Hit a Home Run for Your Kid's Coach

I've been coaching my kids for quite some time. It can be rewarding, frustrating, happy and sad all at the same time. I've had the Steve Martin moments from Parenthood where his son makes the winning catch, and times when nothing goes right at all.

The most rewarding gift a coach can ever receive, is starting and ending the season with the same number of kids on the team. Of course, as the kids get older other things start to matter more and more, but nothing beats improvement and making sure each kid has at least one magical moment on the field.

Parents in Glen Rock are extremely generous and provide gift cards, bottles of wine or other nice tokens at the end of the year.  But the best gift I ever received was a signed ball from all of the players on my team.  My assistant coach had all of the girls sign it during the championship game while I was away on business.  We won the game and when I got back, there it was.

It's three years later and I still treasure it. I can remember each and every kid and at least one fond memory of their growth on the team.  One girl who was drilled by a pitch but refused to cry until she got to first and my own daughter who was catching and caught a foul tip to end the game. 

Each time I see the ball, it brings back memories of the magical season.  And this year, we did the same for the coaches of my kids' teams and got the same reactions.  We've done it for softball, baseball and soccer, and I plan on doing it from hear on out. I'd recommend other parents do the same - it's a reward no other gift can match.