The joys of coaching

This season my daughter Danae and I decided to coach our youngest daughter Mackenzie's ball team. It hasn't worked out for Danae to help because she purchased Kelowna Rockets Hockey Post Season tickets and they are still in the run for the memorial cup. However, this particular group of girls is a team that I have coached since they started playing ball with the exception of last year. Last year our community decided not to have any ball teams so most of the girls missed a year. It has taken the last month to help them remember some of the key points of baseball. However, they are responding beautifully and learning and remembering quickly. I am really enjoying their enthusiasm and team spirit. They really want to learn and I really want to teach them and it is a great combination. There is something unique about the bond that can take place between a coach and a team. In most other scenarios a 42 year old guy hanging out three and four times a week with a bunch of 11-13 year old girls would seem a bit odd even twisted. However, in this case the parents are glad for the input into their children's personal development. Team skills, ball skills, physical skills, thinking skills, cheering each other on skills, communication skills, and sometimes even life skills are a part of our relationship. Not to mention just having some plain old fashioned fun. I really love coaching.