A Christmas Wish For Football Coaches

I'm mailing this one in.

A Christmas Wish

When I lived in New York, one of my favourite radio programs was the Jim Rome Show. For those of you who are unfamiliar, the Jim Rome Show is a sports program where the host, Jim Rome, has irreverent “takes” on sports topics. These takes are commented on my his audience, “The Clones,” in real time. Although both my father and wife strongly disliked the program, I would try to schedule my chores during his time slot. One of the many quirks of the show, was the amount of time off Jim would take. He used to paraphrase Patrick Ewing, who once said, “I make a lot of money, but I also spend a lot of money.” with “I take a lot of vacation, because I get a lot of vacation.”. Whenever Jim took a holiday off, he replaced his segment with a Best Of Show. These shows were highlights of previous programs which, unlike most Best of Shows, were actually hilarious. Even though we knew he was mailing it in, it was never a disappointment.

With Jim Rome in mind, like a teacher on the day before Winter Break, I am mailing this holiday entry in. Please enjoy this Christmas Wish For Football Coaches, from my friend Coach Hugh Wyatt. You can read more of Coach Wyatt’s work here: http://www.coachwyatt.com/news.html?kee.. I am confident you will not be disappointed.

My lesson plans the week before Christmas

MY ANNUAL CHRISTMAS WISH FOR FOOTBALL COACHES EVERYWHERE (First printed in 2000, and every Christmas since, with annual revisions as needed):

May you have.... Players' Parents who recognize that you are the football expert; who stand back and let you coach their kids; who know their kids' limitations and don't expect them to start unless in your opinion they're better than the other kids; who don't sit in the stands and openly criticize their kids' teammates; who don't think it's your job to get their kid an athletic scholarship; who schedule their vacations so their kids won't miss any practices; who know that your rules apply to everybody, and are not designed just to pick on their kid...

A community that can recognize a year when even Vince Lombardi himself would have trouble getting those kids to line up straight... Opponents who are fun to play against; who love and respect the game and its rules as much as you do, and refuse to let their kids act like jerks... Students who want to be in your class and want to learn; who laugh at your jokes and turn their work in on time... who listen carefully, hear everything you say and understand all instructions the first time...Officials who will address you and your kids respectfully; who know and respect the rulebook; who will have as little effect on the game as possible; who will let you step a yard onto the playing field without snarling at you... Newspaper reporters who understand the game, always quote you accurately, and know when not to quote you at all...

A school district that provides you with a budget sufficient to run a competitive program... A superintendent (or principal) who schedules teachers' workdays so that coaches don't have to miss any practices... An athletic director who has been a coach himself (or herself!) and knows what you need to be successful and knows that one of those things is not another head coach in the AD's office; who can say "No" to the bigger schools that want you on their schedules; who understands deep down that despite Title IX, all sports are not equal... Assistants who love the game as much as you do, buy completely into your philosophy, put in the time in the off-season, and are eager to learn everything they can about what you're doing. And why! And if they disagree with you, will tell you - and nobody else... A booster club that puts its money back into the sports that earn it, and doesn't demand a voice in your team's operation... A principal who believes that when there's a teachers' position open, the applicant who is qualified to be an assistant coach deserves extra consideration; who doesn't come in to evaluate you on game day; who gives you weight training classes, and makes those weight-training classes available to football players first, before opening them up to the general student body; who knows that during the season you are very busy, and heads off parent complaints so that you don't have to waste your time dealing with them; who can tell you in the morning in five minutes what took place in yesterday afternoon's two-hour-long faculty meeting that you missed because you had practice... A faculty that will notify you as soon as a player starts screwing off or causing problems in class, and will trust you to handle it without having to notify the administration... A baseball coach who encourages kids to play football and doesn't have them involved in tournaments that are still going on into late August... A basketball coach who encourages kids to play football and doesn't discourage them from lifting, and doesn't hold "open gym" every night after late-season football practices ... A wrestling coach who encourages kids to play football and doesn't ask your promising 215-pound sophomore guard to wrestle at 178...

A class schedule that gives you and at least your top assistant the same prep period... Doctors that don't automatically tell kids with little aches and pains to stay out of football for two weeks, even when they know there's nothing seriously wrong with them... Cheerleaders who occasionally turn their backs to the crowd and actually watch the game; who understand the game - and like it... A couple of transfers - move-ins to your district - who play just the positions where you need help... A country that appreciates football and football coaches - and realizes what good it can do for its young men... A chance, like the one I've had, to get to know coaches and friends of football all over the country and find out what great people they are... The wisdom to "Make the Big Time Where You Are" - to stop worrying about the next job and appreciate the one you have ... Children of your own who love, respect and try to bring honor to their family in everything they do... A wife (like mine), who understands how much football means to you... Motivated, disciplined, coachable players who love the game of football and love being around other guys who do, too - players like the ones I've been blessed with....

For all assistants - A head coach whose values and philosophy you can support

They're the things I've been blessed with - may you be blessed with them, too.

And one special wish for those coaching brothers who find themselves "between positions" at this time of year - May your Christmas joy not be dimmed by the fact that you're temporarily without a team, and instead may it be brightened by faith that your next job is just around the corner. (If my experience is any indicator, it will be a far better one than the last one, anyhow!)

FINALLY...

A nation at peace - a peace that exists thanks to a strong and dedicated military that defends us while we sleep.

A nation whose people love it and what it represents, and respect the people who came before us and made it all possible

A nation whose leaders love it more than they love power and personal enrichment.