What is that coming at me?

     Well, it is upon me.  Yesterday I had 2 winter track athletes come by my room to talk about track and it's only October 13th.  I've got over a month until practices start up, but this is the signal of my life (or at least my free time) changing as it does every year.  The days of driving to work in the dark and driving home in the dark are coming.  Weekends will disappear into thin air as 3-5 hour meets consume them.  The stress of trying to please athletes, coaches, and AD's is knocking on the door.  The amount of time that I spend with Amy is cut in half.  Teaching becomes harder.  Energy deteriorates.  What is that coming at me?  Its winter track season.  Why do I do this to myself?

     Anyone that has ever coached can tell you that it is completely worth it.  I love coaching my kids and all that comes with the job.  All of the negatives pale in comparison to the perks of coaching.  But its more than just for the feelings that I get from coaching that push me to do it.

     Why do I do it?  As a former high school track athlete, I know what it is like to have a coach that is....let's say less than qualified.  Does anyone know what I'm talking about?  My first 2 years of spring track were led by a failed reverend and a football coach.  Now the football coach was a nice guy, but he knew little of any other events except the throws and ran the team like his football team.  I had to learn on my own how to hurdle and three step and long jump and triple jump.  The athletes pretty much ran the team and even decided what events we would compete in each meet.  I can only imagine what I would have been able to do if I had a coach that knew just a little.  The reverend was a disaster my freshman year and its a miracle I didn't give up the sport.  He gave little time, gave horrible advice, and his knowledge of track was that of a freshman track athlete.

     Why do I do it?  I guess one of the main reasons is because I don't want my athletes to feel the way I did.  I work my you know what off to try and know as much as possible to help them achieve their goals.  Do I sound conceited in that I think I know everything?  Maybe, but I realize I don't know everything.  I do everything I can and I think that because of my effort, and that of my assistants, that the kids benefit and enjoy their time as athletes.  That's all I wanted 20 years ago and I hope that my athletes are getting that experience.

     It would shame me to not mention my coaches for my junior and senior years.  Coach DeAndrade and Coach Mederios helped mold me into the coach I am today.  What's that saying?  The way you teach is the way you were taught?  Something along those lines.  They might not have known everything, but they cared and it showed.  I still talk with them and ask for advice every once in awhile.  I just want to say thank you to both of them for all they have done for me.

     What is that coming at me?  It's that thing I love, hate, and enjoy doing 24/7.  I might have over a month until it starts, but I say bring it on.