DATE: Wednesday, September 24, 1997         TAG: 9709240626

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER i

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   45 lines

THEY WHO SIT AND WATCH THEIR KIDS ALSO SWEAT FOR THE COALTERS, LIFE CAN SOMETIMES BE TOUGHER ON THE SIDELINES.

For Norfolk Academy soccer goalie Andy Coalter, it was a rough afternoon. Despite a magnificent effort in the cage, he gave up a pair of goals in a 2-1 loss to Cape Henry.

For parents Kathleen and Earnie Coalter, it was even tougher.

Daughter Courtney had just taken part in the Bulldogs' 6-0 field hockey victory over St. Gertrude's. But their son's team lost.

Kathleen and Earnie Coalter were torn between their daughter's high and their son's low. Sometimes they have it harder than their kids.

While the children have to play the game, the parents have to watch - useless on the sidelines, unable to do anything about the outcome as their children deal with the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat.

``We agonize over it,'' said mom, a former high school and college cheerleader.

Amazingly quiet, but still the more animated of the two, Kathleen Coalter is the one who will quickly bring her son out of his temporary funk.

``We'll try to turn it around and Kathleen will,'' said dad, a dentist and former football player. ``We'll try to make it something positive and point out how well he played.''

But it's not always that easy.

``You almost find yourself living through your kid's situations,'' Earnie Coalter said. ``It's tough to watch.''

Kathleen Coalter sometimes doesn't, often choosing to put her hands over her face when things get tense.

But even after the winning goal is scored, mom shows she has some of the cheerleader left in her.

``Oh, no,'' she mumbles, hands on her head, before shouting to her son. ``Don't worry Andy. It's OK Andy. Keep playing. Don't worry.'' ILLUSTRATION: Huy Nguyen Photos

Andy Coalter will hear about effort, not results following Tuesday's

loss.``We'll try to make it something positive and point out how

well he played,'' Ernie Coalter said.

For Kathleen Coalter, there are times when the pressure of watching

her children compete is too tough to watch.

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