The more years I spend coaching, the more often I am able to remind myself of the many reasons I love coaching. Way back in the spring of 1979 there was one moment that led me to decide that I wanted to spend my adult life in coaching, but little did I know back then that there were more benefits to coaching than just enjoying the moments on the field or court.
This summer and my experience with the Adrian Post 275 American Legion team provided me more than just fun on the field. There was more to it than watching these 16-19 year old athletes compete in games for a couple months. There was more to it than winning games and championships. There was certainly more to it than telling players to go out there and give a complete effort. And there was more to it than just being a part of a successful team.
It was a privilege for me to be involved with these young athletes who were eager to improve, who were eager to learn more, and were excited about the achievements of their teammates. When the season ended on Monday, just a day before the potential flight to North Carolina for the American Legion World Series, there was nobody in that dugout who was ready for the season to end......just as it should be.
These players made gradual improvements all throughout the season. They understood that they should improve every day, and they did so, not only in their individual baseball skills, but also in their understanding of game situations and in their abilities to play their roles for the benefit of their teammates.
Each guy understood that he was not as big as the team, and that each of his teammates also had the same understanding. Each guy put the team in front of himself, and thus made the team much better as each week and each tournament passed.
I saw them improve, I saw their passion for playing a boy's game, I saw their love for their teammates, and I felt the joy of victory and the heartbreak of a season's end. I felt all the things that make coaching such a fabulous way to spend my entire adult life.
Congratulations to the players of Adrian Post 275 American Legion. Thanks to their parents, to Dave Stanifer and Don Cappelletty for allowing me to be a part of it. I have gotten back more than I have given.....trust me on that!!
This summer and my experience with the Adrian Post 275 American Legion team provided me more than just fun on the field. There was more to it than watching these 16-19 year old athletes compete in games for a couple months. There was more to it than winning games and championships. There was certainly more to it than telling players to go out there and give a complete effort. And there was more to it than just being a part of a successful team.
It was a privilege for me to be involved with these young athletes who were eager to improve, who were eager to learn more, and were excited about the achievements of their teammates. When the season ended on Monday, just a day before the potential flight to North Carolina for the American Legion World Series, there was nobody in that dugout who was ready for the season to end......just as it should be.
These players made gradual improvements all throughout the season. They understood that they should improve every day, and they did so, not only in their individual baseball skills, but also in their understanding of game situations and in their abilities to play their roles for the benefit of their teammates.
Each guy understood that he was not as big as the team, and that each of his teammates also had the same understanding. Each guy put the team in front of himself, and thus made the team much better as each week and each tournament passed.
I saw them improve, I saw their passion for playing a boy's game, I saw their love for their teammates, and I felt the joy of victory and the heartbreak of a season's end. I felt all the things that make coaching such a fabulous way to spend my entire adult life.
Congratulations to the players of Adrian Post 275 American Legion. Thanks to their parents, to Dave Stanifer and Don Cappelletty for allowing me to be a part of it. I have gotten back more than I have given.....trust me on that!!
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