Dear Coach,
The day I became your athlete I had no idea the impact you would have on my life as an athlete and as a person. I expected you to just be another coach. Another person to push me to do my best and help my team be successful, because that's what a coach is supposed to do. I had no idea that you would be someone who I still come to for advice even though you haven't been my coach in years.
It wasn't always easy. There were times you would yell and I would get so frustrated I thought I might quit on the spot. And just the same, there were times you would get so frustrated with my team that you would need to walk away. This is typical between athletes and a coach, but sometimes I took it personally. You were my new coach and I decided that I missed my old one; my old coach never yelled at me and completely adored me. I didn't like when you pushed me, I liked my comfort zone and I got annoyed when you tried to push me out of it.
As I got older, and each season followed the next, I started to take my sport more seriously. I was more determined to be successful, and I wanted my team to feel the same way. When I started to take my own success and the success of the team seriously, was when you and I developed a relationship. You consulted me about the team asked my opinion on what I thought could help make us a successful. This made me feel important to the team and completely boosted my confidence. The icing on the cake was you making me captain.
For the years that followed, you and I continued to get closer as captain and coach. Everything that was done for the team I helped you in anyway I could. Being the captain of my team was my pride and joy. Just because of my position, you didn't stop pushing me. The only difference was I became accepting of leaving my comfort zone. If I wanted to be good, my comfort zone was not the place to be. Everyday at practice you pushed the team and myself to do our best. You saw our potential and you wanted us to reach it. We tried new things we thought were impossible for us because you wanted to show us they weren't. Everyday I got a little better because you never let me settle.
As college rolled around, I knew I wanted to continue my sport and become a college athlete. You were behind me every step of the way. You helped me contact coaches, wrote me endless recommendation letters, and even took me to my first college clinic to help me prepare. You were my biggest supporter and when I made the team you were the first person I told.
You were not my first coach, and you were not my last coach, but you were the coach who built me. You made me the person and athlete that I am today. You taught me to never settle, to always give 110%, and you taught me how to be a leader. You played and still continue to play a big part in the sport I love. When I come home to visit you and the new team you never fail to remind me that this team is still my home and something I will always be a part of. You remind me of the legacy I left behind and support me on my journey to make my new one. So for everything you have done, I thank you for building me to be the athlete that I am.
Love,
Your Past Athlete
