October 20, 2005
The 2005 National High School Activities week continues today with Coaches Day -- a day to recognize and honor the contributions of high school coaches, sponsors, and advisors.
Did you know?
That all coaches/sponsors of IHSA sponsored sports must meet IHSA By-law 2.070 Coaches Qualifications? Coaches also must routinely attend rules meetings, conference meetings, seeding meetings and other events on top of their coaching responsibilities.
There are few things more American or that have more appeal or intrinsic benefits to kids of all ages than high school athletics and activities. It is a special time for the students, their parents, friends and communities. For the student it represents an important dimension of their growth and the acquision of values that are not as easily identified in the classroom. High school athletics/activities captures it all – the excitement of competition, the thrill of wearing the school colors, learning valuable lessons for a lifetime, and the admiration of elementary and junior high kids watching their idols and dreaming of the day they will play for "COACH."
Coaches understand the importance of being a role model, not just for their students but also for their school and community. The vast majority of our coaches understand the values that are gained from interscholastic competition. They understand good citizenship. They understand the difference between character building and building characters. But, moreover, they understand the rarest form of courage, the courage of their convictions. For that, they can collectively stand up and take a bow. Because of that courage, our students derive the best that participation in athletics and activities can offer. (Bernie Saggau, NFHS Coaches Quarterly: Fall 2004)
It was once said by a famous coach who had won several state championships, produced several top athletes who went on to excel at the collegiate and professional level, that his greatest reward was not the championships, or the professional athletes, but the letters and phone calls from the so many that he coached who sought him out to say thank you coach. Thank you for helping me to become the person that I am, the good citizen. For the overwhelming majority of our coaches that is their proudest moment. It is that commitment to others that distinguishes coaches. It is a commitment not for a season, or for four years, but for a lifetime.
That is why today we recognize our coaches that play such a pivotal part in the lives of our young people. For they are not simply coaches or teachers of a particular sport, but rather are teachers and coaches of life. So today we ask you to seek out those coaches that have been so helpful to you throughout your life and say Thank you Coach!
The Illinois High School Association... Crowning Champions for Life!