The team at Title Nine has many players — and many coaches. Our own athletic and personal lives have been shaped and influenced by coaches we’ve had, making the decision to embark on the same path an important one. We look up to those who lead the way for us: it’s time for us to lead the way for the next generation.
Do YOU coach? Tell us why below.
I coach girls in Olympic Lifting or power lifting. Teaching them to be powerful and strong. That lifting heavy weights is one of the most empowering things that they can do. That having muscles is not a bad thing. It also teaches them that hard work pays off.
I started coaching because no one else would. I never played soccer (or any team sport), but we got the “if no one steps up, the girls can’t play” email and I couldn’t let that happen. My co-coach and I taught ourselves as much as we could from the league’s meager training manual and YouTube videos. Our team lost all but 2 games that first year, but I think the girls had fun and even learned some things. Many of them returned to our team the next year and the girls just blossomed. They started playing some beautiful soccer – working together so well. It was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. I don’t think I’ll coach the girls again – my daughter wants to focus on softball and the 11U only has 1 or 2 teams so they have enough coaches. But I am so glad I stepped up when needed.
I lead a power walking group out of a local running store. My little group has gradually grown in size and now has a male co-leader as well. I love leading formerly sedentary women (and men) as they gain (or regain) a level of fitness. They move up from beginner to experienced over the course of 1-2 clinics series. Coaching someone up a steep hill and congratulating them on reaching the top is one of the best reasons for continuing in my role. My favorite thing to hear is “I didn’t think I would be able to do that”. I see fitness as a way to build confidence is women! Saying to someone “you could do a 10K or 1/2 or full marathon” is recognizing excellence in their achievement.
I am not a coach nor have I ever been,but I would like to tell you a story about a girl I know. This little girl loved playing any kind of athletics, she played goalie at age three for her sister and uncle who were eight and nine at the time.She would stand in that box and attempt to stop anything that came her way,and for the most part she did. She would wear shin guards that were her sisters and use tube socks on her arms and a bike helmet and skateboard down my parents drive. She could have been another Shawn White at age 8 but she had more to do.T-ball came along at age 4 she would stand in the batter’s box at home and swing like she was a pro. I begged a friend of mine to please let her play on his team(the age limit was 5) and he said yes. She was so proud to put that black shirt on,I kept her long blond hair in braids and under her caps. She was the only girl and the boys were so surprised on picture day.This little girl grew to play softball all through school. She was the only freshman starter on her high school team and played second base. She played all four years in that position. She went to college to play college softball on a scholarship. She graduated began a teaching career in high school sciences,coaching but in a different way. She bagan coaching junior high softball,summer softball,junior high basketball, and now coaches her niece in any sport she is able. She is not a little girl any more.She is a professional, a teacher, a confident to so many young people.She is a coach and I am proud to say my daughter Carrie Sigler.
I coach high school varsity basketball. I love being able to share with the girls lessons about hard work, commitment and love for a sport and other team mates. There is nothing better than to see them put in hard work and see the results of their labor. Coaching is the best gig out there, the relationships formed are life changing. Being able to see girls grow from little freshman to confident young women is so gratifying. I can’t think of anything I like doing more!!
To give children opportunities to do things they didn’t know they could and to support the growth of their minds and bodies so that they can grow up to coach others. (7 to 14 year olds in a youth cross country and track and field program)
I coach high school softball at the Varsity level and coach for the local recreation youth softball team (currently 2nd -3rd graders). Softball has always been a passion of mine. My father coached me and my brothers in baseball for many years. I have the fondest memories from those days. As a mother of three daughters, I want to provide my children with the memories of being involved with a sport and being surrounded by family and friends while doing so. I enjoy reaching out to young female athletes and the character buiding involved with participating in a sport.
I coach the only Special Olympics Stand Up Paddleboarding team in the state of South Carolina. I’m a pediatric occupational therapist and love the opportunity to facilitate change in the lives of athletes with special needs through an emerging and “cool” sport that isn’t just the typical bowling or bocce ball seen in the special needs sector. I have seen remarkable gains in social, emotional and physical skills of our athletes and have seen how our program has transformed the lives of our volunteers in our small SUP community. How often is it you get to be a catalyst to assisting someone to walk on water when as a small child they were told they would never walk? Here’s a link to a news story on our team. Hope you enjoy and others are inspired by these amazing athletes!
http://www.wach.com/news/story.aspx?id=950343
I coach for so many reasons.
I love sports and the opportunities it gave to me.
I know what sports has taught me and I want to share that with children.
I want to give that one girl that isn’t sure what path she should take the opportunity to experience the thrill of feeling good, gaining confidence so when presented with two paths, she takes the one right one, the one that will make her feel good about herself, the one where she can create her destiny, not allowing someone else to do it for her.
I coach to see that one smile, after a shot is made or a goal is saved.
I coach because I love to give back and help.
Growing up, I was involved in a lot of different sports with gymnastics being my primary sport. I had a lot of coaches who gave up a lot of their time for me so at first my goal was to give back what other coaches gave up for me. Sports were such a huge part of my life and have taught me so much about dealing with life as an adult, I wanted to pass that on to others. I have coached high school gymnastics for 19 years and am now involved in coaching youth softball and baseball with my kids. I love teaching these young athletes that there is more to sports that just winning. Having fun is always my number one goal.