Coaches Have Lasting Impact On Athletes

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Coaches are like piñatas being wildly swung at by blindfolded parents.

“My son isn’t getting enough playing time.”

“Her practices are terrible.”

“He treats my kid like [bleep].”

It goes on and on.

But hindsight tells us that what happens to athletes — bad or good — is more telling in the future than in the present. Coaches, regardless of their knowledge of the game or coaching competence, have a lasting impact on young athletes.

As time goes on, most of the bad memories eventually become funny stories. Although the instances might not have been so funny at the time, former athletes will admit they learned from their coaches.

I grew up in the South, where people are quite serious about football. As a sophomore, I was bumped up to the varsity level as a backup quarterback. There is no question that I would have gotten more reps and playing time on the JV team, but the head coach had different plans.

The senior quarterback I played behind was serviceable. He took care of the ball and made few mistakes. I challenged him for the starting position, something our coach allowed, but threw an interception that a defensive back ran back for a score.

So, relegated to the second unit, I was approached by the head coach, who asked me if I saw anybody else on the team who could start ahead of me in the upcoming years? I said no. He then went on to say that all he wanted me to do that season was to learn the offense backward and forward and not be concerned about my playing time.

At the same time, he told the offensive coordinator to work my butt off, push me relentlessly during practice and instruct me on every small detail of being a quarterback.

The rest of the season was hell. Few of my fellow teammates noticed it, but Coach Jim Barczak was on me from the moment I hit the field until we went into the locker room. He took his mission seriously. There were no pats on the back, no compliments.  He made me grind for the tiniest of skills. And I resented him for it.

Three years later, when we won a regional title with me behind center, Coach Barczak walked up to me and gave me a big hug. I was stunned.

He put his hands on my shoulder pads and said: “You worked hard for this and I’m proud of you.  In two years as a starter, we had one exchange (center to quarterback) fumble and two fumbles in the backfield. Two years. That is amazing and it happened because of the work you did.”

I have thought about that conversation all my life, especially when things were tough. I know that, in many instances, I persevered because of what Coach Barczak put me through. He taught me there really is a light at the end of the tunnel.

At the time, I could not see it. I was not mature enough to see beyond that day and the punishing repetitions he demanded of me.

As I look back today, the hard work and attention to detail were indelible lessons I never forgot.  And I am forever grateful to him for every minute of it.

High school athletes — parents, too — need to understand that what they are going through now are life lessons that will, if kept in proper perspective, prove to be guide posts along the way.

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