Hey Coach

Ever have a new love or passion sneak up on you? Ever think you’re definitely not something and then out of nowhere you become that something? It’s potentially rare, but that’s exactly where I found myself the past four months.

I grew up wanting to try everything, but not really sticking to anything. Gymnastics. Soccer. Theater. Track. Choir. You name it. I certainly never saw myself as an athlete, which is why, as a school teacher, I never took up coaching. Seasons would roll around and athletic directors would beg for help, and I just assumed that wasn’t something I was capable of.

Then I met Lyndsey at MKE Rec. She got me so excited about my students playing in Special Olympics events. Not just for fun, but competitively. She sold me on the fact that door-to-door transportation would be included for my students and they would get out of the city for tournaments. We hadn’t even played a single game yet, and I had my eyes on the prize: an overnight stay at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for the state tournament.

This wasn’t just about sportsmanship or skill anymore. This was about chasing down my ultimate love of being a special education teacher: life skills. Getting away from my home, spending a night learning to be a good roommate, having to take care of your own hygiene and overall well being. State was the best end-of-year celebration, assignment, or assessment that I could imagine. The only problem was we had to win games to get there.

We started out the season playing what I call “I’m the best player on this team” offense: all chasing the ball and yelling at each other when our teammates didn’t make a shot. With the help of one very dedicated girl’s varsity basketball player, we ended the season with being one of the only teams that played true full-press defense, passing the ball to whoever hadn’t made a shot yet, and encouraging each other during free throws. Fast-forward. Need to win two games at Sectionals. ✔ At least one game at Regionals and enter the lottery. ✔ Win the lottery. ✔

What I heard from my colleagues, friends, and family the past week leading up to State was largely “you’re giving these kids experiences and memories that they will always remember.” Which is true. What I didn’t expect was that State would also give me something so big in return.

If you’ve never been to a large Special Olympics event, please add it to your bucket list right now. What other sports league are you going to see 8 year olds and 68 year olds playing side-by-side with all their heart? What you will also find is the most supportive community in the world of sport. Special Olympics isn’t just something people with varying abilities do as kids or for a weekend, it’s a life-long journey of finding meaning, friendship, community and developing authentic skill and sportsmanship.

My students all aced the weekend. Caring for themselves and each other. Laughing until their stomachs hurt in the dorm lounge. Exchanging social media and numbers with other teams at the dance. And seeing with their own eyes that this wasn’t just one season of fun, but a lifetime of fulfillment at their fingertips. When I saw that look of realization on their faces, I knew that every practice, permission slip, and weekend game was worth it.

Looking back at where we started (to be real, where I started) and where we all are now is night and day. Boys who used to quarrel with one another, are now looking out for each other in the hallways. My classroom has the team members running in and out during passing time to socialize. And somehow when someone yells “hey coach,” I now turn around, cause they're talking to me.