Few people have as great an impact upon a young person's life as a coach. Years after games have been forgotten, graduations have passed and younger siblings have passed through, coaches are remembered. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse, coaches are remembered. Bad decisions, compliments in passing, off the cuff comments a coach couldn't recall for any amount of money become pivotal moments in the athlete's life.
I can remember some moments trying to play little league baseball. While trying to teach the team to bunt, my coach hit me with a practice pitch. Later on, when practicing fielding, he sent a grounder far off to my right. When I cut it off and made the throw to first, he said "Hey, nice range out there." I actually enjoyed that practice and the next game. Anyone who has seen me swing futilely at a wiffleball can attest I am terrible at anything resembling baseball. But I'll always remember one day when a coach complimented me.
Rowing coaches have such an impact. We're with our athletes through eight months, through long ergs, long trips and long rows. The sheer volume of time makes throwaway comments far more likely to create a lasting memory than any slightly scripted pre-race pep talk. The times I think to myself "I've got to talk to the team about this" are far more likely to pass out of their minds than stay with them.
I've been thinking about my coaches the last few days. I'll be writing about the impacts they've had on my life and coaching style for this week. The first "chapter" that addresses my high school coach has been very long in writing. I've been working on some sort of tribute to Todd for nearly a year, and have never been happy with what I've written. I suppose the time has come to just put something out there and see how everyone responds. I won't send him the link for awhile, because he never really liked being singled out. Heck, we always had to drag him up whenever we had pictures taken.
Why write about this? One part is to give everyone some insight into what I'm thinking most days and why I say some of the things I do. Also, these coaches deserve some kind of recognition, because they are all very talented men. Finally, I'm expressing the hope that I've had and have half the influence on my athletes that these men have had on me.
Categories: Coaching, Tribute, Rowing, Personal
4 comments:
You have had that kind of impact Jay. I've played a lot of different sports(none of which well) and every other coach was just another ass that made me sore for a few days. But you had a far different impact. I always looked foreward to listening to your speeches and those short talks we had right before a big race. Thanks for everything Jay, my tenure on the team would not have been the same without your guidence.
-Aaron
Stumbled here through a few other blog's...hope you don't mind. Come by mine and read "Sometimes last is first". I think you will like it! My daughter really gets the whole team thing!...and has great coaches.
I don't know what to write. There's just too much for me to say here. Thank you for everything you did for us, Jay. You have definitely left a mark-- in a very good way.
When Jay publishes his book (years and years from now) I call dibs on a free signed copy. Just a heads up.
Ditto to what aaron and foxbat said. For the past 3 years, you have had a strong, positive influence on my growth as an athelete and as a person.
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