I am currently training 12 to 14 students who are in Kindergarten through second grade for an after school program at my daughter's school. I was warned about taking this on because they are too young, but I decided to move forward with it anyway. It has been a blast (although it is also a bit like gathering bubbles - haha!).
As a coach I sometimes take for granted that the older students I teach have already learned their skills. I forget that there is a coach somewhere who taught them the basics, or that they learned from friends or even on their own. When I look back on my early career, I am thankful for my first two coaches - Mr. Ortiz and Mr. Stocker who helped me fall in love with this game. Mr. Ortiz was a first year coach and taught me to be aggressive and to be part of a team, and Mr. Stocker taught me the correct way to pass, receive, and shoot. Both were absolutely necessary to my development. Wherever you are coaches, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
So back to my experience...I know it's only been 2 weeks with them, but teaching them the fun of the game while also building some foundations in them is so rewarding! Yesterday I did a drill where they partnered up and had to find 2 cones of the same color next to each other to pass across to each other until I called a new color. They did awesome! They were just having fun dribbling from one set of cones to another to pass with their friend, but it also helped them to look up and around the field together to find a new space to get to quickly. I am geeked out that they probably don't realize what they learned, but it is something a future coach may appreciate.
Next week I am going to coach them to be confident with the ball, even though they won't realize that either. I just hope they continue to have as much fun as they did yesterday and that they grow to love this game as much as I do! I pray that the next session goes as well as this one did. I will try to keep you posted.
I am truly blessed to be doing what I do!
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