Some people say life is a game. Playing sports, for some, is life. In school, teachers are responsible for teaching their students the fundamentals of playing that game. In sports, that responsibility falls on the shoulders of the coaches. But what about the assistant coaches? Are they the “student teachers” of sports, being groomed to be a head coach some day, or are they just regular folks with an irregular passion for the game?

In every sport, whether it be soccer, hockey, lacrosse, or swimming, assistant coaches bear the unique responsibility of helping to coach the team (whatever that means). They’re not full-fledged coaches, some because they don’t have enough experience, some because their time is a precious commodity and some because they’re contented with their current position.

Assistant coaches help shape the abilities of the players, while at the same time developing leadership skills themselves. Some assistants have “graduated” to the head coach position, from the more famous (Phil Jackson, Jim Calhoun, Joe Torre), to the not so famous (Coaches Witter, Bemis, and Barone). Some prefer not to.

Either way, assistant coaches are the backbone of any team. They assist in small-group skill development and often make themselves more approachable to the members of any team. As an athlete myself, I have fond memories of a certain assistant soccer coach, who often stayed long after practice to help me with passing. He obviously cared about my development as an athlete, and though I didn’t sign up for soccer the next season, I still remember the positive impact his tutelage had on me. The next time you’re suiting up for a practice or game, think of your assistant coach(es). It’s safe to say that you’ll have at least one positive memory.