But in how far it exceeds beyond it.
“A person an adult gave the title of ‘coach’ to, might care about the kids when they’re wearing the uniform.
But a Real Coach care infinitely more about them beyond the jersey.
True impact is found not in how you reach them in your discipline, but how far it exceeds beyond it.”
-Ray Zingler on X
There’s a popular quote going around the internet, (that is old and being recycled) that says, “Coaches lose sleep over other people’s children.”
And it’s a fantastic quote, that is undoubtedly true for some, but certainly not all.
Most these days don’t deeply care about the kids beyond their discipline, anymore.
Unless it has to do with their performance and keeping their job, lol.
They will tout how great the star is but are they deeply loving on and pouring into the 30-50 guys on the roster?
Didn’t think so.
And it’s hard to blame them.
With the way the current landscape and culture is set up, it is a challenge to deeply bond with the kids as they are playing on multiple teams, distracted, being fed misinformation from charlatans, and often chasing perceived greener grass.
But does this excuse coaches from working to build relationships? Relationships that are required to fund impact?
Of course not.
But it’s hard, and with low levels of accountability in many places in America (public & private), we justify low quality coaching (caring) because we falsely believe fulfilling the role is enough.
But fulfilling a role isn’t enough.
You don’t make a difference by simply showing up.
You must have the self-awareness and personal discipline to change a life.
You must put the responsibility on yourself, your own dime, to make a difference in a world that isn’t requiring it of you anymore.
And people don’t want to do that.
The selfish hardwiring is too strong for most.
And this is why most don’t make a difference.
“If it was easy everybody would do it,” remember?
I am very unattracted to monetary success.
I am very blessed and thankful that my passion has designed me a life in which I can support my family, but I don’t measure success in dollars.
I measure success in impact. Which doesn’t have an element of instant gratification.
Am I living in the micro today, intentionally pouring into the kids today, that will have profound impacts on them tomorrow?
That’s the game I’m playing.
And when they call 10 years later to tell me about their successful lives and their work out program, I get all the affirmation I need.
