Has your coach ever said something and you knew that it was either sugarcoated or had an alternate meaning? Sure, being an athlete requires various skills, but one of the hardest is hoping that you interpreted the classic halftime speech metaphor correctly.
Coaches' lingo is a language of its own, so here are a few translations that I'm sure every athlete has learned over the years.
1. What they say: One more minute!
What they mean: I'm letting you play for however long it takes for someone to either do something good or score.
2. What they say: Don't take your cleats/shoes off yet.
What they mean: You're about to do fitness.
3. What they say: Be here at 6 a.m.
What they mean: Be here at 5:45 a.m.
4. What they say: Practice is going to be fun today.
What they mean: You're not going to be able to walk tomorrow.
5. What they say: Get on the line.
What they mean: Most likely fitness, but you're praying to God that they're just splitting up the teams.
6. What they say: Try to make it in 18 seconds.
What they mean: We are probably out of shape if the team doesn't make it in 18 seconds.
7. What they say: Good morning!
What they mean: It's 6 a.m. practice and you're about to run, so please cheer up a little bit because none of us want to be up this early.
8. What they say: How do you feel about playing defense?
What they mean: Let's throw you in.
9. What they say: Can someone please explain to me what that was?
What they mean: There are literally no words to describe how speechless they are with how bad the team is playing.
10. What they say: Curfew is 10 p.m. tonight, so get some rest and try to recover.
What they mean: Please go to bed at a decent time tonight and, for the love of God, chug some water.
While a few of these candy-coated phrases may have been causes of most of your blood, sweat and tears growing up, it's undeniable that each one either taught you a valuable lesson or, if nothing else, gives you something to laugh about on a bad day. There will be a day when being told to get on the line will be a faint memory, but the strength and lessons that you gained from your coaches will be ingrained in your work ethic for the rest of your life.
So, cherish the days when six a.m. practices were your biggest worries. Listen to your coaches every now and again because they could be teaching you more than just a sport.
