November 2, 2024 Issue, Page 6 of 12

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SPORTS 6+ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2024 The Elk City News Joel Wynn, Josh Shinault, Aaron Kauk, Derek Roper Gray Broadbent Faith Winston Jemsyn Johson Sc Sean Hamm - Girls Bas- Berklee Stout Wyatt McConnell ketball Coach oN Oilers Homecoming Game Basketball Practice Jim Taylor -Cross Country Coach The Extra Mile Coaching Sports In Elementary School By Alex Alvarez translates to teaching kids how to team does not win. You may belong games, always with optimism and star scorer” And that sums up a big J ever thought. They have to love deal with life matters. Kids learn to a team that doesn't have lots of always encouraging their players part of coaching young kids: you what they do, because this is not Go to any elementary, middle what winning is, and realize what talent, but if you improve person- to do their personal best. Coach- have to teach the kids, make your about money. or high school anywhere, and you losing feels like as well, in most ally, you learn to appreciate hard ing sports by teaching the basics best decisions with what you see While I was watching Monday will find people who go the extra cases, more often than not. They work and being diligent. Coaches and the “secrets” of their sport, and every day during practice and in practice at the Merritt Gym, the mile just to teach kids the concept realize that along with physical tal- continue the sometimes “thankless” teaching life. games, but outside influences keep only thought that came to mind was ofsports: COMPETITION! Which ent, hard work pays off, even if your job of showing up for practice, for Tve met many coaches, elemen- second guessing your decisions. “Someone’ got to teach these kids tary, high school and college. And Jared and Taler share a know- the fundamentals. Would I have the of course, there wouldn't be any ing look, after coaching for so long desire to spend hours and hours a college sports without the start: el- at Merritt, they've seen it all; the ‘week doing this before going home ementary school sports, which is helicopter parents, the unrealistic to grade papers, prepare dinner, where kids, boys and girls, begin to expectations, the dreams of col- help my spouse, teach my own kids choose a sport of their liking, For lege scholarships projected onto or help them with homework?” 'm this piece, I chose a husband and third graders. Jared and Taler are not sure, It takes a special soul for wife team who teach in the same a lucky pair, since, unlike other sure, SUNDAY school and happen to co-coach coaches, their family and coaching left before practice ended, and I life is shared together, Not like other Open Hous young girls basketball at Merritt did not interview any of the coach- Schools: Jared (Assistant Coach) coaches who have to sacrifice some e Nov. 3 es, All of the above are observations and Taler (Head Coach) Broadbent. family time in order to follow their that I have learned by meeting doz- You just have to attend a prac- calling: teaching kids. Coaching is a ens of coaches. This was the first 1:00-4:00 tice session to see the intensity with calling, even if ts a low paying cal- time I've seen a husband and wife which this couple teaches basketball ing who co-coach a team. I know from skills, from dribbling, passing in Don't ask elementary school personal experience that this kind different ways, to a simple layup. coaches how much extra they of professional and personal rela- Sitting on the end of the school make for coaching afier their du- tionship is very special. gym, you could hear the sound of ties as teachers. Some do it for gas Some parents were present, and her squeaking shoes against the money, and some schools pay little Celebrating our 40th Anniversary hardwood floor. You could imagine more, and some do it for nothing. I could sense that they were as ap- preciative and not “pushy”. I knowI hearing the two coaches talk to each You can bet that no coach will ever would appreciate 100% the coaches’ 1984-2024 other, “You think Sally is ready for get rich in elementary, mid or high time. In short, this “extra mile’, point guard? She’ got the speed, but school. In fact, a couple ofyears. ago, which to them must not feel like her parents keep pushing for shoot- the subject came up with a coach I it, is worth to them more than any Visto Source. ing guard. You know how it goes - knew well, and I was truly surprised everyone wants their kid to be the that the pay was much lower than paycheck! DOCTORS BINTZ & ELLIS ~f- Optometric Physicians SMOOTHIE Protect your family. © Safely store all medications. hea NN 7 Program funded by Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, See Shuster reece eee Prevention, SWODA, and local coalit gout. SAFER Sx aay si. OKLAHOMA 920 N Main St. Elk City Fok < Mental Y < Health & <>