We all have that one coach that did a little more for us than just fix our swing or correct our defensive stance. They weren’t just your coach, but your role model. They made things fun, but knew how to motivate you to do your best. They were always on your case, but in the back of your mind you knew it was only because they saw the potential for improvement. They were the voice of reason when you were beating yourself up over something small. Above all, they were always there. On the first day of practice, you had no idea how much of an impact they would have on you.

My freshman season started off with a new head coach, and I was uneasy about how the season would play out. After the first week I had figured out that she wasn’t one to yell or scream, but always expected 110 percent. Being a young coach, she brought a fun atmosphere to practice every day that made me want to be there, but also drove me to get better. As the season progressed, I was slightly irritated at the immense amount of constructive criticism she had given me. Before long, I began to realize that this was actually a compliment. She wasn’t critiquing me for her own health, but for my sake. She pushed me to work hard and develop not only as a player, but as a person.

After reading this, you probably have one coach that came to mind, and here are some things that you probably forgot to thank them for along the way.

Thank you for making something out of nothing.

When I was struggling at the plate, you were always there to throw me an extra round of batting practice or find a drill for me to work on. Whatever it was, you were there to get me out of my slump. Unfortunately, we were also together for the seasons where it felt as if we would never catch a break. Granted, no one would willingly choose to be in that position; you tried to make light of the things that were encouraging. Even when it seemed as if our losing streak would never end, you still managed to highlight the few positives.

Thank you for demanding 100 percent all of the time.

It is so incredibly easy to make excuses to prevent you from giving your all in your sport, but you never let that slide. When we stepped onto that field, it was time to work hard while we were there. After a bad day or a long week when all I wanted to do was relax, you made sure that I dug deep and gave everything I had. I walked out of every practice knowing that I left everything on the field because you showed me to never settle when it came to effort. Your high expectations only benefited me in the long run.

Thank you for being my harshest critic but biggest supporter.

I can still hear you in my ear screaming to keep my weight back in the box and follow through on my curveball. You were always one of the first people to analyze my swing with me after an at bat, the person to tell me to pull my head out of my ass when I was being a little too critical and the first high five as I was rounding third. Somehow, you managed to find a happy medium between critiquing and supporting. You never necessarily told me what I wanted to hear, but what I needed to hear.

Thank you for helping me get to the collegiate level.

Thanks for speaking to coaches on my behalf, revising my emails, explaining the ins and outs of the recruiting process and, of course, the pep talks before my officials visits to schools. Researching schools would've been a lot more stressful without you. Thanks for pushing me every day to get to the level that I needed to be at.

Thank you for dealing with me every day.

My goofy personality can be a lot to handle when you’re trying to hold a serious practice. You always let my snarky comments slide and allowed me to be my witty self. That doesn't mean you didn’t remind me to tone it down here and there, but for the most part you let me rock. In my opinion, from my “baby” freshman year to my senior year, I managed to throw in just enough serious moments, even if sometimes it was just to appease you.

Thank you for letting me hang out in your classroom.

Thank you for letting me come to your classroom during my free periods and vent about physics or whatever life crisis I seemed to be having that day. Whether I just needed a place to not be distracted and get some work done or get away from everyone for a little while your door was always open. Spending my free time in your classroom was definitely more entertaining than the library.

Thank you for being more than a coach.

After four years of coaching, you evolved into so much more than a coach to me. In high school sports, it is extremely rare to be able to spend your entire high school career with one coach. In our case, four years allocated a large chunk of time to get to know one another. After all of this time, you’re someone who I can still text or call when I need some kind of advice while I’m away at school.

Thank you for teaching me more than softball.

Over the years, you strategically threw in your share of life lessons. Sure, at the time it seemed to be pretty crucial that I kept my weight back at the plate, but one day this will seem insignificant. One day, when softball is not the most important part of my life, I will be able to carry so many other things that you taught me. Don't worry, we’re not there yet, you’re still a broken record in my head, “Weight back and drive.”

As Tom Landry once said, “A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, and has you see what you don’t want to see, so you can be who you have always known you can be.” Every athlete has that one coach that has affected their lives in more ways than just their athletic career. These coaches taught us so much more than just the mechanics of our sport, but served as role models for us. Thank you to the coach who taught me so many things, but most importantly, showing me the kind of coach that I hope to be one day.