WE are counting down to a lot of things in our house. See your ad hereThe Olympics are in two more sleeps, a 10th birthday in about two weeks and an eighth birthday a few weeks after that. You would think the last two were more exciting – but not so. In our house, it’s all about the Olympics – and excitement has been building since we took the girls to see the Australian Opals play Brazil at Bendigo Stadium a few weeks ago. “Are they really going to the Olympics? How did they get there? How old were they when they started playing basketball? Can we stay up to watch?” The questions went on and on. But a lot of those questions were focused on what the athletes were like at the same age as my daughters – did they go to school (of course), did they train all day, how did they get so tall, how did their mums take them everywhere – on... and on and on. But when one of the girls asked who was the coach of the team when the Aussie girls were little, it made me stop and think. How many ordinary mums and dads will be sitting at home watching the Olympics during the next few weeks who, in their own time, take on junior sporting teams and coach youngsters through their sporting seasons. How many former coaches are watching their once-little sports stars at the Olympics, and how many are wondering if they have a future Olympian in their midst. But it also makes you wonder how many elite athletes look back on those early days of their sporting careers and remember the “coaches’’ who shaped them as good team players, helped them focus and taught them the rules. So many parents give their time every week, often in freezing conditions for winter sport, or sweltering during summer, just to make sure every child gets a run in their chosen sport. They do it because they love their own children – and love what sport does for all youngsters. There are hundreds of junior sport coaches throughout central Victoria doing this week in and week out – giving our kids the opportunity to have fun, develop their skills and in some cases, go on to greater things. But it’s sometimes a thankless task. One local coach recently shared how parents had given her a hard time from the sidelines for not doing what they thought was best for the team. Rightly so, she pointed out that she was there to ensure their children could play sport – which quickly shut them up. After all, none of the other parents had put their hands up to take on the role. Coaches in junior sport are fantastic. Their hearts are in the right place and what they do for our children is inspiring. We should be supporting them rather than discouraging them from working with our children to get the best out of them. My girls love their sport this year. They both have fantastic coaches who are encouraging and want them to have fun. They may not ever make the Olympics (or perhaps they will...), but I hope the girls will always look back at this time and remember what others have done for them to give them such a happy, active childhood. Let’s hope our Aussie athletes do the same when they reflect on their journeys in the coming weeks. See your ad hereBut in the meantime, we wish them all the best and look forward to cheering from the couch. Go Aussies! Print StorySave Disqus. Login About Disqus.. Like . Dislike . ...Glad you liked it. Would you like to share?Facebook Twitter ShareNo thanksSharing this page … Thanks! Close Login Add New Comment Post as … Image . Sort by popular now Sort by best rating Sort by newest first Sort by oldest first Showing 0 comments M Subscribe by email S RSS .Local NewsCalifornia Gully mother warns of danger THE mother of a baby rescued from the middle of a California Gully street has used the shocking ... 8 CommentsHoward Place taxi rank hailed A NEW-LOOK taxi rank and community space will be open in the city by the end of the ... 2 CommentsA Line in The Sand: Spare a thought for junior sport coaches NICOLE FERRIE wonders how the children of today will look back on their junior sport coaches and the ... Be the first to commentBendigo council endorses final budget GREATER Bendigo civic leaders have endorsed their final budget, paving the way for a $53.6 million capital and ... Be the first to commentBendigo indoor cricketers recall biggest hits THIS year marks 30 years since indoor cricket arrived in Bendigo and a reunion is planned to celebrate ... Be the first to commentLatest News Police hunt Hungry Jack's bandit Australian Ice Hockey League wrap: Mustangs hot up Funding crisis triggers administration for weapons company Kyneton stable shut down by strangles Supertrawler process may have been 'unlawful': Wilkie Editor's Picks Faith Leech is Bendigo's golden girlBendigo rallies for Epsom fire victimsAll set for BEDS 2012Driver rescues baby from road in California GullyStevenson follows proteges' run in London

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