Recently I applied for and was accepted for a job with the AFL (Australian Football League) as a game day coordinator. I’ve reached a point in my life where I want to give back and what better way for than to pass on my knowledge and passion for the game of football to the next generation of kids.
This role primarily focuses on teaching the core football skills to boys and girls ages 4 – 12 years in the form of the Auskick and Superkick programs in before and after school programs. My AFL orientation session is this week and although only a casual role I’m looking forward to it immensely.
I’ve been obsessed with sports my entire life and have enjoyed watching but more so actively participating in sports. This being said, my body is a testament to how many injuries a body can tolerate before being unable to play any longer.
High impact sports equal high impact injuries…
It’s a long list which includes a herniated disc in my lower back (18 months of rehab required), four broken ankles (all left ankle), torn ligaments in right ankle, torn meniscus (left knee), three fractured ribs, two broken noses, dislocated collarbone, all my finger joints being broken or dislocated at one time or another and three concussions that I remember…
Yes, it’s a long and painful list and surprising how much a body can withstand with the mind still wanting to play. However, even after all of these injuries I never lost my love for sports.
Today my focus is intently on keeping fit and healthy and work out every day, albeit with no collisions or impact to speak of and therefore much less of a threat of injury.
My love of sports enabled me to pursue a Physical Education degree after high school, eventually earning my degree and teaching at all three levels of the education system in Australia – primary, secondary and tertiary levels. This was my life before I moved to Canada and into the world of business.
Check out my recent essay – high tech, high intensity.
During my childhood sports became my escape route, in a household bound by alcoholism and poverty sport became my saving grace. It was irrelevant as to what sport was on offer, I’d be willing and ready to give it a shot. Some I was better at than others, but nonetheless I’d give them all a go.
Its’ been a lifetime since those days, but my love of sports and in particular AFL football has not waned one bit. Still an avid fan glued to the TV screen during the season.
So, when I saw this opportunity to be involved with the AFL and teaching kids, I was immediately drawn to it. Fortunately, I was successful in my application and interview process.
We’ll see over the next few weeks as we move from the orientation to the actual work how many days per week, I’ll be involved with the delivery of the program given that it’s a casual role with a pool of others like me.
As I understand the role I’ll be focused on schools within a 15 km radius from home. Surprisingly, there are a lot of schools within this range including public, parochial and private.
Helping the next generation of kids fall in love with football brings me enormous satisfaction.
Irrespective of who we are we always remember the coaches and mentors who helped us on our journey. I was fortunate enough to have a few great teachers, coaches and mentors over the years and still remember them fondly and especially the teams and the big games along the way.
Making a difference in someone else’s journey is rewarding both for me and the person I’m helping. There were the years when I was raising Zach and Sam, many as a single dad while focusing on my career and therefore missed the opportunity to be more involved in their sporting careers as a coach.
During those years I was mostly the transportation to and from games and not encouraged by either Zach or Sam to do a lot of cheering from the sidelines as they felt I would embarrassed them. Painful, at the time to be told by your 7-and 9-year-olds to zip it.
Ouch!
Of course they were right, as they already had coaches and didn’t need another loud parent on the sideline. Unfortunately, there were more than enough to go round.
I think this part is important – if you’re coaching kids the last thing you need are parents giving you a hard time, questioning the positional moves or giving alternative advice to players as it confuses the kids as to who they need to listen to more.
The opportunities I’ve been given over the course of my life have been a gift, and my way of honouring that is to create opportunities for others, helping them develop, inspire confidence, and support there learning.
Giving back is my way of paying forward the opportunities, support, and mentors that helped me in my journey.
Until next week
Ciao!