<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2b8NW9_1GvJrs9z00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2b8NW9_1GvJrs9z00" width="988" height="1200" ></figure>For many students, being a part of a sports team or academic group is about more than just getting better at your activity. It’s also about learning how to work with others, how to handle challenges, and the most important thing: how to become a better person.The leaders and coaches of these groups play a big role in helping students grow. At Great Crossing High School, coaches work to improve and help their students while supporting them through a wide range of challenges they may face. Coaching Focuses More Than on A WinBeing a coach is not only about winning games or having the county’s best players; it’s about helping students and teammates to learn lessons they will use after high school. Ricky Bowling, the head football coach at Great Crossing, believes that helping players grow as an individual person is the most important part of his work as a coach. The philosophy that guides his coaching practices is one focused on helping produce a strong adult. “Our vision is that all people in our community understand that when you are ready to leave our program, you will have learned how to be a better man, better player, better person, better human being and how to be successful,” Bowling said. Bowling understands that every player has different life experiences outside of football. Some of his students may be dealing with problems that their coaches didn’t know anything about, and that those experiences could impact the team. Bowling believes that strong communication between his staff and his players is critical and he works to teach strategies to help improve it. When issues are communicated, it helps create a healthy team environment. Bowling explained, “It’s [Communication] a never ending circle honestly; everybody is struggling with something. You never know what people are walking in with and what they’re walking out with,” Bowling said. Coaches may be the one person that students need when looking for someone willing to listen to them. Bowling encourages all his coaching staff to be a safety net for their players. Building Relationships Is Critical Work for CoachesHaving a good relationship with a coach can make a big difference in a student’s life. Joshua David Holt-Smith, a senior at Great Crossing who has participated in track throughout his high school years, said that he has a special bond with one of his coaches that has had a positive impact on him. For him, that individual is Coach Ameer Lee.Holt-Smith stated, “Coach Lee kind of feels like a father figure, or something like that. He’s just very supportive.”When students know that their coach cares about them, they tend to feel more comfortable pushing themselves and working toward their goals. Head girls basketball coach Shawn West has 31 years of coaching experience. He understands the importance of relationships, and he knows that every player has unique personalities and challenges. “Everyone is different, and their needs are as well. We have a great staff, and I feel like we can help meet those needs,” West said. West believes that setting high standards and supporting players can work together. He wants more coaches to expect their athletes to work hard while still encouraging them when things get difficult. “Performance standards have to be set for the team. The supportive side of coaching comes into play by encouraging them to hit those standards,” West said. “Players are sacrificing so many things they could do, but they want to play football here at Great Crossing and at the end of the day that is what motivates me. They want to be here and they want to get better and they want to work, definitely work hard,” Bowling said. That effort motivates him to continue to put in as much work for his players as they put in for him. </div></body>

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For many students, being a part of a sports team or academic group is about more than just getting better at your activity. It’s also about learning how to work with others, how to handle challenges, and the most important thing: how to become a better person. The leaders...

More Than Just a Game

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For many students, being a part of a sports team or academic group is about more than just getting better at your activity. It’s also about learning how to

More Than Just a Game

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