I Coached

Came across this card from my daughter, which she wrote for Father's Day I am sure. 

This is a card my daughter sent me. Interesting she is the only child I never coached in an organized sport. I coached baseball, soccer and even flag football. 
She writes: Dear Dad, Thank yo so much for being such a cool dad. You are a very special dad and I'm glad that you're mine. I appreciate all of the things that you do for me; you work more than one job and are constantly on the clock working. Thanks. I really enjoy watching you coach different sports teams for Mark, Jeremy, Charity, Miranda, and Caleb. You kind of take on the role of "Dad" for all of the kids on your teams. I think that is really cool. I love you so much, although it may not seem like I do. Love, Tali

Soccer Coach

I first coached soccer for AYSO.  I coached the team from Hyrum, 11 and 12 year olds.  I did not grow up with soccer, so this was all learning for me.  I coached kids from the community.
However after I was a father, I coached my kids.  This was in the Cupertino, West San Jose league.  I would usually coach them until about 12, and then hand them over to others who had been coaching longer.  I figured they would have more to teach them.
Major League Soccer would send people to give trainings every year.  These trainings would include material to help with organizing practice.  They would give books with suggested games.  I also purchased a book, Soccer Practice games: 120 games for technique, Training and Tactics by Joe Loxbacher.  I found parts of this book very helpful.  Others too advanced for the age I was teaching.  Crab soccer was always a favorite, and taught both positioning and endurance and strength.  I also liked some of the throw-in games, ass well as the go games.  Some of the warm=up activities would include dribbling and then squash the ball, or side-to-side, or "I've got an injury."  This would help with stretching.
I must admit, I ways always offensive minded in soccer.  I had difficulty teaching defensive skills.  However over the years I got better at this.  I think I coached most of my kids, Mark and Jeremy and Caleb for sure.  Also Charity played for me one year, and Sheri coached Miranda one year.  My kids wee always some of the better on the team.  We played in the district tournament several years, meaning we took first or second.
I always enjoyed this.  When the kids were older, I converted to officiating.  I use to particularly enjoy lines, but I did officiate in the middle as well.

Outdoor and Night Games: Hyrum in the 60s

Some of the games we played growing up were large community games.  These were games such as kick-the-can, hide-and-seek.  We lived kitty-corner from Todd Nielsen and I remember going there for some very large kick-the-can games.  This was hard on whoever was "it" because it was almost impossible to capture a large group before someone kicked the can and set everyone free.
In this game someone is "it" and attempts to capture everyone while also defending the can (a can placed in an open location.)  this could become tricky as if you went on direction to capture someone, somebody could come from the other direction and set everyone free.  However it was a good evening game in the summer.
Tag was also common.  Again we would often play in the Nielsen yard.  They seemed to have a big front yard and many of us would congregate there.  Different tag versions included regular tag.  However we would also play frozen tag, where the person "it" had to capture everyone.  If he touched you you were frozen until someone not touched yet could tag you and then you were unfrozen.  This game seemed to be a bit more even than kick the can and not quite as difficult for the person "it."
Other communal games would be participating in sports.  On day we went to the Nielsen'a for a big game of football.  Everyone had their own t-shirt upon which they had put numbers with magic marker.  I remember I tended to Willie Wood of the Packers.  One child, whose mother didn't want to mark a shirt, came with the numbers pinned to the shirt.  Some people just don't understand.  You can't play with pinned numbers because they are dangerous if a tackle sport.
We would also organize baseball games in our community.  When we first moved to Hyrum, there were two vacant lots next door.  We used these for a baseball diamond.  We would have friends from a couple blocks away come to play.  This would include the Wengreens, the Nielsens and the Burnetts.  Even Denny McClain would come at times.  We had quite some adventures.  This lots included hills form soil removal when they put in our house.  This made a nice home run fence.  Our bases were not always conventional.  We had a big rock as our third base.  Charlie was playing third.  One game a low liner was hit.  The ball hit the rock and bounced up and caught Charlie a good one in the face.  I can't remember where, but it was bloody and painful.  We replaced our third base after that.
We had some good fun.  When they finally built homes next door it did not destroy our baseball games.  We then moved across the street next to the Burnetts where there was a pasture which sufficed for a good baseball playing field.  Weldon would usually put these games together.  It is interesting because when he was 15 he started running Hyrum Little League games and organizing leagues on a broader basis.

Hyrum T Ball revisited

This is the T Ball article as it appeared in the Hyrum Crusader.  It had some pictures that were not in the previous post.

You can link the other pictures I took here.
http://whilhelmsthoughts.blogspot.com/2012/10/t-ball-in-hyrum.html

T Ball in Hyrum

These pictures are from the first T-Ball league in Hyrum.  Please let me know if you recognize anyone.  I think this is 1976.  My brother, Weldon, put the league together as part of his duties running Little League. We didn't play on the dirt infield, but set up bases in the outfield.

Wade Olsen

Clyde Buff Jr. in front of the line

Kody Johnson is the coach helper

When Weldon and I Played for the Packers; Othello

Billy, Weldon, Charlie

Charlie posted the above picture on the Ileen Family group, and it brought back some fun memories.  Weldon and I were big into football during our days in Othello.  I am sure Weldon introduced me to the game, but we also attended games with my father at the local high school.  A couple boys from our ward played on the team.  I remember my dad commented on a play where the other team had a long run, and the player form Othello didn't tackle him from behind, but let him get a few more yards so he could tackle him from the front.
But back to Weldon and I.  We were big into the Packers.  When we played, we were not Billy and Weldon, but Bart Star and Willie Wood.  We would usually be on the same team, playing against imaginary opponents.  And like the Packers, we were champions.  Oh what fun!
I remember one day Weldon was sick.  It was upon me to carry on the games as Weldon watched from the window.  It was harder, passing to myself and catching the ball.  But that is what I did.  It was a glorious victory for the Packers, fighting off many opponents after making the catch.  The passes were shorter than usual, because I was catching my own passes.  There were more yards after the catch.  I had to go in and report to Weldon the result of the play.
Over time, we started playing each other.  Charlie would join my team, but he was still very small.  We were better at offense than defense, so the games were usually tied.  We decided to add goal posts so we could kick extra points.  The were make shift poles, with a stick propped up between them.  They weren't very high, but they served their purpose.  I think Weldon always won after that.  I have never been good a kicking.  But man could I run.

A Youthful of Trophies

A Youthful of Trophies

In a box at the top of the closet sits a youthful of trophies,
Memories of former glories and success;
A game played, a tourney won, a shot made, a run scored,
Rewarding team efforts and individual achievement.

Now these trophies are a nest for spiders,
whose webs cover them with draped stickiness,
whose eyes are the only eyes that see them now
As they walk across the faces of the dust covered ballplayers,
Which formerly shone of golden chrome.

But there is no shine, there is no luster.
There at the top of the closet, protected from decay, they grow older.
But their recipient has aged, has grown heavier--his body out of tone.
He could no longer dream of participating in former wars of glory.

So of what use these miniature statues from the past?
Of what value at the flea market?  A dollar, maybe less?
They taunt the former athlete, lying in the box,
Reminding him of past glories, shouting, "Has been!  Has been!"

But today the box is off the shelf, on the bed, a damp rag removing the cobwebs.
Each one is observed and remembered as the dust is removed.
Then each one, one by one, is replaced in the box with care,
at the box is again placed at the top of the closet;
And with a sigh he mumbles, "Maybe, tomorrow, I will start jogging."

I wrote this poem seven or eight years ago, shortly before I sent most of my trophies to the D.I. (Goodwill) for use by someone else.  I guess it took a while to say goodbye.

Hyrum Pony Baseball 1972

My Pony League Career in Hyrum lasted one year, for the most part.  Pony baseball was 13-15 year olds.  It also marked a change from 60-foot bases (Litle League) to 90-foot, regular baseball size.   When I was 13 I played, but did not see a lot of action.  I was overwhelmed with the older players, curve balls and the larger diamond.

l-r Mike Kerr, Doug Jensen, Ken Jensen, ?, ?, ?, ? Val Gunnel, Don Williams, Weldon

At this level of play, we were not an official "Pony" team.  It was a county league, and we would travel from town to town in Cache Valley and play the other cities.  Logan had their own league, and the county had their own league, which included the Cache Valley part of Idaho.  We practiced at the field by the Junior High School.  This was not the best field.  We would usually end up playing on softball fields, because most cities did not have official baseball fields in those days.  I can remember some of our games, playing in Wellsville, Providence and Franklin. 

When I was a 14-year old I became a regular player. We were coached by the Lundberg twins (I am thinking Clair and Blair, but I may be wrong.) I started in center field, and usually batted sixth.  We had a stacked team.  We had Doug Jensen, shortstop and Val Gunnel, catcher, both from Providence who played for us rather than their home city.  Later in the season we also recruited Jed Murray, pitcher and left field, and Mike Kerr, second base, from Wellsville. 

It was fun playing center field that year.  David Jensen, our primary pitcher had a cut fastball, almost a screwball with the distance it would curve.  Many batters would give up on the pitch, deciding it was outside, and then it would cut across the outside corner.  It was fun to watch.  Jed Murray was a traditional picture, with his curve breaking the other way.  We had other good players, Don Williams playing third and Monte Stevens playing first base.

I remember we were really excited to play Providence, and really wanted to beat them as two of our players were from Providence.  We did win.  At some point in the game there was a towering fly ball hit, which I caught up with and caught.  Coaches were happy for that, but I didn't think it was a big deal.

Monte Stevens, Ken Jensen, Mike Keer, Rick Stevens, Don Williams

The highlight of the season was the tournament in Soda Springs.  We were overwhelmed by a good team from Brigham City the first game, and fell into the consolation bracket.  I made an out that game trying to steal second.

The next game we were playing a team from Pocatello.  It was a close, low-scoring game.  I did a suicide squeeze, scoring someone from third base.  However as I approached first, instead of giving myself up easily, the first baseman was blocking the base path so I though I might be able to jar the ball loss.  However he side swiped me and I went rolling.  I broke my wrist as a result.  I was out of the game and in the hospital to get my arm set.  We did win the game. I remember a kid on the Pocatello side laughing at my tragedy.  This kid turned out to be my aunt's foster son as she lived in Pocatello.

l-r Weldon, Doug Jensen, me (cast) Val Gunnel, Dave Jensen, Jed Murray

Having beaten Pocatello we made it to the consolation championship game and won that final game.  I don't remember who we played.  Don Williams hit a couple of home runs for us.

David Jensen and Jed Murray lead our high school team a few ears later into the state championship tournament where we were second.  They also went on to both pitch minor league baseball.  Jed made it up to triple A ball.  David didn't go so far, as he accidentally shot himself in the foot deer hunting, and could never push off the way he had before and as a result lost some of the  zip on his  fast ball. 

The next year I chose not to play baseball in Hyrum.  Hyrum had a new coach, who was young, and I was worried that the conditions on the team would not be conducive to the lifestyle I was leading.  (I was worried there might be alcohol involved and did not want to risk it.)  Ken Jensen and I decided to play for a Logan team.  I went to one practice before they told me "no" as I wasn't a resident of Logan.  That practice was interesting.  The coach thought my ball from the outfield didn't have enough zip on it so he said to throw it at the shortstop's head.  I did, and somehow the shortstop missed the ball and in bonked him a  good one.  He had a big goose egg.

Basketball Wars

Weldon and I played so much basketball growing up you wouldn't believe it.  He use to win most often; he is three years older than me.  But in my mind it was because he cheated, and consequently we would often have fights after a few games.  We wouldn't always fight, but we would fight enough to keep it interesting.

After one such fight, I grabbed a rock, threatening my brother.  I was a pretty good aim with a rock.  He took off running, and actually was quite a ways away, running through a field across the street.  I decided to give the rock a throw anyway, not really thinking it would ever hit him, but at least it would give him a good scare.  So I threw that rock with everything  I had, well over his head.

But Weldon was running.  When the rock came down, Weldon had caught up with it.  It caught him right on the ear, and he dropped like a deer that had been shot.  I ventured towards him wearily to see if he was OK.  I knew if he wasn't dead, he was going to kill me.

As I crept closer, asking if he was OK, he jumped up and ran towards me.  But instead of pounding me, we just had a good laugh.  I survived that bullet.

Snow was our biggest enemy in those days, or at least would keep us from playing all the basketball we wanted.  The hoop was on the front of our house, and we had to fight the snow to play.  Some years the snow would win, and we were dependent on someone to let us into the church to play (a block away.)  However we would fight the snow and ice with our snow shovels, and would be out playing in the snow storms, as long as it wasn't sticking the the drive way, in the coldest of weather.  The cold would be invigorating.

I had brothers to play with, but I would also shoot by myself.  In my head I would be my favorite team, which was usually the Jazz.  Those were the Adrian Dantley days.  And they started to eventually win a few games.  Of course before the Jazz it was the Stars.  We loved them as well--Zelmo Beaty "Big Z" and Willie Wise, Jimmy Jones and Ron Boone.  They actually won the championship one year.  By the time they got Moses Malone strait out of high school the Stars were just about through.  They were not a team selected to move to the NBA from the ABA.

Me, Weldon, Clyde and cousin Reed Olsen, and Buffy running around

 As we got older, and Charlie joined the wars, we would play a lot of two-on-two.  We added Charlie's friend, Martin Smith to our fray.  Weldon and I would still be on opposite teams, but we would have a partner from the younger two.  Our favorite game was 22.  You had to win by four so a game could last a long time if it was close.

Our hoop was a bit shorter than ten feet, but still close to regular height.  Between our house and Marty Smith's house were a couple duplexes where they had a basket just over eight feet.  This made for fun pay as well as we could stuff on this basket.  

sports pictures

I am on the right in green.  Clyde is reffing

22 Blue is David Jensen

Our Coach is Claude Williams, Jay Shaver in middle, Todd Williams 22

Me warming up

Me.  Jay Shaver to the right

Me at the top of the lane in green

Clyde tossing the ball, I am right of him

I'm the one with the big mouth

Soda Springs Tournament

I'm safe going back to first, but got out trying to steal 2nd

ltor Monte Stevens, Kenny Jensen, Doug Jensen, Ricky Stevens, Don Williamson

center field

Sports were a big part of growing up.  The basketball pictures are from a game in our church, and so I thought it had to be a Church game, but as I look at the uniforms I think this is Bantam Basketball, which we usually played at the Elite Hall.  Clyde, my brother-in-law is reffing.  I am number 20.

Pictures of Pony League, Soda Springs tournament follow.  I had to crop the center field picture a bit so you could even see me.  I loved playing center for this team.  I was able to sit out there and watch David Jensen pitch a back cut fast ball that would break 8 inches back over the plate.  You don't know how many batters gave up on the pitch.  We had he and Jed Murray pitching for us.  They would both later play minor league ball.

The last picture is of me keeping score for my brother's high school team.  He coached at Tintic.  I hope I'm not picking my nose.