Terri Rodriguez-Hong

Dear Coach, I came to practice early. Not because anyone asked me to. Because I wanted to get better. While others were talking, I was getting my work in. When practice ended, I helped clean the field. After most people had left, I stayed behind to finish putting things away. No one handed me a trophy. No one announced my name. No one applauded. And that’s okay. Because I wasn’t doing those things to be noticed. I was doing them because that’s the standard I’ve set for myself. One lesson...

Dear Coach, It’s game day. The pre-game reps are done. The preparation is complete. The excitement starts building long before the first whistle, first pitch, or first serve. This is why we play. As athletes, we know our job. Bring energy. Support our teammates. Compete. Stay ready. I’ve learned that being a great teammate isn’t just about what happens when I’m playing. It’s about how I show up when things aren’t going my way. It’s about helping others stay positive, encouraging teammates,...

Dear Coach: Your Words Matter Dear Coach, You may think you’ve gotten into my head. You may think that by constantly criticizing my mistakes, pointing out every flaw, or nitpicking every detail of my game, you’ll somehow make me better. Maybe that’s your intention. Maybe it isn’t. But here’s what I want you to understand. I’m learning. That’s what athletes do. We learn. We make mistakes. We adjust. We grow. We put our best foot forward every single day and try again. What surprises me isn’t...