10/07/2025
It's National Coaches Day... and you know what?
In the youth sports conversation, coaches aren't always talked about fondly, are they?
We bring up "Daddy Ball."
We mention about favoritism.
We talk about the toxic ones.
And listen:
We KNOW this is a problem that we shouldn't take lightly.
And we SHOULD keep having conversations about how we can make it better.
But do you know who often gets lost in the mix of all of that?
The good ones.
The ones who are constantly thinking about how they can be a better coach for the team and for players individually.
The ones who care just as much about developing the human who will become an adult one day, as much as they do helping the athlete learn how to compete in the game they're playing now.
The ones who support open lines of communication among coaches, players and parents and create healthy boundaries around them.
The ones who aren't afraid to hold kids accountable when they lack sportsmanship or effort, but also don't miss a chance to recognize when an athlete is showing signs of growth.
The ones who are willing to put themselves in the line of sports-parent-opinion fire because they care about helping kids fall in love with and develop in the sport.
The ones who give more time than we will ever know ... because they care about doing the right thing.
To the good ones:
In all of the negative noise around youth sports coaches..... we want you to know that we see you, too.
THANK YOU for showing our athletes what a good leader looks like.
THANK YOU for the time you didn't have to choose to give.
THANK YOU for doing what you do for the young athletes who need you most.
Thank you, Coach.
.. for all you do.
—
(C) The Top Bleacher
