Due to the current coronavirus pandemic with all sports being shut down, there are a lot of coaches who had their chance to coach their senior athletes one last time cut short. ENC Sports Review would like to highlight some of these coaches since their season has hanged so dramatically. Today, we will highlight Rocky Mount Academy Assistant Softball Coach Betsy Braswell Sauls. We thank Betsy for taking the time to sit down with ENC Sports Review and answer these questions for us. As far as we know, this is the only father-daughter coach combination in the Twin Counties area. We had fun learning more about her and we hope you will too.
How long have you been coaching?
I have been coaching for 3 years.
What sports have you coached?
I coach Middle School Basketball, Junior Varsity/Varsity
softball, and Middle School /Junior Varsity/ Varsity Volleyball.
Out of all the sports you have coached, which one do you enjoy
the most?
I definitely enjoy softball a lot. I have played the game since I was 5 years old, played all throughout elementary school, middle school, high school and through college so I obviously love the game. However, I have to be honest here and say that I love my middle school basketball team. We have the MOST fun at practice and they are still at that age where they pay attention and are listening and receptive.
Has an athlete impacted you in an important way or taught you something that has helped shape you as a coach?
I think my first year coaching was probably the most challenging year for me because I honestly just had no clue how to coach. I came into a volleyball program that I didn’t know much about and I didn’t know the kids and that was challenging. I wont say it was a specific kid but rather that entire team of my first year that helped shape me as a coach. They helped me see how you can and cant talk to kids, motivate kids, get them to buy into your coaching style.
What is your favorite memory of coaching and what is your least favorite?
My favorite memory was 2 softball seasons ago when we beat Fayetteville Christian Academy to take second place in the 2A State Tournament. They are a great team and had beaten us earlier in the season, but we took advantage of a rainy day and executed a bunt at the right time to take the lead. The game ended up being suspended so we had to come back to play it the next day and those kids gave it everything they had to beat them.
My least favorite memory would be losing the 16 inning game on our home field to Freedom Christian last season in the state playoffs. Those kids gave it everything they had, especially Emily Winstead for 16 innings straight and lost 3-0.
If you could change one thing in your coaching career, what would it be and why?
I would definitely change the way this season ended. We had big things planned. The girls had bought in, they were ready! We had been working since November for a state championship title and I have no doubts in my mind we would have gotten it. I was pretty close with both seniors this year and I just really hate it for them. My senior day game in college got rained out and we had no time to make it up before the conference tournament started. I knew how I felt that day not being able to play on my field one last time before it was all over for me so I felt like I really understood how bummed they were.
Who is someone you look up to and why?
For anyone that doesn’t know my dad and I coach the softball team at RMA together and have for the last 3 years. I without a doubt look up to him when it comes to coaching. He puts his heart and soul into it. I think what I admire the most is the things he does when no one is looking and especially when no one is going to give him credit for it. Working on the field, cutting the grass, buying supplies for the team out of his own money, studying the game, coaches conferences, checking in with the kids on their grades and school work – he goes above and beyond to not just be a coach to these kids but a role model in their life. He doesn’t get HALF the credit for what he deserves. He takes every set back and pushes forward. As coaches, we are NEVER going to be liked by every parent or every player and he’s taught me that its honestly okay. Because the ones that do like you, that do appreciate what you do for them, that do respect you and your coaching style, FAR outweigh the ones that don’t.
If you could go back 5 years and tell yourself something that you know now, what would it be?
Enjoy every single second, especially those that are going to play college ball. Enjoy every win, every loss. Enjoy every day at practice, every lift, every conditioning day, every bus ride, every overnight stay. Soak up the time with your teammates because it all goes by so fast. Don’t leave the game wishing you would have given more, wishing you could have done better or work harder. Leave it all out there every single day and maybe when you’re 27 and coaching at a high school you wont look back and wish you could do it all over again.
If someone wants to follow in your footsteps, what advice would you give them?
Do the work now. Do the summer conditioning programs college coaches give out. Hire a personal trainer, get in the gym, get in killer shape and work your butt off every single day for that starting spot. When you hear your name as a freshman over the loud speaker as the starting catcher, batting 4th in the lineup in your very first college game it will ALL be worth it.
After the Coronoavirus pandemic is over, what is the first thing you are looking forward to that you can’t do now?
Go to a Mexican restaurant!
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