It I Can Pass On Something "Good"

It I Can Pass On Something "Good"

Today again, under what already felt like early- summer heat, I was busy with a football practice match.

Since it ended in the morning, I decided to reward myself and got on a train to go eat at "Gyoza no Ohsho"(Japanese famous family restaurant )

By chance, at that very moment, I ended up on the same train as one of my players and his mother.

The mother asked me several questions, but the one she seemed most concerned about was: "Are you not in charge of coaching my child?"

I answerd:

"At the moment, I'm in charge of training, but for matches, the owner is responsible."

"And I don't have a fixed assignment. Just yesterday, I was suddenly put in charge of an official match for sixth graders."

As I spoke, she looked at me with such a direct and unwavering gaze that I thought, "She's strong...a powerful mother."

Yet at the same time, there was a certain kindness in her expression.

I continued:

"As an employee, I can't say too much in detail, but honestly, there are difficult aspects. Still, I hope I can pass on something good to the children."

When I said that, she seemed satisfied. Then she and her child got off the train, and we said our goodbyes.

At that moment, I couldn't help but praise myself a little- I felt like I had said something truly meaningful.

Why?

Because I could take pride in my own words.

"There are limits to what I can do. But within those limits, I will do my best to pass on something good."

I believe this way of thinking is almost the lifeline of a coach.

As a football coach, of course, a large part of the job is teaching the sport itself.

But what really matters is:

What can you convey through football?

It's about how much you can leave behind in the children- something more important than wins, losses, or results.

Life is strange.

The player I met today is the one performing best on the team, and also the one improving the most.

And his mother, too, struck me as an exceptional person.

Why?

Because she drew out form me what I believe is the most important idea for a coach. In such a brief moment, she was able to open my heart- a truly "beautiful" person.

A coach's job is to help children grow. But today, I found myself in the position of receiving an opportunity for growth- from both the child and his mother.

Life really does bring unexpected moments.

And today, as a coach, I feel that I've grown just a little more.