Why I'm Doing This

As an athlete, being coached by my father was a unique experience. The legacy passed down to me was not one I ever planned to replicate — quite the opposite.

The charged moments I had as a young adult were the direct influence of an unchecked person in a leadership role. Grinding teeth, seething words, disappointment. I was never celebrated in my own presence, instead as a trophy piece behind my back.

Those moments are not worth repeating.

As an adult I approach coaches with caution. What happens in public is compounded in private. The difference between restraint and method is often invisible.

Fourteen-year-old me was cut without a preserver — left alone. I still carry the weight of those charged moments.

Was it necessary to lead with aggression — I will follow five coaches to find out.