In the summer of 2020 we weren't sure if we were going to have high school soccer season in the fall. But if we did, I wanted every player to be eligible because they needed soccer more than anything that year. As soon as I could, I checked to make sure that all of our players were medically cleared. I must've sent 50 emails that summer, updating kids on their status, answering questions about who to give the forms to, and by when. Through those efforts, and those of the kids and their parents, every kid was cleared when they needed to be. No one had to sit out at that first day of tryouts.

The summer of 2021 was similar. Slightly less chaotic, but I was just as persistent with the emails, sending individual ones out to ensure every player would be cleared when tryouts began. Again, through the efforts of the kids and their families, every player was cleared on that first day.

As a coach, we take on a lot of responsibilities, and I'm not sure that sending individual emails regarding the status of every kid's clearance falls under that umbrella. It certainly did not when I was an athlete.  My motive behind sending those emails, was the answer to the question “What would a Coach who cares about their players do to help ensure that every player is eligible?”

I think the answer was that they would get in touch with everyone and let them know their status, and encourage them to get the right forms to the right people at the right time.

I let the kids know in those emails, "I want you to be cleared so that we can get the best look at you during tryouts. I want you to be eligible to play." And I meant it. “What would a coach who cares do?” I use it as a healthcare provider as well. “What would a physical therapist who actually cares about me do?”

That’s the guiding question that I've been using to make decisions on how and when to communicate. It takes courage to care, and that’s something we can all work on.