By Matt Browning
YMCA volunteer coach Nate Atkinson stays busy with his coaching responsibilities. He coaches all three of his children, which makes for a chaotic in-season schedule.
“I genuinely love what I do and have a great support system with the YMCA staff,” Atkinson said.
Winning games doesn’t matter to Atkinson; he is far more invested in the impact he makes on his players.
“The biggest memories I have I thought would be winning games but it’s not, it’s seeing the kids grow off the court into human beings that I believe will turn into successful individuals in society,” Atkinson said.
According to Atkinson, over time, glancing at the scoreboard becomes less frequent, and a coach shifts focus to what they can do for the kids.
“If a person is looking to volunteer at the YMCA, I would let them know from personal experience, it’s not all about winning games or even the sport you are coaching,” Atkinson said. “It’s about being a good role model and having a positive influence on each kid you coach. After a while they won’t remember how many games they won or lost but they will remember the impact you made on them so make sure it’s a positive one.”
