Name: Lisa Udell

Sport: Middle school volleyball, Middle school basketball, and JV softball

Years coached at FHC: 22 years of volleyball and a total of 7 years altogether for softball

Why do you coach? What makes you want to come and work with a bunch of high schoolers?

“I think kids are very influential, and you [the coach] can give them good feedback on how they should act, and to make kids feel good about themselves. I think kids need people in their lives to make them feel good about who they are as people and that’s why I do it.”

What do you do to motivate your team?

“I try to use a lot of positive reinforcement, especially with girls because they need positives. I try to give the positive reinforcement in any way that I can, but obviously, you have to get on their case sometimes. Sometimes, motivating them with not having to run.”

What is your connection to the sport you coach? How did you get started coaching that sport?

“I started coaching varsity softball and that was too much time because my husband was coaching a varsity sport so we decided that I was going to coach middle school so he could continue coaching varsity. Then it would be less time away from the family. As my kids got older I decided to help the softball coach because the softball program needed help.”

How do you help your team deal with losses?

“I think losses are apart of the game, and if you don’t lose than you think that you’re invincible. Losing is not a bad thing, you look at things that you need to improve on and you look at things that are positive.”

What do you think that everyone should know about coaching?

“It’s about being with kids and interacting with kids. It’s not so much about the sport, it’s about making kids feel good about themselves. They remember the relationships you have with them.”

What is your favorite coaching memory?

“It’s not one specific memory, but it is people coming back and saying “Hi Mrs. Udella�� and having relationships with them. It’s them coming back and remembering me as a person and how I treated them.”