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"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" |
10. Practice "starts" at 6:00pm, which means kids will arrive anytime between 5:55pm and 6:45pm.
9. Nobody comes to the gym in their practice gear. Allot 10-15 minutes for locker room time as part of your practice plan.
8. I'm sorry, practice plan? Don't plan practice until warm-ups start. If you do it in advance, you're just going to have to change it anyway because some people will be there, and some people won't. Sometimes 6 months into season, a new random kid will show up. Awesome. Be ready for 16 to come to some practices, and 6 to come to others. By June, you'll be lucky if you still have 8 coming to games.
7. If a kid barely rolls their ankle, you will not see them for a minimum of 2 weeks. If they have a real injury, you will not see them for a minimum of 6 weeks. There is zero value in being at practice and listening/learning/helping.
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I could have definitely used some help. |
5. Two practices a week are apparently way too much to ask of a kid. I regularly let them know: don't ever try to play school sports in America.
4. It's just for fun. There's no varsity team to make, no scholarship to earn, and no reason to go outside of your comfort zone. And by "fun," I don't mean fun for coaches.
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Timeouts are for photos! NOT! |
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Team handstands were my epic success. |
1. Daily self-mantra for coaches?
"It's not me, it's you."
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I thought the problem was me for way too long. |
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Simpson University Women's Volleyball Program 2010 [Front row, L-R: Micaela, Jenny, Liz, Kelly T., KJ, Kelly B. Back row, L-R: Team Dad Rich, Me, Manager Paige, Cashel, Jackie, Becca, Kaitlin, Lauren, Chanel, Lindsay, Assistant Coach Sarah, Assistant Coach Brooke.] |
But you want to know the biggest difference between coaching in America and coaching in France?
America: 40-60 hours per week.
France: 4-14 hours per week.

YES and amen. All good reflections. I especially love the photo of you biting your nail. I think there should be a caption contest. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh my hilarious! Loved every part of this. And as you said, 4-14 hours sounds pretty amazing! Keep enjoying yourself lady! :)
ReplyDeleteI know, right?! Thanks, Jackie! :)
DeleteThat realy our team when you coach us. Haha
ReplyDeleteThibaud, you were the only reason I came to practice sometimes! Thanks for being the only cool kid!!! :)
DeleteOhh that very nice
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