3-Season Coaches --- How do you have a family?

I was a high school xc coach for 18 years, and for12 of those years I coached xc, indoor, outdoor, and summer xc. During the years my kids weren't in high school, I was an absentee dad, and many of my memories from those years involve kids other than my own. I am not proud of it, but it is the truth. Things changed once they were in high school: I teach at the school where I coached, and for both of my kids I was there every day all day plus weekends year-round. I got to be a very involved dad during their most formative years and also got to coach them on some really good teams. We have great relationships now in part because we were able to spend so much time together and travel all over the United States together. Those four years for each kid are priceless to all of us.

Once the second one graduated I was so emotionally exhausted that I retired from coaching and don't miss it at all. I made lots of mistakes as both a coach and a dad, as we all do, but I don't know that I wouldn't do it all the same way again.

Hold on now.... wrote:

teach and coach wrote:

Do you think anyone who coaches high school only coaches? The majority are full time teachers. I go to work at 630am and return home by 530pm. That’s a normal practice day. Throw in 12 hour Saturday track meets and it becomes a grind. You’re not seeing the full picture.

That is exactly my point. Coaching takes so little time that even with another full-time job it is manageable. Imagine you show up at 2:30 and are home 3 hours later. A few Saturdays and nothing at all to do on Sunday. Now, added to your main job ends up being a taller order. Being ONLY a 3-season coach would be, contrary to the implications of the OP, barely a part-time gig. It is so casual you can do it after work!

I own a company and regularly work. My schedule right now is work from 6-12:30. Pack up go to practice for 1:30. Return to work at 4:30 until 7pm. Come home and do paperwork for the company, answer parent emails, plan team events etc.. Bed at around 11-12. Every day during the week.

Yesterday was Sunday. The day you say we don’t do anything. We had practice reviewing a course for this coming weekend’s race, went home and worked on individual training schedules for 17 athletes for 3-4 hours. This is not unusual for a Sunday. A non-covid year is even busier as we travel a lot and are often at a meet somewhere far away for the weekend.

I’m not complaining. I love coaching but it is time consuming if you want to do a good job. I do my best because that is what my athletes deserve and that is what I expect from them.

This is not an unusual week and it’s even more busy on a non-covid year.

I did indoor track for 10 years. I coached both teams varsity and JV so we had between the two teams 4-6 meets per week that lasted 3 hours or more with separate practices for the team that was not competing on those days.

So almost every day in the winter going to practice at 2:30 and coming home at 11pm. Saturday meets all day. That’s why I finally stopped coaching indoor track other than to work with individuals. It was too hard on my family.

But, what do I know. I have someone like you that knows my schedule better than I do.

Love the topic and post.

17-year HS head coach here. Started in my mid-20’s after running D1. Have had a few teams rank top-25 nationally during my time but have found myself losing that enthusiasm over the past few years.

Now on second marriage and with three small children and a fourth on the way, have finally decided to hang it up. Hoping one day I can return as an Asst but the grind is no longer sustainable for me and my family.

Coaching is one of the greatest gigs out there but I’ve found it’s a young mans/single mans (or women’s) game.

Thank you Otter! This guy “Hold on Now” sounds clueless and bitter.