A Little Push
Summary
The profound impact that coaching kids has had on my life.
From the moment I found Obstacle Course Racing I fell in love with it. I loved the feeling of flying, the feeling of falling, and the rush of adrenaline when I took on the course. Despite all of this, there was something missing. The sense of fulfillment I was looking for came from being a coach and mentor to the younger athletes in my community.
In this photo I congratulate one of the kids that I coach on finally getting one of the balance obstacles she had been working on for a long time. The persistence that these kids have inspires me to never give up. (Photo by Rouen Welther)
Before I started coaching I found it really difficult to figure out how to do obstacles. I had coaches who tried to help me but there's often a difference between how you do things as a 6 foot 150 lb muscular man and a 5’ 3” teen girl. It wasn’t until I started teaching kids how to complete obstacles that I started to really understand how to do things. I learned that a lot of kids benefited from me breaking down each motion in a way that their body could do it. This led to me developing a deep understanding of most obstacles as I had to understand how it worked from multiple angles and perspectives. This taught me how to approach obstacles I’d never seen before when I’m competing.
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In this photo I teach new members of our ninja class how to safely go up the warped wall. The kids watch closely and impatiently wait for their turn to try this famous obstacle. (Photo by Rouen Welther)
As I started to improve and have a better understanding of the sport, I started to recognize little problems in the techniques of people who came to the gym. Even before I became a coach I found myself helping out the younger athletes with everything from moving mats and cushions to giving them tips on their skills. When I started helping to lift up those around me when I went to the gym I started leaving feeling much more fulfilled than ever. A bad training session for me could get erased in one moment if I helped someone else achieve one of their goals. This feeling was only amplified when I became a coach and started to learn better ways to help people.
In this photo I spot one of our ninja team members who walks across a tiny rail three feet in the air. This can be one of the scariest obstacles to do in the gym because there are many different ways to fall and get hurt without a spotter. (Photo by Rouen Welther)
One of the things I least expected to get out of coaching was a better outlook on life and challenges I face. As a coach, I have lots of opportunities to teach kids lessons that apply on and off the course. I teach kids to not stop running when they are near the end of a course, but instead run all the way through the finish line. I also love to make the connection between the tough obstacles we face in the gym and the obstacles we face in our lives, and how we should tackle them with a similar mindset. My personal favorite is the saying “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” I try to teach the kids that they might be smaller or weaker than other competitors, but if they put in the work at practice they can rise to the challenge and conquer any course.
This is a photo of me competing against athletes from all over the world in California. The week before I came to this competition I was teaching our athletes how to run through a buzzer instead of just to it. (Top Photo by Rouen Welther) (Bottom Photo by Joel Balthasar)
Vi Keeland says “Sometimes in life you need a little push to get where you should be.” This is not only true for young athletes on the rings, who often lose their momentum and need someone to push them to the next grip. It also applies to their out-of-gym lives, where I try to teach them to persevere through hardship and never give up no matter what. (Photo by Rouen Welther)
One example of this was last year when I tore my rotator cuff during a competition. I developed a fear of falling that held me back and kept me from being able to practice the skills I used to find easy. For a moment I thought I might step away from the sport entirely rather than start over from scratch. It wasn’t until I realized the kind of example this would be setting for my athletes that I snapped out of my slump and got my act together. I trained harder than I ever had and used this story as a lesson to the kids on why it's important to conquer obstacles you encounter on and off the course. Now one of the very first things we teach the kids is not only how to fall when you expect it, but how to safely fall when you least expect it.
This photo shows me catching an athlete who lost their grip on the wingnuts. These situations can be very scary for the coach and athlete, but having a bond and friendship with the kids helps them trust that I will catch them if they fall. (Photo by Rouen Welther)
Without coaching I don’t know where I'd be today, guiding others has guided me so much over the past years. I have learned so much from the wide range of people I’ve gotten to meet and I will never forget the unique thing each of them taught me. Coaching has made me a better person, athlete, and competitor. I know that years after I leave the gym I will remember the impact that it has had on my life.
Comments
Post a commentWaunakee Community High School Advanced English 10 - 1B
Mrs. Swanhorst's Advanced English 10 students
Zoe - wow! I had no idea that obstacle course racing was a thing! As an educator, I can really identify with the experience of how teaching positively impacts you in the work you are doing. I am so glad that you had this experience and that you shared it in this story. I hope you get to share this photo essay with your students and peers!