1) What was the goal at the start of the season?
TC-At the beginning of the year the goal was to have every archer improve their score by 20 points. And to qualify for the state tournament.
2) What do you do outside of practice to further build relationships with your team?
TC-Outside of practice, I work on reassuring each archer that they are better than they think. Helping them to improve their grades, just make sure that they know I have confidence in their abilities as a young adult and archer.
3) How often do you practice and how long is that said practice?
TC-We practice 4 times a week Monday and Thursday once in the morning and then again after school. Our biggest challenge is space, with two other archery teams and 8 basketball teams, gym space and time are limited.
4) What do you have to say about your coaching staff?
TC-Jessie Reager-Smith is fantastic. She has jumped right in with both feet. She has coached at the middle school and has a great relationship with many of the young archers. She will make a great head coach in the future.
5) How do you motivate your team as a whole or a member that is feeling down about not achieving their goals?
TC-This can be difficult at the time. Each archer has their problems, own worries, and their frustration. I try to make sure that every time we shoot nothing else matters except the right here right now. I try and have the kids forget about everything thing else that is going on and focus on archery for the next hour. We stress that you don’t let one shot affect the next 5 shots. You can always take away something positive in every shot and that is what I focus on. Find the positive of the little things that they did right and focus on that instead of the negatives
6) Would you rather compete at home or away?
TC-I like to compete at other gyms. I like to get students out of their comfort zone. Each place we go to is different, but the range is the same. I think this helps them become better archers and people.
7) How do you get your team reset after not doing as well as you or they would have liked?
TC-What happened, happened and we can’t go back and change that. All we can do is work to improve on where we fell short. I feel like I have a really good relationship with each member of the team and can get them to reset pretty quickly by talking and working with them.
8) As a coach, what is your favorite part about the job?
TC-My favorite part of coaching: there are so many things that I absolutely love about coaching. The look on student's faces when they can achieve something that they have been working so hard on. You can see it in their face, and their attitude and that translates to life. The second is when I have other coaches come to me and tell me that their young archers (4,5,6 graders) love shooting with our kids. They always tell me that your kids are so polite and kind and helpful with them. Trophies aren’t everything, making that young person feel important and valued I think that is the real trophy. We have great kids, I am very fortunate to have this opportunity with them.
