Personal Narrative: A Career As A Football Coach
Growing up with two older siblings who were heavily involved in sports, and a father who had a passion for the coaching, I got an early taste of what leadership really means. Whether it be my brother and sister leading by example on the field, or my Dad coaching teams to victories, I learned a lot about leadership from simply observing them, and I carried those lessons with me into my own sporting career. However, it wasn’t until I tore the labrum in my shoulder at the end of my sophomore football season, that I learned there was much more to leadership than the examples I had grown up surround by. My injury required surgery and extensive therapy. While it was painful and grueling recovery the most difficult part of it was I had to do my therapy alone while my teammates were preparing for the upcoming season. The situation took it’s toll on me, because after all, the team aspect of working throughout the year with some of your best friends, while building trust and strength to help for the upcoming season, is one of the many aspects of football that makes it so special. I quickly learned it was more
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difficult to be a leader when you are not making a game changing play or leading your teammates through drills
At first, this reality really got me down.
I would observe my teammates workout but rarely was vocal and offered encouragement. I wasn't myself and this had a negative impact on me and teammates. Coach Friske called me out on my behavior and told me I needed to be a leader whether I was injured or not. His pep talk really had an impact on me. I became much more vocal while observing drills. I would high five them and root them on just like I would do if I was healthy. My new found attitude carried into my rehabilitation. I began working through my shoulder therapy with a smile on my face and a positive attitude and often time my teammate would come into the training room and encourage me. My shift in mentality have an amazing impact on my life and the recovery process and transformed a situation from a negative one to positive experience for all of
us. While of course having shoulder surgery was not an enjoyable experience for me, I learned something about leadership that I’m not sure I ever would’ve discovered otherwise. Being a leader is easy in good times. But being the leader also means you make the best of what could be a bad situation. You don’t have to be on the field or in the drill to lead by example but you do have to face adversity with a positive attitude.
difficult to be a leader when you are not making a game changing play or leading your teammates through drills
At first, this reality really got me down.
I would observe my teammates workout but rarely was vocal and offered encouragement. I wasn't myself and this had a negative impact on me and teammates. Coach Friske called me out on my behavior and told me I needed to be a leader whether I was injured or not. His pep talk really had an impact on me. I became much more vocal while observing drills. I would high five them and root them on just like I would do if I was healthy. My new found attitude carried into my rehabilitation. I began working through my shoulder therapy with a smile on my face and a positive attitude and often time my teammate would come into the training room and encourage me. My shift in mentality have an amazing impact on my life and the recovery process and transformed a situation from a negative one to positive experience for all of
us. While of course having shoulder surgery was not an enjoyable experience for me, I learned something about leadership that I’m not sure I ever would’ve discovered otherwise. Being a leader is easy in good times. But being the leader also means you make the best of what could be a bad situation. You don’t have to be on the field or in the drill to lead by example but you do have to face adversity with a positive attitude.