Volunteers vital to local sports program

Ken Roberts

Sports Writer

Behind the scenes in many high school sports, a number of volunteer coaches step out to offer their assistance. This year is no different. And then again, it is very different in a couple of sports, whose coaches lost their pay status because of budget cuts.

For football, the program has reaped the advantages of always having a significant number of coaches to enhance their program. For cross country and water polo, the head coaches became volunteers themselves.

Billy Snow, the head coach in track and field, assumes the same title in cross country this year. It’s not something he would have done necessarily if the program had continued to be funded as it had in past years. However, with no one else stepping forward to take on the position, he did for the sake of several seniors, including his own daughter, who had committed themselves to the sport.

“I have watched them grow as individuals, learning hard consistent work, goal setting, and long term investment waiting for results, and they have had some great success,” said Snow. “To see that cut out from under them was hard to take.”

Cross country also serves as a training ground for distance runners for the track team in the spring. It also gives some kids a chance to compete, even though it might not be the most popular sport. Snow also sees the sport of running as a lifetime activity and a cheap way to educate some kids of its tremendous health benefits.

As a club sport, Snow will also need to enlist other volunteers just to help with travel to the meets.

“I am hoping that with the passage of a state budget, the sports that have been axed will be fully funded,” said Snow

As for many volunteers, it is a matter of blending schedules between the activity, a regular workload, and family. For Snow, coaching track was enough to wear him down at the end of the year.

“This is a decision that I would have to take a year at a time,” said Snow about returning as head coach for cross country next year.

In water polo, Coach Rene Kirkland faced the same volunteer situation that Snow did. But the swim club has a history of strong parent support and they came through again. Led by Rose Jones, a donation of $1400 was raised to pay the coach, mostly by a word of mouth campaign.

One other parent, Willa Martin, who has coached club swimming, officiated, and served on the club board, also volunteered to assist Kirkland, despite her lack of knowledge in the sport.

“The kids will probably teach me more than I know,” said Martin.

Yet she is willing to help preserve a program in which two of her children participate and to give other kids a chance to work together and achieve something. Like cross country, the water polo team sometimes has to search the halls for players. It also helps the swim team as well.

“It’s good to see the kids come together,” said Martin of the wide variety of students who turn out with different swimming skills. “They will continue to stay friends and do things long after the season is over.”

In other sports that are funded, they simply enjoy the generosity of volunteers who are willing to give of their time, whether it be for the love of the sport or watching the development of kids, often times their own. John Strickler has coached his own kids in soccer since they were in first grade and then continued on with them as a coach throughout their stints in Boys and Girls Club teams. For the last two years, he has assisted Coach Louis Dix at practices, giving advice any way that he can.

“Just seeing players improve and knowing you might have had something to do with it,” said Strickler regarding his reason for volunteering. “Even if it was just your presence and encouragement.”

Coach Rob Younger believes the quality of his football team would not be anywhere near what it is now without the volunteers. He has always had a number of volunteers who, along with the paid coaches, give the team additional sets of eyes on each player for every play in practice to provide individual encouragement or constructive criticism.

“Each one is given a role in our practices, just as if they were a paid coach,” said Younger. “All but one has played for us and has been around for awhile.”

It is not always easy for these coaches to find the time to assist. Many have to have jobs that are conducive to the time flexibility required or work for companies that allow them some leeway in their work schedules. Vacation time is often football time. Many come to work early or work on weekends to make up for time missed.

But the benefits outweigh the hindrances. Some of these coaches worked with the younger elementary and junior high programs and now have moved up to join Coach Younger. Randy Whitfield, who will assist the freshmen team this year, worked for seven years in youth football.

When his own son began to play sports, he realized that some parents were going to have to be the coaches.

“I like to give something back to people,” said Whitfield. “If I can make a difference in some kid’s life, I feel I am successful.”

Dave Barringer, who has also flitted between the junior high and high school teams for nine years, echoed Whitfield’s sentiment.

“I build a lot of relationships with the kids, just having a brotherly companionship,” said Barringer, who will work with linemen this year. “I get some satisfaction out of it when they are successful, whether they win or lose, as long as they are successful with their effort.”

Justin Seiber, in his third year as an assistant for the JV team as well as his duties as linebacker coach with the varsity, remembers the fun he had when playing football. He also has a great deal of respect for the way Coach Younger handles the players in his program as well as the coaches.

“I get to be around the type of people I like,” said Seiber. “I am doing the players a service by teaching them something and I get satisfaction out of seeing them do it right.”

One of Seiber’s high school teammates, Kenny Kittson, has helped coached this year’s seniors since the players were in the sixth grade. He too will join Seiber as a JV coach along with another past teammate, David Younger, the paid coach.

“Ever since I started playing, I knew I’d coach here,” said Kittson. “I like being around the kids, seeing the men that they turn out to be. Years later, when I see them around town, they will still call me coach.”

Chris Johnson, in his second year, moves up to help with the varsity after assisting with the freshmen last year. For him, there is just something about the game that he loves.

“I love everything about the game. The smell of the grass, the sound of the pads hitting,” said Johnson. “Football gives just a great sense of how life is. It’s hard work and a lot of people don’t want to put in the time and effort.”

For whatever reason, people continue to put in the time and effort as volunteers in the sports programs. And the kids and the community always end up winning.

Total
0
Share