"I got you Coach."

At the Junior High dance, adolescents court one another by sending out their friends as ambassadors to inquire about potential two steps. The primary reason for employing said ambassadors is avoiding face to face communication and potential confrontation and/or rejection. It's a coping mechanism of immaturity. In those Junior High hallways, ANONYMOUS notes are passed through a gauntlet of mutual friends. Sometimes the notes are passed in courtship and sadly, other times they're vehicles for bullies. It's the protection of being ANONYMOUS that empowers ANONYMOUS authors to write the ridiculous. Yes, another coping mechanism of immaturity.
Luckily, most of us get through those awkward years with valuable lessons learned. Most of us learn that when you've got someone or something on your mind, it's best to speak for yourself. It's best to be your own person. Don't send ambassadors to skew your personal message. Don't sign letters ANONYMOUS. Own your words.

I coach. I am a Coach. I've coached multiple sports at all imaginable levels. Hockey, Soccer, Football, Basketball. 5 year olds. Pre-teens and teens alike. I even coached college Freshman and Sophomore women. I've been a Coach for more than 10 years. Deep down I know that the good days far outnumber the bad. I smile when I think of Grayson hitting that game winning, last second shot and then running full steam and leaping into my arms. I remember late night hockey practices at BSU's John Glas Fieldhouse we wished would never end. Pride consumes me knowing that my own kids have learned with me as their Coach to think about passing before shooting - that making their teammates better serves a higher purpose. I wish I could relive the only basket Jonathan scored his entire 7th grade season because we all worked so hard for it.

But today was rough. Today I was blindsided with the ANONYMOUS - a coping mechanism of immaturity.

Without specifics, I'll tell you about - A letter - No Name - uninformed and poor examples - and personal attacks on my integrity. Bottom line - I'm offended and hurt.

That is, until I talked things over with my super cute and super smart wife. She readjusted my perspective. Feeling better about things, I logged onto Facebook and was again pleasantly reminded why I endure the bad times in coaching.

A former student of mine that ended up being the strength of the only undefeated 7th grade basketball squad I've ever coached had an interesting Facebook status. He wrote -
“Football teaches you how to handle adversity. Adversity is a reality of life. You are never really sure when it will come or how long it will stay, but the way human being handles the situation in his life is a direct reflection of the character he possesses. The real test of a person doesn’t come when everything is going well. The real test comes after adversity has struck and he overcomes and conquers it”
As I "LIKED" his status, I commented - "Thanks kid. I needed that today."
To which he responded - "I got you Coach."

I got you Coach

FOUR words from a 6'1" 245 pound, 20 year old, Sophomore LineBacker -leading the Concordia University Golden Bear defense in all imaginable ways. FOUR words from a skinny little kid that I so vividly remember, selflessly assisting his younger wheel chair bound brother through difficult and demanding swimming lessons. FOUR words from a young man that I know has made some difficult life decisions but has always done so with the best intentions. FOUR words from a kid that I know has character that we all can be proud of.

And I never got lucky enough to coach him in football.

Doesn't matter. When I did have him - he listened and learned. And today, he picked me up.
"I got you Coach."
Thanks #36.

SIGNED: Paul Kirby
Teacher, COACH, Marine, Christian, Husband and a Father