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Thor, The Viking Bandit - part 4

by Dave
Monday, June 22, 2009

I couldn't be more excited!   I can't wait to share my knowledge and love of the game to a new group of girls.   It's a new challenge for me, which I love, and I'm going to learn a lot.   I know we're going to have a solid and deep pitching staff, but my only real expecations are that the girls learn a lot, that they have fun, and that they are in every game and play to win.

I actually kind of look forward to it, because I think I can help the girls learn a lot.   I've learned so many life lessons through softball, I want to pass those on to my team next year.   It's not going to be easy, but great things rarely are.   And yes, high school girls are drama no matter how you slice it, but these girls are going to get a big head start on other girls their age.   I don't put up with drama, so they are going to learn to keep that off the field, and hopefully learn how to cope with things better while at the same time becoming more accountable for their actions.

Coaching college has never really been something I've wanted to do.   I don't want to say it will never happen, but it's not a big dream of mine.   This coaching job kind of found me.   I have 5 pitchers I work with that will be at Cal High next year.   There was some drama with the coaching staff this year, and they ended up losing both their coaches just after tryouts.   So for a week, their team didn't have a coach.   So the players I work with were trying to get me to coach them this year.   I tried, but I couldn't free up my schedule enough to be able to do so.   However, the man who agreed to coach the team this year said he wasn't going to do it next year.   My girls got the idea in my head, and it grew and grew on me, so I finally applied and got the job.

I don't know how long I will coach at Cal High for, but I'd like to say a few years.   I really want to try to build a program there, because there are a lot of softball players in that area.   I really want to give the girls there a glimpse of what college life will be like, but more importantly, I want to teach them to work hard, be accountable, and teach them life lessons that will help them later on no matter what path they choose.   Like I said before, I don't have any real dream of being a college coach, but never say never.

I think that high school coaches should stick to high school ball and let their players play for whoever they want for fall/summer teams.   I will encourage my players to find summer teams to play for, but it's obviously not mandatory, and it's really not meant for everyone either.   I feel like if you're a high school coach, you should stick to high school and the things you can control, which is your high school team.   Let the kids do as they please, they need to be happy.

At this point in my life, it's really hard for me to say.   I am very passionate about both areas of study, and can see myself pursuing both.   My plan right now is to apply to different schools, once I have money to pay for school, and see where I get accepted, then go from there.   There are many, many things I'd love to study.   We'll see which doors open up for me.

I love doing private lessons, and I have been lucky enough to be financially comfortable.   I wouldn't say that I have a lucrative job or anything like that, but I can pay the bills and still save up a decent amount of money.   I know that by coach high school I will lose money, but that's not the most important thing to me.   I love being a part of a team, and it's a new challenge, so it's totally worth it to me.   Plus, I can reschedule my lessons so I don't lose too much income either.   I think I'll be fine.   I try to live life by experiences, not by necessarily doing what is going to bring in the most money.

I go back and forth between wanting a family.   I love kids, I love watching the girls I work with succeed, and I think being a parent would be an amazing thing.   But, there's also the part of me that wants to travel the world, help people in all sorts of different situations, and that's not a good environment to raise kids in.   If I do end up having kids, I want them to be active, but it'll be their choice what sports and activities they do.   I would love it if I have a daughter that played softball, but I don't expect her to share my passion.   She's a different person, I want her to decide her passion.

Pretty much the same thing, I'd want them to play whatever sport or activity they are passionate about.

That would depend on a lot of things.   What are their long term goals?   How are their grades?   What other activities are they involved in?   Are they successful and having fun in their sports?   I think that as long as their grades are good, they are free to make their decisions on how they want to approach sports.   I made my choices, I want my kids to have the same opportunity.

• Part 1 - rec play through high school.
  
  
• Part 2 - experiences as a college player
  
  
• Part 3 - experiences as a professional pitcher
  
  
• Part 4 - future including high school coach, private pitching instructor, and some longer-term possibilities

Labels: coaching, high school, national pro fastpitch, parenting

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