I have 21 players I’m coaching right now, ranging from 13-18. And I have extended impact on about 20 more.
I haven’t had a Church calling to work with youth in 6+ years (for some reason, I end up dealing with adults), but I keep an ear to the ground on what teachers and mentors are encouraged to do to best mentor youth in the Church.
But with 21 players, I interact with youth a lot, and as a coach, my impact weights heavily for the small amount of time I have with them.
I often want to spend much of that time communicating. Being the one doing the talking. I’m the most experienced and most wise in the gym after all.
And that works, to a point. But everyone also needs to be listened to. They need to be aware they are heard.
I got to sit down with my most and least talkative players this week one on one. The situations were similar—loud gym sounds around us, drowning out our quiet conversation, making it a private discussion despite many people around.
And I tried to listen as much as possible. And ask questions to help me understand (and maybe help them understand) what was going on.
The outcomes remain in the air. The trust and relationships still need to be built. But there is a foundation being established.
But they know I’m there. They know I’ll listen.
It’s not much. But it’s something. It’s more than each had.