One of the joys of my life has been coaching my boys in tackle football over the past eight years. My oldest son Tyler, who I had the privilege of coaching for 4 years, is now playing high school football. My middle boy Michael, I coached for 2 years, is playing for his middle school. This is my second year coaching, Caleb, (we call him Caleb the Great) my nine year old.
We have 26 kids on the roster this year, most of whom have never played organized tackle football. I really see it as an opportunity to father, maybe even help initiate in some way, for a short time, these 26 young men. We talk a lot about integrity on and off the field. We talk about what it means to speak encouragement, help a guy up you just smashed into the ground. We spend a lot of time talking about what it means to be part of something that is bigger then just you, running, screaming and rolling around on the dirt and turf. Be a kid, be a man!
It is so much fun to see one of them finally “Switch On”! You show them how to play, you teach them if they do it right they won’t get hurt. At first they shy away from being hit, they are not sure they really like this game, and then, all of the sudden; they believe you and start playing the game of football. They play with aggression, fire and integrity, they start having fun being alive! They play with heart.
My middle boy has been voted, by his teammates, the most inspirational and the most valuable player the past two years. You feel like all those practices and cold fall mornings have paid off when you walk down the hall of your kid’s schools and young men you coached over the years yell out, “Hey Coach Black”.
They don’t just and tell you about their football career, they tell you all about their LIFE!
Find a way to “Switch on” a young person today, one word of encouragement can change their world, and probably yours!
