During First Tee Week, we celebrate the coaches who make First Tee a safe and special place for kids to learn golf and life skills.
As vice president of programs, Ryan Graff meets First Tee coaches from across the globe. He knows they’re the beating heart of First Tee but finds they don’t always take credit for their incredible impact.
According to research from First Tee and The Harris Poll, parents believe coaches can impact their child’s ability to work well with others (89%), respect others (89%) and show resilience in the face of challenges (88%).
Ryan shared his perspective on the power of coaches after attending a coach training in Denver:
As I travel and meet with the amazing people who volunteer and work at First Tee chapters, our conversation leads to me asking, “So what do you do at your chapter?” A common response is, “Oh I am just a coach.” While I rarely correct people on the role they serve – because what do I know? – in these cases, I have to respond with, “You are not JUST a coach … you are a COACH.”
So many thoughts fire off in my brain: Do you know the power you have in the lives of participants? Do you understand the impact of your engagement and interactions with these kids and teens? Do you realize they are watching and listening to how you carry yourself?
When observing a First Tee class, it may look like play, fun and learning a lifelong sport. But there is serious work going on underneath the game.
- There are decisions being made on which club to select or shot to play (using good judgment)
- Participants are selecting targets (pursuing goals)
- They’re learning to navigate obstacles on the course (growing through challenge)
- They’re having moments of success and connecting their actions to outcomes (building positive self-identity)
- They’re learning how to cooperate and show respect to others in their class (collaborating with others)
At best, a golfer left to their own devices has a 50/50 chance for these skills to transfer and apply to their life off the course. But with a trained coach guiding them through the process, this will increase those odds to 80% or higher. While I am not a gambling man, I like those odds.
The word “coach” is derived from an old English term for a horse-drawn carriage. Coaches took important people where they wanted to go. It’s no different today; kids and teens are important people and coaches assist them to get where they want to go in life.
I get it: As coaches, we often do not see the fruits of our labor. Sometimes, we never know the impact we had. But you are not JUST a coach; you are playing a critical role in the development of a human being – the development of their character, their moral compass, and assisting to shape their values.
Coaches are role models, and the actions they display imprint and affect how kids and teens show up in this world, carry themselves, and interact with others.
So, let’s drop the JUST. Being a coach is the highest honor and position one can have in the life of a kid or teen. Coaches leave lasting lessons and shape the character of participants lives, long into the future. If you are a coach, be proud and know you are making an impact on your participants. Future generations depend on you!
Interested in getting involved?
You don’t have to be a great golfer to become an impactful First Tee coach. We train all of our coaches to deliver our proven curriculum.
Find a chapter near you.