Put Me In Coach

Their  eyes are almost laser focused on the action before them - waiting. On the courts and fields, action intensifies, they jump slightly - false alarm, their name does not get called.

They look imploringly up and you can almost hear them say, "Put me in coach, put me in..." But, on the bench is where they stay. Their faces fall as they realize once again - warming the bench is where they will be. All they want is a chance. An opportunity. Just one time when they can prove what they are capable of.

The few times they achieve the "go sign" they are nervous. Perhaps even a little afraid. Wondering to themselves if they will be able to fulfill what is expected of them, after all, they are going in "cold" from the sidelines.

Understanding the why is never easy. They go to the practices. They work hard, but they still don't get the play time.

On the other side of the coin, and in reality, I would imagine being a coach is not an "easy" job. You may have 20 to 30 athletes to work with and figure out what their strengths are. You are tasked with making a team - the right players who will work together to get that big "win". And of course, in many of their minds, it is the win that is all that matters.

To say I disagree with winning being the most important goal means I know I will have push back from it; however, to me, what is more important is that athletes learn how to work together, learn how important it is to "work for" what it is you want, discipline, resilience, ethics, how to handle pressure, build character, how to win and more importantly how to lose.

Don't get me wrong - I love to win. Winning is great, but it is not the all encompassing only thing that matters.

Focus should be on the athletes - working on forming who they will go on to be in life. Showing them how to be successful, how to work hard to achieve their goals. Teaching them there is no "I" in team. And, to reach their goals means to work and many times work hard in order to achieve them.

After all, the odds they will actually make a career out of sports after high school or even college?  It is said to be less than two percent for those out of high school who go on to play professional sports and even fewer will make it in the major leagues. For athletes going on to play the college level following high school, it is seven percent.

That is not to say it isn't possible, because there is a "possibility" and there are those athletes who have beaten the odds. However, it is not an easy road that comes to fruition with just a wish and a want.

In life, there should always be a backup plan - something tangible just in case your dreams don't come true. Even if an athlete has the talent, there is the danger of injuries and other factors along the way which can put a stop to that dream.

A coaches job is very important.  It can be life changing - to every single member of the team. I have had the pleasure of knowing some really great coaches who have not just been a coach - they have been a mentor to the athletes in their charge. I have the utmost respect for those who put the athletes first above the win.

I wish there weren't any "bench warmers" out there. I wish there was a team - a team of athletes who are growing and becoming the best they can be. Learning they can accomplish some things alone, but also realize what can happen when they work together  towards a common goal.

Do you see me? Put me in coach - give me a chance to be a part of the team. Work with me, too.