To be or not to be.... ?

Each year that I coach, each season that I work with young athletes I wonder to myself "when is it all too much"? I am not certain what the rest of the world thinks or feels when it comes to sports, however, in the U.S. sports play a predominate role in our lives.

I am proud to be a U.S. citizen, our values, our morals, our understanding of how the world should work is embedded in each moment we live. The history of our forefathers and battles they fought to establish this great nation never ceases to amaze and inspire me. Our grandparents continued to hold on to those beliefs and many of them gave their lives to the cause of "freedom" for our nation and those of us alive today. Even our parents, our brothers, our sisters continue to fight by serving in many ways. And although the world may not agree with us or even care for us we, as a nation, still determine so much of what the world is doing and becoming.

It is this "fighting" nature, of pride, determination, and wanting for "better" that drives us as a nation. And it drives us as individuals... it has become so much of who we are that it has become our "fighting' nature that drives us in sports. We are looking for that "cinderella" story, the underdog fighting to get ahead, people overcoming unbelievable odds to win the championship. Think of how often we celebrate sports, there is super bowl sunday, the world series, march madness... not to mention the numerous college games, matches, and events... high school rivalries, conference winners, and state championships. We are constantly driven to become better, to become more, we envision our success and work towards it non-stop. We establish our goals and work to attain them. And once a goal is reached?... then what?.... what is our next step?..... WE SET ANOTHER GOAL!

So I think to myself... when is it too much? I have worked with children as young as 8 and young adults seeking college scholarships as well as adults that are weekend warriors. All setting goals and working towards them. But we are HUMAN "BEINGS" when are we meant to just "BE".... when are we suppose to accept who and where we are? We are not HUMAN "DOINGS", is there a moment that we can just "be"?

I debate this issue with myself many times over the course of a season, whether it's a 8 month season or an 8 week season. Although I only spend 2 - 14 hours a week with an athlete my influence can be overwhelming and I wonder what am teaching this athlete? I would hope that part of what they take away from me as a coach is self-confidence but if I am constantly asking them to do more and become more do they learn to trust who they are?

But as I seek to understand my role in these young lives I am also reminded that we are all part of the HUMAN "RACE". A marathon runner is always working towards finishing the race... it would be madness to run a marathon without training.

So here is the dilemma.... how to balance "being", encouraging young athletes to accept themselves for who and where they are. While preparing them for the "race", challenging them to become more, working with them to attain goals.

I am not certain that I have the answer but I believe it is a delicate balancing act and must be modeled by us first. Self-confidence comes from accepting ourselves, our strengthens and our weaknesses. Realizing that we have much to offer to the people in our lives and yet be willing to accept love and help from those same people. Doing all we can when we can and taking the time to enjoy what we are doing as we are doing it. But also realizing when we can do nothing and offer our prayers and allow others to run in the "race" as we sit by just "being".