National Coaches Day: Celebrating TeamSnap Coaches

Coaches play a pivotal role in sports, influencing not only the athletic development of participants, but also their personal growth and character development. Coaches are truly the unsung heroes of many sporting events and are mentors that educate, and install values far beyond the playing fields. In a world where athletes often take center stage, it’s on October 6, 2023 that we take a moment to dedicate an entire day to coaches. National Coach Appreciation Day is a day dedicated to acknowledging the tireless efforts, unwavering dedication, and boundless passion of coaches across the nation.

In celebration of this day, TeamSnap will share three stories of coaches within the TeamSnap community! While you’re reading their stories, please check out this year’s Positive Coaching Alliance Coach of the Year Award, presented by TeamSnap. TeamSnap and PCA has been partnered since 2013.

Celia Balf | Soccer Coach | Content Marketing Manager at TeamSnap 

Q1 : How long have you been involved in coaching youth sports, and what inspired you to become a coach? What sport(s) do you coach? 

I’ve been involved in coaching youth sports ever since I was “old enough” to help out with the younger programs. I started coaching more seriously after college and fell in love with giving back to the game that shaped me. I felt inspired to become a coach because of the lack of female coaches I had growing up. I didn’t have a female coach until college, and after that it really struck me how much I would have benefited from a female coach and role model during my younger youth soccer years.

I currently coach soccer and basketball.

Listen to Celia’s mini video series with TeamSnap for the Power Habits campaign: Participation in sports can shape a young athlete’s future—from life lessons to important skills like teamwork, determination and consistency. But mental health can be a determining factor in whether a young athlete wants to keep playing or feels burned out.

Q2 : In your opinion, what makes a great coach, and why is it important to appreciate coaches?

I think a great teacher = a great coach. I think coaches, especially coaches that work with kids have to have an interest in educating and influencing youth. I think the best coaches are the ones that care, move with empathy, and see the whole person that they are coaching. I think it’s important to appreciate coaches because…just know we appreciate you!

Q3: Coaching can be time-consuming. How do you manage your coaching responsibilities alongside your work at TeamSnap?

I think I’ve learned a lot of work-life-sport balance from my years playing Division 1 soccer while also juggling a job at a restaurant, an internship with the local newspaper, and going to school full-time. I’d say the main way I manage my responsibilities is I only take on what I know I can give. There’s nothing worse than not being able to show up for the kids, so I really just manage expectations and when I’m there, I’m fully there.

Q5 : What strategies or tips can you offer to fellow coaches who may also be balancing work and coaching commitments?

Lean on your peers and be upfront with your coaching style and boundaries from the beginning. Setting expectations is key. If they expect you to respond at all hours of the day and night, stay late after practice to talk, running extra sessions…than you’re going to eventually hit a wall. I’d say just be transparent with your time, coaching style, and coaching boundaries.

Q6 : What do you believe are some of the biggest challenges youth sports coaches face today, and how can they overcome them?

Coaching in New York City presents all kinds of challenges as a coach. The parental pressure on the kids is challenging, the cost to play is alarming, and the space to play is upsetting. I always found just having a practice at a public field is really hard as a coach in the city. At the end of the day, it’s a park; if you’re there first, it’s yours, if you’re not first, it’s really anyone’s space. As a youth coach, juggling the safety of the kids with holding down space, with actually running a valuable session is all a challenge.

Q7 : Can you share any experiences where you’ve had to address challenges while coaching, and how did you handle them?

I’ve dealt with an issue at practice where even though we’ve had a permit for a space, I’ve been pressured and bullied to get out of the space. With the girls I was coaching there, I assured them that I would handle it. I asked a nearby parent to help with the situation, showed my issued park permit [which shows proof the space is mine for that hour] and held my ground. It also helped that I was at the space first, so I could also play that angle. My number one priority in those types of situations are just making sure the girls know that the environment is safe and they can focus on playing freely and creatively.

Q8 : How has technology, specifically TeamSnap, helped you in your coaching role?

My phone used to be buzzing non-stop, from phone calls, to texts, to emails, you name it. Now, at least it’s all confined to one app. Often-times other parents answer one another’s question before I even need to! TeamSnap helps me streamline communication, organize my practices, and keep track of attendance, pick-up schedules, and much more.

Q9 : Are there specific features or aspects of the app that have made a significant difference in managing and communicating with your team?

I love the chat function and scheduling/roles functionality. Nothing better than everyone having a role and knowing where to send their child, what time, and all the x’s and o’s. This really just allows me to do my job better.

Q10: What advice would you give to individuals considering coaching youth sports for the first time?

Get ready for a ride, but the best ride. Remember you aren’t just coaching, you are molding the next generation’s people.

Q11: What personal qualities or skills do you think are essential for a successful coach?

Empathy, compassion, confidence, organization, creativity, and passion.

Jim Dahline | Hockey Coach | Senior Director Product Marketing at TeamSnap 

Q1: How long have you been involved in coaching youth sports, and what inspired you to become a coach? What sport(s) do you coach?

I got involved 7 or so years ago when my son started playing hockey. It’s the sport I know the most about.

Q2: In your opinion, what makes a great coach, and why is it important to appreciate coaches?

The best coaches understand that they are there to create experiences for their players. In today’s world, so many coaches are volunteering their time to make sure kids can keep playing, so parents should really show their appreciation for them.

Q3: Coaching can be time-consuming. How do you manage your coaching responsibilities alongside your work at TeamSnap?

Generally, coaching is outside of school/work hours, but there are definitely times I’ve had to take a day off work for coaching duties. TeamSnap has been nothing but supportive, and in fact, it probably helps me in my role as well.

Q4: What strategies or tips can you offer to fellow coaches who may also be balancing work and coaching commitments?

When you’re coaching, that tends to be your “free time activity”. Ha. Working remote definitely helps, but making sure to create good balance in life is important.

Q5: What do you believe are some of the biggest challenges youth sports coaches face today, and how can they overcome them?

Kids have so much going on in their lives, and parents are pushing kids so hard, that having fun seems to be lost on so many. As a volunteer, my time is limited, and I think that parents have expectations of coaches and their kids, and we are here to get them to the pros.

Q6: Can you share any experiences where you’ve had to address challenges while coaching, and how did you handle them?

There’s always challenges with the team, but the hardest ones are when you’re being faced with some behavioral, mental, or physical challenges with the kids. Kids can bring the stress that they experience at home. Some kids have mental health challenges. Concussions and physical injuries need to be managed. These are things that aren’t always easy to handle as a volunteer coach.

Q7: How has technology, specifically TeamSnap, helped you in your coaching role?

Sharing schedules and communicating with parents is central to the role. I highly recommend getting a strong team manager to help. Ultimately, having the right tools on my phone with an app is essential.

Q8: Are there specific features or aspects of the app that have made a significant difference in managing and communicating with your team?

Adding events and games to the schedule is huge. Also, organizing parents jobs (penalty box, locker room, scoresheets) is clutch.

Q9: What advice would you give to individuals considering coaching youth sports for the first time?

It’s incredibly rewarding. Focus on how you can be a positive force in the lives of your athletes, and remember, you’re there for them.

Q10: What personal qualities or skills do you think are essential for a successful coach?

Patience. Which I’m still working on. 😉

Nancy Pedro Bodnar | Volleyball Coach | Director of People Partners at TeamSnap 

It’s been really exciting. And what inspired me actually is hearing from some women coaches talk about the lack of women coaches. When I heard that my daughter’s volleyball team needed an assistant coach I had reached out to the head coach, who is also a woman, and told her I was interested. It was just one of these opportunities where you have this one chance to make an impact and pay it forward. And why wouldn’t you do it?

Q3: Coaching can be time-consuming. How do you manage your coaching responsibilities alongside your work at TeamSnap?

So good news, and I know when to turn off coaching right? When it’s done, it’s done and you’ve gave everything you’ve got. I mean, one thing about being able to work remote is flexibility, and I’m a little cooler now.

Q4: What do you believe are some of the biggest challenges youth sports coaches face today, and how can they overcome them?

I am in awe that the same time concerned about what these kiddos are taking on. You’re winning or you’re learning, there is no such thing as losing.

Q5: What personal qualities or skills do you think are essential for a successful coach?

You are the mentor you are the coach, you are the community.

Is your coach PCA’s next Coach of the Year?