One of the things I was never told about being a coach was how often players look to you for advice. One of the sour apples on the team had a lot of talent but showed no real drive on the field and caused trouble off of it. I was constantly on his butt throughout the season, and after one game that stuck with me very vividly was he wanted to talk. At first, the conversation began about why I am so hard on him and why I benched him multiple times. I gave my explanation and shared with him experiences I have both been apart of and seen first hand.
Gradually, the conversation began to sway towards how he was tired of being the kid people always see as never living to his potential and how he honestly wanted to earn something in life. About a half hour into the conversation he could no longer fight back the tears and everything began flowing out of him. I promised him if he meant what he said, that I would be there to help him and be at the other end of the phone if he needed anything.
To this day, I feel like it was as much of an eye opener to me as it was for him. From that point forward, this player went from one of the sour grapes to the most energetic kid on the team. He looked like a weight had been lifted and he was happy, and it started reflecting on all the other players.
*I recently got an update from him saying he had made the honor roll and is filling out college applications. He told me had it not been for me he would have continued down a path that would have ultimately led to him leading an unhappy and troublesome life. Talk about something that floors you. I am not even five years older than this kid and somehow I am his role model. This is by far my most fond memory of the summer being able to see the transformation in him and is something I will take with me in all my future aspirations.*
Gradually, the conversation began to sway towards how he was tired of being the kid people always see as never living to his potential and how he honestly wanted to earn something in life. About a half hour into the conversation he could no longer fight back the tears and everything began flowing out of him. I promised him if he meant what he said, that I would be there to help him and be at the other end of the phone if he needed anything.
To this day, I feel like it was as much of an eye opener to me as it was for him. From that point forward, this player went from one of the sour grapes to the most energetic kid on the team. He looked like a weight had been lifted and he was happy, and it started reflecting on all the other players.
*I recently got an update from him saying he had made the honor roll and is filling out college applications. He told me had it not been for me he would have continued down a path that would have ultimately led to him leading an unhappy and troublesome life. Talk about something that floors you. I am not even five years older than this kid and somehow I am his role model. This is by far my most fond memory of the summer being able to see the transformation in him and is something I will take with me in all my future aspirations.*
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