Finding your ikigai

Looking back on my 17-year playing career, I never once gave a career in coaching much thought.

That was until a heart condition put a stop to my playing days prematurely as a junior in college. 

Now, here I am at 24 years old, pursuing a masters degree in coaching education and athlete development, and coaching experience under my belt at both collegiate and club level.

The role of coach is a major part of who I am today and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s funny how life has a way of working out. 

I was reading through various coaching articles and journals preparing materials for class when I came across the term ikigai - a Japanese concept that means ’your reason for being’.

Quickly enough, that became a large part of how I identified myself in terms of my coaching and pinpointing why it is that I do what I do.

The answer is simple - I love my ‘job’, if that is what you can call it. I just absolutely love what I do.

In this field, the ’thank you’s and praises are hard to come by - and, especially as a female coach, the pay isn’t the greatest. But that isn’t why I do it and I’m sure many coaches can attest to that.

The reward is my reason for being. I’m a firm believer that there is not much more of a rewarding feeling or moment when a player speaks on a positive impact you have made in their life or career, or when they execute something you have trained and worked on countlessly in the midst of a game. There really is no greater reward.

As a coach, I believe there is a greater purpose that I serve my players for - to create good habits in every sense of the term, on and off the field.

I hope I can play a role, however small, in developing not just athletes, but good human beings, too.

That trend begins with me as a coach and what I set out to do with my players. This is my ikigai.

I love this game so much - it has given me so much and continues to do so. Now it is my time to give back and work on developing the next generation in any capacity I can.

If I impact one of my players in a positive manner, whether pertaining to football or in life, then I feel I’m doing my part as an educator.

The women’s game has come such a long way across the world - and still has a way to go - but it is hard not to get excited about what is still to come.

My ikigai filters into wanting to continue to play a role in driving and inspiring girls to kick on and go after their dreams, whether big or small. 

Coaching, if you allow it to be, is so rewarding. A simple ask is that you bring the same amount of passion, work ethic, attitude and commitment that you expect of your players - from there, you will be forming your own coaching ikigai.