The Power of Coaching.

Lately I have been "moved" by the soccer coaching staff at Muhlenberg high school. I have seen changes in my son on the field, in his school work and at home. I know they are more than coaches to these kids, they have formed a bond of trust, and determination to become respectful and hard working  young men as they approach the end of their high school season as seniors.  Coaches are never given enough credit.

Remember when you were a kid growing up and you had to do yet another drill, or run another mile, or swim another lap. You wished the coach called off practice, you wished the season would end. Then we look back on the fun we had, the friends we met and the coach that we respected and learned to believe that all of our hard work would one day pay off.

I had the opportunity to coach Junior high track for a few years at Muhlenberg .  It was last weekend I was at Subway and ran into one of the kids who has since graduated, is now in the Marines and was so happy to see me and tell me how well he was doing and I listened as he told me how proud he is to be a United States Marine. I still remember him "goofing off" and never wanting to take things seriously. It reminded me.......of me.

Today I came home from a four mile run, I opened my email, and there it was, a letter from my Cross Country Coach who taught me that hiding in bushes while training for my next race would get me no where 25 years ago at Pottsville Area High School. Let me share:

Jackie,

You made my day this morning when you told Scott that you were "going for a run" later today. I once watched an outstanding Blue Mt. runner in the last 2mile race of his senior year. He ran the first 6 laps at the front of the pack and then just about walked the last 2 laps. I later found that there was nothing wrong with the kid, he had just had enough. This convinced me that a coaches job is to push his athletes to do their best but always let them enjoy what they are doing. When I see someone on the road who ran for me in the past I feel like I did my job all those years ago. Thanks for allowing me to feel good.

John Liddle
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

I have goosebumps right now as I read it over and over again, I'm going to send Mr. Liddle a note just to say "Thank You" and I will encourage my son to do the same with his coaches. Mr. Liddle certainly made a difference in my life, He never gave up on me. No matter how poor I did, he always told me, there will always be a "next time" Its never to late to say Thank you. even if its 25 years later.