For those of you who don't know, Matt has been coaching a 7th and 8th grade football team since July. Though I hated that 4 nights a week, he wasn't home until 8:30, I enjoyed every minute of our Sunday drives with Double D teas and bagels, listening to ACDC to get pumped up....
Matt and his friend Malik coached the team; they were asked to come on because of issues between parents coaching this team last year. Malik was the head coach/offensive coordinator and Matt was the defensive coordinator. About half way into the season, some parents were not happy about plays being called and demanded that the defense start a new defensive package. At first, Matt fought it because he didn't agree that the kids could run it nor make adjustments to a whole new defensive package in 3 practice and he wasn't confident in himself in calling it. He refused to let these parents get to him and he continued his hour treck up and down the coastline of CT.
This past weekend, they took the kids into the second round of playoffs, which for this team, was AWESOME. So the past 2 months, I've sat in the stands on the opposite side of the field so I really couldn't hear or clearly see what was going on. This Sunday, I got an up close look @ my husband in action. I've never been very good at recapping stories but it was awesome to watch these kids soak up every word he said; never going crazy like my father used to do! He was everything you want in a coach...patient, caring, direct and understanding. He was very focused on the kids; he felt very play and very emotion those kids felt; you could see it in the expression on his face. And me, walking up and down the sidelines, cheering, like I had a kid playing. They ulimately lost the game, but I watched from the sideline as the kids came up to him, one by one, thanking him for everything he had done and telling them they'd miss practice. Even some of the parents came up, shook his hand or gave him a hug, to thank him.
The last car ride down was somewhat bittersweet; I was even sad they had lost! But watching Matt coach made me see him as more than just a husband, but a parent. And already, I can tell, he'll be the one the kids love more because I'll be the mean parent and Matt will be the level headed one. I think he was meant to be a coach; to follow in the footsteps of his father. From stories I've heard, his dad was one of the best coaches around. I think his dad is watching down, smiling with pride, because of what he did with these kids. I also realized how much I actually miss playing on Sundays, spending the day on the field. And though I'm scared to death to be a parent, I can't wait to be that mom on the sidelines, with her son's jersey on, yelling @ the ref or pacing up and down the sidelines!
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