In retirement I found that after 50 years of schedules, deadlines and a steady list of things to worry about, how I spent my free days was a challenge. I needed to be engaged in a project. When I was in high school, I was on the track team, have always been an avid fan and have always wanted to be a high school track coach. So, I had the idea of volunteering at a local school. The first school I contacted never got back to me. The second, Georgetown Day, where my daughter had attended, was at least open to a chat.

Turns out it was a great fit. The school coaches were interested in volunteer help, very experienced and open to helping me learn. The first year I just tried to find ways to help — timing races, setting hurdles, etc. Then I took classes online, watched 100s of hours of YouTube videos and became certified as a beginner coach. I began to learn the science behind coaching and how to talk to teenagers about training, competing and the concerns of high school. Watching the other coaches, I was so impressed by their expertise in teaching and inspiring young men and women to excel at lessons they would take beyond the track.

So, what do I do? I talk to students about the mean math teacher, about college choices, about why the coach didn't spend enough time with the prima donna, about sore legs and about showing up on time. And sometimes I get to explain the 90-degree angle of the knee bend when they are in the starting blocks, or the 40-degree launch angle of the shot put or the length of the stride when you sprint. In addition to trying to enhance performance, this school focuses on leadership development, life skills such as perseverance, and discipline, and promoting a positive mindset. Although track seems like an individual sport it is the team that matters. The great part of coaching is that it includes all of this.

And what do I get? I get challenges — learning new skills, learning how to teach the elements of the various track and field sports, and how to talk to a new generation. And I get rewards — such as at the end of last season when, I was taking a picture of several of the boys, and they said I should be in the picture with them. I was delighted. Sometimes I think I have 75 grandchildren and each one matters.

For years I have taken a long walk each morning. It was not always relaxing as I would worry about family, work, politics and the like. Now I worry about who should be on the relay team. It is a tremendous upgrade in the quality of my walk.

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