A good coach can be the deciding factor on whether or not a kid loves sports.
https://www.facebook.com/crwigginton/videos/10219752939204772/
Most youth coaches are unpaid volunteers who spend countless hours on the sidelines teaching children how to be better players and get along with each other. It is common for parents and players to give thank you notes and gifts to their coaches at the end of the season. Richmond’s Jayden Wigginton, Virginia knew exactly what he wanted his coach to say.
Jayden may only be six years old, but he has already noticed that a great coach can make all the difference on and off the field. His mother Courtney Wigginton says Coach Richard Nelloms, a local father who volunteers to coach Jayden’s football flag team, has helped her son fall in love with the sport.
“I’ve known Rich for quite awhile now and seeing him coaching my son has been amazing,” she wrote on Facebook. “It’s hard to come across a coach like him nowadays, but he helped my son fall in love with the game all over again. Jayden adores Rich and truly idolizes him. I can’t say thank you enough for what you’ve done for him this season. You’ll never know how much of an impact you’ve truly made. We love you Rich.”
On the last day of the year, Jayden showed up to practice and was prepared to share with coach the takeaways from the season. As Courtney recorded the moment on her cell phone, Jayden gave Coach Rich a mug that said “A good coach can change the game. A great coach can change a life.” On the back side of the mug they’d had “Coach Rich” engraved.
Judging by Coach’s huge smile he might have been pleased with this amazing present, but Jayden was not done quite yet. “Hold on, he’s got a little note he wrote you,” Courtney said to Rich. That’s when Jayden pulled out a handwritten note and proceeded to read aloud:
“Dear Coach Richard, you have been the greatest coach of my life. I love you Richard,” the little boy blurted out before becoming overwhelmed by his feelings. Breaking down into tears he told the coach, “You help me love football again. Thank you for being my favorite coach. Love, Jayden.” Coach Rich pulled that child in for a hug so fast!
The next day Richard woke up from an afternoon nap to discover that the video had gone viral! He admitted that even though he “held it together” when Jayden read the note aloud to him, when he watched it again he started crying.
“This was something that I felt so lucky to have an opportunity to do,” he wrote about coaching football. “I was so nervous at first , some of the parents had to tell me to raise my voice so they could hear me. I felt blessed with the chance to be myself & teach my players how to have fun no matter what. It’s a dream of mine to make an impact on as many souls as possible. Thank you Jayden for allowing me to fulfill a dream of mine!!!”
Seasons and players will come and go, but Jayden will always recall the impact this kind, competent coach made on him as a first grader. Richard is one of those coaches who manages to step in as a pseudo-parental figure who is also a trusted friend and mentor. Great job, Coach Rich!
