There is a tug on each of us -- the tug of family and of our jobs. For high school coaches, add the demands of coaching a sport, which is not a few-month-long endeavor anymore. There is off-season conditioning, fall and spring leagues and myriad other small things that all add up.

Several spring sport coaches have recently announced that they are stepping down.

"If you want to have a successful program, you have to put in the time. Time outside of practice. Time on weekends. I can't give what needs to be done and have a small child at the same time," Centennial girls lacrosse coach Katie Clark told sports editor Carol Gralia.

Clark, the Eagles' coach since 2000, has an infant son, Kellan. He doesn't turn 1 until the end of the summer. "The priorities in my life have changed. I don't see him enough. ... Sad as I am to leave, I know it is for the right reason," said Clark who guided the Eagles to a regional championship and spot in the state semifinals this year.

Mike Harrison, Wilde Lake girls lacrosse coach, is also stepping down because of time and family commitments. One of Harrison's daughters is already at Wilde Lake, the other is a rising eighth grader. Both play sports and he wants to watch them. Coaching lacrosse and being the offensive coordinator for the football team cuts into the luxury of free time.

"Life is getting so hectic. It is extremely difficult in this day and age to coach two varsity sports. The time commitment has increased," he said. Either as an assistant or head coach, Harrison has been involved with the Wildecats' girls lacrosse program for 11 years.

At River Hill, baseball coach Mike Krouse has decided to spend more time with his wife and baby daughter. Baseball games started at 4:30 p.m. this season, as opposed to 4 p.m. previously, and that extra half hour meant that Krouse's daughter was already asleep by the time he got home on game days.

"It's best for me to go home and be with my family," said Krouse, who added that he would like to return to coaching in some capacity five or six years from now.

Howard baseball coaches Rich Jenkins and Russ Bryant also retired at the end of the spring season. Each has been with the Lions for more than 20 years. Former head coach Jenkins will continue to teach physical education at Howard. Bryant, a math teacher at Howard, has been the Lions pitching coach. Between junior varsity and varsity they won five county titles with Howard and had their numbers retired in May.

Jenkins told sports reporter Andrew Conrad at this year's state championship baseball game that he felt it was time to step aside and give someone else a chance to coach. That person, Jay Morraye, will be wise to use Jenkins and Bryant as coaching role models.

Columbia Kids Triathlon Camp is July 13

The inaugural Columbia Kids Triathlon Camp will be held July 13 from 8 a.m.-noon at the Clemens Crossing pool. Two weeks later, July 27, the first Tri-Columbia TriKids Triathlon will be held, also starting at 8 at Clemens Crossing. The camp is for ages 7-13; the triathlon for ages 7-14.

Both are presented by the Columbia Association, the Columbia Triathlon Association and TriUSCoaching. A parent must attend with a child who needs to be able to swim, bike and run. E-mail jcarbary@hotmail.com

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