Athens Drive, like many other high schools, loves its sports. It’s a fact of life, especially in the South, that high school sports are more than just an extracurricular for teenagers. It has become more and more noticeable that sports don’t just keep students in shape or teach them how to throw a ball around, but also life skills, discipline and sociability. But who are the mysterious figures who are teaching these athletes these skills? Teachers, of course, are the hidden support of hundreds of athletes.

“Everyone’s baseball career will end at some point, so another part of being a coach is supporting life goals and doing what we can to help our players achieve those goals,” said Taylor Webster, Athens baseball coach.

The bond between coach and players is extremely meaningful to a teenager in high school. Whether during the season or out, a coach is meant to be there for their athletes, to guide and help them as they maneuver through their four years of high school. 

“I would say that outside of softball, I would communicate just about my life and everything, and just have a really good relationship with them. Then in school, I still have that good relationship, they know how I play and know my strengths and my weaknesses, and like, what I need to work on,” said Emma Grace Brady, junior. 

Most Athens coaches are also teachers during the day, which means that they also have to balance sports and work, just like their athletes. While many coaches have been teaching for numerous years, longer than some of their athletes have been playing, they still know- and teach- their players about the importance of balance.

“The ‘7-2’ frame is important (school hours), but the ‘2-7’ frame is equally as important. What do our students do after school? That is where their hearts lie. Being a coach makes me continually realize that my content area isn’t the end-all-be-all,” said Andie Faircloth, varsity softball and junior varsity volleyball coach. “Coaching helps me to make connections with all of my students (athletes or not) because I want to hear what they do in that ‘2-7’ so I can better understand their goals.”

Highlighting the importance of the Athens coaches does not mean that they are an underappreciated or taken-for-granted aspect of a student’s sports career. Coaches Appreciation Week typically falls in October, and National Coaches Day is October 6. The Athens Drive Student Council for this entire week created massive posters, putting them around the school, to celebrate Athens coaches and for athletes to express their gratitude. 

“I would say that [a strong relationship with coach] has helped me to be a better player because, mentally [softball] is a very hard game. And it’s a lot, it requires a lot of confidence, I would say, and hearing that from my coaches what is wrong or, like, what I need to fix helps me just get better,” said Brady.

Coaching is not an easy task; coaches must understand how each of their athletes tick and adjust how they coach. They spend days and nights working with their players in order to make them into their best selves, in their sport, and in their lives. 

“Each player is different, however. Some players need to be pushed more aggressively, while others respond better with positive reinforcement. The best coaches know how to coach each player and can build those relationships quickly, and have a foundation of mutual respect. And the best players are the ones whose effort outweighs their talent, and are willing and eager to be coached,” said Webster.