finally "gets it" gives his all and sees the reward of his consistent effort. The kind of kid that is a bit of a misfit and cant seem to do much right the first few weeks, but he hangs in there and courageously efforts the best he can.
Im always looking at and rooting for the marginal kid on the fence, I get a lot more out of that than the wins or the success of my stud players.
When a kid takes the bus everyday to practice and he even has to transfer in downtown Omaha AND he wears his football gear the whole time. True story, and yes we ended up getting him a ride eventually.
When you take a group of non-select kids, dont cut anyone, lots of misfits and go blow out a team that has selected from 200+ kids and has a stud at every position, because the kids beleive and play as a team.
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Post by gschwender on Feb 27, 2008 7:36:17 GMT -6
when you try to teach something to a kid and he has a hard time "getting it" and finally in the same situation in a game he does it right and seeing that "lightbulb" light up over his head.
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Post by coachweav88 on Feb 27, 2008 9:54:57 GMT -6
When you get to talk to former players and they thank you.
Seeing your team "get it"
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Post by buchananm on Feb 27, 2008 9:59:23 GMT -6
When a kid chooses the coaching profession because of the impact you have made in his life.
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Post by tiger46 on Feb 27, 2008 10:27:18 GMT -6
Calling my players' families after the season ended and asking how the boys' grades were still coming along since they no longer had the added pressure of having to have good grades to play football. I found out that kids that used to fail no longer are. And, kids that were barely skating by have raised their grades- including a kid that had anger management issues so severely that he had to be removed from his home. He is now making 'A's & 'B's. Obviously, the kid had other help. But, his parents told me that my requirements to pass school and respect parents & teachers were the first in-roads to getting him under control.
I only had 15 players finish the season. But, not one of them were failing school or getting into trouble at the time that I called almost two months after the season ended.
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Post by ajreaper on Feb 27, 2008 10:35:32 GMT -6
I got an email 4-5 years ago from a former player of mine (coached him in JV basketball and in his weight training classes through high school) who was, at the time, in Iraq. He was a combat medic attached to an airborne unit. He said he was compelled to let me know that the lessons he learned on the court and in the weightroom were every bit as important as all the training he had recieved in the army as far as getting by day to day in Iraq. He said whatever you do don't mellow with age, don't let up on them a bit, ever, because sometime, somewhere, those lessons may help them stay focused and do their job
as if thier life or anothers life depended on it, because it literally could.
When I'm upset with a parent, a kid, an adminstrator and wonder why the hell I even bother I think back to that email.
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Post by groundchuck on Feb 27, 2008 10:46:46 GMT -6
I had a player break his leg a couple seasons ago. He needed surgery to repair it. When I arrived at the hospital after school the next week to check on him (following his surgery) he was still in recovery but the nurses let me in b/c when he woke up he asked "if his coach was here yet." HE did not ask for his mom or dad, he asked if I was there. I guess I mean something to that kid.
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Post by tcousins on Feb 27, 2008 20:53:07 GMT -6
When a kid I coached a few years ago (who is now a very popular up and coming actor) sends me his head shot photo and writes on it and says, that when he wins his oscar- right after God, I will be the next person he thanks because I am the reason he is there. And when a player I coached several years back calls and says he will be coming into town (from 500 miles away) and says he needs to talk to me. I get to the resturant and he asked me if it is ok if he names his soon to be son after me. That one brought me to tears.... THOSE are some of the thousands of reasons I do this job.
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Post by phantom on Feb 27, 2008 21:03:51 GMT -6
When a kid who started in our program as a fat kid with zero athletic ability works his butt off for years and makes himself a player.
When a guy who's a major league a$$hole as a young player turns around and becomes a productive citizen.
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Post by pantherpride91 on Feb 29, 2008 10:10:49 GMT -6
When a team loses 35 straight and has been through hell and back gets that first W. I was only around for 6 of the losses, but hearing the stories of how the previous coaches it was a wonder there was even a team. Seeing those seniors look up at the scoreboard and see the score in their favor for the first time since the first game of their freshman year was amazing.
Every senior after the game came into our coaches office and thanked us for everything we had done and they will never forget that night. gives me the chills still thinking about it
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Post by tye2021 on Feb 29, 2008 17:52:19 GMT -6
MOMENTS. Just being around the kids watching them grow and learn everyday. One of my favorite moments of ALL TIMES.
Had a kid named CJ on the team. CJ played on the 12-14 year old team as a 9 year old becuase he was to heavy to make weight at any other age group. When he was 10 he barely made weight for the 12-14 age group. He obviously wasn't a starter any of these two years but we always make sure everybody plays. CJ always went in at DT.
During his second year, during a game late in the season (last or second to last game) we are up in the game early in the 4th so we start putting in back-ups back in. (We played our back-ups in the first and second half. Sent them in one or two at a time so that we didn't have big team drop offs in game performance.) Well on a third down and long they're QB drops back to pass and CJ is the only D-lineman to break through and he sacked the QB. The entire coaching staff and the parents in the crowd went biserk!
Now that same kid also gave me and my wife a moment that we will NEVER forget for a different reason. Its mid to late season and its cold out. In the middle of the game. Defense is on the field CJ is on the sideline. His dad and my wife are right behind the team bench talking. CJ turns to his dad in the middle of the game and says:
CJ: "Dad...dad?"
CJ's-dad "What?"
CJ: "Get me a cheeseburger."
CJ's-dad "What?...No you're in the middle of the game!"
CJ: "OK..well, get me a snickersbar it'll help keep me warm!"
Still to this day by far the funniest thing that I've ever herd on the sideline!
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Post by tiger46 on Feb 29, 2008 21:33:41 GMT -6
Thanks, coaches,
I've been thinking of getting out of coaching. I've only been at it three years. I love working with the boys. But, the parents and the BS is getting to me. Your stories really motivate me!
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Post by coachmoore42 on Feb 29, 2008 23:17:53 GMT -6
When you go to the store and you run into a young man who could barely read when you met him 7 years ago. He is in his first year of college, majoring in education. He hugs you and still calls you coach and sir.
For a few years I thought winning was the only satisfaction you got from coaching (I began coaching straight out of HS). It's not even the biggest anymore.
And speaking of getting to you...anyone who hasn't dones so yet should look on ESPN's website and read the story about Summerville High's basketball team. Maybe do a search for it or look in the HS section. It will get to most of you who see it.
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Post by coachlu on Mar 1, 2008 12:03:45 GMT -6
When its November and you realize how far your team has come since August.
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nexthc
Junior Member
"The Golden Rule"
Posts: 439
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Post by nexthc on Mar 2, 2008 8:07:43 GMT -6
When you pull a starting linebacker out of the State Championship game on third and long and replace with a nickel DB and he looks pissed off. The moral behind the story is this: I told him, "look at the situation, it is third and long" The starting LB's response: "whatever it takes!" That is something that I will never forget.
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Post by veerraid on Mar 2, 2008 8:07:55 GMT -6
Well, I don't know if this qualifies, but I had something that happened to me about ten years ago that keeps me going when times are tough.
We had a kid come out his junior year that was a decent athlete, nothing great, but he worked hard, and who, for some reason (I can't remember exactly why after all these years), I always called "buddy" - which is not his name. Played receiver and DB. He had an ok year, saw some quality time on varsity. That spring, he was in a car accident with two other kids (who, I am sorry to say, did not survive). The kid was beat up pretty bad, broken pelvic area, some broken ribs, collapsed lung, head trauma, and many other "minor" (less serious than above) injuries. At first, it did not look like he was going to make it.
As soon as I found out (the next day), ran off to the hospital with another assistant. Meeting his family in the waiting area was pretty hard. We talked with them for awhile to get updated on the boy's condition. Well, his mother decides that she will sneak us into the ICU (where only immediate family is allowed at our local hospital) as the boy's close "uncle's". We agreed, and his mother led us inside.
On the way, she explained that "buddy" was extremely drugged up for the pain, and even if he was awake, which he was not when she left a few minutes before we arrived, he probably would not recognize us. Entering the room, it was dark, with a bunch of machines running. The kid was laying on the bed, on his side, with his back to the entrance. His mom said that this was the only position he had any comfort in at all. He was covered in scrapes and bruises, and his one eye was swollen shut. It was very difficult to look at this young man as he lay there, even in a "sleeping" state. Well, as we are getting ready to leave, I place my hand on his shoulder and say "hang in there buddy". The kid stirs a little after I say that, lifts his head, probably as much as the pain would allow, and says "hey coach" without ever opening his non-swollen eye. I am not too proud to admit that my eyes swelled up with tears upon hearing those words. What made it worse was that as we left, the mother said those were the first words he said since the accident.
So whenever I am down on something around the game, I remember my "buddy" and the impact that we have on these young men outside the game. Just the word "coach" keeps me going.
BTW - the young man did survive, and he came out the next year, even though he couldn't run. Of course, he was just happy to be around the team and help out any way he could. What he didn't realize is that he inspired not only the team, but this coach.
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prossi
Sophomore Member
Posts: 108
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Post by prossi on Mar 2, 2008 12:05:25 GMT -6
When a freshman goes up to your starting FB/LB all conference senior who's an a$$ kicker and askes him how to do a squat to right way and that senior shows him and takes him under his wing and even helps the kid the first day of classes show he can survive the first day. That unspoken understanding betwwen the two. They may not hang out but the point is made.
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