The Coaching Journey Continues

I just finished up with soccer season and after only a week off I’m into basketball season.  I assisted with 1st Grade co-ed Soccer, and middle school (6, 7, & 8th grade) boys soccer.

The difference between the two was jolting at first. In 1st Grade we are teaching the kids the basics, so my soccer knowledge, or lack of, wasn’t as obvious. The kids showed up, we did some drills teaching skills such as trapping and passing, played some keep-away games, scrimmaged, then called it a day. But the boys (aged 12-14) threw me for a complete loop. It doesn’t help that the coach is an Italian, athletic stud that plays semi-professional adult league soccer and was an ATP ranked tennis pro back in Italy. Suffice it to say, I felt unable to offer much coaching support. I was basically a warm body that the boys had to listen to if Coach Hot Stuff was busy.

Pinnies

I did learn a lot, though, and had a great time gabbing with Coach Italiano on the sidelines during games. I also participated in practices and learned all sorts of things out of complete boredom. I totally impress my Kindergarteners out at recess with my mad skills.

It was also interesting going from mixed 6 and 7 year-olds to 12-14 year-old boys. Most of the young kids’ practice was just getting them to listen, the girls to stop hugging each other, and the boys to stop telling potty jokes. The older boys were a completely different animal. I had brothers, but still feel ill equipped to deal with adolescent boys. For instance, our first home game we had to wear pinnies because the opposing team also had green jerseys. I commented, before I could stop myself, how they looked less like pinafores and more like giant athletic supporters. One of the 8th grade boys quipped, “Yeah, jock straps for giants.” I laughed, but quickly realized that may be an inappropriate thing for an adult female to say to a young boy, and laugh at.

Male Athletic Support

Another example of ineptness with boys occurred when one of the boys came running over to the sidelines during a game, begging to go to the bathroom. As it was a park, the only available facility was a port-a-potty. As he sprinted to the toilet, Coach asked me to keep an eye on the boy to make sure he wasn’t gone too long, as we were short players. I was praying that he just had a small bladder and that he would be back quickly. After many minutes, I realized he was in it for the long haul, and I was dreading having to walk over and “check-in.” What would I say? “How’s it going?”, “Everything working out in there?”, “Are you ok?”, etc. Luckily a teammate’s mother helped me out and did the job for me. Phew.

Now it’s Intermediate (4th and 5th Grade) girls basketball. Again, completely different from 1st Grade soccer or middle school boys. Tonight was our first practice and we only had 7 girls show up, 2 that had to leave after only about 45 minutes of the 90 minute practice.

I feel much more comfortable this time around, despite the fact that the head coach played college ball and I only played through junior high. The girls were impressed with my ability to spin the ball on my middle finger for longer than 1 second until Coach Amazing spun the ball for 5+ seconds on her middle finger, thumb and pinkie.

Well, I still look cool to my Kindergarteners….

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