During spring of my older son’s second grade year in school we signed him up to play tackle football that fall. We did not give it much thought. My son was a big boy who seemed to like sports, and football just seemed to be what kids in our small town did when they reached a certain age. My wife and I had little experience with the sport. Neither of her brothers played football. I played for two winless teams in middle school and high school while experiencing far greater success in baseball and basketball. In college I played for some really fun flag football teams and covered the Badger football team as a reporter, but did not play tackle.
In what seems like the blink of an eye, many years have passed, and as I write this football has become arguably the centerpiece of our family’s life. Our older son just concluded his freshman season as a member of our high school’s first undefeated state championship team. It was an incredible fall that no one in our community will soon forget. Our younger son has one year left to play in our youth program, and has experienced a variety of key roles for his teams over the past three years. My wife is our program’s secretary, photographer, graphic designer, apparel coordinator … you get the picture. In addition to serving as our local organization’s president, I am also president of our conference. These jobs encompass everything from equipment purchasing to scheduling, running meetings to marketing.
Both roles have been rewarding in their own way, and have afforded me the opportunity to meet a lot of great people. But nothing from the youth football experience has been as impactful as my time coaching.
On one hand there is the technical side of coaching: strategy, skill development, scouting, practice planning. Learning as much as possible about these things has become my hobby. Some guys hunt or work on cars -- I watch Glazier Clinic videos and read X&O Labs.
On the other is the personal side of coaching: building relationships with kids and their families, with your fellow coaches, with your opponents. Some of my most vivid memories of my boys’ childhoods have been celebrating their successes and consoling them after their setbacks. More than wins or losses, I will remember sixth graders getting teared up at their last practice or getting high fives from former players years later.
If you are lucky, football will provide you with a similarly rich experience.
Thank you for coaching, and good luck!
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Follow me on Twitter
Both roles have been rewarding in their own way, and have afforded me the opportunity to meet a lot of great people. But nothing from the youth football experience has been as impactful as my time coaching.
On one hand there is the technical side of coaching: strategy, skill development, scouting, practice planning. Learning as much as possible about these things has become my hobby. Some guys hunt or work on cars -- I watch Glazier Clinic videos and read X&O Labs.
On the other is the personal side of coaching: building relationships with kids and their families, with your fellow coaches, with your opponents. Some of my most vivid memories of my boys’ childhoods have been celebrating their successes and consoling them after their setbacks. More than wins or losses, I will remember sixth graders getting teared up at their last practice or getting high fives from former players years later.
If you are lucky, football will provide you with a similarly rich experience.
Thank you for coaching, and good luck!
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Follow me on Twitter