[Note: I wrote this post while on vacation last week. I meant to post it shortly thereafter but a technical 'glitch' prevented me from doing so. It was part of my experiment of going 'iPad only' which I will post on later.]
Harrison at his first football clinic
Fortunately, my son apparently has listened to some of my preaching on this subject because he reported this coach's statement with the same tone he has when ratting on his brother for saying a bad word. To verify that he gets my message, I asked him what is really the the most important thing. "Trying your best" was his response, which, for his level of understanding, is good enough for now. It's what I hope to teach him about the true effort required to do your best in anything that I hope to convey to him in the years I have left to mentor him. And suddenly, I've become very aware of how precious few years I have left to ensure he comprehends this principle. Before another short-sighted coach has a chance to further erode it.
Obviously, I am not happy to hear about a coach telling my 7 and 6 year old boys this wrong-headed sports cliche. It's just one of those parental hot buttons for me. It comes from my own upbringing and experiences in playing and later coaching sports. Actually, it's mostly from my experience in coaching that is not even all that extensive. But it clarified things for me. And since having kids of my own who are now entering their still-too-early organized sports experience, I'm on the lookout for these bad messages from coaches. Well, it's that and my control-freak nature I suppose.
Much of my thinking in this area revolves around the manner in which John Wooden was able to articulate it throughout his career in coaching and then his published works in his retirement. I've posted previously around these philosophies. OK, yes, I'm ranting about what many may see as a trivial thing but it's important to me. Perhaps it's a reminder to me to do a better job of mentoring my sons and even do a better job of living it. One thing is certain: my sons are officially at the age where they will be exposed to bad messages. Not only do I need to make sure I guide them better to prepare for this eventuality, I need to make sure the bad messages they are getting are not coming from me.
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