Student Spotlight: What is coaching really about? By Bald Eagle Sydney Thompson

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: June 5, 2024

By Sydney Thompson

At Bald Eagle, it is not surprising

to see advertisements about needing a coach. All sports teams need one, but has anyone truly

‘ thought about what it takes to be one.
All the dedication and time that it takes with the low salary. It is no secret that coaching isn’t for the money, but for the love of the sport. After asking Mr. Rote, our schools beloved volleyball and junior varsity baseball coach how many events he has missed to do coaching his response was, “Too many to count but my life is coaching. I’m not missing anything as long as I’m with the guys and my girls.”
That is the sad reality of coaching that is often overlooked.

Mr. Aumiller, Bellefonte’s lacrosse assistant coach, commented,”I have missed lots of birthdays, friend get togethers, and concerts.” He may be apart of Bald Eagle’s rival school, but his dedication is no joke.

These coaches may seem perfect, but people always have something to complain about. Parents are a big factor that dispirit the passion for coaching. The question,” Do parents play a role in playing time?” came up during our interview. The answers of both coaches were an outstanding no. They continued on to say they try their best to put the best on the field. Another question that had come up in the interviews was, “What are some recommendations for a new coach?”

Mr.Aumiller responded with,”Set the rules and culture early and save yourself the headache later.” Meanwhile Mr. Rote responded with,

“Don’t try to please everyone.” Although these coaches have rules like these, they are highly respected and well liked. Being a coach is not a simple task, but having coaches like these two make the job look effortless.