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Just a quick note on coaching... Carl Blomgren in his Beachcomber article Wrestlers claim district title, makes an excellent point about the coaching staff here at Vashon. They are doing a fantastic job of coaching kids. This is evident to most of the world by how well they as a team wrestle. But the results at the end of the year are small potatoes compared to the rest of the story. I truly believe that they, as a coaching staff, are evolving not only the sport of wrestling, but how a successful coach is measured. This year, the storied Vashon Pirates Wrestling Team hit the mats with every fans favorite euphemism for a down year potential. We were youuuung, inexperienced, lean in numbers, and in a sport where credentials actually mean something, sure to have our hats handed to us in any of the big tournaments. Gone were names like Mattingly, Bennedsen, Berry and Rudisky from the year before. Gone were any hopes of defending our Nisqually League title. No chance for a top finish at districts heck maybe a fourth was a worthy goal. For most fans of successful teams; despair (again, euphemized by the word potential). I guess these guys forgot to read the press clippings. (Now the whining starts) Unfortunately for me this year, Ive been involved in the blood, sweat and tears of starting a new company. My time has been extremely limited and Ive had to make a bunch of sacrifices Im not used to making. This year it was impossible to stop what I was doing and head over to the wrestling room for a chat with Anders, Per Lars, and B.J., check the laundry room for Eric, then pop up to the hardwoods and see how Andy and Chris are doing with the maple pounding bunch. As a coach, this was horrible. Whaaaa. Enough said. What I was able to see, was a continuation of what Ive come to know as a model program. You see happy, upbeat kids, working hard, enjoying themselves, supporting each other and being selfless in an arguably self-absorbed sport. They were and are different from any other team out there. Funny bone And why is this? Im glad you asked. Its called positive coaching. Ill even broaden that view to say its asymmetrical positive coaching. And what the heck is that you say? Well its finding ways to reach kids through alternative means, be they kooky antics, loud (and strange) music, ridiculous nick-names, far fetched storys, tie-died t-shirts, and even poetry. Were a wild pack of family dogs, Renegades of Funk or this year, Blistering Barnacles. Obviously this isnt your fathers wrestling team. Its better. Wish bone Every kid in this program is special. Theres no yelling and screaming. They are all winners, regardless of what the score is. When kids get beat, its a character building event, not a tantrum or a disappointment. These coaches motivate by inclusion and pulling the best out of kids, leading them into more and more competitive environments, and making the worlds toughest sport a passion for these kids. I had a great coach describe passion to me once. He said the difference between good coaches and mediocre coaches is very simple. Mediocre coaches motivate by building fires under kids butts, great coaches motivate by building fires in kids guts. And those kinds of fires, the ones on the inside, are white hot. Quite frankly, for me anyway, the results on the mat, gridiron, court and classroom are secondary to passion like this. When a kid has passion, hard work is a privilege. Desire mandates self discipline, the little things become critically important, and they are driven toward getting better every day. They become inspirational to their peers, parents and community. They slay dragons, build fantastic structures, and cure diseases. They are white hot. Back bone So, for those of you who are a part of this program, be it athlete, parent, administration or fan, understand that what we are privileged to have these type of coaches and this kind of program. For those of you on the outside looking in, understand and respect its power and influence. With any luck, programs like this will become the standard of success in athletics and life. So privilege with every privilege there comes responsibility. Hiring and supporting positive coaches is crucial in making a difference in the lives of our children. Positive coaches are advocates, role models, and builders of internal fires. They can inspire when things look bleak and teach humility, sportsmanship and appreciation when things go fantastically well. They show kids what they can do, how to push themselves to reach lofty goals, reset and reach again, and sometimes, that depth charts arent just about physical ability. Sadly, not all coaches think the way of Anders, Per Lars, Andy, etc. This is where the other end of responsibility comes in. Just as hiring and support are necessary for positive coaches, having the courage to address negative coaching is no less a responsibility. Remember, in the end, its all about the kids. |
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