The Local Best

Check out media reports on any given day, and you will see that professional athletes live under a magnifying glass in our current culture. Everything they do is watched, scrutinized, reported, and judged. Unfortunately, most of the headlines are negative, and people are very quick to point out every shortcoming and mistake that a pro athlete makes. Whether the scrutiny is fair or unfair, these athletes need to realize that they are always in the spotlight, and kids are always looking up to them.

Athletes may not like the idea of being a 24/7 role model, but when they put on a jersey of a professional team, then they can't escape the media glare and the high expectations of their fans. There have been countless examples of athletes with serious personal issues of late, and plenty of disappointed fans seeking jersey returns and a new role model. These events provide an excellent opportunity to remind kids that they don't have to look very far to find plenty of other tremendous role models for young athletes. 

As the season winds down and teams come together for playoff games, it’s a great time to remember that parents, coaches, and local athletes can be great role models for our kids. All three are leaders that have the attention of our young athletes. Children learn right from wrong, the idea of sportsmanship, and all about the competitive nature in athletics from their parents. Coaches have an impact far beyond the field as they try teach the rules of the game, issues of sportsmanship, and the importance of working within a team.

Roosevelt High School

Local athletes, like pro athletes, are people that our young athletes try to emulate. Watch the end zone areas of any high school game in America, and you will see kids in jerseys cheering on their local best and dreaming that someday they will be in the same position as those Friday night superstars. Each of those people have the ability to be tremendous role models for young athletes, and they can really have an effect on their young fans' lives and love of the sport.

Parents, coaches, and athletes need to remember and model the elements that will help those young fans be better on and off the field. We all hope that our young athletes can observe and learn things like listening, being coachable, being a good teammate, and learning to value team goals and not just personal goals. Parents, coaches, and athletes can help young athletes understand the consequences of skipping practice or losing their cool during a game or practice. We can also help them learn to take pride in their efforts and not just winning. If you are a parent, coach, or athlete who interacts with these young athletes, you are in a unique position to mentor them and help instill these values.

Not sure who some of these local athletes are? I asked some of our local high school coaches to recommend players who model sportsmanship on their teams. These are a few of the athletes who were recommended:

Washington High School

Roosevelt Head Coach Kim Nelson recommended Tyler VanVoorst. Tyler is a junior WR at RHS, and Coach Nelson stated, “He puts his teammates first all the time. He is the first to celebrate other players' good plays and touchdowns. He thanks his teammates when he scores, or has a good play. He will play anywhere we ask him to play and give a great effort. He is also a good student and a very good person in school and in the classroom. He respects everyone and is a great example of a "servant leader."

Harrisburg Head Coach Brandon White recommended Cody Cook. Coach White stated,  "Cody Cook is our role model! The way he treats his teammates is tremendous, and I appreciate the way he coaches up the young guys, on the field and off."  Coaches at the Academy have always been extremely complimentary about having the opportunities to work with Cody. He gives maximum effort in everything that he does, but more importantly is very coachable and respectful.

Washington High School Head Coach Chad Stadem recommended Logan Eckoff. Coach Stadem stated, “Logan is an outstanding student. He is involved in many activities at Washington including football, choir, baseball, etc. He is always at practice and willing to do anything we ask him to do for the team. He treats everyone with respect and is respected by all of his teammates.”

Cody Cook

We are accustomed to recognizing the accomplishments of teams that win championships and athletes who make big plays, but it is just as important to recognize those athletes who are champions off the field and during practice. Congrats to these athletes who are leading by example in their football programs!

It is easy to get caught up in the headlines about professional athletes, but remember that kids value the people around them. If you have the opportunity to interact with young athletes, take advantage of that time to model the qualities of great sportsmanship and help instill positive values. Today’s impressionable young athletes will be tomorrow’s Friday night superstars. Let’s lead them by example to be excellent, on and off the field.

Time Out: Roundtable with the Coaches

If you want to be a successful coach, you have to listen and learn from other successful coaches.  I am fortunate to have some good friends who are great coaches, so I asked two of them to answer a few questions and share their insights on coaching football, motivating athletes, and developing kids in the sport.  Kim Nelson (SF Roosevelt) and Brian Hermanson (SF Washington) together hold the Class 11AA State Football Titles for the past three years in SD, so they definitely fall in the "successful coach" category.  These are their responses to my questions:

KR:  How many years have you coached? Where did you play college football?

Kim Nelson-SF Roosevelt

Nelson:  I have been a head coach for 34 years (Milbank, Rapid City Central, Sioux Falls Washington, Edina, MN, and now RHS.)  I played college football, basketball and baseball at Dakota State in Madison.

Brian Hermanson-SF Washington

Hermanson:  I have been coaching football for 32 years. I have coached at the junior high, high school, college and indoor football level.  I played football at SDSU from 1977-1981.

KR:  What do you enjoy about coaching? Is there anything you don't enjoy?

Nelson:  I really enjoy the off season and the challenge of putting a new team together. It never gets old. Every season brings new players, opponents, coaches, and every team is so different. I love that.
I don't enjoy parents and players who have unrealistic expectations about their ability and playing time. Every player must EARN his playing time--they are not just entitled to play because they are older or think they want to play more than another guy. The best players play. That is the hardest part of my job.

Hermanson:  I enjoy the competitiveness and helping athletes develop to their full potential. There is nothing that I don't enjoy about coaching.

KR: What is your greatest success as a coach?

Nelson:  Having former players come back and tell me how much they enjoyed playing football and hearing them talk about the great memories they have about that time in their life.

Hermanson:  There have been lots of great moments, but being able to have my son be part of two state titles was a thrill.

KR:  Part of your job is to motivate and inspire your players. What motivates and inspires you?

Nelson:  When someone says we can't beat a certain team, or we aren't good enough. I respond to a challenge by working harder and coaching our team harder. The toughest games are the ones that everyone says you are supposed to win.

Hermanson:  Hard work and dedication. I am a person who pays attention to detail. Being part of a football team or program is much like being part of a family. Everyone must accept their role!

KR:  What advice would you give to a 6th grader who wants to play high school football for you someday?

Nelson:  Work hard on ball skills and footwork. Be a fan and a student of the game. Listen to analysts talk about the game and try to understand the little things that can make a difference when you play. Respect the game and your opponents. Don't get too high when you win, or too low when you lose. Make no excuses--work so hard that you refuse to have any. Make your teammates better by being positive, and support everyone on your team.  Players can change a lot from 6th grade to high school, so don't be discouraged if you aren't very big or very fast yet. Keep at it! Be supportive when you are not in the game and support the guys on the sidelines when you are playing. Team - Pride - Trust

Hermanson:  First and foremost you need to have FUN!!!! Learn to play lots of positions, and don't be discouraged if you make mistakes. Learn from them!

KR:  What recommendations would you give a coach in Junior Football?

Nelson:  Each player on your team is equally important and you must coach ALL of them. They are going to remember almost everything you tell them, so make sure it is a positive comment and a positive memory. Winning doesn't matter in Junior Football, learning to love the game and become a good teammate is most important. Success at that level should be measured by how many players want to keep playing next season. Coach for the right reason. Someday, coach a team that doesn't have your child on it. Always try to be fair and teach every player something to make them better every day.

Hermanson:  Be organized, and make sure that you create an environment that is positive. Keep in mind the age of the athlete you are coaching, and be sure you coach all the kids, not just the stars.