The Dedicated Time of High School Coaches

JV+football+coach+Jenn+Leaf%2C+who+also+coaches+girls+lacrosse+in+the+Spring%2C+volunteering+to+coach+powderpuff+for+Homecoming

Lindsay Mariner

JV football coach Jenn Leaf, who also coaches girls’ lacrosse in the Spring, volunteering to coach powderpuff for Homecoming

Lin Tajeken Jeufack

“We must recognize and celebrate the coaches who have selflessly given their all, sharing their passion to impact their community, and remaining true to the goal of always making sport safe and positive for all.”-National Coaches Week

 

Whether it’s in or out of school, many Kenwood students are athletes. Managing your time as a student and an athlete is not easy. You have to consistently have good grades, make time for practice, participate in other clubs, and most of the times you still have to maintain a life outside of school and sports.

Coaches are a huge part of the student athlete experience. Having a good coach fosters positivity within the team and for individual players. “Coaches are so wonderful because they are dedicating a lot of hours after their normal school day. They’re doing it for not much money, but are doing it for the love of the game, their student athletes, and the love of their sport. For that they are to be commended,” shared Coach Ruocco, Kenwood’s Athletic Director.

Many athletes rely on their coaches for more than just coaching. To fully show appreciation we must first understand how much work they put into their job. Most Kenwood coaches are either teachers or they coach more than one sport, committing endless hours into their student athletes.

Coach Jones, coaches Kenwood volleyball, track and field, while also teaching a health class and being the SSA coordinator here at Kenwood. Coach Komorowski has coached Kenwood softball for eleven, cross country for nine, and indoor track for seven in which she spent seven years coaching all three!

Coaching on a sport adds additional hours to a teacher’s work day. Coach Jones shares, “It depends on the week. If it’s an early week it’s about 16-20 hours, if it’s a late week that’s about 24 hours.” Coaching and teaching can get overwhelming. To manage her time, Coach Jones utilizes her planners. “My phone calendar, my computer calendar, and my written planner. I also make sure to reach out to my supports when I need help, like Mr. Grubka and Coach Bea,” she adds.

Coach Ruocco agrees that coaching gets stressful, “There are alot of tough behind the scene things. They dedicate many hours above what they have to do during the school day,” he says. Besides guiding their athletes on the athletic field, coaches are often providing their athletes  with academic aid, emotional support, and more.

As athletes, we owe our coaches much for the amount of time they give up to and give to us. Student athlete and volleyball player Sanai B. understands they put a lot of extra time into her and her teammates. She adds, “Telling them how their motivation and training has impacted your skills and highlights from the season can let them know how much you appreciate them.”

As we wrap up the Fall athletic season and get ready to begin the winter athletic season don’t forget to thank your coaches for all the extra time they put in to help you grow as an athlete but more so as a person!