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Message: [QUOTE="RSHERMVIKES, post: 2305354, member: 2251"] Back in July, 1988 I was asked by the East Lyme Girl's Field Hockey HC a friend of mine to be her asst. I knew nothing about FH and never previously coached a girl's team in any sport. She gave me some video's, some books and took my phone calls at all hours when I had questions. I told her I'd make a decision in a couple days and get back to her. 3 days later we met in her office and I said I would do it, but I'd have to be ME, whether I coach girls or guys, and I'd make slight changes to be more like the boy's Soccer I had coached for 5 years previously so I could better understand FH. She agreed and was thrilled that I said yes. At the 2nd practice in Aug. I told the players after varsity & JV's were decided that I was going to coach them just as I did my Wrestlers because I knew no other way and to be as good a coach as I could be I had to be comfortable in my own skin. I wasn't going to treat them as HS girls but as athletes that I need to get the most out of. I wasn't going to apologize for the way I said something or pulling them from a game if warranted, etc. I said all of them had potential, some more than others, and I was going to get it out of them one way or another. One game during warm ups they P--ed me off because they wouldn't listen to me so I didn't talk to them the whole game and they made substitutions and game decisions themselves! I coached JV for 4 years then the Varsity for 3 more years and I had one of the greatest experiences of my life and a close caring relationship with each team! I was one tough SOB and would say when a player complained, "here's a quarter call someone who cares!" They gave me an angel pin because I was the one person they knew who could die at any time and I needed all the help I could get! Many times we said things that normally wouldn't be said both ways. I let them have some blasting off space and would show them a quarter and walk away! Even today I still hear from several girls and any girls I run into is a warm caring visit! At my final end of season banquet my players (a load of alumni came back also) gave me a framed quarter with the statement, "Hey Coach Sherm call someone that cares!" If the PERSON, girl or guy, knows that whatever the coach says is with LOVE, RESPECT and only trying to get the full measure of that athlete's potential, THE BEST THEY CAN BE, then there will be a special bond between coach and athlete! Geno is beloved by his players and alumni and what he has said to them publicly and/or privately is taken as that of a parent raising their kids! I can't explain it any better than that! [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach