[Lavapicker]

Up until this year I went down with my team for three years as the coach and loved every minute of it. I agree with Glenn that the drive team doesn't hear you though. Good ones get in the zone and tune out advice they don't need. Besides helping with strategy before matches I found myself becoming more of a cheerleader especially when my driver said he doesn't hear anything I say during a match. I finally found a use when I counted down time for them, something very valuable. Knowing what a thrill it was being right there and seeing the change in rules that allowed students as the coach I stepped back this year and put another student in. I suffered from major withdrawals in the stands and found myself still screaming "advice" from afar but I felt good giving another one of my students that experience that only the drive team gets down there. Besides, my drive team does the "haka" before each match and usually dances around acting nutty to pump themselves up and to have fun. At my age, I have the acting nutty down but the dancing is out. It was a natural to get another student involved. I have nothing against adults being the coach however! I think its a nice way to recognize a mentor or teacher who earned the right. I've been fortunate to have a lot of experienced kids to choose from. If I had a lot of newbies I'd probably be back down there....and loving every minute of it again.