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Show Being a coach is no picnic By LYNETTE SAWYER RECORD REPORTER As each season approaches, a coach will reflect upon the kind of a team he wishes to build. Does - he need a speedster? Or a big bat? Perhaps he needs an ace relief pitcher or a good exactly what you come up with. A coach must be a leader, a commander com-mander who absorbs respect from his associates. A firm, broad knowledge of his respective sport must be evident. What good will his knowlege do him if a team is unable to benefit from it? One Cedar High athlete put it this way; "He has to have the rapport and understanding un-derstanding with his team to relate his knowledge to them." A coach needs to have a good relationship with his squad members, but he must also fill the role of disciplinarian. Some Cedar High athletes rated this quality as being most important of all in a coach. We find that a coach is a complex creature. He must fill many roles and change his methods to suit different players. He is both the hard guy, and the friend. Not only must he be knowledgeable, but he must be able to relate that knowledge in a way that will benefit those in which he is training. Still, all that a coach has going for him is his record. That alone must speak for itself when he is being judged. It doesn't matter how many friends he has made or how many problems he has helped to solve among those in his charge. A coach is judged by record alone. No easy job, this being a coach! outside shooter.' A coach will select his team members carefully, according to their abilities, quantities, and his team needs. . . Throughout the season, a coach will observe his players' characteristics and their performances. The coach will take notes and make comments which will influence the team's future accomplishments. ac-complishments. But what about the coach? Who takes notes on him and what criteria is used to judge him? For what reasons is a coach selected, and what makes a particular coach stand out among his peers? A coach plays many different roles. To some he is a father-figure, to others he is a teacher, and still to some he is friend and confident. Television and movies portray today's coach as an , inspiring, gruff cha.rag.ter with guts and a massive amount Of intelligence. But ask the athletes themselves what qualities a coach must possess, and the star of "The White Shadow" isn't |