I am a teacher, a coach and have been trained as such. Good teachers help students because that is part of the job. A teacher never really retires. Some time ago I saw an athlete who suffered a crushing defeat; head hung down, having a bad day. I do not coach the athlete and in fact, I coach against the athlete. The athlete had one of my many rival coaches in their corner.
I went over and told the player to hang in there and it was not as bad as they thought it was. This player won a tournament the next weekend. Why did I do that? Not for the reason someone told me. They thought I was trying to recruit this kid. Nothing could be further from the truth; I was just trying to be a good teacher. Teachers teach and they cannot help themselves. They love to help others, especially young athletes. That is my motivation.
Oh, and a few words about me recruiting players. It is not ethical to recruit other coach’s athletes. I am proud that I strive to follow that rule. Any athlete I coach came to me and I did not recruit them.
I have coached the greatest of the great athletes and these days those signing with me know they need me. If they do not know that, and do not believe that, I cannot help them. If they know more than I do, and do not like to be told how they need to improve, I am of no use to them. I am in a stage in my career when time is limited, metaphorically and literally! I choose to spend it with those who need me and believe that!
Remember the famous line, “I see dead people”? I see athletes who need good coaching. And I do not see it the other way around.