We have all seen the news stories: the parent who cusses out the coach after the game. The parents who get in a fight with the referees. The parents who punch the coach. The parents who cuss out the team as they leave the field, calling the coaches every name in the book — when those same…

Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash Almost every sports parent comes from a place of love for their child. We all want to help our kids, give them the most opportunities, and give them what we didn’t have but wish we had. My definition of the American Dream echoes this idea; the American Dream is wanting better for…

As Coach Warr and I began this collaboration, we both worried about coming off as know-it-all coaches. I do not have this coaching thing all figured out in three easy essays. However, Jason and I have over 50 years of combined experience in education and athletics besides our time playing sports. While we don’t know…

What Is “Success?” Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash Mission statement: The West Ada School District is creating a three-part series about high school athletics, coaches, and parents. Our goal is twofold: one, to help everyone remember the value of high school athletics, and two, to remind people that life and sports are viewed through many…

What a great view (photo by the author) I found myself with some time during Spring Break — time to do whatever I wanted because my family was out of town. I love Spring Break: no holidays, no commitments, no expectations; just time to do what you want to do. Here’s how I spent mine. Friday night: As…

We never know where the ripples in the pool are going to go after we toss the rock. Photo by Shaojie on Unsplash I just finished reading an article in The Atlantic by Derek Thompson titled “Why Simple Is Smart.” In this article — which is a pretty good look at writing and I agree with most of his thoughts —…

Sunday, April 3 Gabe and I unloaded at the little camp spot above Carnage Canyon because the Kane Springs parking lot was clogged with at least 10 camp trailers blocking the road. I drove right through the middle of them to the trail, hopefully teaching them they were camping on a road and that’s not…

Balance Photo by Vicky Sim on Unsplash   Our school has a “theme” each month. A credo. A mission statement. A focus. There are videos and reminders about that certain aspect of life. Sometimes, there are even t-shirts. This month — March — is BALANCE. (And look at the syntactial balance of that previous sentence!) I was asked to write…

Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash I hate February. I’m a teacher. Every year, for the last 23 years, I get to February and it seems like The Never Ending Story. It seems like we aren’t going to survive this month. The name itself sucks. Looking at the image above, it’s like one of the dumbest…

Special thanks to Krista Rogerson for the lettering on my son’s commemorative football (Photo by the author). The other day, Mr. Gossi walked into my classroom and handed me a sticker. It read “It’s a Great Day To Be Alive And A Mustang.” I loved it! I felt like I was being quoted in the…

Brock and I after a game his senior year (Photo by Fabiana Beatriz Photography) Last night, I went to my son’s last high school football banquet. It’s crazy: I started at my school in 2001. I have pictures and memories of packing Brock around the practice fields in one of those weird baby backpacks during…

How I Make Working Out A Priority Photo by Alonso Reyes on Unsplash The longest relationship I have had in my life is with the weight room. You would think with this relationship, I would be in way better shape and all muscled up. I’m not. Spoiler — that is not me in the above picture. But this…