Sunday, March 9, 2014

Softball Season Started Without Me

For the first time in 26 years, softball season has started without me being on the field.

I started playing softball in the 8th grade.  I grew up playing Little League Baseball, so when we were finally able to play sports for our school starting in the 7th grade, I naturally wanted to continue playing baseball.  They wouldn't let me, because baseball was for boys and softball was for girls.  So...I went out for track instead.  It was fun, but it just wasn't the same.  When I was in the 8th grade, I decided to get over myself and joined the softball team.  I've never looked back.

I played 4 years of Varsity softball in high school, and then played one year of college ball.  I started coaching the following year as the assistant coach at the local high school in town.  I eventually got a Head Coaching job at another school, but I still continued to coach the local summer team I was involved with, so I never really left working to build our local softball program.  A few years later and I got the Head Coaching job at the local high school.  I was the Head Coach there for 8 seasons.  I've coached in this community for the past 20 years.  20 years!

During my time as the Head Varsity Coach here, we made it to the State playoffs each of those years.  We won 6 Conference Championships, made it to the State Semi-Finals twice, and won a State Championship.

I've coached a summer team pretty much since the beginning of my coaching career, but it was mostly on the local level, just giving the kids a chance to continue learning the game in order to be ready for high school ball.  However, 3 years ago my husband and I started a new team, with the intention of being more competitive and giving the girls an opportunity to take their game to the next level.  Each of the 3 years we coached this team, we made it the the ASA/USA National Championships, achieving a spot in the top 50 in the Nation our second season.  We've had 3 players sign to play Division I softball, one girl has verballed to play Division II ball, and several others are playing NAIA.

Softball has been our life.  Tony and I have been married for 16 years, and almost every one of those years has been spent on the ball field together.  Most of the girls we have coached, we started working with them when they were just 11 and 12 years old and continued through their high school careers.  We would coach one group, and then get their siblings.  Our best friends became the parents of these girls.  These girls and their parents became our FAMILY.  We started out coaching because we enjoyed the game.  We continued coaching because we fell in love with the girls.  They became our outlet for not having children of our own.  The girls we coached, were like our own.  They were our girls.  It truly has been the most special thing, to be a part of these girls' lives and watch them grow up.

At our softball baby shower, with many of the girls we have coached over the years.


In September, I put in my resignation.  I had reached the second trimester with the twins.  It was a little scary to walk away from what had been such a major part of my life.  If something happened and we lost our babies, I would NEED to coach.  But if we did end up with our babies, there was no way I could coach this year because they were due right before the season started.  I couldn't wait any longer to put in my resignation, because they needed to have time to hire my replacement.

It has now been one full week since the new season has begun.  I miss it, but not as much as you might think I would.  I had the opportunity to be on the hiring committee and sit in on the interviews for the coaching job.  I am SO happy with the person that was hired as the new coach.  It has been such an awesome transition.  She is a young coach, fresh out of college, but she is also a new teacher at the high school.  This has been a best case scenario for me.  (I will call her New Coach)

New Coach and I have met several times and I have had the opportunity to directly hand over supplies, school records, and stats.  I have been able to tell her about the girls and she has asked for my advice on things.  I want her to be able to take over the program and feel that it is hers without me stepping on her toes, but I also want to continue being involved.  I wasn't sure I would be able to get that connection with a new coach, but with this gal, I have.  I have complete faith in New Coach taking over the program and it is such a huge sigh of relief that we can work together, with me taking a very back seat position.

I can't wait to take the babies to watch the team play.  I plan to attend all the home games that I possible can.  As long as the weather allows, I will load the babies in the stroller and we will walk to the games.

For the first time in 26 years, I am not on the field as a player or coach, but it is for the best reason in the world.  I now have two little ones of my own.  I figure that in about 6 or 7 years or so, Tony and I will probably venture into the coaching scene again.  We've never coached t-ball, but I have a feeling we will love it!

14 comments:

  1. I saw the title to this post and had my pouty lip happening for you. But as I saw the pic of the baby shower and finished reading your thoughts, it put a smile on my face. You are in a happy place and that makes my heart swell with pride for my niece and her family!!! A little over 2 weeks and you and your little ones will be able to venture out in the world together, go to a game, you and T will get to watch "your girls" and the other spectators will get some cuddle time in those 2 precious babes and everyone will have a great day!!!! Love and hugs, Auntie PS: I'm the first one responding!!!

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    1. A few grammar errors but I was in a hurry so no one would get the first spot!!! LOL

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    2. Wow! I didn't know you were so competitive Auntie! You are going to scare everybody else off from leaving a comment! Haha

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  2. You have such an awesome career story there! I love how so many of your softball "girls" came to celebrate with you. And I can so relate to the resignation question - going back to work was a welcome distraction at times. But I'm so glad you get to take care of your babies instead!!
    Glad you get along so well with New Coach, too! Out of curiosity though - was Tony a coach before you met, or did you drag him into this? ;)

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  3. Actually, Tony was playing baseball in college, and that was my one year of playing college softball when we met. He coached baseball for several years before I made him help me out one weekend when my regular assistant coach was going to be gone. He fell in love with the girls and never looked back.

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  4. I'm sure that it was tough giving up your coaching job, but it was for a good reason! It sounds like you will stay connected to the team and your girls and get back into it when you can. :-)

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    1. We plan to get back into coaching when we can start coaching our little ones :)

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  5. Closing one chapter and opening a new and WONDERFUL chapter as mommy and daddy. The good thing is that you can still go cheer them on and be involved when time permits. And you can look forward to coaching the kids when they start t-ball. My husband travels the US playing level B softball and will be giving it up in a few years for the boys as well. Hugs and kisses to the babies!

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  6. I'm sure it was really difficult giving up your coaching job, but I can't think of a better reason to do so than the beautiful little babies in your home :) Will there be chances for your to volunteer or be an assistant coach? I bet your girls will be great babysitters someday, if you ever need them! God bless you and your beautiful family!

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    1. It would not be very difficult for me to get a coaching job or be an assistant somewhere, but I don't really think I want to. Not for awhile anyway.

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  7. I've wondered about how you're feeling about the new season starting. I'm sure it's hard to give up your position, but at least it's for a great reason! I have until June to officially commit to volleyball next fall - but at this point I'm hoping that even if I do get pregnant before then, I can still coach this year. After that...I don't know. I may come to you in tears on how to possibly give it up!

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    1. I say keep coaching! If we only had one and not twins, and if they weren't born right before the season started, I'm not sure I would have given up my coaching job. With two, there is just so much more needed of me. And their due date was less than a month before the season started so there was no way I could do it. My advice to you would be to stick with it if you love it, and I know you do. I think there is less risk for you on the volleyball court than on the softball field too. During the summer, I was always afraid of getting hit with a line drive in the belly. I did take a ball off the back a few times during hitting drills that scared me, but it all turned out.

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  8. WOW What a group! I'm sure it's hard to give up, even temporarily!

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  9. You had the best reason ever to leave. I must say, I have never been that passionate about something for anywhere near 26 years. I envy that.

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