Coaching isn’t just the hour at training, and the 70 minutes at a match. It’s the hour early arrival to the venue to walk the pitch to check it’s safe, litter pick, (weekly picking  up dog 💩 because no one wants to slide in that!). It’s setting up the goals, untangling and setting up the respect barrier, planning positions and game play on the side line before any of the players have arrived. It’s dedication to 11-18 children that don’t belong to you, but who you support, care for and cheer for, as hard as your own. It’s tough, frustrating, soul destroying at times. But it is always outweighed by the successes, even when you are 3-0 down and it’s hammering down with rain. The child who you know is struggling who makes an amazing pass, it’s the unexpected goal and all of the kids pile on each other in celebration. It’s the near miss and the support of the other kids to say “it’s okay” to a soul detroyed player who missed. And do you know what, we don’t always get it right. But please understand, we try our best, in a role that is volunteered, which is often forgotten. Don’t underestimate the amount of time and dedication it takes to be a coach. That person turns up for your child every week regardless of what’s going on in their own lives and how busy they are. They give up their own time for them.