I couldn’t write this for a long time because a. I haven’t been around and b. it hasn’t really “hit me” yet. If we can be frank, I didn’t think I was “that” invested in the entire coaching experience. I wanted to give the kids my best, to prepare them as best I could, and I wanted them to do well, but it honestly wasn’t something that consumed every second of my waking, the way ultimate did when I was in college. And yet, I still spent a lot of time thinking about the team and what we/I could do to improve, and I also spent a lot of time on the whole endeavor.
So something inside my cold, sinister, d-bag coach heart broke a little when we lost to Latin in the City Championship. I talk quite a game about how losing teaches greater lessons than winning, but it was still tough to see the kids taking it so hard. To be sure, they’ve come a long way. To go to the City Championship finals in their second year as a team? That’s pretty impressive. But man, coaching that last game was rough. Falling behind, break by break, and feeling like I didn’t know what to do or say to turn the tide made me realize how green I am at this.
Coaching is something I’d like to continue doing, if I could. I’d like to think that I’ve learned a few lessons from my time at Pritzker, and that I have a better idea of what I need to work on and what I need to be better about the next time around. I have all these grand illusions about what I want in “my teams”, and I’ve read all these books about/by successful coaches and teams that I admire. I know now, though, that reading and having those ideas is great, but it’s really, really stinking hard to execute.
I think the biggest three things I took away from the experience are as follows, in no particular order:
1. Care as much about who they are as people as you care about playing and winning.
That was probably grammatically incorrect. Well, hop off, sucks to suck, English is my second language, etc. etc. In any case, this is kinda big for me. Having the opportunity to work with young people is huge, and I think it’s an important chance to be a positive influence and a supportive presence in their lives. It’s not just about playing ultimate — it’s about being a good student, a good member of their communities, and a good person in general. We had one off-field behavioral incident this season, and I felt like it was crucial that our coach handle it the way he did. I think it said a lot about what he expects from the guys both on and off the field, and it sent a message that disrespecting women, our opponents, and other people in general is not cool. It was a tiny incident that could have been overlooked or just swept under the rug, but he didn’t let that go and used it as a teaching opportunity.
2. Bring a consistent energy every day.
There were days when I was really, really in it. Like, I had all of practice scheduled out, down to five minute intervals, and I took stats and had the next drills already set up before we finished the current one, and I had them finishing their sprints just as practice was supposed to end. I mean, I was on it. And then… sometimes I was just like, “Fuck it, let’s have ‘layout practice’, aka I throw discs at you while you throw yourselves into a cesspool of disease.” Also, I’m going to stand here a little disinterested and not be consistent about what I chastise you about and what I let go. I think this is as much about being prepared in the logistical sense as it is about bringing a consistent emotional energy? — is that the way I want to put it? — every day. I think it helps when the players know that they can count on you to bring it to practice every day, to constantly be pushing them to work hard and to be their best, to not waver from your teaching points or your principles. I think it shows that you’re just as committed and dedicated to what you’re preaching and what you’re trying to achieve as the guys are. I think it helps them want to bring a consistent energy and a consistent work ethic, too.
3. Always adhere to the philosophy that the right way is the only way.
I guess this kind of ties in with #1, but I think this is important because it applies to everything in life, not just ultimate.
There were times when it was really challenging — bad attitudes, a lack of commitment, poor work ethics, kids not showing up to practice, a lack of practice space, etc. etc. — and there were times when I felt like I wasn’t doing enough — Championship game, for one (I can still see some guys crying in that last huddle, and now I have eighteen different things I wish I had said then…) — but in the end it was a great learning experience, and I truly enjoyed it. I’m sad that I won’t be around for the future and to see what this team will grow into, but I hope I contributed in some way to their individual or team success and growth. I’ll be looking for ‘ships from them in the future, though.
Onto the next endeavor of my post-playing life! *foghorn*