I started coaching high school softball at age 19. I was a “froshmore” coach for a high school who was growing to become a high profile softball program. I was scared. I was nervous. I questioned everything I ever knew. It didn’t hit me till my second year as a Junior Varsity softball coach where I realized that you still go through a lot of the same things you went through while you were an athlete.

1.You still go through the pregame jitters- I went through it every game. Sometimes more games than others. When I was playing it was all about my ritual. I always put my uniform on the right way. I always ate the same thing for lunch. As a coach I still go through rituals. I have a playlist I listen to on the way to the field. I ordered the same type of coffee at Dunkin Donuts. I bought the same type of gum. I always believed that if you did one thing out of place, the game would not go the way you wanted it to be.

2.Competition is always fierce- Your love for the game is never different. If you truly love something, you always love it in some way shape or form. As a player, I was always the competitive one. As a coach, well that still hasn’t changed. I still enjoy the win, and still take it to heart for a loss. The love of the sport that made me become the person I am has never diminished.

3.Pre-game music- It is the exact same playlist as high school, with just a few extras. As a coach, I listen to music. It calms me down, it makes me clear my head. As a player and a coach it still helps.

Being a coach it helps me appreciate all of the things that I did as a player to help me achieve the success I have now as a coach.