I began coaching long before I moved to St.Louis. I started with a law league that was my former husband(college life- we couldn't live together so we married) and than when I moved to Missouri and my son was in first grade- I discovered how ruthless and mean men coaches are.Back in those days I was much thinner and better looking. I put down to be an assistant coach but I was told my commissioner it would be better to be the coach. So I recruited my sitters who had both been on teams . I had to pick my team by the names on the board . The men that supposedly helped me in the draft lied to me about it all and were not gentlemen on the field. After losing 11 games out of 12 I made a pack with myself that this would never happen again. One of my sitter coaches Laura made a list of all the good players and their skills when playing our team. My other sitter David taught me about soccer too. Both sitters were on their high school teams.
I contacted all leagues to find out if there were any coaching clinics. I signed up for all and learned so much from the top coaches in the community. I attended all classes all winter. I was coached in recruiting, teaching techniques for batting, sliding and all aspects in Little League. I learned about a draft and how to make a comeback with comments from other coaches. I sent my son to soccer and baseball camp. I went to select team drafts to watch coaches from my classes in action. And they in turn coached me. Never had I experienced such enthusiasm to teach me. Teams should be fun but this was work and I was going to prove to myself that I wasn't going to lose 11 games again out of 12.
This time I signed up as a Coach. I watched the 2nd graders try out for the draft. My son wasn't rated high but that was okay- he was also prepared to play ( they went by my scores the year before) . Only one coach could be in the draft - you pick your assistants after the draft. I let all the same coaches from the year before put all the top players on the board( I was prepared I had my notes).We picked numbers out of a hat to see when we could do our pick and lucky for me I picked number 1. So I picked a player that was rated high.
I was informed with one of my colleagues that was his neighbor and they coach together. I said he either plays for me or he doesn't play.The bickering went on but it was resolved that I got the player. I was told he won't play for me and my reply was - if he doesn't play for me - he won't play this year for anyone. And than the war began. 1,2,3,4........ All the coaches whose son's or daughters were on the board as top players had to pick their child in the first round. Needless to say I ended up with 4 girls and 8 boys. I than called the parents that night to recruit assistant coaches. My first pick's father told me point blank that his son wasn't going to be on my team and my response was he won't play this summer at all. I had called all the leagues and the coaches that had helped me about what happened. It turned out that the father became my assistant coach as well as 2 other fathers . We had great practices and a wonderful team. My parents were worried about me but that began my coaching career(also commission of sports,umpiring and working on many boards for kids in sports). Our team beat all the teams and we had perfect win record. Over the years I got into soccer and co-coached with other coaches. Later after my son went on to 7th grade - I took a team again in 2nd grade with my friend Margie and we coached kids together for several years ( had select teams). Sometimes I even see some of my former players- Being a commissioner in sports is another story. TERRI Love to Play- Love the game! It should always be fun!
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