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What will we do without football practice?
By Steve Meadows
Who would have thought that a surprise telephone call in July asking, "would you help me coach?" a group of 7-year-old boys could create such a powerful addiction for this football dad. Or that we would still be playing football in the middle of November, talking about playoffs and championships and next season.
It hasn't been anything like I expected.
Oh, after more than four months us coaches can really tie a mean double knot on those size 4 cleats. At one point, I actually thought about getting a T-shirt with "Cat Herder" emblazoned on the back. We could probably sell tickets for a chance to see 14 little boys lined up at the start of practice for jumping jacks and push-ups - in fact, I have video on my cell phone if anyone is interested.
But my greatest shock came in watching a group of little guys truly mature in the past four months.
We've all heard the clich/s about how football creates an atmosphere of discipline, that getting some of a kid's aggression out of his system helps him cope with other areas of life. No doubt athletics can be a powerful motivator and being a part of a team that depends upon you builds confidence.
After 48 practices, eight regular season games and two playoff games, I'm a true believer.
I only need to look at the boy who occupies a bedroom down the hall to see why. I'm nothing short of amazed by Seth's work ethic, dedication and grit. Championships and winning are great, but seeing my son develop strength under control is much more rewarding.
And I also saw with my own eyes the impact a simple game played on a grass field can have on little boys longing for limits and focus.
Our coaching staff for the Junior Tiny Mites - Travis Webb, Christian Lovell, Ashley Martin, Mike Jones and I - made a point to teach football and teamwork. We wanted those boys to be tough, relentless, to never quit. Webb's favorite word all season was "hit," and these pint-sized Wildcats did that in every practice and without fail in the games.
We also believed a big part of our job was showing little boys that grown men could love them, depend on them and offer discipline that would help start them on a journey to being good men. Witnessing something that powerful is worth more than a truckload of trophies, and I happen to think the last four months have made us better fathers, husbands and leaders.
So if you see four or five guys wandering around, muttering phrases like, "It's time to lay the wood, boys," or "Power 35 right on two, break," or "Block down on your man," please don't mind us. In fact, pity us. We're going through severe withdrawal and the only cure for our illness can be found on a practice field in July.
Steve Meadows is publisher of The Clayton Tribune.
It hasn't been anything like I expected.
Oh, after more than four months us coaches can really tie a mean double knot on those size 4 cleats. At one point, I actually thought about getting a T-shirt with "Cat Herder" emblazoned on the back. We could probably sell tickets for a chance to see 14 little boys lined up at the start of practice for jumping jacks and push-ups - in fact, I have video on my cell phone if anyone is interested.
But my greatest shock came in watching a group of little guys truly mature in the past four months.
We've all heard the clich/s about how football creates an atmosphere of discipline, that getting some of a kid's aggression out of his system helps him cope with other areas of life. No doubt athletics can be a powerful motivator and being a part of a team that depends upon you builds confidence.
After 48 practices, eight regular season games and two playoff games, I'm a true believer.
I only need to look at the boy who occupies a bedroom down the hall to see why. I'm nothing short of amazed by Seth's work ethic, dedication and grit. Championships and winning are great, but seeing my son develop strength under control is much more rewarding.
And I also saw with my own eyes the impact a simple game played on a grass field can have on little boys longing for limits and focus.
Our coaching staff for the Junior Tiny Mites - Travis Webb, Christian Lovell, Ashley Martin, Mike Jones and I - made a point to teach football and teamwork. We wanted those boys to be tough, relentless, to never quit. Webb's favorite word all season was "hit," and these pint-sized Wildcats did that in every practice and without fail in the games.
We also believed a big part of our job was showing little boys that grown men could love them, depend on them and offer discipline that would help start them on a journey to being good men. Witnessing something that powerful is worth more than a truckload of trophies, and I happen to think the last four months have made us better fathers, husbands and leaders.
So if you see four or five guys wandering around, muttering phrases like, "It's time to lay the wood, boys," or "Power 35 right on two, break," or "Block down on your man," please don't mind us. In fact, pity us. We're going through severe withdrawal and the only cure for our illness can be found on a practice field in July.
Steve Meadows is publisher of The Clayton Tribune.
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