A “Seasoned” Coach’s Prayer

In Act 2 Scene 7 of As You Like It, Jaques speaks his ‘Ages of man’ monologue (better known by most as the ‘All the world’s a stage‘ speech).

All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages....... Shakespeare

Here is my take on it......

Here I am once again

An eve of a new season and dreams

Hard to believe how many have past

Decade three for me!


And the seasons of a year

Mimic the minutes of man’s ways

And a season of this game

Patterns the seasons of days


Confusing at best at the beginning

Inspired by the ‘Seven Ages of Man’

And if one will bear this ‘pantaloon’ fool

It will make more sense at the end


Football summer is really a spring

Young boys without pain or fear

High expectations and innocent ambition

Weightroom sweat and carefree cheer


And early season is actually the summer

Where no one expects to lose

Life is sweet to the energetic young

Where all first experiences are new


The crowds are full

The drums pump adrenaline and life

Nothing is routine

Even setbacks cause little strife


Then comes the autumn

A time of great change

The first chill is a warning

It is no longer just a game


Wind blown leaves are dividing lines

As rigid routine continues to grind away

Those smiling pictures seem long gone now

Most teams wither, but a few still play


The stadium attendees are fickle

New things distract

And drums keep drumming

But it feels hollow and flat


Special seasons are seeded in the spring

Watered in the summer

And Fertilized in the fall

While winners still believe what might not be seen by all


The comes the winter where we

Rage against the hardest fight

The daylight savings of summer

Is long forgotten in artificial light


At some point the end will come

All but one will end in tears

The sweetest harvest finally shows

With a savor that lasts for years


And that too is the story of my life

I feel I am passed the autumn years

And I also rage against the night

Fighting hard against the fears


I am blessed with seasons on seasons

Most boys only get a few - and never the same

And many grand joys of my life

Have been experienced in this wonderful game


Teach me to persevere one more time

Push me to give my all

Press me to grow and love

As I journey through another football fall

And hopefully more seasons in the future, Lord willing!