Some people start coaching because they miss their sport, or maybe they even feel like giving back to their community. Though for me the root of why I coach is so much deeper than that.

First of all, I coach because I want to be in the pom world. I was a performer in it for many years so of course, I wanted to give it a shot on the other side of things. It is an unusual experience to be the one organizing and responsible for everything versus being the one who just had to show up to practice. I like being the person who is aiding in the success of the girls on the team.

Rather than success be a win or a personal one or just accomplishing a set goal I want to be there helping them get to what they working towards.

I want to coach because I want to show them what hard work can do. Often many kids are just getting lost in social media or join a sport just for the uniform. I want to teach and show them that if you join a team you should be proud of what you are doing. Winning is not everything ( and as a coach I make that clear) but I do want to show them that If you are willing to put in the work anything is possible. I thank my pom experience in high school for the work ethic that I have today.

I was taught that no matter your skill level you are in control of your own success. If you are willing to put in the work and shed the blood, sweat, and tears then your potential is limitless. I express endlessly to my team that every time you run a sprint, every time you run a routine it has to be the BEST TIME you have ever done that.

You never want to go through a practice feeling like you could have done something differently or better. And when you are practicing that hard work your team will bond over it. When everyone is pushing themselves every time they bond over the pain, the soreness and everything else they may be feeling.

I want to coach to help create a safe space. I want to make a team and an atmosphere that any kid wants to come to. Yes, they may not look forward to the work you put in at practice, but I want them to look forward to coming to practice to be with their team. I want it to be a few hour period where every other worry goes out the window. That bad test grade, fight with a boyfriend or anything else gets to not be the top priority anymore.

I want to be that coach that someone feels comfortable coming to if they have a problem, I want them to trust me. People usually do sports because they love it, I just want them to also feel comfortable being there. A team will always do better if they feel safe and out of judgment especially when working on new skills. A sport is full of hard work and yes a little bit of criticism to make things better, but a little bit of positivity also goes a long way.

But most importantly I coach because I want to be a good role model. I want to be someone that they can look up to in a way that makes them want to be better. Make them feel like THEY CAN do whatever their hearts desire. We all have those coaches, teachers or whatever else that made us look at things differently.

We all have those people that may have even made us quit a sport or not want to further our career after high school. I want to be that source of inspiration making them feel like they can push themselves to succeed. I want them to be able to look back and say that my coach taught me this, or that my coach gave me the fire and desire to want to be a better athlete.

I want them to look at me as someone who only wants them to do their best, what I know they are capable of doing. Even though that may lead to me yelling at them every once in a while. I know that personally, I have teachers and coaches that I can look back on a give them a lot of credit for the person I am now. And I could never thank them enough for that.

If I can make one kid or even a team feel as if everything they are doing is worth it, if I can give them the inspiration to set a goal and want to achieve it, if I can be that role model for work ethic or anything else than all the stress and work of coaching will have been worth it. Being a coach is a very hard job, but it is also a very rewarding one.

You do not coach for the money. If you did you would not be a coach for very long. You coach because you love it. You coach because you want to make a difference in the lives of the girls on your team. You have to have a passion for it.

If you have a coach that you love, or one that made an impact... go thank them! You'll never know all that goes into coaching until you're on the other side doing it.