Dear Coach Husband,
I see you.
I see you pacing the sideline on Friday nights. I see you signaling in plays that mean something to the eleven boys out on the field, but look completely foreign (and occasionally silly) to your wife. I see you trying to yell instructions to where the running back can hear you above the roar of the crowd. I see every expression on your face. The concentration during a tense play. The exultation of a touchdown. The joy of a win. The frustration of defeat. Your dedication to the game.
I see your commitment. Losing precious hours of sleep to maintain your busy schedule. In small town Oklahoma, being a football coach is so much more than Friday night lights. It is Tuesday night junior high games. It is early mornings to tutor players that don’t quite understand something from class the day before. It is Saturday morning film sessions and Sunday afternoon game planning. It is homecoming parades and pep assemblies. It is team dinners and field upkeep. But it goes beyond time. You have a willingness to continue learning about the game. New plays, technological enhancements in safety, and ways to support your players are just a few.
I see you set an example. Little eyes are watching you. On the field, in the stands, and at home. Our daughter may never play the game, unless she decides to become an all-star kicker, but she is watching you. She is watching you live out your passion. You are showing her that pursuing her dream doesn’t mean a glamorous career or big paycheck. She will learn sportsmanship, good character, and dedication…all by watching her daddy.
I see you forming relationships. You view football as your ministry. Being a coach is an opportunity to provide a positive role model to your players. You can be their leader, their listening ear, and their biggest supporter. You can push them outside their comfort zone because you see their potential. And your players respect you. Your bonds span more than just a season but for the rest of their lives. I’ve lost count of the number of past players that come to talk to you after games. But your relationships go beyond the players. Your fellow coaches are like your brothers. This means both never-ending support and practical jokes.
I see your love of the game. Because football is about more about tackles and touchdowns. It is about character and teamwork. It is about being a part of something bigger than yourself. It is about creating bonds with your players and fellow coaches. It is about showing up every day and doing things at 110%.
I see you because football matters in our family. Football has given you a job you love. It has given us something to do on Friday nights from August to (hopefully) December. Football has given us a family beyond blood. A family that rejoices with us during the victories and holds us during defeat. Both in football and in life.
Coach Husband, I see you make a difference.
Love,
Your number one fan
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A moving story and so real. My Brother in law has Coached.