I will no longer miss the 6:30 am alarm clock going off every Thursday morning, where I grudgingly try to find my first pair of shorts and rush out the door with a bad cup of coffee in my hands. The sun has just barely risen at this time. As I pull up to the school, I’m always amazed that a group of 30 high schoolers are up by this time running around chasing a plastic disc. The sport of ultimate has grown since I first played in 2006. It’s no longer the casual sport you play on the beach or the game you play with your dog. The number of injuries, these kids have mounted up over the short season is an example of their dedication or perhaps their immaturity and recklessness. The morning roundup begins with the kids moaning about the early start before the intensity slowly picks up. In a short matter of time bodies start flying and the sweat starts dripping.
It’s been three years since I was first asked to coach in which I reluctantly said yes. At the time I had nothing better to do and it seemed like a great way to give back to the sport. Year after year, I kept coming back not knowing to expect. I’ve always been a competitive person, and perhaps it was the drive to win that continued to motivate me as a coach. However, over the years it was more then winning, that brought me back. As a coach, I’ve had the opportunity to watch these kids develop their ultimate skills and see them mature into great leaders. For some I’ve only coached a year or two, and for others, it’s been more. Although it’s been a short time with these kids, their dedication to a sport I love is what keeps the passion of coaching alive.
Ultimate frisbee has shaped my life in many ways. Between eating, ultimate and photography, these three passions of mine are tough to choose between. The friendships it has formed, the training and hard work that has taught me to be successful, and the community it has built are just a few of the reasons why ultimate has played a big part. To the people outside of the ultimate community, I’m always asked why we coach. Our schedules are hectic with work, and on top of our busy schedules, we prioritize coaching a sport that is still barely recognized as a sport. Besides the relationships and people you meet, it’s being able to witness the growth of the ultimate community, that has played such a big part in my life over the last 10 years.
The similarities of weddings and prom are so alike. Both are times of celebration and momentous in their own ways, just different stages of life. The smiles, memories, reflections, and achievements are what make both events so special. I’ve seen these kids grow over a short period of time, and I couldn’t be more happy to have captured the final stages of their high school career. Before starting another chapter of their life, these kids got dressed up in their best outfits and enjoyed and reflected on their last 5 years with their closest friends. Over the course of these last 3 months from hearing their cheesy promposals, to their dates, wardrobes, and bad haircuts, it’s relationships formed with them that makes coaching worth it. As they walked across the stage today, it concludes my time as a coach, where lessons they’ve learned are applied to the world. Good luck grads of 2016 and see you guys on the field!