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My Hometown: Coaches: A Rare Breed

Coaches are a rare breed. They truly have to love what they do because, after adding up the hours they put in, they quickly realize that they might be making a couple of bucks an hour at the most and, for a volunteer coach, well, you can do the math. They are often ridiculed, second-guessed, and sometimes have to deal with a coach’s worst nightmare—a pushy parent. On the other hand, good coaches get the most out of their player’s skills and hopefully care more about the person than the player, in the end.

To this day I can still hear their unique sayings rattling around in my head. When our baseball team was playing a little sluggishly, one coach would bellow “Looking a little blasé out there.” Another once told a star player, “We don’t want any prima donnas out here.” One soccer coach had a penchant for doling out nicknames to his players. There was Sparkplug, Shep, Sasquatch/Bigfoot, and Cobra, amongst others. When he wanted Cobra to be aggressive and attack the goal, he would often encourage him by yelling out “Snap, snap!!” Another classic was “When in doubt, kick it out,” which is something that might be useful off the playing field as well.

Looking back years later on the coaches I had in my various athletic endeavors, I would say I was pretty fortunate. I got along well with each one and have fond memories of my playing time. I only wish now that I had listened to more of what they were preaching.

One coach asked us to train over the summer to be “honed to a razor’s edge” when we came in for the fall season. Instead we, at least me, proceeded to do whatever I pleased over the summer—that is, anything and everything except training. Although I did play in a summer league, I was more interested in off the field activities. That is something I regret to this day. A promising season turned into a disappointment for myself and my fellow teammates.

Coaches are people we tend to remember long after our playing days are over and although the relationship might change, many of us still call them Coach. There is one saying one of my coaches came up with that was unique to me and one I will probably never forget: “Would you please do so, Mr. Russo!!” Maybe he remembers, too.

Mike Russo is a Branford native and would love to hear reader ideas for future articles. He can be reached at totoket42@gmail.com.