An exclusive look into the minds of three UA coaches
January 27, 2010 • Lee W. '10
Filed under Sports
Between the daily practices and weekend matchups, athletes find themselves spending a lot of time with their coaches.
The job is no doubt difficult, perhaps especially dealing with the overbooked schedules of Ursuline girls, but ask most athletes, and they will have only positive things to say about their coaches.
But what do the coaches themselves have to say? What drew them to this rather unique environment, and perhaps more importantly, what keeps them here?
We interviewed three dedicated Ursuline coaches — Coach Rieff, Coach McAllister, and Coach Wales, to hear their opinions on questions such as these.
How long have you been coaching at Ursuline?
Coach Rieff (Swimming and Diving): I am in my third year here.
Coach McAllister (Crew): Since the Fall of 2004 – five years, but I started coaching in the early 90’s and have taught more than 500 people how to row in my career so far.
Coach Wales (Lacrosse): This is my fifth year to coach lacrosse at UA
What are the best parts of coaching at Ursuline?
Coach Rieff: Seeing the girls improve throughout the season.
Coach McAllister: The best part about coaching at Ursuline is seeing the girls master the art of rowing because they start from square one. Crew is unusual in that respect – just about no one joins the crew team with any experience at all, and within a few short months they are able to compete successfully with top crews in the nation. I am so proud of each rower on the team because I remember her first day on the water, before she even knew how to get into a boat, let alone row it.
Coach Wales: The best part about coaching lacrosse is definitely the players (past & present)— & their wonderfully supportive parents!!!! … And when a past player tells me that lacrosse was the best part of their high school experience.
What is the most difficult part of coaching all the girls?
Coach Rieff: Juggling all their schedules
Coach McAllister: Waking up at 5:00 AM; racing against Austin Rowing Club (our key rival in this part of the U.S.). We are David to their Goliath, but we are starting to give them a run for their money.
Coach Wales: having to cut players from the teams at tryouts…absolutely the worst!!
Why did you start coaching?
Coach Rieff: I love swimming and felt I had something to give back to the sport. Plus, when I first started coaching it was my summer job – coaching a summer league team.
Coach McAllister: I was a coxswain (person who steers the boat and coaches the rowers) at the University of Pennsylvania for four years and loved it. I thought that I had a pretty good mastery of rowing and that I could help people tap into their potential as rowers.
Coach Wales: I started coaching simply as a favor to former coach John Boyle who started the program here at UA. I loved the game and he needed an assistant.
How do you keep the players passionate about the sport?
Coach Rieff: Try to keep it fun and entertaining and trying to encourage them especially during the tough sets and tough times during the year.
Coach McAllister: It’s difficult in rowing because there are so many hours of training. I just keep the focus on success through daily excellence. Every stroke is another step toward getting faster than the competition. Rowing requires a lot of faith because there are so few minutes of competition to express your excellence.
Coach Wales: We mix in a lot of fun with a lot of hard work. You definitely have to be ready to sing if you want to play lax!
When do you have the most fun coaching?
Coach Rieff: When they are working hard, improving, and enjoying what they are doing. Swim meets are the best!
Coach McAllister: Seeing a great race in which our crews are involved – even if it’s a tough battle for 6th place. I usually ride my bike (like most coaches) along the race course during spring sprint racing, so I can see the race unfold. Seeing our crews show their toughness and skill is really fun for me. Medals are rare in the sport, but our crews have been fortunate enough to win a fair number of them over the past few years.
Coach Wales: I have the most fun when we are competing in a game and the results of all the girls’ hard work in practice shows…and, of course, when we won the state championship!
Loading ...