Teachers and coaches often play similar roles in the lives of their students and players, instilling values such as determination and perseverance. At Lynbrook, the intersection of these two professions is quite common, with multiple teachers educating students both on and off the court.

Jeff Bale, an Economics and Government teacher, is one such example.  Balancing his time on the court and in the classroom, Bale began coaching Lynbrook JV basketball in 2016 as a way to become closer and connect with more students. As a former basketball player, Bale understands the rapport between coaches and players, a relationship that inspired him to start coaching.

“I played basketball in high school and I think that one of my head coaches ended up being one of the more influential people in my life, since I loved the game,” said Bale. “Coaching is something that  brings me a lot of joy and it’s a very different way of relating to the students.”

The perspective of a player versus that of a coach is one that has taught Bale more about the sport and its complexity. When Bale played basketball, he was simply one of five on a team and fixated on the results of a game as opposed to the process or work that went into a match. Upon becoming a coach, however, Bale has been viewing sports games with a different perspective that emphasizes teamwork and gives everyone a chance to try their best on the court.

“When I played basketball, I had absolutely no idea how many rules the sport entailed,” said Bale, “Coming back to coach, it was a new learning curve that led to me understanding the game in a new perspective.”

Coaching a team of basketball players with different skill levels and varying personalities allows him to reflect on how he can communicate to a large group of students effectively. Each student’s contrasting outlook on how to win and work as a team sometimes poses a challenge since they all have differing thoughts about how to collaborate and trounce their opponents.

One of his players, sophomore Stephen Zhong, shares similar sentiments about how Mr. Bale has helped him and his teammates enjoy their time on the court while staying focused.

“As a coach, Mr. Bale cares both about the results and how we communicate as a team.” said Zhong. “Last year, it felt great to win the Willow Glen tournament because it felt like a testament of our hard work and how Mr. Bale coached us.”

Understanding and applying the art of communication is also crucial to both the classroom environment and the basketball court.

“People are very different, so not everybody will react to the same approaches in the same ways,” said Bale. “A lot of times, I’ll have to take different approaches with different students and players, since some may be motivated by failure while others may be motivated by success. Some people need more structure while others prefer more responsibility.”

Many of these challenges do not come off as a surprise to Bale, as he often faces similar situations as a teacher. As a coach, he teaches students about basketball rather than economic concepts; the goal of understanding one’s strengths and interests, however, are common between teaching and coaching.

“Participating in sports is as much about learning who you are as a person and the growth of your interaction and communication skills” said Bale. “On a personal level, the relationships I made as a player were so profound in my life.”

As one of his students, senior Christina Chen believes that Mr. Bale’s teaching style allows him to establish a friendly rapport between himself and the class, often resorting to humor to garner laughs and enthusiasm.

“Mr. Bale makes an effort to engage with his students by telling jokes and making us laugh a lot,” said Chen. “Even though he can be strict, he always makes sure that we’re having fun too.”

From the classroom to the basketball court, Bale teaches students his students and players of the importance of working hard and the idea that practice makes perfect. While brawns and brains are often pitted against each other, teacher coaches like Bale are able to train students to perform to their fullest potential in both aspects, ensuring their success as players and students.