This is directed to all the wonderful coaches out there who have such a positive impact on their players.
I received the following note from a coach I greatly respect. I want to keep identities hidden because the focus should be on the story of the powerful impact this leader has made, not on the specific people involved.
The coach involved here explained that earlier today he/she was greatly touched by the message a kind softball mom wrote.
“I woke up to this note a little bit ago from one of my players’ parents that I have playing on another team. She’s on another team to get more playing time, thus the reason I put her on that team temporarily.”
Big kudos, too, to this softball mom who shared her uplifting feelings with the coach… may more do the same!
*****
From parent to coach…
I don’t know what’s happening in my “old” age. I’ve never been emotional… must be the hormones!
But I sit in the parking lot waiting for my daughter’s game to start and I’m all choked up thinking about the difference you’ve made in my kid’s life.
I hear your name from her mouth on a daily basis:
“Coach said this,” “Coach wanted me to do that,” “Coach would want me to do it this way.”
Years from now, when we look back, it’ll be you… you were the game changer in her life.
You motivated her. You had expectations of her. You encouraged her. You showed her the way to be successful. You showed her love and grace.
She’ll probably never have another opportunity to play for you, but you’ll see, Coach, that every time my daughter takes the field, you are right there with her.
Don’t ever stop coaching… and don’t ever think that you’re not making a difference.
Thank you.
*****
I asked the coach above what the key was in making such a difference.
The answer:
“I would love to see coaches who want to develop and change kids’ lives more than for them to want to win championships; although this should be a super close secondary want (laughs)!”
“My goodness, I do love to win a championship (editor’s note: the coach has won titles) but the day after winning one, when I woke up, it didn’t change my life at all. It has to be about the people first and wanting to have a positive influence in their lives.”
Mission accomplished in this case… and may it be the goal of every coach at every level to have such a positive impact on their athletes.
— Brentt Eads/Extra Inning Softball
