The Archive
Real stories from coaches across youth sports. Read, relate, and remember you're not alone.
39 stories · Page 1 of 5
I never imagined that something I loved so much could become something I am now afraid to do. For years, coaching was one of the most rewarding parts of my life. I loved the competition, the relationships with players, the practices, and the opportunity to help young athletes gr…
My husband was coaching a very successful girls’ soccer team when his assistant coach decided he wanted to become the head coach. From that point forward, the assistant coach and his wife began positioning themselves to take over the team. I later learned this was not the first t…
I coached swimming at the same high school I attended for almost 10 years. I learned a few years in that the girls succeeded significantly more when we upped team bonding, added more opportunities for small group discussions, let our captains have more control, had more fun, lear…
Three years ago, I walked away from a school rowing program that I believed I would help build for many years to come. I have never coached again. When I accepted the role, it was my first head coaching position. I had only ever coached individual age groups before that, and wit…
I was the head coach of a program for 4 years. Each year I gradually made changes to make our program more competitive (ie: putting younger, more talented athletes on varsity; exposing all athletes to competition). I had a parent who would constantly threaten to go to administra…
Our coaching situation was a little unusual. Our school desperately needed a girls' basketball coach, but no one stepped up. My aunt had more coaching experience than I did, but she worked during the week and couldn't attend every practice. I had less experience, but I had been…
It was my first week as a new head coach for a club team- so kids of all ages. Swimmer don’t want to get in- doesn’t like change. Mom came on deck yelling at me to get her kid in the water— telling me to literally pick him up and throw him in the water. Kid is hysterically crying…
For reference, I work at a facility where I am a swim coach, lifeguard, and teach swim lessons. I am quite young and female. I started coaching for the short course season last year and the head coach was great and I really enjoyed my time so I decided to coach summer swim. A new…
I am writing this from a championship pool deck. Just this morning I was looked past and called a junior coach by a male official. I am nearly 50 and have been coaching for 25+ years and at this meet for the past 10. I am the one in charge of our team for this meet. Our head coac…