It has been only two months since I began covering sports in Airdrie, but it didn’t take me nearly that long to realize how fortunate this city is when it comes to the incredible coaching its athletes receive.
The passion demonstrated by coaches of the various sports offered in this fine city is, I believe, second to none.
If there is one thing I have learned in my 30-plus years involved in sports is that the three most important characteristics of being a successful coach are: they must care about people, must have high standards and ambitions, and must possess effective communication and motivational skills.
And each coach from Airdrie that I have had the privilege to meet during my first two months on the job hone all these qualities.
One example would be Grover Bradford, head coach of the Bert Church Chargers junior boys’ basketball team.
When speaking to Bradford this week it was hard not to notice the passion and enthusiasm in his voice when talking about each and every one of his players after his squad captured banners in both the Rocky View Sports Association and South Central Zone Championships.
But what struck me, and impressed me the most, was that when last interviewing Bradford for a game story two months prior, he had the same passion and used the same tone when things appeared bleak for his squad following a lacklustre performance on home court. There is no question it was Bradford’s positive and optimistic outlook that helped guide the Chargers back to their winning ways.
Relationships are the cornerstone of coaching, particularly at the amateur level where coaches have a tremendous influence on their players. And Bradford is only one example of a local bench boss that understands this. I have had the privilege to come across a number of coaches involved in Airdrie athletics that encompass this same understanding.
If you have never experienced coaching, let’s just say being at the helm of a wide range of personalities is no easy task, no matter the skill set you are working with.
A coach is also required to have excellent knowledge of a sport, a knack for teaching that allows players to understand what is expected of them and their specific roles on the team, the nerves to call that perfect, sometimes risky play when the game is on the line, not to mention they must have thick skin when the going gets tough.
Teaching players how to handle victory and defeat with the same class and maturity can be a tough job and an ongoing challenge. Coaches must also juggle their own family and work schedules on top of practices and games, and deal with both the pleased and not so pleased parents (critical parents/fans are, more often than not, the ones that have never been brave enough to step into the shoes of a coach themselves). In some instances, coaches are required to make themselves available 24/7.
Then there is dealing with the media, which can be a daunting, sometimes irritating task for some – especially after a heart-wrenching loss.
However, I have found that coaches from Airdrie are well aware of the importance of sacrificing their time to the media. I have yet to run into a coach, win or lose, not willing to provide an interview and open up about their thoughts on a particular game or athlete mere moments following a final buzzer or unwilling to return my calls or emails before press deadline.
So a big thank you goes out to all those coaches that help make my job a little easier and enjoyable.
Remember, coaches don’t coach because they have to, coaches coach because they love to. And there lies the difference.
So the next time you see a coach, thank him or her for their tireless commitment, dedication and time given. It’s the least we can do.
