I have been an athlete for most of my life, so a lot of my time was spent surrounded by coaches and teammates. Over the years of my athletic experience, I have had several different coaches, and each of them has touched my life in such a special way. I truly admire each and every one of my coaches, and what they taught me was something that stretched so much further than the game. As an athlete, you listen to the countless speeches given by a coach, but sometimes you have to listen for the greater meaning within those pregame pump ups, or pick-me-ups after a tough loss. A coach can not only impact the progression of a child within their sport, but also within who they become outside of their sport. Positive coaching can turn sports into a living classroom to share valuable life lessons with the child. Our coaches want us to carry the following lessons with us even as we grow out of our athletic career.
1. Appreciate and Respect Your Teammates/Teamwork
Not everyone on a team is going to get along outside of the sport, and that's OK...No one says you have to like everyone all the time. However, the second you step onto that field, that is your teammate, and you could not play that game without them. On a field hockey field, you have the goalie, the defenders, the midfield and the offensive players, and as a team one group of those players could not function without the others. Teamwork is such a key aspect of life, and after being an athlete, you value the sense of teamwork and how important everyone is to the success of the team. In any job, teamwork is going to be important and you need everyone. There is no way a hospital staff or financial team would function efficiently if each member didn't contribute and value the need for one another.
2. Be Persistent in Reaching Your Goals
My athletic coaches have created such strong-willed athletes, and now I know nothing is impossible (the word even says 'I'm possible!'); if I set my mind to it, I can do anything. The push to run that extra lap, or push out that extra rep, or hang in their for another set, sprint a little harder or take one more shot when you wanted to give up and thought it wasn't possible...They have taught us it is indeed possible. A little motivation will go along way. Coaches have no doubt in you and will push you to the highest potential they see in you. So although you may not be a competitive athlete anymore, be your own coach to give yourself that extra nudge to go out and seek a little more of the I'm possible.
3. Practice Really Does Make Perfect
You don't get good at something over night. You have to work really hard at something again and again and again to learn it. Learning something through repetition makes it easier to master any skill you take on. Not only will practicing something repeatedly help you as an athlete, but the habit of repetition will help you with many other things in life. Carry on practicing a skill in college, or later in life, and continue to make it a habit rather than struggle trying to learn it.
4. Have Fun
Although my coaches have taught me so many valuable lessons, the most important one to me is to have fun. Whether winning or losing a game, always find a way to self-improve, but have fun and enjoy what you're doing. Hand-in-hand with having fun, I was taught to keep a positive attitude, instill laughter, promise positive thinking and share compliments. Sports were a way to help me make other areas of my life more positive thanks to them.
My coaches didn't just prepare me for the game that lay ahead of me; they helped build a foundation for my life. They taught me that lessons learned on the athletic field can go so much further if you learn to value the double meaning in all of their talks or advice. I can't thank each one of my coaches enough. I am truly blessed to have had my life touched by you.
