Madi Rhinevault, March – “Kids don’t quit sports, they quit coaches.” This is a quote from my coach and I’ve found it to be truthful, especially in archery. To coach is to willingly sacrifice time and sanity, espouse the responsibility of edifying and managing capricious juveniles, and manage every hindrance from miscommunications to bellicose parents. In this article, I hope to enlighten archers nationwide on the importance of coaches and all they must endure to uphold their position.
Throughout my involvement in various sports, I’ve had many coaches. However, their motive for coaching often becomes a delicate topic. The common occurrence between sports is that the coach is either the reason kids sit out from sports they love or the encourage fueling victories. Personally, I’m lucky to have the latter in Montrose.
My coaches, like most, got started because their kids liked shooting. Little did they know, their BAI came with a commitment to three teams, days of practice, and hour-long meetings.
This is probably standard for most teams nationwide. However, as the kid of two coaches, I see much more happening behind the scenes and I’ve made it my mission to make people aware.
The Vice president of our team is also my Dad. He got his BAI for me because, at states 2016, I told him that I wanted to go to worlds. He said, “I’ll put in the same amount of work that you do.”
So, he spent hours in the basement watching me shoot round after round each night. Then he’d spend hours a day researching, reading, and watching videos to improve my shot. After work and school, I became the perpetual guinea pig for testing new methods, and for every problem, he found a solution to perfect my form. Beyond working with me he spent more time perfecting my equipment. On top of that, he took what surmounted to be weeks off work for archery, all with the hope of fulfilling my dreams simply because I decided to make an effort to be the best I could. Additionally, he implemented our successful methods at practices causing progress and wins for the team. Personally, I’ve podiumed at state, national, and world levels gaining 6 world champion titles and various scholarships. For all my success and that of my team, my Dad stood behind us with extensive sacrifice. I owe my achievements and my thanks to the coach who made it all possible and it’s for this reason that you should thank yours.
Beyond basic training, much more qualifies as a coach’s duty. Yes, your coach taught you to shoot, maybe well enough to average 290. But a 290 doesn’t amount to much if you can’t submit that score which is another job most aren’t aware of. On my team, this task is taken on by the team secretary who is also my Mom. From registering shooters to enrolling them in tourneys, she always gets our spots, and sometimes creates them. I’m sure most archers host or attend hometown tournaments, and a lot of work goes into them. Starting with the fight for gym time, followed by numerous meetings, and then assembling regulation ranges, concessions, raffles, and awards. On top of managing the pre-work, my Mom is first to arrive and last to leave after inserting scores, running scanners, and resolving all tourney troubles.
And that’s only what people see at one tournament.
I’ve been witness to the depth of a coach’s devotion beyond tourneys because it follows me home. At the start of each season, my parents spend hours each night planning the team lineup, fundraisers, and tournaments months in advance. My mom spends countless snow days, holidays, and weekends booking hotels, making calls, and scheduling when she could be sipping cocoa and watching movies like everyone else. Then, when tourneys near, I’ve watched as she and other coaches log on and wait in nervous anticipation to land flights. I’ve sat with the coaches around our hotel room coffee table, bubbling scorecards, and discussing flights while munching on Domino’s pizza, as everyone else relaxes at the pool. I’ve stood in exposition halls, backpack on and case in hand for hours at a time as my parents ironed out registration and manned the coaches’ alley for every equipment malfunction and shooting line squabble. Even when they aren’t on the line, coaches are always improving the team and helping facilitate success.
You’ll never see someone fight harder for another’s child than a coach devoted to their team. And despite their devotion to the kids, they still have to deal with angry parents who can’t grasp the full picture. On top of all the work that goes into forming teams, coaching them, and ensuring they get to shoot, coaches go beyond standard with archers and their families in mind. They adapt to every individual and their needs to make shooting fun for all. From disabilities and health issues to poor grades and home lives, my coaches go out of their way to accommodate everyone. They wait for hours with the child forgotten at practice. They wipe away the tears of competition. They spend their time making time for those ignored. They find the smiles and become the encouragement when the world goes awry. They support kids on the mere basis of a dream with zero regard for their own. They became the family that some lacked and the home that we all needed to keep us going.
A coach is the pillar of a team working as a support system by providing both instruction and encouragement to help individuals and teams find success in their sport. They are the backbone of archery and the sole reason that any NASP archer has ever been successful. In comparison to a literal backbone, their work is not often recognized or even appreciated despite the significance of their role. Via my situation, I’ve been exposed to the nitty gritty of coaching and sat in on discussions with coaches from my school and states away to know that their sacrifice is immense and so often overlooked. Therefore, this article is a tribute to ALL coaches like mine, who go the extra mile. I see you. I see the work you put in. I see the stress you endure. I see the saint-like grace it takes to deal with kids for fun. I see every little accomplishment from getting that kid to shoot a ten to watching your team stand on the podium. So, for all of the things that seem to go unseen, thank you. Thank you for putting in the effort, making a difference, and touching the lives of every child you choose to guide. Your work does not go unnoticed and your impact is the force that builds better people. The greatest achievement in archery belongs to the coach. Congratulations and best of luck in the 2024 season!
To archers and their parents, thank your coaches, recognize their impact, and cut them slack at your next tournament. Until then, best of luck, and happy shooting!
