Coaches Day

This comes from a soccer site, but applies to all sports coaches

I know I've written about this in past years, but when I work in sports, coach sports, and the fact that my life revolves around sports, I think this is important to write about. 

October 6 is National Coaches Day. 

It's a day to recognize the great work coaches do for athletes. 

According to NationalDayCalendar.com National Coaches Day on October 6 honors the men and women who inspire us to work harder and do our best.

I am, of course, going to take this from a local (primarily high school) perspective. This can, however, be taken from a professional perspective as well.  

Personally, I have been coached by many playing youth sports, worked with coaches when I was a student manager, worked with coaches in my job, and am a coach for baseball. 

I think this gives me a great perspective on what coaches really do. 

It's not just about the game plan and teaching the sport. 

A coach should inspire, motivate and be a role model for their athletes. 

It's about being there for the men and women. Both on the field and off. 

If the athletes are down, talk to them. Find out what is wrong. Is it just their sport struggles, or is there something more going on? 

Be there to support them through whatever issues. Sport, school, or personal life. 

Help out however you can. Even if that's just talking or being there for them. 

I feel as a coach and huge supporter of the student-athletes, that is a strength of mine. I care about the student-athletes. Sometimes too much (this could be another blog post entirely, and it might be). 

Support them and cheer them on during good times as well. 

In terms of actually coaching, it is a coach's job to put the team they feel gives them the best chance to win out there. That doesn't mean they ignore those who aren't starting or playing. Everyone has a role. If fact, sometimes, it's more important to pay attention to those who aren't in the game. Make sure they stay focused on the game and support their team. 

Every member of a coaching staff needs to know their role. The head coach is in charge. It's his or her job to delegate or not delegate duties. The head coach should make sure their assistants know what they should be doing during practices and games. It's also the job of the assistant not to overstep the head coach. 

Every coach, if they are doing it for the correct reason, is in coaching for the student-athletes. The best coaches are the ones who you don't hear from and don't make it about themselves. 

Thank you to all the coaches who do so much for their students-athletes. The appreciation isn't often show, but it is there. 

National Coaches Day 2023

October 6 is National Coaches Day. 

The definition of a coach is "a person who teaches and trains the members of a sports team and makes decisions about how the team plays during games." 

A coach is so much more than that though.

From playing sports, to covering sports, to coaching and working in athletic offices, I have dealt and deal with coaches a lot. 

There is a lot that goes that goes into being a coach beyond coaching practices and games. There's preparation, and paperwork and dealing with people and issues and so much more. 

There are many different coaching staff roles and duties to make sure everything runs smoothly. There are variations depending on the age of athletes, level of play and the league that the coach is coaching in. 

A good coach doesn't just care about wins and loses and how the athletes perform of the field, court, etc. A good coach cares about their athletes. They care about them both on the field and off. A good coach not only wants their players to have a good experience with the team, but is there for them in life. 

A coach may make a decision in a game that is the best to help their team win. This doesn't mean they don't like or care about the player as a person. 

The head coach is the leader of the program and he can dictate how he wants to use his assistant coaches. Many coaches have different roles for how their assistants can help them. 

Coaches are teachers even if they are not actual teachers as their full-time job, at any level, but especially at the youth and high school level and that's important. 

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For me, it's being an assistant on the Ludlowe baseball coaching staff. We have a great staff led by Ken Geriak and a tremendous group of kids who it's a pleasure to coach. Everyone has a role and it's about the kids. 

It's also working with all the coaches I do at Ludlowe and Warde. I honestly work more directly with coaches than I do the student-athletes. From coaching permits and paperwork, to rosters, buses and so many other items that come up on a daily basis. 

Some coaches I am friendlier with than others and deal with more. A lot of that depends on the sport and their needs, as well as what coaches are around the office more than others. 

Then there's also my heavy involvement in Ludlowe basketball and dealing with John Dailey and his staff even more than I do the other coaches I work with for my actual job. 

It's the coaches I've covered as a media member. Always so gracious and helpful. 

It's also those I played youth sports for. So many great parents who were the coaches who knew I wasn't a great athlete but was passionate and cared. 

There are way too many coaches to name them who have had an impact on me. Especially with the fact that I don't want to forget or slight someone. Everyone important in one way or another. 

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There are so many great coaches professionally. Everyone has their opinions. 

From Vince Lombardi to Phil Jackson to Connie Mack, to Mike Krzyzewski to Geno Auriemma and so many others. And that's just head coaches, not even making any assistants. 

Everyone doesn't like their teams coach when things aren't going well and loved them when they are. That's the reality of sports and the position they are in.