3 Major Benefits of Playing Football by Coach Whitehead | From the Gut Series
When I was a kid growing up in a small blue collar neighborhood little did I know how significant a role football would play in my life. I can remember always knowing when Friday was here because the town shuts down for high school football. It also helped to have a brother who was an Allstate running back in the state of Alabama. I didn’t miss a game! I can remember the smell of the grass, the sound of the band, the cheers of the crowd, and most importantly for me the smell of fresh pizza in the concessions. Little did I know at that time I was falling in love with the game of football, I loved everything it had to offer. As a 6 year old I quickly became a nerd of the game studying plays and schemes, I even created my own playbooks. By the time I turned 9 years old I started playing little league football, then junior high followed by high school. However out of all the years of playing football, little league was my favorite time to play and here’s why:
3 Major Benefits of Playing Football
- Youth Football can create long-term success in life. As a youth coach and advocate for youth football, l believe the game can create a foundation of success in the life of a child. I’ve seen it first hand. I’ve seen my former players go on to become college graduates, business owners, semi-pro football players, and coaches themselves. When a kid is put into a program where they are challenged to be the best versions of themselves at an early age it develops them into leaders, great teammates, and gives them a sense of purpose beyond themselves.
- Youth football provides an outlet. There are so many kids in this country who are put into situations that are out of their control. For some kids the only outlet they have is to play youth football. It gives them purpose, pride, and develops character. Young people need to know they are capable of accomplishing big things if they set their mind to it. Youth football helps to support this mindset.
- Youth football creates memories and traditions. This goes without saying but what I love the most about youth football are the memories. I remember all of my youth coaches, I remember the big plays, I remember the jokes that were made at practice, I remember the times we cried, and I remember the times we laughed. All these moments created lasting and lifelong imprints. I coach youth football because the memories fueled my passion for the game and that’s why I’m a youth coach today.\
Related Content: How Playing Youth Football Build Character
I want kids to create positive lifelong memories that will last them a lifetime because if they are as lucky as I was they will be able to give back someday. We have a motto in our program, “ We develop good people.” At the end of the day I believe if you create good people through youth football you are winning as a youth football coach. Be a coach that develops good people.
By Coach Timothy Whitehead
