Coaching Sports For All The Right Reasons

The Glove

It was during a March evening in 2002 that I received word that my grandfather was dying. I drove the four and a half hours to Ironwood, Michigan in a snowstorm to say goodbye. I was able to see my grandpa and he was able to recognize me and acknowledge that I was there.

The next morning, he was gone. The doctors said that they were not sure how he had survived for so long. He had many health conditions and a lot of pain that he hadnt really shown on the outside. Yet, he had visited my grandmother every day in the nursing home where she had moved just a few months before. The staff marveled at the fact that my grandpa could even make it up the stairs each day. But, he did it. He was always there to help someone else.

I stayed in the town where my grandfather had been born, lived and now passed on. The funeral was scheduled for just a couple of days later. I thought a lot about my grandfather during this time. He had inspired me to be an athlete and coach. I remember him showing me the pictures and ribbons that he had won as a hurdler in track and field. But his real love was baseball. He was a great first baseman who played for a while with the Union City Greyhounds farm team and even had a try out for the St. Louis Cardinals. Rumor has it that he left baseball to come back for my grandmother. He continued to play ball in his home town. When times were tough and jobs were scarce, my grandfather was offered a job at the mine... if he would also play on the companys baseball team.

Two days passed and the preparations for the funeral were made. I spent a lot of the time at my aunts house with the rest of my family. Late in the morning, there was a knock on the door. An older gentleman stood outside and carried a small object under one arm. My aunt answered the door and had a short conversation with the man. He then handed her the object, said goodbye and walked off.

My aunt entered the room looking sad but strangely happy at the same time. In her hands, she cradled a baseball glove. It was old and battered and some of the laces were missing but you could still see the words US ARMY branded into the leather. My aunt set the glove on the table and filled the rest of us in on what had just happened.

This was Dads glove from the Army, she said. Remember that when he got back from the war, he helped to start the first little league here in town. That man was a member of Dads first team. His family didnt have much money and he couldnt afford to buy a baseball glove. Dad gave him his so that he could play like the rest of the boys.

The man had gone on to say that he had never forgotten my grandfathers generosity. He had kept and cherished the glove for over 45 years. He had seen my grandpas obituary in the newspaper and had wanted to return the glove to the family and let us know what a great coach, and man, my grandfather had been.

The glove was put on display at my grandpas funeral. And, of course, the ministers sermon contained many allusions to sports and frequent quotes from A Field of Dreams. All this made me ever so proud of my grandfather who enjoyed coaching and passing on his love of athletics to the youth in his town. It also made me remember why I chose to be a coach.

How many times have you wondered, Why do people coach? Why do they give up their time and energy for little or no money, sometimes even less respect and the opportunity to be targeted by parents and fans alike?

That cold and snowy March day, I was reminded of the answers to those questions. We coach to touch the youth. To instill values into young people that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. We coach to make a difference and to show the right way to play, work and live. We coach so that, even 45 years can pass without a man forgetting his coach and the impact that he had made on a young boys life.

Copyright, Tim Kauppinen, 2005

This article is protected by copyright, 2005,

Tim Kauppinen. All rights reserved.
http://www.makesyoufast.com

Tim Alan Kauppinen, or Coach K, has over 20 years experience as an athlete and coach. He has worked with athletes of all ages and abiltities in track and field, football, speed training and strength and conditioning. This has given him the privilege and the opportunity to coach athletes who have become conference champions, state champions and Division I college players. Coach K publishes a free daily fitness email with current tips on getting stronger, faster and in the best shape of your life. To sign up for this no cost service, visit Coach K's website at http://www.makesyoufast.com/contact.html

Life Coaching

Are you one of those people who make New Years Resolutions every single year? Do you stick to them? I know Im not good at sticking to my New Years Resolutions, and neither are millions of others all over the world.

At the end and into the beginning of every year, people list resolutions for things they would like to change or achieve in the next 12 months. People think about losing weight, quitting smoking, and starting the new business theyve always dreamed of.

Most of the time, even before the end of January, most resolution makers are back exactly where they were, having given up. Is such failure inevitable? No, says Jim Jenkins, president and founder of Creative Visions Consulting (http://www.cvc-inc.com). Simply hire a coach and your resolutions will become reality.

Resolutions by themselves are not really effective, says Jenkins, since making a change in life requires both planning and action.

You need to conceive of what you want, believe you can achieve it and then and only then go out and do it, he said. New Years resolutions and year-round goal-setting work when they are grounded in specific, clearly defined and well-chosen objectives and ongoing support in taking action toward your goals.

Jenkins goal is to coach as many people as possible to create their own prosperity in 2004.

Its sometimes overwhelming to get started because there are so many things you need to do to launch a new business, change an old behaviour or simply connect with your creativity. A coach helps you focus on the right actions that truly make a difference in reaching your goal.

Jenkins coaching programs include in-depth data gathering to help clients get clear about their goals as well as frequent sessions either over the phone or in person to keep them on track. According to Jenkins, Coaching helps keep people accountable and focused in achieving their goals. Its just like learning a new sportyou dont develop the perfect serve in tennis without a lot of practice and having someone there to explain how you need to adjust your grip. Instead of tossing in the towel, you keep at it and do better and better.

Most coaching programs last between six and nine months, depending on client needs.

There are plenty of other personal and life coaching programs out there that can be tailored to your own personal needs, so why not get out there and start looking for one? Pave the way to success with a coach!

Article by health writer Kate Wiley of http://www.healthy-shopper.com Health in 1 http://www.health-in-1.comand Advice on Health http://www.advice-on-health.com
You may use this article on your website providing you include the above author bio and active link to our health sites.

Kate and Phil Wiley run the popular health sites http://www.healthy-shopper.com Health in 1 http://www.health-in-1.com and Advice on Health http://www.advice-on-health.com