This story initially appeared on Behind the Whistle, the official blog of the IWLCA, and is being republished with permission from the organization. Emily Bitka is the assistant coach at Stevens Institute of Technology.
The definition of change is, “To make the form, nature, content, future, etc. of something different from what it is/was,” and woah, has 2020 been the year of change!
If 2020 has taught me anything, it has been the ability to open my mind up to change and deal with things that are out of my control. A lot has changed over a small period of time and forced us to adapt and get comfortable with being uncomfortable. We often preach this to our student-athletes, telling them to “control the controllables,” and to not let the things we can't control bring us down. Well, that goes for us as coaches as well.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in our country, it was easy to be angry and upset. We were sad for our team, especially our seniors, whose last season was cut short. We were angry we didn't get the season we had talked about for months or the chance to compete in a new conference for a championship. We were disappointed about all the bus rides, singalongs, team meals and laughs we would miss out on. As coaches, our job is to be there to support our amazing group of student-athletes. Within a matter of minutes, their world and ours was turned upside down with no answers in sight. It was easy to sit and say, “Why us?” or, “This can't be real.” But this was when they needed us the most.
The creativity that every program put into place to make sure their team had a senior night and a chance to spend time with their teammates was unmatched. The support from other teams on our campus offering words of encouragement ultimately brought our department even closer. Team dinners and pregame talks turned into FaceTime and Zoom calls miles apart as we awaited the unknown.
And thus, the world of virtual learning and coaching was thrust upon us. I can't tell you how many times I have heard, “Can you hear me?” or, “My WiFi isn’t working” or the classic, “I think you are muted.” This is on top of the lagging, freezing and just overall technical issues based on how many people were sharing the WiFi. Yet we adapted and grew for the sake of our team because at the end of the day, a pixilated blob of someone showing off their puppy is better than nothing at all!
This goes to show that, as coaches, we will do anything to make sure our team is taken care of both near and far. For some of us, that meant countless FaceTimes and phone calls to figure out what the heck Zoom even was and how to use it. For others, it's a reminder that it's OK to ask for help during a time of drastic change. Patience and understanding can go a long way. I am thankful to have a support system that made our transition online easier.
During this time, we’ve all had moments where we felt alone and like the weight of the world was on our shoulders. We went from being a staff that spent countless hours together, to now only being able to connect on a video chat. As difficult as it was having to adjust to all of these changes, it also opened new doors for us to explore. With so many of us working remotely or with serious campus restrictions, we have turned to video chats. This also presented us the opportunity to collaborate with other coaches that we may not normally connect with ... a chance to just bounce thoughts and ideas off of each other during this “new normal.” This unique situation gave us all the ability to contribute and learn from anyone, anywhere. It also opened doors for coaches to find their voice. Whether it was presenting a webinar, being interviewed for a podcast, joining other committees on and off campus, or even writing a blog entry!
Our creativity has branched out from not only keeping our own teams engaged but also to exploring new avenues with virtual recruiting while we are restricted from being on our own campus. The numerous hours spent strategizing how to give recruits an on-campus experience from hundreds of miles away has been well worth it. We have found exciting new ways to use technology to promote our institution and lacrosse program, while also involving our alumnae.
Overall, this is a time to be grateful for what we DO have. We have our team and the support of our department. Now, we are supporting our fall and winter coaches who are going through what we went through six months ago. This is a great time to reach out to check on those coaches and share our experiences that we learned last spring. As someone who has grown up around college athletics and now being a coach myself, I have come to realize the understanding and unspoken words coaches have with each other. There is an energy through togetherness that can't compare to sitting alone in a cubicle all day. A simple gesture of walking past someone's office to say hi or sharing a walk to Starbucks with a staff member can go a long way. I really miss those days.
As we continue to adjust and adapt to this new sense of “normal,” I think it is important to remember these things:
To other coaches: We are all in this together. Simply be open to change; talk, interact and be creative with your teams. Our players have such brilliant minds, and they often just want to be heard. Now is the time — you never know, you may learn a thing or two!
To current players: Embrace the time you do have with your teammates. Cherish every second you get to spend with them. This time apart has taught us just how tight knit our family away from home really is. Even if we can't take the field this week or next, when that time comes, soak in every minute. We are ALL in this together!
Our current and future players have faced a world of unknowns, on top of new beginnings during this time. Everything ties to being open to change. For some, that means a minor everyday lifestyle change, while for others, this experience of remote coaching and learning may have spun new ideas that have changed how you coach. Regardless of where this new path takes you, I hope you realize that making changes isn't a bad thing — I know I have!