Viking Coach

Some of you may have read or heard of Linda Ellis' “The Dash Poem”.

I usually recall the moral of the poem a few times a year as I make my way through the “ups” and “downs” of the basketball season.

The poem talks about the “dash” that lies between the year of a person’s birth and of their death.

EXAMPLE: (Oct. 10, 1910 – Dec. 7, 1941)

In Linda Ellis’ poem the “dash” represents the years a person lived their life on earth and talks about what that life was worth, how it was lived and how the person chose to use the time they had here on earth. The poem is a great reminder to take a step back every once and a while and take a look at how you are living your life.

I see a “dash” often as a coach.

The "dash" I see lies between the number of wins my team has and the number of losses. I try to remember at the end of the season that it is this “dash” that really determines the success of the team and ultimately the success of a coach. It is tough to sometimes see between the numbers on the left and right of this small blip of a line but like the dash between a person's birth and death the one between the wins and losses stands for a whole lot and it is worth remembering.

I revised the Linda Ellis' poem a little to show you how I use it to remind me of the importance of “The Dash”


"The Basketball Dash Poem" A revision of a poem By Linda Ellis

I heard of a player who stood to speak
at the banquet for her coach.
She referred to the wins and losses
that others would try to broach.

She noted that first came the wins
and spoke the next number with a sigh.
But she said what mattered most of all
was the dash that between the two does lie.

For that dash represents all the time
that the coach spent coaching on earth.
And now only those who toiled & played
would truly know its worth.

For it matters not how many games we win;
the trophies, or medals that you stash.
What matters is the caring and dedication
and how you spend your dash.

So think about this long and hard.
are there things you'd like to change?
For you impact kids everyday,
and your priorities can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what matters most of all.
And always try to do what’s best
for both the big and small.

And be less quick to anger,
and show encouragement more.
And love the players that you coach
like they are children or yours.

Treat each player with respect,
and help them to handle the jeers and cheers.
Remember that this special dash
is what they will remember through the years.

So when your career comes to a close
with your actions to rehash.
Would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?