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I would like to recognize some outstanding behavior I saw on the soccer field during recreation league U12 play on a recent Saturday. While coaching my daughter Adeline’s team, one of our players was injured on the field. Before I could get to him the coach from the other team was helping him stand up and asking him questions. Coach Lee then told me to make a chair with our arms to get my player off the field quickly and comfortably and we lifted him off the field over to my area.

My player felt cared for by me and the coach from the other team, coach Lee. In those moments, lifting, talking to and further examining my player’s leg as both our teams continued to play, coach Lee taught my player and ever other soccer player watching (along with parents) that our kids’ well-being and safety is way more important than winning.

I am sure there are some male coaches reading this who think coach Lee should have gone back to coaching his team sooner, but I disagree. He was a great teacher for all of us about how to act in a situation like ours.

Thank you, coach Lee for being such a glowing contrast to the typical coach who would not even think of helping an opponent’s player, especially if it interfered with coaching his team. We need more role models like coach Lee who put caring for others above winning.

JUSTIN HENNEY

Sandpoint