This weekend, let's take a moment to consider the Coach Dad.
A generation ago, organized youth sports were rare. You did your homework and went out to play with your friends. As long as you were back by dinner, all was right with the world. No one had a cell phone, much less one with a GPS tracker. Kids made up games using whatever was available. No one wore uniforms, there were no referees and the rules were adjusted on the fly. Kids had fun—without the intervention of grown-ups.
Times have changed. Partly due to security concerns and possibly because competitiveness has filtered down to ever younger age brackets, organized youth sports are now the norm. From kindergarten through high school our children spend hours on manicured fields, wearing uniforms and learning rules. Each of these teams needs a coach (or three) and Dads have been stepping up to fill the void.
Eighty-five percent of youth sports teams are coached by a parent of one of the players. A lot of fathers are spending a lot of hours organizing practices, scheduling fields, and trying to learn games they never played in their youth.
The coach is there for more than technical instruction, fielding ground balls, or how to hit; he is a role model. He is there to develop concepts of teamwork, respect and perseverance. Teaching skills that will not only help them on the playing field but long after they hang up their glove or their cleats. None of these are easy lessons.
Seeing the expression of the kid scoring his first goal after struggling all season is priceless. I have been coaching my kid's basketball and lacrosse teams for years and my one regret is that it prevents me from capturing these images. I have had to rely on other parents to send me their snapshots. Sports photography is a unique discipline that often requires a long fast lens—something that few casual photographers carry.
One thing I've done here that you might try is to focus on the small details. We often try to take pictures of the whole field. Following the action is a good idea—don't just stand in one spot. But try to tell a story as well—take a picture of the team huddled, or of your child's foot meeting the soccer ball. And don't forget to share your pictures with Coach Dad. He'll appreciate it.
Happy Father's Day, Coach. We're making a difference for boys and girls who need good role models. It's not always easy, but if we don't do it, who will?
