The Washington Post Sports recently released an article about a prep school rugby coach named Tal Bayer who did an unbelievable job building a rugby program from the ground up in the Washington D.C. area. The story of the Perry Street Prep School rugby team is something you might find in a hollywood movie. Tal Bayer founded the program 14 years ago and he announced that he will not be coming back next season. He has helped out inner city kids for so many years by establishing a place where kids can open up and enjoy the sport of rugby. “To his players, Bayer has been far more than a coach. He has been a guiding force in their lives, the father figure so many didn’t have.” The program served as an outlet for many kids who needed something to hold on to. It enabled them to travel the country, to learn teamwork and to be apart of a family. More importantly, the program kept the kids off the streets, helped them cope with poverty and kept them on track with their academics. Some of the players on the team have gone on to playing rugby in college.
Tal Bayer is having trouble telling his players that he won’t be coming back. He said, “There are moments in this office where it’s a lump in my throat. Kids are talking about next year. I want to tell them, but it’s not the right time. I don’t want kids to go, ‘Screw it, if he’s leaving, I’m done. I’m not coming back to school next year.” Bayer said his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 and it has made him rethink his priorities. He feels he needs to spend more time with his family and his kids.
Sports stories like this are something people should take notice of because they are impactful and real. Tal Bayer as a coach has instilled hope into a lot of kids who have struggled in their lives. He has given them a sense of pride and that should be recognized and applauded.
via Barry Oberholzer http://barryoberholzer.org/a-coaches-impact-on-a-rugby-program/
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