Now that we've started a new year, it feels like as good a time as any to break a few rules and do something different. So here's what I'm about to do: Break the long-standing reporter rule of never making yourself a part of a story (while also breaking my own general rule of not going too much detail of my coaching of Boyd basketball).
I know it's been no secret I've been helping the Lady Bronco basketball team over the last three years, which rarely comes with any downsides aside from the random teasing if Boyd gets big front-page coverage (which feels deserved for a program winning championships and 100 games in four years, but I digress). But if there's ever a time when it feels like a major conflict of interest, it isn't when I cover Boyd, but instead when I write anything that can be construed as negative coverage of the Lady Pioneers.
That happened last year when Sable Winfree was kicked off the team and it'll probably be something brought up again with senior Bri Taylor deciding to step away from WCHS over the weekend (especially for the reasons given to me by the family). I talked extensively with the editorial room about whether it was even worth writing a story about the decision by Taylor to leave the program, with most agreeing it would be impossible to ignore that the team's leading scorer for two seasons was no longer on the sideline.
As I noted to my boss, I can only say that if the same situation happened at Boyd with the team I coached, it would only be right to offer similar coverage (especially if a player accused me - or coach Tim Page - of bullying). It's a fine line when it comes when to cover a player leaving a program (we don't write stories for every departure or every kid who gets cut in the offseasons), but on this one I deferred to the room because I know even if I'm trying to be unbiased, I'm going to be called bias in my reporting.
With all that said, I really would rather focus on the big picture of building locker-room culture when it comes to coaching. More so, it has been my lone New Year's Resolution to try to focus more on positivity - especially in my approach to coaching.
I'll be honest: It's an awkward position to be a reporter submitting a story about the accusations of a coach using "derogatory comments" when you're a coach known for being pretty loud as well. While I'm hopeful that none of the kids who have played for Boyd while I've been helping would say I use "derogatory comments," I'm not arrogant enough to believe my coaching style is the preferred method for every player who puts on a Lady Bronco uniform.
That's why I'm really focused on being more positive and in the moment when I'm with the team now. It's not that I never offered praise before, but I know that my mind can gravitate toward the things that can go wrong a lot quicker than it gravitates towards the things going right. Having a glass-half-empty mindset can be grating on the people around you - and I know that.
I had a good friend tell me recently about the difference in coaching guys and girls is that, "guys are happy when they're winnings. Girls need to be happy to win."
While that may be an oversimplification, I do think there's some truth to it. The best girls teams I've covered are almost all very happy, energetic and have great relationships with their coaching staffs.
Those same teams were - almost always - also coached by a leader who was demanding and didn't mind raising their voice to make a point. But it goes back to what I've always said about coaching at any level - being a hard-nosed coach is fine if your players know you care about them. They'll take the heat if they get the love too.
As I move forward as a coach, that's something I can promise to any parent or kid who puts on the uniform. I may be loud, but I'll always care too.
