To say that the last few months have been a “wee bit” hectic for me would be a little bit of an understatement, but has all been positive as we continue to move the needle forward working with coaches, parents, officials and other youth sports stakeholders.
Just this week I had my wrap up call with my alum UBC’s School of Kinesiology mentorship program mentee, Wade, and was so proud how he not only met but exceeded his goals that we established at the beginning of the program going back to Oct. 2020.
Unlike many of the students who are enrolled in the Kin program who aspire to become physio, occupational or registered massage therapists, Wade aspires to get into teaching so can coach youth basketball to build on his experience coaching youth at the ages of 8-12.
Over the course of our monthly meetings to ensure we stayed on track for him to meet his goals to better understand the coaching “profession” (as many are volunteers) and build out his network, be better prepared for applying for positions I recommended many books, blogs, videos and he soaked up everything that I recommended like a sponge.
Although I was the one wearing the hat as mentor, much like it has been with fellow coaches, players, and other Kin students as well as co-op students who have worked with me over the years, I was reminded just how rewarding it was for me to also learn from him as well.
As I lost my father at a really young age, it was the coaches and teachers that I had growing up that made me who I am today which is why I believe so strongly in paying it forward to mentor, teach, provide guidance and also tough love when needed to help the next generation of coaches, teachers and numerous other professions develop in to amazing people.
It also reminded me had it not been for a few of those amazing teachers and coaches that I would not be where I am today, quite possibly if my path continued in my early teens with “friends” who were getting into drugs, criminal activities I would not have gone to UBC and be the first of my many cousins to graduate from University, start numerous business ventures, or coached numerous sports myself for over 20 years.
As I have shared in many talks and conversations over the years, probably the greatest anecdote I have received regarding our purpose as coaches (which can also be teachers, managers) is not to make a living…..
….our calling and true purpose is to make a difference developing youth into adults.
When we were wrapping up our final mentorship meeting, Wade shared with me how excited he was that he had exceeded 100 people in his Linked in network which was one of the goals we set (believe he had 27 people when we initially connected back in October) so was one of the many goals he accomplished we celebrated.
The following day I received a notification that Wade had posted in his Linked in account that I was tagged in so I opened it up and this is what he shared;
I must confess, I was a little weepy eyed when I read it because (a) how many people responded from his expanded network and (b) how much an impact that I had on a young man who I believe is going to be a GREAT Coach/Teacher in future and (c) how much I learned from him at the same time.
As coaches in youth sports, don’t ever underestimate the power that you have to be a positive role model for the kids you coach, although at times you may feel that coaching youth sports is a lot of work (which I know first hand how much work coaches do) and little or no financial compensation, the greatest reward you will receive is when they thank you for being such a positive influence.
Thank you Wade for the opportunity to provide you insight and to learn from you as well.
