If You Don’t Coach Them, Someone Else Will
by Roger Sheppard
Well here we go again, another beginning of ball season and all the wonderful things that go along with it.
As I was reading some post on FaceBook last night I began to see a lot of talk about softball tryouts and team organizational information. Being in the screen printing industry gets me involved every year in the selection and production of team uniforms and other associated items for the industry. As I was thinking about the upcoming season, I began to reminisce about the time my wife and I spent coaching and teaching our kids and others how to play softball and basketball. I then began to realize that “If you don’t coach them….. someone else will.” Athletics have always been a way of life for me. Along with magic, I would say that sports rank number two, and I was a natural when getting my two kids involved in the process. It also helps that my wife Debbie was a high school coach during the time that our two daughters were involved in school sports.
In looking at the value of having my kids involved in sports, I can say that it was probably the most important thing in their life in which they participated. Along with the skills and principals acquired, they also were occupied almost completely in their young impressionable days. Going to practice and the time spent working with them in the yard along with the thousands of miles driven to the games, it all worked to keep them occupied and busy doing something valuable. When I say valuable, I speak of not only the full ride scholarships that my daughters obtained to go to college, but all the life lessons of teamwork, honesty, trust, overcoming failure, and never giving up. It kept my wife and I engaged in the developmental phase of their lives. There was literally no time for them to wander into the traps and webs of society’s pitfalls.
My goal as a father was to never let anything get in my way of being in attendance at my girls’ games. I can remember a serious discussion I had with my youngest daughter, Kristin, who now coaches at Texas Middle School. She was concerned about me being bored at a game when the competition was not very good. She said to me “Dad, I want you to know that I don’t expect you to come to the games when we know we are going to win by a wide margin”. I smiled at her and replied, “Well, Kik, I want you to know that I really don’t come to the games for you; as a matter of fact I come to the games for ME. You see, I am your father and I would really feel bad and guilty if I didn’t take the time and interest in what you are doing. If I missed your games I would never be able to bring them back in my life because they would be gone forever.” She looked at me and said, “I think I understand”, and now as a young mom herself, she really understands.
If you fail to get your kids involved in activities, the world will create activities for them on its own. You must be the keeper of the gate and make sure that the people your kids are hanging around will compliment what you are trying to accomplish. We just brought a new puppy into our lives and it is really neat to watch the bonding process. It makes my heart blossom and run over with joy to watch our little sweetheart bond to Debbie. It was also amazing and wonderful watching our two daughters bond to their ball playing friends and to create some really special moments in their young lives. You see, we didn’t want others coaching our kids. It was important that we did it ourselves. And the results were just beautiful. Being your child’s coach in the game of life is the most important part of being a parent.
Roger is not just any dad, but one who also enjoys entertaining with magic shows. A father and grandfather, Roger speaks candidly about parenting through his personal experiences and parallels with athletics, although he is quick to mention, he’s no expert. He hopes to open up discussions on parenting and encourages readers to email him with feedback at [email protected]
