Coaching again! Gotta scale back on the workouts.
Posted on June 6th, 2010 in General | 5 Comments »
As some of you may know I’ve coached football for more than a few seasons. 17 season to be exact. I have participated in programs that have on-going, back to back seasons that go year round. There is usually a 4 week break between seasons. I loved coaching and it is really cool to see the kids that I have coached grow up. It is pretty neat when you are walking in the mall and you hear someone call out, “hey coach”!. I often bump into the parents of past players and we talk about the fun we had over the years. Anyway, I “retired” from coaching last January. I loved being in retirement. Now I just watch the games like rest of the parents. It is even more enjoyable to watch my youngest son play because my head isn’t in the middle of the field strategizing the “next” play. I can give my full attention to “fun”!
The year round programs are flag football, however, once a year, Pop Warner (tackle) football rolls around and it is a big commitment. A couple of months ago, my son’s flag football coach asked me to help him coach the Pop Warner team. There are usually 6 to 7 assistant coaches for Pop Warner. Pop Warner officially starts on Aug 1. We had a coaches meeting yesterday and I will be the “Receivers” coach. We are going to start practice for Pop Warner just as soon as this season’s flag football finishes (this month on Father’s Day). During June an July we have hold “unofiicial” practice 2 days a week. Technically, the leagues states that practices are not supposed to start until August 1. However, every single team in the league have “secret” practices before the official date. In August the practices will be 5 days a week from 4 to 6:30. Our games are played on weekends so, effectively, I will be on the hook 6 days a week. I don’t know if you have coached before, but even though the practices finish at 6:30, as a coach you will be lucky to leave the field an hour after practice. Then there is dinner and doing homework. Luckily, my son does most of his homework during his after school practice before we pick him up and we only have to double check his work. The season will end sometime in December.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed coaching, but I was getting a little burned out. I have to admit that I love watching the games as a “parent” instead of a coach. Before January, I have never watched youth football as a spectator. It has always been as a coach. I guess the good thing about the upcoming Pop Warner season is that I won’t have to be the head coach. I’ve always held the head coaches position and there is a lot of responsibility that comes with the job, especially with youth tackle football. Flag football is enjoyable, but tackle football gets pretty serious. Of course, player safety is always on your mind, but coordinating 35 kids and their parents are tough. The parents can get pretty intense during the Pop Warner season. I am sure you have heard or seen the YouTube videos where some excited Dad runs out on the field and tackles some kid. Luckily, that hasn’t happened here, but the parents do get intense
Sorry, I didn’t mean to be so long winded, this whole thing was just to say that my workouts will be seriously impacted. I was going to start my swim training for the Waikiki Rough Water Swim, however, since I got sucked in to “coming out of retirement”, I will not be able to get the volume of training that I need. Plus, we have games on the day of the swim. So I will put that swim on my bucket list for next year. No biggie!
We will only be practicing twice a week until August 1 so I will do as much as I can until then after which I will scale down my workouts to accommodate the 6 days a week of football. I think the simplest things for me to do are short runs (I will go as far as my knee will allow and some bike rides). I will probably alternate strength and cardio. I will have to scale back to one workout per day. My son is also playing basketball right now too (he is double sporting) so I need to work that into the mix. My weekends are crazy! Its okay, though, I do what I can for my son.
5 Responses
“Just when you think you are out they pull you back in ..”
Enjoy the time with your son and the team, you can always drop and do 20 push-ups in between plays!
During some of the games the coaches do pushups after the touchdowns to celebrate.
Don’t do pushups after TD’s, do burpees! Do burpees with jumps! The other team will be guessing as to what’s in the Gatorade if you do that.
Like Jeff, I say have fun with your son. Times like these only come around once and your son will always remember his “old man” being there.
It’s funny….as my little league days fade into my past, the times I remember most are the ones where my dad was at practice or at my games, or when we played catch in the backyard. Those memories are etched and I will always be thankful for them.
Hi Boomer,
You are going to be one busy guy! I think it is awesome that you are helping to coach your son’s football team. I bet any money that he will enjoy having you around and helping:) You are going to have a blast! You should take some pictures and post in your blog.
Ha ha, I just read Jeff’s comment…I bet you could drop 100:)
Take care Boomer!
Steve, Julie… Maybe I should sign up for another round of the 100 pushup challenge! LOL!
I know that being with my son at all his practices and games will be something he remembers. When I decided to “retire” from coaching he protested vehemently. I thought he would be happy because I think coaches are tougher on their own kids.