Some of you may know that as well as wielding a microphone and whupping Mike at Bobsled for the Phoenix, I also coach a recreational ice hockey team. The Altrincham Aardvarx has been in existence for three and a half years now, and I inherited the coaching role (along with the excellent Gary Lathwell) back in December of last year. Tonight was the first time I've ran the bench as the team coach in a competitive game, when our team was generously hosted by the lovely folk over at Deeside, the Flintshire Phantoms.
Both the Aardvarx and the Phantoms are orientated towards adult beginners, people who normally wouldn't get a look in at the sport. The Aardvarx have both male and female players, and an age group running right up to, well, pretty old (I won't say how old out of respect for some of our more 'senior' players!). For many of the team, tonight was the first time they've played against another team, so it was a pretty daunting experience for them, but from my position behind the bench I can hand on heart say that in those player out there on the ice for both teams tonight, I saw a level of passion, commitment and sheer determination that made me pretty much fall in love with this great sport all over again. Being a coach is always a rewarding experience, but tonight was the icing on the cake.
If the powers that be, the ones who ultimately decide whether rinks can be built or not, could see the passion for the sport that exists at the lowest of levels, then we'd have a rink in no time...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Do you adopt the KK approach of serene unflappability or is it more a Whistle-esque throwing of water bottles on the ice followed by a raging tantrum and the rack of sticks/towles/waterboy flying?
Actually it's more of a "British Tourist Abroad" approach, which consists of pointing and shouting loudly in the hope that the message gets across.
Pretty similar to your teaching methods then, eh? :P
Post a Comment