From the Perspective of the Watergirl

Today's Blog comes to us from Social Foundations of Coaching student, Caroline Corbett.

“Hey, moron! Hey! Moron! Duh! L-L-Look at me. I'm th-th-the waterboy.” This is one of the first few lines in Adam Sandler’s The Waterboy from one of the college football players taunting the waterboy, Bobby Boucher. While this may be an extreme representation of the lack of respect us waterboys and watergirls (more formally known as student athletic trainers) get on a daily basis, it certainly is how we can feel sometimes. And many times, this feeling can result from the actions of coaches.

           

This blog is not to whine and complain about how we are underappreciated and do not get enough respect. On the contrary, I often feel very well treated in my position and that many players treat me as their good friend. Instead, it is to reflect on how the behavior of coaches can be inconsistent with the message they project to their athletes.

           

I recently attended a lecture on business ethics by a CEO of a health care company. He described that whenever he is considering a person for a position he takes them out to dinner. Not to make them feel more at ease or schmooze them, but to see how they treat the wait staff. If they treat with the wait staff with kindness and graciousness, it is an indication of how they will behave with clients and colleagues.

           

I believe the same should be true for coaching. Coaches often advocate respect for others and being gracious to all, but often do not practice what they preach. Players see the disrespect the coaches have for support staff and feel they can behave the same way. This disrespect can then be translated off the field. This type of behavior is not helpful for the development of a champion.

           

It seems like a simple concept, treat people with kindness. But it can be lost on some of the “rougher” coaches in the country.  As Cardinal Roger Mahony once stated, "any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members; the last, the least, the littlest." This quote can also be applied to any team. I am suggesting that coaches keep this principle in mind because it can have an affect on players as well as the representation of the team.