I coached an athletic team
once. I was drafted to coach a community
soccer team for 7 and 8 year olds in the introductory year of a youth soccer
program. Never played soccer myself. Thankfully, neither had my players. So, we learned together. It was like herding cats.
In recent years I have had the
opportunity to coach again, but this time not in sports. This time I’m coaching life.
I work with a group of ten
sophomores at Lake Forest High School.
I have been working with them monthly since they were in seventh
grade. They are a high energy group
with lots to say. The school provides me
with the monthly lesson. Over the years
we have addressed setting goals and making commitments. We have had lessons on careers and decision
making. We have had lessons on
interpersonal skills and communication and college choices and SAT scores. We have had a lot of fun.
I not only look forward to our
monthly gatherings – I look forward to running into my kids when I visit the
high school. We’ve gotten close over the
last 4 years. It has been a joy to watch
them grow.
I also coach a group of 14 seventh
graders at W.T.Chipman. We have been
together for two years. Seventh graders
challenge my patience in ways that sophomores don’t. But, I love them all the same and look
forward to spending time with them as well as seeing them outside of our
coaching sessions.
Dr. Joe Murphy of Vanderbilt
University does a lot of work with Delaware administrators. He tells us that students will be more
successful in a culture “ where they are known, cared for, supported,
respected, feel they have ownership and membership and an opportunity to
participate, be recognized and exercise leadership.”
That’s what we try to establish
through our coaching program. I’m glad I
agreed to participate. The rewards for
me have been greater I’m afraid than the rewards to the kids. They have blessed me with their optimism and
energy. They have kept my feet on the
ground.
