Every expert was once a beginner. Every successful person, in whatever it is that they do, had someone to guide them in the right direction. A coach does so much more than tell you what to do and how to do it. A bond with a good coach is one that can last a lifetime and reach far beyond the sport or activity in question. A coach is someone to confide in, someone to trust and someone to look up to.

I could not imagine where I would be without the coaches I have had in my life. A good coach can be a lifelong friend. The right coach can set you on the right path, one that makes you happy for the rest of your life. I know my relationships with my coaches have reached far beyond practice and competition. I trust my coaches with everything. They have a way of understanding you in a way no one else can. Your coach is passionate about the same things you are. A coach gives the best advice. That’s why we regard them so highly in our lives. A coach that truly cares and is there for you inside and outside of the sport is irreplaceable.

There is nothing quite like your first coach. My first coach taught me all the basics I needed to be successful. But that was the least she ever did for me. Along the way, she planted the seed that grew into the passion that I have for what I do today. Without her, where would I be right now? What would I be doing with my life and time? We all owe a great thank you to our first coach because whether we know it or not, they got us hooked. That first coach will see you grow older and more successful and take pride in you and what you have accomplished. They got you started, and from there, you can go anywhere.

Sometimes a coach can exist to teach you a lesson in what kind of person you don’t want to be. Some coaches stand to be someone to overcome. Personally, I can say I have had the most personal growth dealing with individuals who were not positive role models and leaders. I had a coach who was very negative and made me feel like I was not good enough. I felt like he went out of his way to make me and everyone else feel inferior. Those are opportunities to prove them wrong. For me, all I wanted to do was be able to keep up with him and show him that I was better than he could ever have imagined I would be. I learned that, in the process of trying to prove it to him, I proved it to myself. Even a bad coach can better you in the long run. I am content in saying I haven’t seen that coach in years and may never have the displeasure of working with him again. However, I owe so much to him. I never really knew what I was capable of until he told me what I could not do.

Why is a coach so important? Because they are such an obvious role model for the young people whose lives they touch. I always aspire to be as successful and talented as my coaches. Half of what you do in your sport is to gain the approval of your coach. And the other half is for yourself. That kind of bond does not exist with just anyone.
Never underestimate the importance of a good coach. Even the littlest things can inspire and change lives. A good coach or bad, both have a huge influence on their team. I know that my coaches played a huge role in molding me into who I am today. They have helped me reach past accomplishments and point me in the right direction of a brighter future. For that, I have my coaches to thank.