A Letter To The Coaches Who Changed My Life For The Better
Start writing a post
Sports

A Letter To The Coaches Who Changed My Life For The Better

We always talk about the ones who made us hate the sport but never the ones who encouraged us to love it.

1184
A Letter To The Coaches Who Changed My Life For The Better
Megan Crabb

I played soccer for 14 years of my life and I had a wide variety of coaches. Some weren't the best and always made myself and my team feel like playing wasn't worth the hassle. More importantly, some were not only wonderful coaches, but great people as well. People who helped me become the person I am today.

I had a coach in middle school to I owe a lot to because she helped me realize my confidence. I was sometimes the quiet one who had a hard time making friends as first, but this coach pushed myself and my team to not only be teammates, but friends as well. She encouraged us to have each other's backs on and off the field.

Instead of getting angry when games weren't going well, I remember her talking us up and telling us what we were doing right. Whenever she brought up our weaknesses, it never felt like criticism. She always made them seem like aspects we just needed to focus on a little harder.

She made practices fun but productive and became more of a mother figure to all of us than just a coach. 8 years later, I still look up to her as a role model and still find her giving me words of support through posts on Facebook.

My first high school soccer coach is the one who made me not only a fierce player, but a stronger woman. While she was tough on us and sometimes I thought I would die on the field, I felt like I was exceeding and executing the skills I needed to be the player I had always wanted to be. She gave me the foundation to be a strong player through training but also through her advice.

Freshman year was difficult for me because I went from public school in 8th grade to a private Catholic high school. I was having a hard time with my family and an even harder time finding good friends. I remember a specific practice where I broke down crying. Usually doing something like that in front of an adult would have mortified me, but she didn't let that happen. Not only did she talk through my problems with me, she also began to text me little pieces of motivation about how she always had my back and how I could get through anything.

Today, she still gives me words of encouragement over Facebook as well and I still remind myself that she is always someone I can turn to.

These two women made an impact on my life not only as a player, but as a woman too. I never got to give them the proper thanks they deserved, but I also didn't know at the time that they truly would help me as anything more than just a coach. Even though we always seem to remember the coaches that left scars on our love for the sport, we also need to appreciate the ones who changed us for the better.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

42798
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

26856
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

951905
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

140560
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments