For anyone that knows me I don't sleep much, maybe a few hours a night if that. My mind is always going a mile a minute thinking about all the million things in my head I would rather be doing than sleeping. Which is probably why I need to write a book to be more productive in the late or early hours of the day.
All weekend I have been thinking about the last five years I have been coaching the most athletic, competitive and beautiful young ladies I have ever met. When these girls broke away from playing Park and Recreation with the boys they were just seven years old. I knew then they were going places when it came to athletics. And boy did they go places and then some. Many championships later in soccer and most recently basketball and softball championships we won together this year!
This is my last official year of coaching all of them as they will be entering the High-School next year and trying out for JV and Varsity teams. All the times I was running around searching for a game ball or rushing us to the court hoping to make it on time, it all was coming to an end. Dealing with all the craziness that surrounds coaching kids in this day and age, sometimes wishing I wasn't the head coach. I have seen and heard some crazy things coming out of adults and would always remind the kids that it isn't a normal way to act and that we show sportsmanship to every team we play. Few years ago I had a parent screaming at me that Molly was pitching too fast, or the time I had a parent follow Tennessee out of our basketball game to yell at her and tell her she is too aggressive, people are crazy. Let's just say sometimes I can let things roll off my shoulders but not when it comes to these girls. I haven't always made the right coaching choices and have certainly made mistakes but if there is one thing I have taught them it's the meaning of TEAM. We have always made time to bond together off the fields and courts and these ladies have each others backs like no other group I know. I wouldn't recommend anyone messing with any of them if you know what's good for you. I honestly can say I love each one of these girls as if they are my own and so grateful I know each and every one of them.
My very last coaching memory came Friday night when my softball team won the U12 A NEYSA championship. It was an extra inning tie game and we had a walk off win. I don't even think the girls realized it until they saw me jumping up and down and that once again they were champions. My catcher Mia who is one of my absolute favorite humans in this world immediately started crying at the end of the game. She played amazing in the playoffs even with the opposing coaches trying to get into her head about being afraid to throw down to second or third. Believe me people my catcher is not afraid. She came to me in the dugout and gave me the biggest hug I have had in a while. She thanked me for being her coach and for believing in her. I told her I was the lucky one and at that moment I wanted to freeze time and certainly didn't want it to end.
Going out with two championships this year with these girls working their asses off to win them really was a story book ending. I could not be any more proud and it's been a weekend of celebration. But now I am sitting here on a Sunday morning sitting in the sunshine drinking my coffee wondering what the heck am I going to do now?!
Live in the moment and enjoy your Sunday!
Comments