All Posts By:
Anne Rulo
Coaching Won’t Last Forever—And That’s Okay
“In track, there are all types of runners. There are sprinters. There are middle-distance runners. And, there are long-distance runners. Brother Roger was a middle-distance runner. His job was to do well in the time that he was given. And he did.”
Faith, Family, Journal, Marriage
You, Sweet Wife, are the Pacesetter—Without you, He Won’t Finish the Race
Because they love those kids and they love their jobs, they sometimes get going so fast they can’t keep up―and that’s where the pacesetter becomes valuable. For many families, that pacesetter is you.
Help for the Wife Filled with In-Season Fear and Anxiety
It wasn’t that bad early in his career. But, several years ago we went through a couple of tough seasons and were (ahem) “not rehired.” That event took a toll on me I never would have anticipated. Now, I have to be very intentional about managing fear and anxiety during the season – even if the ...
When (Not If) Sports and Mental Health Collide
These are stories we hear every year —
Coaches developing chronic panic attacks. Players suffering from depression or anxiety. Coaches becoming physically ill due to mental distress. Coaches and players struggling to navigate online criticism.
If Football Season Doesn’t Happen
And, while sports are certainly minor in comparison to keeping the world safe, the pain we may encounter still matters. It matters very much.
Weird Stuff Coaches Do, According to Their Wives
Keep at least a three foot radius clear around coach any time he has a whistle. It is in his DNA twirl it repeatedly around his fingers. Extra caution should be taken if he also has his many, many school keys.
The End-of-Season Debriefing Practice and How to Do It
We wanted an intentional way for our boys to process the experiences and emotions of the season rather than “just” having them turn in their equipment and move on to the next thing.
Hey Girl, Stop “Should”ing All Over Yourself
The trouble we get into is thinking that where we “should” sit has anything to do with anything other than you and your family.
In Defense of “The Parents”: a Reminder for the Coaching Family
Remember that we coach in their sacred spaces. We are coaching the people they have loved, raised, cried, and prayed over long before we got them. For some, we are coaching their validation of self. I’m not making excuses for poor behavior, I’m offering a space for us to gather some empathy for ...
Sometimes It Only Looks Good on the Napkin
We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the done. We cannot sacrifice our sanity by trying to run plays that just don’t work with our current personnel, life stage or needs. So don’t try. Sometimes you just have to wad those things up, toss them away and draw up something new.
Things Would Still Be Hard Even If You Weren’t a Coaching Family. Because Life is Hard.
I’m not minimizing the stressors of the coaching life. They are real and they can be unique and overwhelming. What I am saying is that pointing at coaching as the blanket scapegoat for everything challenging that happens during the season can put our hearts in a dangerous spot.