Welcome to Coaching the Best

What a weekend!  We went to Fresno, CA in the blistering heat for the biggest show for California Track stars.  The three-hour drive was great relaxed and looking forward to seeing amazing talent at their best.  My coach and I drove down talking about old stories of greats, Marion Jones, and all the athletes that went through our school.  He is a veteran to this event, which this was my first.  So I was full of questions, and picking his head on his own coaching philosophies.  In those three hours I just listened to how things were, and how we all can be back there next year and improve our team.  I’m the type of coach that wants to learn from every coach I meet, and see what works for them.  He is a true motivator, and taught me so much in that drive.  Our athlete was driving with her family, and was going to meet us there at the hotel.  She had been here the year before, so she knew what to expect more than I even did.  This was great for her, just calm and ready to place in the finals for the next day.

In a heat of 105 degrees, which felt like 130, and bad air quality we still were there to execute.  There were 32 jumpers and she was ranked in the top five, a great start.  They take the top twelve for Saturday finals, this was just the trials.  This was the real deal, after going to many meets this year I never saw so many girl High Jumpers with flawless form.  After long period of jumpers “32″ our athlete had to just sit and watch in the heat and focus.  My biggest problem as a coach was that I couldn’t really do much of coaching from the stands other than hand signals, and yells of “FOCUS”.  She did her part and made the top 12, placing in the top four.  Now it was time to get out of there and get back to the hotel to relax and hydrate.  It was a great start for us, we just needed to rest up and stay “focused” on the goal.  For me I got up had breakfast, read the paper of all the results I missed when we left.  It was crazy to see that all the athletes that came from our section, only a handful made the finals.  At our section finals, I thought wow these guys are going to kill it at state.  Well reality check, this is State and the best of the best.  I got a little workout in, and took advantage of the pool in this heat, tons of sunscreen.  I talked to my athlete and she slept in got some down time and prepared herself.

I told her we just needed to get 5’5″ which she can get, and then focus on 5’7″.  Many of the other competitors struggled at that height in the trials, so I knew if she got that we were in good shape.  When she went down the tunnel to the field after my pep talk, which ended with “hey I’m so proud of you” it was go time.  The talent was stacked, but she looked good in her run trough’s, so I felt good once again coaching with hand signals.  She struggled on her jumps and didn’t make to the next round, which we were all shocked and stood there thinking no it can’t be over.  This is track though anything can happen, even the best can make small miss step and it’s over.  For an example I watched the top 100 HH stubble on his last hurdle and not even place.

No matter what she is a true champion, not just in league and section, but in my eyes.  You know the saying “I want that person in my corner” that’s her.  A true competitor, and humble when it counts.  I will remember this year forever, and thank her for being my rock throughout the season.  She is an amazing Volleyball player too, going to college to play.  I know she has a huge future, and will make an impact on others, just like she did with me.

Final thought, if you ever want to see some amazing athletes go to the State meet!  It was jaw dropping watching them perform.

Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character. T. Alan Armstrong