He’s Never Really out of Season

After almost sixteen years of marriage you’d think I’d learn not to giggle or flat out laugh out loud when I hear a parent or friend say “Well at least he will be home now that the season is over.”  Monday night at the track banquet was the most recent time I heard this.  I just smiled and said, “Yes, spring football doesn’t start till day after tomorrow.”  Then I received the same puzzled look that I usually receive after statements like that and we changed the subject.

For coaches and their families, there is never a clear definition between seasons.  For my coach our schedule goes like this:

July – December: Football (at least we better be playing in December)
January – May: Track
May: Spring Football
June – July: 7 on 7 (while he's not actually coaching, it doesn't stop him from going and watching)

And so it goes. One stops and the other immediately picks up in its place.  With playoffs and district, area, regional and state meets there’s a chance that my coach just like many others could actually be coaching two sports at once.  That’s always a fun time in the field house and at home.  Then you add in the after season banquets and you never know which way to which sport or event you are supposed to be headed. Thank goodness we installed a family calendar in the kitchen so we can post where we are supposed to be and when you are supposed to be there.

I recall one year when my coach had to be at “his second sport” for a game the same night as the football banquet. That night we divided and sort of conquered. He went to coach and I went to the banquet – hence the sort of conquer. I wasn’t the best substitute but at least I was there to answer the question “Where’s coach?”

If you’re married to a coach you learn to understand this and learn to adapt. At our house we have the family calendar meeting on Sunday. We write everything on the board and then discuss how to attack the week. Many weeks there is a divide and conquer mentality. Take this weekend for instance. The deck in our backyard is in desperate need of repair. We have a guy coming to do an estimate and due to a scheduling conflict earlier in the week, he had to reschedule for today. So rather than join my coach at an event this morning at the school, I’m home waiting for the deck guy. When the air conditioner went out last fall, I was the one waiting for the repair guy. These are just two examples of times when my coach is at work and I arrange to be home to deal with the issue.

There will always be an issue and there will always be a season. My mother always said “Your best ability should be flexibility.” My mother has taught me more than I can imagine in life but this is one lesson that I apply on a DAILY basis being married to a coach. Some days we call and audible and adjust. The season and the game never stop and neither do we.

Cheering you on!
Laurel