Unexpected Reward Organized youth sports are excellent programs that every town in every state should offer to young people of their community. These programs help children to find their interests, build confidence, and make friends. All of these things are important in the development of a child. These are a few of the reasons that interested me in volunteering my services as an assistant coach of a Pop Warner football team, The Plymouth Vikings. I coached children ages nine to eleven. I would help them with the fundamentals of football such as the proper way to hold the football when you run, the difference of pass blocking and run blocking, and how to tackle properly.
It really made me feel good to know that I was helping kids improve their skills at a game they loved to play. There was one boy that attended every practice, and seemed to be tuned in to every bit of information I gave the team. The boy’s name was Gregory; we all called him, “Goody.” Goody was the starting quarterback. Greg reminded me of myself when I was his age.
He was always having fun when he played, he was always trying his best, and he was somewhat mischievous. Greg was just a normal eleven-year-old that loved to play football. He was the best player on the team. Goody could play any position; he could throw, run, catch, and play defense.
He had a great deal of potential on the field, but he was struggling in school. You hold a “C” average in school to play Pop Warner football. Greg was just barely making the grade. I didn’t want to see a kid with so much love for the game to be kicked off the team because he was not doing well in school. I began to talk to him about the issue and I would explain to him the importance of working hard in school just like he does on the football field. I told him that he should keep professional football as a dream, but to make school his first priority.
At the time I really did not know if he listened to me or if he even cared what I had to say, but I knew I had tried to help him. I even offered to help him with homework. Goody never asked for help on his homework, but assured me he was doing better. I just hoped he was telling me the truth.
When the school term ended he came to practice with a big smile on his face and showed me his report card. The report card did not have any grade below a “B” on it. I was so pleased because I knew he had the potential all along. I gave him a “high five” and told him how proud of him I was. It was such a great feeling to know that I had helped a boy improve himself and reach his potential. All through the season Goody excelled on the field just as he did in the classroom.
I worked with him every practice on his football skills and I made sure he was keeping up on his schoolwork. The Plymouth Vikings ended the year with a seven-win, three-loss record. Goody was the leagues leading scorer. The Vikings lost in the first round of the playoffs, but I was still so proud of the team because they gave one hundred percent of their effort to every play. The greatest reward I received from coaching was not a gift I received during the banquet we held for the players, but it was something that Greg said to me during that banquet. Goody looked me in the eye and said to me, “I want to be just like you.” I didn’t know what to say.
This was the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me and could ever say to me. It was the grandest gift I could have ever received. Winning the lottery could not match the joy I felt when Goody told me that. It was a great feeling knowing that I helped kids reach there potential in a game they love to play and in the classroom. Volunteering my time to youth football was more rewarding than any other thing I have ever done. Just knowing that I have had that much impact on someone’s life is a wonderful feeling..