• Good coaching translates to victories! Good coaching translates to victories! By Duane Shimogawa Jr. – The Garden Island With a 26-0 win already under their belts, Kaua‘i High School head softball coach Jacque Inouye and her staff approached the
• Good coaching translates to victories!
Good coaching translates to victories!
By Duane Shimogawa Jr. – The Garden Island
With a 26-0 win already under their belts, Kaua‘i High School head softball coach Jacque Inouye and her staff approached the second game of the double header against Kapa‘a with the right things in mind.
For one, Inouye knew that if she kept her first teamers in the game, it would’ve been another ugly score, mirroring a football game, instead of a softball game.
However, not only was it a good move, it also gave inexperienced players like Shana Tafuti, Jordan Ramboyan, Krystal Ijima, Brittany Brackenridge, and Dusty Farias some crucial playing time.
But the luxury of having such talented players also allowed Inouye to opt for the bench. Not every team is blessed with such talent like A.J. Silva, Ashley Nonaka, Sheri Gebauer, Ulu Kelekoma, Sam Koga, and Randi Oketani.
To squelch any doubt though, that having good players means a championship run is in the cards, is a gross misunderstanding.
It’s one thing to have the talent and take it to the next level, as Kaua‘i boys volleyball coach Shawn Doo has done with his team, who was loaded with talent and capped off a great year with a fifth-place showing in the state.
The same can be said for the old Waimea football teams, who didn’t have as much talent as the two other schools, but for some reason, (coaching) they always ended up at the top of the mountain.
I’ll tell you this too and you’ll probably agree with this statement: You’ll always know you’re in the presence of a good coach, when his/her players have the utmost respect for them.
You can tell just by watching a game that the players do or don’t respect their coaches.
Discipline is often overrated in the coaching world. There are coaches who instead of laying down the line, try to be a friend to their players.
Sometimes that works, but more often than not, it will backfire and the result will be terrifying for everyone associated with the game.
Inouye and her crew, which includes thirdbase coach Darrell Borrero and company, chose the right path, when they could’ve easily trounced the Warrriors in game two.
But if they did, it wouldn’t have proven anything other than the inevitable. They do have a better squad than Kapa‘a and remember that it counts the same in the record books, if you win 1-0 or 26-0.
When the game was getting tight, towards the latter part of the contest, Inouye brought in her ace, Gebauer, who put the nails in the coffin.
Encouraging players in the right way and keeping the game fun, but focused is another thing that’s often overlooked by coaches.
Inouye and Borrero sure know how to motivate and regulate. You can see the players respond to them and if something goes wrong, the same mistake is often not made during the second time around.
This victory will count more than just two wins for the Red Raiders, instead Inouye and company have set a standard for sportsmanship throughout the KIF and if you weren’t there to witness it, then you still have the entire second round to see it and even a few first round games too!
Duane Shimogawa Jr., Sports Editor can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) and kauaisports@pulitzer.net
