Recently, I watched my favorite team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, capture the 2020 World Series championship. Even though there were many tense moments this postseason and many heartbreaks in recent years, it was a tremendous joy to see them finally reach their ultimate goal. As I thought about the Dodgers and tried to reflect on the status of high school athletics in Montana, I remembered that we are all fans. In most cases, the reason that we decide to become coaches is so that we can see the student-athletes succeed. We want to see them be successful once they graduate from school. We want to see them be successful in the classroom, in society and in the athletic arena. We are all fans.
I was talking to Coach Jeff Graham about finally making it over the top. Coach Graham and I share a passion for the Dodgers; also, I would like to think we share a passion for seeing our student-athletes making it over the top. Coach and I realized that the last time the Dodgers won the title in 1988, I was 15 years old and Coach Graham was 6 years old. In 2020, we both have sons that have been forced to be Dodger fans. Carter, my son, will turn 15 this week and Jace, his son, is 6 years old. Witnessing our sons celebrating that historic win magnified our own excitement.
In general, doesn’t that describe our role as coaches? We wait and wait (sometimes 32 years) to see our teams succeed. And when they do, we are more excited for our players than we are for ourselves. We are all fans.
Sports are worth it. Coaches spend countless hours working to put practice plans together and draw up plans to help their teams win that week’s game. Often in today’s society coaches can be underappreciated and receive a lot of criticism. However if the critics would look a little deeper, they would see the passion of a fan is what drives that coach.
If you just got done with a fall sport think of a moment that made you go, “Wow! I got to be here for that moment.” If you are gearing up for the winter season, think of something that you are excited to witness in the next few months. We are all fans.
I found this on the Internet…
Our Coach
Leads by Example
Dedicated & Determined
Teaches Teamwork
Motivates and Listens
Builds Character
Challenges and Develops
Committed to Our Team
Our Biggest Fan
Right now all of our kids, all of our student-athletes, all of our teams need fans. Maybe capacity is down in the stands, but they can have their biggest fans in practice every day and at all their games. We are all fans.
How ‘bout them Dodgers! We are all fans.
-Brian Campbell