As a coach, I hope this question inspires you to think and grow.  Part of our lessons to our student athletes this season is to give our kids examples of people of integrity whom they can model.  Some of these people are international heroes, and some are local. I have chosen them to give our kids hope and a vision what they are capable of.  What each of these men have in common is each will be mad that I have labeled them as heroes. Too bad, as this is my article.

• GARY HAUGEN

Gary is a local man from Sacramento and a Rio Americano graduate (he played linebacker for Harvard and got his law degree) who risks his life freeing kids from being sex slaves in 3rd world countries around the world.  He is a man who, despite his world travels, came to speak to our kids at a Playmakers dinner, inspiring them to achieve great things in their life.  I am proud and blessed to call him my friend

• DAVID HUMM

David still holds records as a quarterback and All American at the University of Nebraska.  That is the least of what David Humm is all about.  You can read about David by reading an article written by Donna Miesbach called But Life Is Good… Just go to her web site, www.donnamiesbach.com, and click on the Gleanings link. The article is in the archives and is more than worth the read.

• LORENZO WALSH

Lorenzo is a youth football coach in Oak Park, California.  Lorenzo and his wife, Dee Dee, have created a youth football program in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Sacramento.  They have provided mentoring, food, and shelter for forgotten kids who depend on them for the basics of survival.

• JOE BODNER

Joe left a successful career in finance to teach 2nd grade to kids in one of the toughest and poorest areas in Sacramento.  Joe has the heart of a giant who works daily with kids who have little to nothing.  Joe, like all the men I have mentioned, are champions for lost kids and underdogs.  Our books, Raising Your Teenage Athlete, A Playbook for Moms, and Coaching for a Bigger Win, A Playbook for Coaches, speaks of men like these, and many more.

WE NEED REAL HEROES

In our technological age today, our kids are bombarded with images and stories like:

• Will Michael Vick be reinstated
• Will T.O. be happy in Dallas
• Did Manny “tank it” in Boston to get traded
• How many bodyguards will keep “Pacman” out of jail

I just want to tell our kids about men like the ones I have mentioned to you.  These are men who can be counted on to build youth to lead and serve.  Send me some information on REAL HEROES that you know, and we will use them as examples throughout the year and at our football camps this summer.

Our books, Raising Your Teenage Athlete, A Playbook for Moms, and Coaching for the Bigger Win, A Playbook for Coaches, explain in detail how you can transform your program into one of lasting value.

What can you teach your kids when you have been beaten soundly in the last part of your season?  As coaches, we know that the last part of the season sets the tone for next year, particularly for a fledgling program.  Keeping the kids’ hearts and heads late in the season can be challenging, but here is what we have done.

1. RE-ESTABLISH THE GOALS

We, as a staff, set goals with the kids that could be achieved, which include:

• No unsportsmanlike penalties
• No walking on the field at any time
• No players going down due to injury
• Practicing hard
• Players getting an opportunity to verbalize at practice where they feel they are improving as a team

2.   FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE

• We took 8 seniors to an American River College game where they saw how a team prepares at that level
• The seniors came back and told the team how they need to prepare next season
• This exercise keeps the outgoing seniors “motivated” to lead and give their best effort

3.  BECOMING FAMILY

• Our seniors get the opportunity to establish a “tradition” that stays with us next season
• As Thanksgiving approaches, we have made arrangements for over 10 kids and families to come to a coach’s home for a meal
• We are doing more activities on weekends and holidays, keeping us connected as a “Family”

The record indicates that we, as a new staff, went 2-8 this year and broke a 3-year losing streak, but the record is far greater than that. EVERY coach has the same opportunity to have similar success.  Here is our true record:

• TEAM GPA 2.85
• EVERY PLAYER PLAYING IN EACH GAME
• STUDENT ATHLETES SERVING IN 5 COMMUNITY SERVING ACTIVITIES
• STUDENT ATHLETES TUTORING ONE ANOTHER
• STUDENT ATHLETES MENTORING MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS
• STUDENT ATHLETES CLEANING THE LUNCH AREA

For our first season, we know that we were successful in laying the foundation for great things to come.  We have created an excitement on campus, with the alumni, in our local Rotary, and our middle school where our next group of kids will come from.  We define that as SUCCESS.

Our books, Raising Your Teenage Athlete, A Playbook for Moms, and Coaching for the Bigger Win, A Playbook for Coaches, explain in detail how you can transform your program into one of lasting value.

• TEACHERS JOINING THE TEAM

Our teachers believe that we, as coaches, will not compromise our character and continue to put academics above wins.  The wins will come in  time but the foundation of our football family cannot be jeopardized.

• PARENTS PARTNERING WITH COACHES

Our coaching staff has assisted single parents in creating structure that makes grades, conduct and responsibility more consistent at home as well as on the field.

• ATHLETES TUTORING ATHLETES

Our Playmaker model creates responsibility between the student tutor and the student athlete.  Our student athletes are assisting each other and strengthening the bond of the football family through academics.

We have not yet achieved our goals of a no student athlete ineligible and a team GPA of 3.0.  Since academic excellence is a priory within in our program, we will achieve academic success soon.  We will achieve it because we have a plan and strategy to get there.

My book Playmakers for Coaches and Playmakers for Moms outlines specific details in achieving academic success within your program.  We speak of these stratagies at our COACHING FOR CHARACTER CLINICS across the country to both youth organizations as well as high schools.

• ALL PLAYERS PLAYING IN EACH GAME
• CODE OF CONDUCT CONTRACT WITH PLAYERS AND PARENTS
• ATHLETES PUTTING OTHERS ABOVE SELF
• FOLLOWING OUR MANTRA “DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING”

These pricniples, when impliminted by coaches who beiieve that these guidlines are non negotiable begin to change the “win at all cost” attitude that is prevelent in interscholastic athletics today.

Our football team was beaten 52-0 this weekend and as a head coach that is tough to watch. Although we have won 2 more games this season than the previous 2+ years, we as football coaches in our first year with the program are looking for more than “moral victories.” Here is what we judged our game on this weekend and as youth and high school coaches, I hope these are some of the things you are looking for in your evaluation of your program.

• No personal fouls or unsportsmanship penalties.
• No helmets thrown on the sidelines
• All players running and off the field the entire game
• Players encouraging others
• No parent complaints
• A very pleased administration

These are things that you as a coach can influence. As well, here are some points to look for with your coaches to insure that you are putting character and leadership first in developing your kids to their fullest potential.

· Coaches continuing to coach and teach the entire game

· No berating of kids or yelling

· Making sure that all your players play regardless of the score

· Post game comments that let the kids know you are still proud of them

Let me assure you that our coaching staff is as competitive as any but as we are building a program from the ground up, we must look for improvement in the areas that will not show up on the scoreboard, yet! The last sign of progress is when the head official comes to me right after the game and say’s “coach your kids and entire program showed class today and there is tremendous improvement in what I’ve seen the last 3 years.

Our opponent was gracious in not embarrassing our team and he commented to me and our entire staff that we are making great progress. These are the character building comments that you need to hear when you have taken on the challenge of building a team and mentoring kids.

My book for coaches as well as parents addresses these topics in more detail and you can look to our web site to join our team of character based coaches and players.

This summer we had over 700 kids and 70 coaches involved in camps and coaching for character clinics and the results are beginning to unfold.  This weekend we had two high school teams serving together on a 4 hour work project cleaning and painting with the coaches leading the way.

That is what being a Playmaker is all about.

Coaches, I sincerely hope that you understand the bigger picture and get your kids into the community serving this fall.  As I watched a high school game last week on ESPN, I was stuck by two of the states best teams, (Mater Dei and Carson) both have their kids serving in the community.  Make a difference and lead the way.

Two things I want to put on your radar screen as we plan for next spring and summer as we are growing and want to have San Marcos partnering with Playmakers.

• PLAYMAKERS COACHES/CAPTAINS LEADERSHIP CLINIC

This spring, we will be offering a leadership/coaching clinic featuring the best speakers on the subjects of character as well as practical breakouts for coaches as well as players.  This clinic will be a first of its kind that unifies teams STATEWIDE on character and leadership.

• PLAYMAKERS FOR PARENTS PLAYBOOK

The first of its kind “Parent Handbook” is being published offering suggestions to parents of do’s and Dont’s both on the field as well as off.

Two youth organizations are already including this playbook to ALL of their parents next season at the team’s sign-ups. This fun to read publication offers useful suggestions for parents on a variety of subjects, from interaction with coaches to improving grades and conduct.

This publication is getting “thumbs up” ratings.  Here is a review:

“In my 30 + years of coaching and being an educator and coach at the college and high school level, I cannot believe something like this book had not been written, it is simple and direct and a must for parents and coaches”- Rick Plumbtree

I hope to hear from you on serving in the community as well as your success stories.  I hope to see many comments and success stories in the comment section below.

Playmakers is making a difference!
Coach Roz

Character Based Coaching

Playmakers.org

Coaching Youth Sports

THIS SUMMER, PLAYMAKERS served over 700 kids and 100 coaches throughout the State with much success.

• Our message that coaches can influence kids to serve and lead in the community is getting wind in its sail.

• Youth coaches as well as high school coaches have attended our Playmaker coaching clinics before sending their teams to our camps.

• The message at these clinics is clear, “CHARACTER BASED COACHING” is a must, and your players should be serving in the community.

High school coaches are responding to the message. DOUG COSBIE (FORMER DALLAS COWBOY, (see Bee article) as well as 8 other high school coaches have committed to having their teams serve in the community when called.

Many youth teams including Lorenzo Walsh, who heads up the Oak Park Jr. Falcons has already had his inner city kids serving in a variety of projects.

Playmakers is a unique MENTORING ORGANIZATION made up of coaches from a variety of coaches statewide who commit to mentoring kids year round.

This mentoring model is unique in several ways as it teaches high school Playmakers how to mentor younger middle school and elementary school kids. Playmakers teaches mentoring and serving and character based coaching all through football and other serving activities.

“CHARACTER is doing the right thing when no one is watching”

Coach Roz