I want to thank all of you for all the valuable information that you have provided to me, a female youth sports coach of girls in 4th to 8th grade.
I understand the patience that it takes to officiate youth sports as it take phenomenal patience to coach a group of girls with that characteristic "deer in the headlights" look once they get on the floor.
I wanted you all to know that there are some youth coaches who appreciate all you do and try to teach our kids respect for their team members, the officials, the other team and parents. I make sure I thank our officials after every game and have the girls say thank you too, even if it's a very shy one by that day's team captain. I also teach them never to speak to an official unless they are spoken to first and to let me know if they don't understand what an official has tried to tell them.
I appreciate the time and effort it takes to not only officiate these youth games, but also try to teach the girls what and why various calls are made.
I have been coaching girls for the past 6 years and I admit I am the coach that takes all the girls that no one else wants, so we end up losing A LOT in the beginning of a season. But usually there is at least one diamond in the rough on the team. One kid who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to play because of their lack of skills unless they were on my "B" team.
My 12 yo daughter is my assistant coach. She has learned an enormous amount by being on the other side of the bench. She sees what the officals go through in a game and appreciates how they try to control not only the game, but the other coaches, the parents and the fans. She appreciates why I am a head coach that usually sits unless I need a time out and never yells at my girls or the officials. She's witnessed too many out of control coaches and fans at youth games.
We win some, we loose some but we always, always have a good time and learn something each game.
thank you for listening and for officiating. If it wasn't for you all I wouldn't be able to coach and teach the girls not only basketball, but life skills on team work, cooperation and how to be a competitor and a good sport.
Happy Holidays to all,
Coach G
(we won 1 game so far!)
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