National Coaches Day – October 6, 2022, history, significance
No question: parents and teachers play a defining role in shaping a young person’s life. But let’s not forget about the coaches — especially on National Coaches Day October 6.
U.S. Olympic soccer gold medalist Julie Foudy once said that sports not only build better athletes but also better people. She should know. The lessons learned in athletic competition translate perfectly to all aspects of life.
That’s because nearly all of the traits we associate as “positive” in other people play a crucial role in sports as well. Confidence. Communication. Teamwork. We won’t succeed on the field, in the office, or at home without them. The world’s best coaches, from Little League all the way to the World Cup, exemplify this winning tradition.
NATIONAL COACHES DAY TIMELINE
1966
Bill Russell
The Boston Celtics make Russell the NBA’s first black head coach. He not only coached during his final three seasons, he also played. Russell won two of his 11 NBA championships as a player-coach — which is unheard of today.
1972
First National Coaches Day
President Richard Nixon signs a proclamation declaring October 6 as National Coaches Day. It states: “Coaches are highly qualified teachers—in highly specialized fields. But more than that, they are friends and counselors who help instill in their players important attitudes that will serve them all their lives.”
1980
“Do you believe in miracles?”
U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Coach Herb Brooks shocks the sports world buy guiding the Americans to a win over the heavily favored Soviet Union in a semifinal game. Brooks’ team consists entirely of amateur players.
2009
FlipGive gets innovative
FlipGive becomes the first internationally certified “B Corporation,” using its free team funding app to harness the power of business as a force for kids.
2019
Goal!
FlipGive reaches the $20 million mark for funds raised through its platform
NATIONAL COACHES DAY ACTIVITIES
Let your kids’ coaches, well, coach
Certain parents have a long history of getting “too” involved in their kids’ teams. Watch your boundaries. Coaches need to make tough decisions as far as playing time and strategy. Try to resist overstepping unless you see something really wrong. And consult with other parents get a reality check.
Get in the game
Volunteer to coach if you have expertise in a certain sport. Some leagues might allow you to get involved even if you don’t have kids on the team. Watching young players learn, improve, and grow can change their life — and yours.
Support your team
Perhaps nothing’s more important than your enthusiasm. What’s the point of your young slugger smacking a two-run triple if no one’s there to jump up and down and yell “woo-hoo”? Ask any pro athlete about inspiration, and they’ll likely mention their parents — as well as their coaches.
THE FLIPGIVE 5: COOL COACHING TIPS
Keep it fun, Coach
Younger kids are often not as competitively driven and are looking to have fun rather than win a championship. By making practices fun with drills disguised as games, your kids will feel like they’re playing, while learning the basics and fundamentals of the sport.
Tough practice? Have a plan B
If you’re dealing with rowdy kids, have a backup activity in mind. That way you can make sure to keep things under control — and you’ll remain the authority figure on the field.
Pamper the parents
Kids often take many cues about what adults to trust by who their parents trust.If possible, find out how the kids are doing in school, what their other interests are, and if they have any special needs that should be addressed on the field.
Star power doesn’t work
Go ahead and recognize your outstanding players, but but don’t put other players down or ignore them. In youth sports, everyone needs support and encouragement regardless of ability. This type of coaching boosts confidence in your players and makes sure everyone feels included. In other words, let everyone pitch an inning — or take some shots — along the way.
Winning only goes so far
Kids develop social cues from the adults around them. Stay calm and composed in the face of loss. That will help instill good sportsmanship in them for the future.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL COACHES DAY
Sports are transformative
Kids who engage in sports have more success in school, feel physically fit, collaborate and communicate better with their peers, and have more successful careers. Stats for youth sports show that the average cost to play is over $1,000 per child each season. By helping fund the game, FlipGive hopes to contribute to our kids’ lives.
We need this now more than ever
Political pressures, including a reduction in governmental spending on recreational sports for schools and communities, make this a perilous time for our young athletes. Plus, tech has a way of stealing kids’ attention. Fact: millions of kids are way less active today than they were just five years ago.
FlipGive can help ease parental challenges
Many parents take out loans in order to finance their kids’ athletic pursuits. Others will only focus on one sport, which can limit a child’s choices. And in the most drastic (and all too frequent) cases, parents decide to “sit it out” altogether. FlipGive helps parents generate funds while shopping for things they would normally buy, allowing them to earn money for their teams without borrowing money.
