Well, I am officially on vacation...for about 10 hours. Yes it is that glorious time between seasons when, on a whim and a free weeknight, I can enjoy a nice Crown Royal with 3 cubes of ice and a splash of water. Today was the official end of baseball season as we did an inventory of uniforms, equipment, some field maintenance, and storage. This is always the worst day of coaching...seniors you have coached since their 7th grade JV season are officially gone. Kids I have helped to mold as players and young men are leaving. Next year, for the first time in four years, # 3 is no longer Matthew Rivers and I cannot toss him the game ball and know I have a solid seven innings coming. I've watched them grow, learn, screw-up, get back up, and fight. I've cussed them, hugged them, run them half to death, praised them, smoked ground balls off their chests, and berated them while respecting the hell out of them for taking the daily punishment and still coming back. Today we parted ways, said goodbye, and I am left trusting that I did all I could to guide them, teach them, and make them feel the same way I do about those SOB coaches I knew once upon a time.
However, tomorrow is the first day of spring football practice. I'm trying to not rub it in to anyone having severe addiction withdrawal symptoms, but I'm happy to hear the pads crack tomorrow. Of course, we will need to spend 45 minutes going over stretching procedures for all of the new guys, but in no time I will be busting some kid's chops as he stumbles through the ropes or knocks over one my cones in a footwork drill. Yes, for the first time in six years, I will not be coaching my beloved DBs...I have been moved to LBs upon request. It is for the best as my temper and intensity never really meshed with a position that required an even keel and a short memory.
I'm glad to see this new beginning coming, but I am sad to know it is only a beginning to an end. In this game I play annually, I lose my kids. The ones who achieve the amazing on-field stats and those who may never quite get the spotlight....regardless, they will leave. Every year, we let the seniors speak to the team. Matthew was our star...the natural ballplayer. He spoke the usual quotes he had heard every senior before him relate...work hard because its over before you know, I'll miss you guys, etc, etc. However, it was Damian who got me tonight...Damian who had less than 10 at-bats all year but was usually at the front of the pack when we were running and always up on the dugout railing during a game. He thanked all of us for just letting him be a part of the team...he knew he was average and couldn't win a position, but he loved every minute of trying to win one. ****...it really is that simple isn't it?
Tomorrow is just another beginning to an end...the restart of a new cycle. We might win state, we might win one ballgame, but it will be **** fun trying.
However, tomorrow is the first day of spring football practice. I'm trying to not rub it in to anyone having severe addiction withdrawal symptoms, but I'm happy to hear the pads crack tomorrow. Of course, we will need to spend 45 minutes going over stretching procedures for all of the new guys, but in no time I will be busting some kid's chops as he stumbles through the ropes or knocks over one my cones in a footwork drill. Yes, for the first time in six years, I will not be coaching my beloved DBs...I have been moved to LBs upon request. It is for the best as my temper and intensity never really meshed with a position that required an even keel and a short memory.
I'm glad to see this new beginning coming, but I am sad to know it is only a beginning to an end. In this game I play annually, I lose my kids. The ones who achieve the amazing on-field stats and those who may never quite get the spotlight....regardless, they will leave. Every year, we let the seniors speak to the team. Matthew was our star...the natural ballplayer. He spoke the usual quotes he had heard every senior before him relate...work hard because its over before you know, I'll miss you guys, etc, etc. However, it was Damian who got me tonight...Damian who had less than 10 at-bats all year but was usually at the front of the pack when we were running and always up on the dugout railing during a game. He thanked all of us for just letting him be a part of the team...he knew he was average and couldn't win a position, but he loved every minute of trying to win one. ****...it really is that simple isn't it?
Tomorrow is just another beginning to an end...the restart of a new cycle. We might win state, we might win one ballgame, but it will be **** fun trying.
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