LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
While most Langley Airmen go home at the end of the day, one Airman stays behind to teach children about basketball and life.
Airman 1st Class Whitney Woodward, 71st Fighter Squadron aviation resource management, was asked by Airman 1st Class Joseph Hicks, 1st Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment, to assist him in coaching his basketball team of eight to ten-year-old children at the youth center league. The league is held every year between Langley, Fort Monroe and Fort Eustis and is made up of four to five teams.
"When looking for an assistant coach, its best to find someone with prior experience at playing the game," said Airman Hicks. "Airman Woodward came to mind because she always showed a major interest in basketball, and I also remembered her telling me she had played on her high school team."
Airman Woodward has been playing basketball since she was eight years old. She has worked with kids before but never had the opportunity to coach.
"I'm only 21 so I'm still a big kid at heart," said Airman Woodward. "The kids are great to work with and it's amazing to see how quick they learn."
Throughout the season, Airman Woodward not only had fun working with the children, but also became friends with their parents. Their parents were really involved and supportive which helped me out a lot, she said.
Airman Woodward gave the children extra one-on-one training, which made each individual feel more valuable to the team and become better at the sport. She feels that a coach can be a positive influence by teaching them discipline and teamwork at a young age, she said.
"She was more proactive than my other assistant when it came to anything pertaining to the team, including parents, other coaches and photographers," said Airman Hicks. "She was an outstanding and professional assistant coach."
Not only did Airman Woodward teach the children to have fun whenever they played basketball, she also taught them valuable life lessons such as having heart, never giving up and that winning isn't everything.
"Being a mentor to a child was a rewarding experience," Airman Woodward said. "It taught me to be a leader, which is an attribute I can take with me throughout my Air Force career."