My Secret to Staying Young (in my mind at least)!
- Jun 30, 2017
- 2 min read
Softball, it is just a game with a bat and a ball, but in my life it has represented so much more. First, it was a way to be just like my big sister, a superstar who played semi-pro ball and received a college scholarship. Second, it was a way to build bonds between my friends and I that still hold tight today (even a thousand miles away). Third, it was my ticket to college, as I was lucky enough to be the first four-year letter winner in Auburn softball history. And that was it, or so I thought.
I am at the point now where I have coached softball longer than I played it (and a short stint with basketball, but the only thing I was really good at fouling). I played softball for the first time when I was 12 and I hung up my cleats at 22. There was a short time when I thought I was done with the game, but then I needed to return to school to get my teaching certification and Mike Davenport needed an assistant coach at UNG.
*Side note I am sure that my presence was the starting point for the program's rise to greatness and an eventual national championship (please insert sarcasm here)*
So I started coaching at the age of 24 and it has added more to my life than playing ever did. On a selfish note I think coaching keeps me young, the players are fun and allow me to be ridiculous and act like a perpetual 24 year old. I am proud of how well these girls have played, but I am more proud of who they have become as adults. My biggest accomplishment is how many of these young women I am still connected to, it makes me feel like the role I played was a positive one in their lives.
When Jimmy took the softball job at NFHS (again) I was excited to be involved as an expert consultant!! The coaching staff includes two new coaches who are going to be amazing and a group of kids that works hard ALL THE TIME! I am impressed with them in so many ways (even though I normally only speak to them using sarcasm).
The summer months are challenging, because we have a team, but each player has commitments to their travel team as well. This means we can't get together as much as we would like, but we do get to work out and practice during the week. I present to you the 2017 NFHS Lady Raiders in action (as proof that they keep me young)...
The newest additions to the Coaching Staff - Pilar and Morgan! Can you see why they fit right in????
And the most important part of the team - the players. In the spirit of full disclosure we really did do a yoga session (with yours truly as the master yogi), but I was so grounded to my practice that I forgot to get some pictures. So the girls agreed to reenactment photos:
And is case you think all we do is have fun (that is only 50% of the time) here they are putting in work in the weight room:
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