January 31st, 2016 | Uncategorized
Since I have been in Galway, the main coaching responsibility I’ve had is Saturday Mornings at the Titans Academy. Every Saturday Marritta and I (unless one of us have an away national league game, like Rita did this weekend for the Cup Finals, Go Rita Go!) coach several general training sessions for kids between the ages of 6 and 14. Each sessions can have anywhere between 5 and 20 kids. Let me tell you with up to 20 little energizer bunnies running around on a Saturday morning, these sessions can be quite a handful at times. However, the longer I have done these sessions the more and more I enjoy them. The support I receive from the community makes my job so much easier. Other coaches and parents are always quick to offer assistance in any way I need. The coffee’s or pizza’s brought in are always an added bonus as well! It is obvious that it takes a village to coach a child.
The most rewarding part of being a coach is trying to make an impact on the lives of young people. A simple reward that I receive that makes coaching worth it is when I walk into the gym to be greeted by name by the kids that I coach. Seeing kids working hard and getting better, fuels me to be a better coach because when I see progress I know that I have the ability to push this progress further. While I do everything in my power to try to have a positive impact on these kids’ lives, it is often them that have a positive impact on my life.
Victory Scholar: Cory Starkey
Present University: NUI Galway
US League: Patriot League
Club/community partner: Galway Titans
Alma Mater: Bucknell University
Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland
