CALL ME COACH

Copyright 2000-2010 by Marshall Hamil, M.Ed.

Call Me Coach
I taught you how to throw a football
Because your father was too busy
Working two jobs to send you to college

Call Me Coach
I showed you how to catch a baseball
Because you didn’t have a father
As he had died in a war

Call me Coach
I explained to you how to shoot a basketball
Because your parents were too busy chasing material riches
And later divorced

Call Me Coach
I taught you how to skate and hold a hockey stick
Because your parents were too embarrassed to try
And are now too embarrassed to thank me

Call Me Coach
Because I counseled you regarding a petty theft I heard about
And eventually you did the right thing in confessing
And ended up getting your first job at the site of your transgression

Call Me Coach
Because I drilled you with respect
For Team over self
And today you are a leader in a society that promotes the Team concept

Call Me Coach
Because I loaned you money to buy your first car as your parents didn’t have the money
And I charged you minimal interest on monthly installments
And later you thanked me

Call Me Coach
Because I wouldn’t let you play for the Team
Unless you earned better than average grades in the classroom
And today you’re a teacher with a bigger Team than I ever had

Call Me Coach
Because I told you from the first day that you were on the Team
What I expected of you
And what would happen if you didn’t meet the expectations of the Team

Call Me Coach
Because I am, and because you allowed me to be…