Cut the Negative: Support Your Local Coaches

Grants (NM) coaches are working together and making a difference for all athletes and programs at Grants High School (GHS). Whether or not you are a football, soccer, or volleyball player, run track or cross country, participate in winter sports, or participate in some other activity at Grants (NM) High School, you have started noticing a difference at GHS. Pirate pride is spreading.

Teaching and coaching are not easy today. With ever shrinking budgets and paychecks, coaches are still expected to have their teams performing to a competitive level. Everyone is being asked to do more with less.

Student athletes have also changed over time. Many student athletes do not come to the practice field or gym prepared to do the work and with the commitment needed for structured team sports. That is why it is as important as ever that great teacher coaches are working with our Grants (NM) Athletes. The coaches need your support in order to be successful.

Grants (NM) coaches are dedicated, hardworking, and teaming together to overcome today's obstacles.

The football head coach and assistants have worked tirelessly, since before the summer, to prepare for this season. This team of coaches has challenged students in the weight room, the classroom, and asked them to prepare to win. Even when not with the student athletes, the coach is planning or reviewing film.

Assistant football coach Isaac Gamboa is an example of the type of high quality, dedicated, and giving individual GHS has produced and is lucky to have back in its ranks. And what do hard work and an unselfish dedication to your sport usually get you? More opportunity for the same. Coach Gamboa was recently asked to help coach the North in the NM North/South games.

Many of these head coaches may also be working with smaller support teams. Volleyball coach Chris Sarracino has worked hard with his squad this summer. They have attended many camps and competitions, hit the weights, and been in the gym. His squad looks to improve significantly over last year's season.

What reward do these coaches get from this extra work and dedication to their sports, athletes, community, and program? They do not do it for external rewards. These individuals are here and giving so much for simple reasons-they love what they do and they want their program, your children, to get better and be great human beings.

They know the key to a successful program is hard work, preparation, and dedication. They model this and give everything for their student athletes. On their behalf, I would ask a few favors from parents and community members.

First, thank them when you see them. This can mean a lot to a coach having a hard day or week. Thank them for all the time they spend working with your child, motivating your child to learn what a good work ethic is, and hopefully teaching some positive life lessons that last beyond the sports season and high school. Our coaches are building successful young men and women, not just a team.

Lastly, do them the greatest favor you can. This favor will benefit your coach, your child, your community, and all Grants (NM) programs. It is simple, but critical.

Never criticize your child's coach publicly.

So many athletes and programs are hurt forever by a parent or community member putting down, questioning, or criticizing a coach in public or in front of the athlete or team. Most of the time, these comments are thoughtless and uninformed. They come from a would-be commentator in the stands wanting to look like an expert, but afraid to join the program and be a head coach or assistant. They prefer to tear it down from the safety of the bleachers.

If you have a concern with a coach, his methods, or program, then set up a meeting and bring this up behind closed doors. Ask an administrator to be there if you need to, but do not air the dirty laundry in public. To do so, hurts the coach, the team, the program, but most of all it hurts your child. A simple thoughtless comment from the stands, on the way home from a game, or at the breakfast table has killed more programs, hurt more athletes, and caused more problems than any other factor. Get rid of the negative.

In closing, GHS would like to thank all those hard working and dedicated coaches, represented by the likes of coach Gamboa and coach Sarracino, who give so much to our student athletes.

Keep up the great work and much success this year.

Parents and student athletes, help these coaches by thanking and supporting them. Help them by not being negative. Do not hurt your child by talking negatively about someone trying to bring out the best in them.

Angry Jack