| I often ask myself, "Can
I do this another season?" Well, here we are again at the start of a
new spring season, and I look back to see the day I started with a U-6
team. Oh it was cute and fun, but grew into a winning effort. The
kids showed me that I could have just as much fun being a coach as the
do playing the game.
Don't get me wrong.... it has never
really been easy, but what responsible position in life comes easy ?
I have had a few parents get on my back for the silliest reasons and
scheduling is complicated, especially since I now travel more and more
with my work.
Last fall it was hard to be away from
the one game I missed. I was standing in Arizona with Kevin Appier,
the starting pitcher for the World Series Champion Angels. I said..
"Hey Kevin, you know I wish I was coaching my girls right now", He
replied with, "They will do just fine coach!" Believe it or not, they
won that game and did me proud !
This year I was having second thoughts
until my child said she wanted to play spring and wanted me to coach.
5 years ..... Yep, 5 years have gone by since that first U-6 game.
With each division the game has gotten to me more and more... I want
that win as bad as they do .... But how are you to feel when your
first game is a 6 to 1 loss ? I found myself standing there not to
sure of what just happened... when all of a sudden a little blonde
haired girl came up from the other team and said .. "Hi Coach !" Boy
it was good to see this little one again. I asked her how it felt to
beat "The Coach"... and she had a sad look on her face. She stood
there shaking her head from side to side... and I said... "You would
rather be on my team and lose, than against me and win ?" and she
replied with "Yes !"
I don't think I need to tell you why I
am still coaching here in Region 46 after 5 years..... but I will ...
"It's for the kids !" |
