Dear Coach,

You have chosen to be a member of a profession that demands a great deal of your time, your dedication, your energy, and quite often your patience; yet despite this, coaching is a tremendously rewarding profession. We all dream of developing and coaching super athletes, yet relatively few of our athletes will have the opportunity to participate beyond high school. You as a teacher/coach are in a position to influence numerous young people who will become productive members of our society, the leaders of tomorrow.

The way you treat an athlete should be the way you would want your child to be treated. You are working with young and impressionable adults, and you are charged with assisting in their development. Everyone is important, and each student athlete must be understood and worked with to the best of your ability. Your patience and understanding may be critical to the future of an individual who looks to you for guidance or just a friendly ear.

Competition is the backbone of interscholastic athletics. It is an experience whose reward is measured differently by everyone. This reward may range from simply making the team and getting a uniform, to making the first team; from simply having a winning season, to winning a championship. Winning has been and always will be emphasized as the only measuring stick by many in our society; however, the true measure of our success often extends far beyond the final score of any contest. We cannot forget that long after the dust of competition has settled, what lives on and continues are the lessons learned by our athletes. These lessons must be positive and should include character, hard work, determination, and teamwork.

Remember, our athletic programs are an extension and an integral part of the educational process, and it is imperative we keep this in mind when we work with our athletes. As a coach, you are a highly visible representative of the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, you must assume the responsibility that comes with respect for that position. It is imperative that you be an ambassador for all athletics of LCISD. You must communicate effectively so that you can promote and sell your sport, your campus, even the entire school district every time you have an opportunity.

The level at which you coach has little to do with the degree of respect you receive from athletes and parents. How you respond to them with honesty, patience, and understanding will determine your success over the years. My challenge to you is twofold but simple; be a positive role model and make a difference in the lives of your athletes forever.