Being a coach is extremely rewarding.
You don’t have to win a title to see the growth and the gains your players make throughout a season. This year I had the pleasure of jumping back into coaching our mighty Crocs. Now we played 15 won 9 and lost 6 but the wins losses and points for and against didn’t really concern me. What I wanted was to grow the players to lead their own development and grow their own game and I feel we have been able to do that. Players have really taken on the challenge of mixing with the Premiers on a Tuesday evening and challenging their skill set.
We started the season with the catch cry “Let’s have Fun”
Some of you “crustys" may think that’s a wee bit PC but isn’t that why we play the game. It can be more fun when you win but the fun of being around a group of players who show up for each other and have a collective belief that having fun is our driver. This year when the 2 coaches who had signed on decided to leave the old club I stepped in. Having men like Connor Mahan, Travis Moody, James Lilly Ben Middleton and the bringer of energy, Asha Alavaa, makes the job so much easier. This core group along with others have been in this team so long deal with the shifts in squad when the premiers need assistance, consistency is something this squad doesn’t have but a core group of regular players can bring peace to the chaos. Okay maybe not all the regulars bring peace. We worked out that we were there because we wanted to be and we controlled how we played but mostly how we felt when we played.
Did we win our final? No. Did we have fun getting there. Hell yes!!
What these players taught me was to enjoy each moment and do the best with what you got. They may believe they caused me a heart attack but that was not them. They gave me the reason to get out of hospital and embrace the journey again. This may sound a wee bit soft and squishy but this team, these players showed me what this club is all about
How to deal with change , constant change and adapt to it.
New coaches , new players, Old coaches it didn’t matter they played for each other. If you want to see fun, with a capital “F” get involved with our premier women’s team. I have never been involved with a group of young players who play with passion and warm up with so much fun and excitement. I was so lucky to be a part of their final game and just so privileged to be invited. I attempted to run water and the kicking tee but will need to train for next year as I know they will be back. The players have this wonderful energy and noise that’s so different from the men’s game. Thank goodness for noise cancelling headphones if you don’t want to surf this energy to the kick off. It was so much fun.
There you go that word again.
It was noisey and energetic and passionate and the dancing was key to being prepared. Playing in that stadium did not distract them at all. To see mum and daughter in midfield watching each others backs was a treasured memory I’ll never forget. Running, waddling, messages to the huddles was really pointless because the players with Angie had already sorted what the needed to correct or add to them game and having Joe fly down from Napier( and I’ll be cheering for Hawkes Bay, Northland Canterbury and Buller this year) and Derms show up, very tired, after her final was just special. We weren’t supposed to even be in the competition ,but they will Never forget us. Jonno, you didn’t need my tablets mate. Alison for all her organisation throughout the season, thank you. To Angie Joe Jonno Vicki Derms thank you for coaching guiding mentoring and to John Sherratt , Shu, The GM, thanks for believing in all of us.
So why do I do it. For fun. Is it stressful? Yes. Is it time consuming? Yes. Is it worth it? Bloody oath!
Give em the Axe.
