Coaching While Pregnant
David Vick — March 21, 2024
Kara Concheck is used to doing what most others will not.
She played lacrosse at the Division One level, competed as a CrossFit athlete and took over the Winthrop program just two weeks before the 2022 season began.
It should be no surprise then that she is coaching with her due date only seven days away. Yes, you read that right. She is expecting her first child on March 28.
“It’s all about what we tell ourselves,” Kara said on how she has persevered during the 2024 season.
Of course, it has come with challenges.
Lateral movement has become difficult for the six-foot head coach. Normally very involved in practice with a hands-on approach, she has been forced to take more of a backseat.
Having to go about things differently and at a slower pace has allowed Kara to take a step back, impacting her viewpoint as a person and coach.
“I don’t need to be full throttle, full go 24/7,” she said on what she has learned.
When it comes to interacting with players, Kara has noticed herself displaying more empathy and patience. She has also stressed with them the importance of balance, knowing life is not all about lacrosse.
“I love the game of lacrosse, but I’m also building a family outside of my lacrosse family, and that is incredibly important.”
Kara initially found out during the summer that she was pregnant. However, she waited to share the news with her team, looking for the right moment.
That moment came after she had her anatomy scan and found out that “Baby Bean,” a nickname she and her husband landed on, was completely healthy.
When Kara showed the team her sonogram image, the reactions were plentiful, including tears of happiness and extreme excitement. It’s a moment Kara says she will never forget.
The fun experience of sharing such a special time in her life with the players she describes as her “why and purpose” has only continued since that announcement.
“The other day, they were like, ‘can we touch your stomach?’” Kara said with a laugh when talking about her players.
Earlier in the pregnancy, Winthrop Assistant Coach Hannah Potter organized a book-themed baby shower for the team to attend. All the players wrote a message inside the front cover of a storybook for Baby Bean to read later in life.
“It was so, so special,” Kara said.
Players also wore blue or pink based on if they thought Kara was going to have a boy or girl. However, they were not told the sex of the baby.
Why not? Kara and her husband, Johnny, do not know. And that is on purpose.
“There are just not many surprises in life quite like this one,” she said.
Together, the soon-to-be parents made the decision to find out when the birth happens. Although, they did have their doctor write it down on a sheet of paper… twice. Nonetheless, the power of curiosity did not win out.
“It’s going to be the coolest experience to share the birth of our baby in the moment and just find out,” Kara said.
Kara will miss games and a significant amount of time after giving birth. However, she will not be too far away. At her Rock Hill home, she can see Winthrop’s field by looking out a window.
While she may not be allowed on the sideline until cleared by a doctor, she will attend home games.
“If I can’t be on the sideline, I’m going to be in the stands,” she said with a smile.
With her will be the newest member of two families: her own and Winthrop Women’s Lacrosse. Little does Baby Bean know how lucky he or she will be.
A Winthrop Lacrosse onesie awaits. So does a small wooden lacrosse stick that Kara’s former teammate at Fresno State, Margaret Wolford, sent as a gift.
As March 28 approaches, all signs point to a healthy Baby Bean. Safe to say, Kara and Johnny are looking forward to this next chapter in life.
“There’s no more valuable time in life than welcoming our firstborn into the world,” she said.