• Not just assistants • Steroids anyone? • Henriques helps out • Another great challenge Not just assistants By Duane Shimogawa Jr. – The Garden Island When you’re a head coach, there’s nothing better than surrounding yourself with a bunch
• Not just assistants
• Steroids anyone?
• Henriques helps out
• Another great challenge
Not just assistants
By Duane Shimogawa Jr. – The Garden Island
When you’re a head coach, there’s nothing better than surrounding yourself with a bunch of hard-working, talented, and unselfish assistants.
Sure, everything goes through the head guy, but the individuals who tirelessly put lots of time and effort into their respective areas, deserve much of the credit.
In any business, management has to rely heavily on its workers, to perform at high levels so the company can flourish.
The responsibility level goes up as you go up the chain of command, but the caliber of work stays the same.
That is why assistant coaches are very important to any system. Plus, if you surround yourself with great people, then it only rubs off and turns into a great advantage.
Seasoned assistant coaches also turn into great head coaches. It goes without saying that one must pay their dues before taking over the reins of a team.
A head coach has a tough job, but I think that without good assistants, a head coach will not fare well, even if his/her players are extremely talented.
Steroids anyone?
It’s all over the news, with Baltimore Orioles player Rafael Palmeiro getting busted for taking a banned substance, Mark McGwire and his plead the fifth reply, and of course, Jose Canseco’s book that started all the fuss. But is it happening here on Kaua‘i? Are our high school student-athletes juicing it up?
Although it’s a hot topic elsewhere, it doesn’t seem to spark any “real” interest here on the island.
There hasn’t been any suspicious things happening that would make anyone even think that our athletes are compromising their own bodies, just for a quick fix.
It’s actually good to have the topic in the limelight because it brings to life the consequences of steroids and it’s lifelong effects on people.
Performance enhancing drugs has no good qualities and if an athlete thinks that they will benefit from the substance, then they should take a second look at individuals who have taken steroids and are now statistics.
Henriques helps out
He’s that familiar smiling face with the camera at almost every KIF sporting event, with a tucked in shirt and a good eye for catching the emotions of our athletes. Manny Henriques is a valuable asset to many of our high school sports teams on the island.
Plus most of what he does is for the love of photography and sports. Most of last year’s KIF all-star photos came via Henriques and he’s also going to be helping out again this year for the all-star selection shots.
He’s even so dedicated that he brings his child to the games. And not in a stroller, but right next to him on a harness.
So as the KIF sports season comes around, look for Henriques or in fact, he might catch you looking at him for a photo op.
Another great challenge
Kaua‘i High School varsity girls’ head coach Rich Roberts did another outstanding job with the Fourth Annual Kaua‘i Challenge Volleyball Tournament.
It was another competitive scrap until the end. It was also great to see the fellowship of some of the volleyball players and teams. This year, four teams from the mainland participated in the challenge, along with numerous outer island schools.
Roberts also noted that there are more teams on the way, who have secured or want to get into the Kaua‘i Challenge Volleyball Tournament, which is becoming a can’t miss occasion for volleyball teams and fans as well.
