Tonight, I was fortunate to have a former player join me at softball practice. We swapped some old stories and had a blast. This player shared stories that some of the players had heard but maybe questioned. After hearing this player tell stories about what it was like, "back in the day," they were really wide eyed and amazed. When we wrapped up practice, I went over to talk to the baseball coaches who were practicing on the adjacent field. The Varsity HC, and 2 Assistant Coaches all played for me. They here me yelling in practice and so, one told me he leaned over to one of the others and said, "I actually miss that." LOL I've been the HC in 4 varsity sports. I am coaching this spring and a JV Coach which is the first time in maybe 20 years I've been an assistant. I've won a lot of games in every one of those sports. Wins are fine and are what most coaches are measured on. The fact is, no coach is any good without the players buying into what the coach wants. Sports and coaching should be about winning kids and not games. That is why I coach. I coach for the kids. I love coaching. I have given my intent to retire in 3 years. I know that on the day I stop coaching, I am going to have a gigantic hole in my life. My hope for all of you who do coach is that you approach coaching as something you get to do instead of something you have to do.