According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, a coach is “one who instructs or trains, especially one who instructs players in the fundamentals of a sport and directs team strategy.” While coaching Special Olympics includes instructing and training, coaching our Athletes at Village Northwest Unlimited, for me, includes so much more. Coaching has become one of my greatest passions since working at the Village. 

Deb Middle and I have had the opportunity to coach multiple sporting events throughout the year. The sports that we coach at Village Northwest include both individual skills competitions as well as team sports. Those sports include Basketball Team, Basketball Skills, Track and Field, Bocce Ball, Soccer Skills, Softball Team, Softball Skills, Volleyball, and Bowling. Being a coach for Special Olympics also includes completing a few additional requirements such as becoming certified in each sport we offer and completing a Class A Volunteer application.

While coaching may not always be an easy job, it has quickly become one of my favorites. We get the opportunity to travel with our athletes to State and District competitions around the area including Des Moines, Iowa City, Ames, Manning, Mondamin, and Sioux City, just to name a few. While traveling, we get to learn about each athlete and can see them and get to know them in a different environment. Memories from these trips include lots of laughs, fun team-building activities, a few lessons learned, and even more laughs!

One of the best things about coaching is watching our athletes compete and try new sports. Many of our athletes haven’t had the opportunity to participate in sports before or didn’t have the option to compete in the selection of sports offered at the Village. By coming to the Village, a door is opened for them, and the athletes can give a variety of athletic sports a try! 

It’s rewarding as a coach to watch them grow their skills and confidence as they compete and build friendships on and off the court with their teammates! So while the dictionary may define a coach as one who instructs or trains, I have found some of the most rewarding moments as a coach of the Village Northwest Unlimited Panthers to be outside of this definition, while walking or running alongside the athletes I get the privilege to work with.