It’s kind of inevitable; we all become our mothers and fathers. Suddenly you realize that they were usually right and you were just a brat who should have been listening to them all along. That's a scary moment, and it makes you think. But do you know what's even scarier than that? Turning into your coach.

This realization is multiplied when both of your parents (as in my case) double as your coaches. Now that I’m a coach, I'd like to thank every coach who has ever taken the time to work with me. I finally realize what a pain in the butt I must’ve been to coach all these years!

In my last post I discussed how this summer I have the honor and privilege of working as a coach at one of the most prestigious air rifle camps in the country. Becoming a coach has made me realize there are more frustrations to it than I thought there would be. That being said, I have— in just two weeks— come across campers (shooters) who land at different points along the spectrum of stubbornness. The “stubbornness spectrum,” as I like to call it, is how stubborn campers are when receiving and implementing advice from their coaches. The spectrum goes from the most resistant to the most eager to accept and incorporate new ideas and techniques into their shooting.

On the most stubborn end of the spectrum are shooters inclined to refute most advice, and on the opposite end shooters are eager and agreeable with their coaches. Figuring out how to coach shooters all along the spectrum takes patience. Patience is the key to coaching. In order to work with your shooters, you have to take the time to understand how their minds work— especially in an individual sport like shooting, there is no blanket way to coach everyone. But, even the most stubborn kids can be reached with a little time and patience. Another aspect of coaching is to fully understand your own techniques and limitations. I have finally learned and accepted my own stubbornness, and through my campers, I’ve begun an effort to find my own comfortable place on the stubborness spectrum and heed my own coaching advice. There’s a strong relationship between shooter and coach. I have a long journey ahead of me in learning to accept shooting advice (as well as offering it), but shooting is a lifelong sport, so I think I have some time.

Kelly Bogart is a Film, Television and Digital Media and Political Science double major at Texas Christian University. Bogart has seven years of shooting under her belt and currently competes on TCU’s Women’s Rifle Team. Bogart is traveling the country this summer as a coach teaching high school students across the country how to improve their shooting skills. In addition to coaching and competing, Bogart is a freelance blog writer working with The Mako Group.