Coaches

With every team, there is a coach, a person who is there to provide guidance as well as to set a moral standard that the team should follow. Considering I have been playing sports since the age of three, it is safe to say I have seen a lot of coaches at work. Through this whole blogging experience, I've decided to be a tad more critical of the sports world, not just to judge but to form an opinion. As for coaches, youth coaches primarily, I have come to the conclusion that there are two types in the world. Both are vastly different from the other, one is generally loud, obnoxious, and only thinks he knows what he's talking about. The other also knows nothing about the game but instead of yelling will coddle his players until the cows come home. 

Personally, I have never been a fan of the coddling coaches. Any coach who his always nice to the point where there is no coaching being done, is doing his players a huge disservice. As for the yellers, at least they have a zest for the game and want their team to do well. There are of course exceptions to both of these. In between the two of these you will find a third type and generally the more appealing type to the athletes. The third type is a mix between the first two with the addition of good coaching qualities, not obnoxious, but not silent. It seems that this type of coach effectively presents his game plan and philosophy in a way that his players will understand as well as perform to their full potential. 

Although he certainly qualifies as this third type of coach, it is safe to say this man was quite the character. My little league baseball coach taught me everything about baseball I could possibly know, how to hit, field, the works. He was roughly sixty years old, had only four teeth, probably fought in Nam, and definitely still lives in the 60's. It is safe to say he was rough around the edges, but not mean at the same time. He hated to lose and would not hesitate to defend his players against umpires and other coaches, and as a little leaguer the defending would be pretty amusing. He raised his voice when he had too, but never abused the power of having the ability to do so. Thats what I liked the most, he gave me a good kick in the ass when I need one and gave me a pat on the back when I deserved it. Whether or not I was his favorite, and I'm pretty sure I wasn't, and whether or not he was a good guy he was still a good coach. Coach Morland, this one's for you.