Traditions you can Start with your Coaching Staff

Josh coached at 2 different High Schools before he got his first Head Coaching job. Although we were at 2 seperate schools, we were with the same head coach for 8 years!

Coach Ross was wonderful and encouraging when it came to my involvement with the coaching world, and Leslie was equally as wonderful. Sometimes people worry about stepping on the Head Coaches Wife's toes, but Leslie was never that way and I was so appreciative of that.
As a HCW myself, I am not that way either! There is SO much that I WANT to do, but don't have time to do, plus I think its awesome that our wive's want to take it upon themselves to start traditions amongst the coaches families.

When Josh got the HC position at Rouse High School, a BRAND NEW school in Leander, Texas, we both wanted to start traditions right off the bat, so we started early. And one thing that is ver unique about our school is that because it was brand new, all the coaches and their families are pretty close, so when we have get togethers and such, the ENTIRE Coaching staff comes. (tennis, volleyball, soccer, ect)


Here are several things that either 1, or one of the wives on the Raider staff have done to make things fun for everyone.
1) Coaches Wives Luncheon
We discuss things to do for the upcoming year. We do this the week before 2 a days start. and by the way- our ENTIRE Coaches Wive's come to this- tennis, basketball, it doesn't matter what her husband coaches, on our staff, we invite everyone.
2) Spa Day and Lunch
This is strictly for enjoyment purposes. We also do this before 2 a days begin. We planned a day where we got manicures and pedicures and then went to lunch. We just had a relaxing day with no kids and no football/ tennis/ basketball talk! It was great.
3)Start a Fantasy Football or Baseball League
You can play with all wives, or you can play with wives and coaches, which is fun also. Our league is $25 to play, so that when you play- you are trying to win. It is a lot of fun and its even more fun to talk smack on the League smackboards!
4) Holiday Parties
It sort of just became a tradition on its own, but several of our coaches on our staff have adopted a Holiday and hosted a party.
-Our Volleyball Coach hosts the opening NFL Sunday Gameday. Likely it will just be the football wive's next year, but for the past 2 years all of the coaches have gone because they didn't have to work Sunday's. 2010 will be different as we start our first Varisty Season.
-We host a Themed Halloween Costume Party and we invite all the Coaches in our District. We have had several coaches that are somewhat strangers show up in costume ready to party with us! Its fun and its a great stress reliever for some coaches that are in the middle of football season. We typically ask that no kids come, but there have been a few that have snuck in!!
-Our OC hosts the Christmas Party each year and it is SO much fun! We play the chinese gift exchange and it is always fun to see who ends up with what!
-We have lots of Birthday Parties, Baby Showers and Bridal Showers!
5) Lady Raider Football Camp
The coaches wives host a mom's football camp before the season starts. We do this for charity- last year, it was for Breast Cancer. The mom's pay a fee, the fee goes towards any supplies we need and the rest goes directly to the charity.
See the Lady Raider Football Camp post for details on how to do your own!
6) Coaches Wives Bible Study
Our Coaches Wives have a Bible Study Group. Its easiest to plan this when there isn't a LOT going on. Its hard to find a good time to start it because people are going out of town, its getting closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas and we get busy, but I think sometimes we forget to take time out for God, and honestly we need to thank him more than ever after our seasons are finished up:)
Carolyn Allen has a great book called The Coaches Wife, and she also has a Coaches Wife Bible Study Guide to go along with it.
Other Traditions to start:

1- Buy a sports ornament each Christmas and put the year on it along with your team's record for that year.
2- Don't know what to do with those old Tshirts from school's that you have left?
a- cut the design out of the shirt and put into a scrapbook
b- leave for the next coach or coaches wife
c-make a blanket out of them.
3-Start a scrapbook
Save all of your rosters, programs, ticket stubs, cut out newspaper clippings, emails or cards from parents or athletes. Anything that you don't want to throw away can be scrapbooked and its easy and fun and a great gift to give your coach!
There a gazillion things that you can do for yourself or with your staff, these are just a few! Please leave some comments or email ladymannslocker@live.com with things that you and your staff do so that I can add them to my list!