To the Editor: 

I would like to extend my deepest and most sincere thanks to the entire Norfolk community. Ten years ago, with a four-year-old ready to start rec sports, I began my coaching journey. Now, roughly 26 teams later, it is time to move on.

I always knew that I wanted to coach sports once I had children. My father had coached me and taught me about instilling a sense of compassion, drive and determination…but most of all, good sportsmanship and having fun. Don’t get me wrong, I love winning. A lot. But teaching kids how to embrace the fun while competing, showing compassion for teammates and opposing players and improving along the way is always what was most important to me. Teams that I have coached have gone undefeated and won championships, while others never won a game. But the message to those kids was always the same. Enjoy your time playing. For many kids, rec sports are the only time in their lives that they will compete on a court or field. My job is to make sure that time meant something positive.

This baseball season was my last official season coaching Norfolk rec sports. I’m sure I will help out with future teams (don’t worry, Belle, I didn’t forget about our deal), but it’s time to move along and let a new generation of coaches steer the ship. A huge thank you to the people that have helped me along my way (sorry if I leave anyone out): Matt & Jess Bannerman, Chris Gomez, Marc & Kim Crone, Gordon Carrigan, Josh DeCerbo, Roger Johnson, Hunter Brown and, of course, Kailyn Nadeau. But most of all I would like to thank the parents of the Norfolk (and sometimes Colebrook) children. You have trusted me to be a small part of your children’s development and I am forever grateful. Hopefully they all look back on their time playing rec sports with positive memories. I can already see a few future coaches in the mix (I’m looking at you, Ayden), so Norfolk will be in good hands for years to come.

Again, thank you to the community for trusting in me, and keeping my nights and weekends full for the last 10 years! 

Ben Nadeau