The Privilege of Being a Coach

Coaching is more than teaching a sport. It’s stepping into a young person’s life at a time when they are growing, discovering who they are, and learning how to face the world. To be a coach is to have a front-row seat to one of the most important journeys a person can take: growing up.

When you coach youth sports, you see kids through every phase. From wide-eyed beginners learning how to grip a club to awkward pre-teens figuring out their swings and their place in the world and finally into confident teenagers starting to believe in themselves both on and off the course. You experience their wins and their losses, their highs and their heartbreaks. You see them at their best and support them through their worst. And when they graduate and step into adulthood, you get to see the incredible people they’ve become, knowing you played a small part in that transformation.

There’s something deeply rewarding about coaching young athletes. You don’t just see their scores… you see them. You see their work ethic, their resilience, and their vulnerability. You get to know their families, their quirks, and their unique ways of handling pressure. You watch them light up after sinking a long putt, and you sit with them after a tough loss. Sometimes you’re the one who gets the text when they’ve made the high school team, or the first person they call when they land a scholarship.

But the truth is, coaching isn’t just about the sport. It’s about showing up. It’s about teaching them to shake hands after a match even when they’ve lost. It’s about encouraging them to take the shot when they’re scared and reminding them they’re more than their last scorecard. It’s about helping them understand that failure isn’t final… it’s feedback.

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

~ Maya Angelou

That’s what coaching is. Most kids won’t remember their exact stats or how many tournaments they won, but they will remember how you made them feel. They’ll remember that you believed in them when they didn’t believe in themselves. They’ll remember that you were patient when they struggled and that you showed up when they needed someone most.

To be a coach is a beautiful privilege.