End of the Season

Well, Yesterday, Saturday, February, 19th was the end of the NFL Flag football season & I had to take my time before sitting down & actually writing down my thoughts about the 8 week experience.  Actually it was a little bit longer than 8 weeks, but there were 8 weeks of games, so we will stick with that number for now.  


As I have stated before; the main reason that I wanted to get into coaching was to be able to spend more time with my boys and get back to working with kids; which I love to do.  I know that my expectations were met & now, 8 weeks later, for those of you who have followed along since the beginning will want to know.  I am happy to report that my eldest son now wants me to coach his team next season & admitted that "Daddy does know a lot about football."  Advantage - DAD! 


It was such a gorgeous day yesterday that it was really hard to believe that it was the last day of the season.  The kids were all there *(minus one) with their game faces on & attitudes ready to play.  I got them their eye black & made sure to get them rowdy early with the "WHAT TIME IS IT? - GAME TIME!" Cheer & the 3 kids that went out for the coin toss were super excited to get the last game going.  


We were on defense first & although we didn't shut them down, my son led his team down the field for a tying score & we were back in it.  The team played great.  Both defensively & on offense, we did try the Flea Flicker & YES, it worked... even if it was an incomplete pass... the play worked.  That made my day.  We ran the "fumblerooskie", the reverse, the double reverse, play action passes & even got another passing TD....  I tell you it was unbelievable to see just how improved everyone of those kids had gotten in just 8 short weeks.  


Overall, there were many highlights for me.  My son leading his team.  The trick plays actually working.  The other coach deciding to run the "fumblerooskie" on us.  The parents cheering.  The defense coming up with 2 big interceptions.  One of the other coaches commenting on how well the team was playing.  In other words, it was a great day for me & for my team.  I was VERY PROUD.  


I have to say that the only low point in the season for me, was only getting to watch one of my eldest son's games.  That was tough because their games were scheduled at the same time all but one week.  I was so proud to hear from his mommy about how well he did that I made it a big deal every time his games were over.   Then yesterday on the way home, he asked me if I would coach his team next season.... I'm not going to lie... THAT MADE ME SMILE REALLY BIG!!!! 


So, we had a great season.  Both my sons played their hearts out.  They both learned a lot.  They both enjoyed their time with me.  My team did great.  The parents gave me a special thank you gift when in fact I couldn't thank them enough for sticking with me & allowing me to coach their kids.  It was a very special season & I don't plan on slowing down.  I've already put in my application for the regular season to coach.  


I am going to keep posting on this blog too... Maybe not as much until we get closer to the regular season, but I just wanted to thank everyone who read the blog, commented, emailed or text me & took the time to enjoy this ride with me.  I've had a blast & simply cannot wait till next season.


As they say on TV, This is Coach Carlos... Signing off... Thanks for the memories & goodnight.

Ravens *(minus 1 child)

Final Week of Practice

Well, tomorrow is the last REGULAR night of practice for my Little Ravens & I am feeling a mix of emotions about it.  These kids have totally rejuvenated my sense of coaching & given me the self-confidence to feel like I can do it again during the regular season with more kids.   I am so excited for them to have a great last practice & a last great game this Saturday.  I am going to miss them.  I already know that 1 of the kids will not be able to be there on Saturday & that's a bummer.  


I am excited that the parents have been so supportive of me & my unique style of coaching.  I don't know what most parents expect from a 8 week season, but having a 10 page play book with individual blitzing assignments may not have crossed their minds when they signed up their kids for NFL Flag Football.  Or, maybe it was... 


All I know is that as this week starts to move closer to the end of our AWESOME season I am going to do my best to get EVERY kid that is at practice & at the game involved.  We are playing a team that has beat us each time they have played us & I have got to get my kids to believe that they can walk away with a "W" & still keep their chins up & feel great about everything that they have accomplished in such a short time.  


I really hope that I get to see some of these kids again either on my team or playing against my team when the regular flag football season starts in the fall.  I have already started to put together a video montage for the parents & I've already started to draw up new plays for my next team.  It's going to be great.  I am also really excited that my 2 sons have now taken so much more of an interest in football.  Now we have something that I always wanted with them.... A bond that only sports can provide to a family.  What an amazing ride.


Now I just gotta get  that Flea Flicker in there...  


Coach

(Coach watches as another great run develops)

The Last Double-Header of this short season...

This week we played our last double-header of this short season & my team finally found their passing game.  Now, I am not saying that we haven't thrown the ball before or that we haven't completed any passes throughout the season... We just have been mostly a running team, which for most 5-6 year old's is normal... 

However, I knew that we could do it & it just took my normal "starting QB" to say, "I wanna catch the ball" for my son to step up & actually want to throw the ball.  Now, I have said this before; I didn't want to be like most coaches who MAKE their child QB.  I know my son is a good runner & a good defender so, I let him focus on that throughout the season & practice.  

Heck I was more impressed that he ran the plays so well & that he asked to keep lining up under center that I figured I'd give it a shot.  What does he do?  He throws 3 passes. 1 for a first down. 1 for a short gain. & the last pass for a TD!!! *Thank you Mr. Receiver (Who else but the Starting QB) for making some nifty moves & scoring! 

One of my favorite things about the first game was listening to the other coach telling his team to "Watch the Center!!! Watch the Fumblerooskie"  So, I decided to let them not get their wish... Not with the players that they saw the play run last time... It was a great game!

Our Second game was a good game too.  We ran the ball. We threw the ball & we had some really good plays... I came home elated that my older son's game had gone well & he was the defensive star again. 

I can't believe that this upcoming week is the end of the season.  I am seriously already getting my play book ready for regular Flag football where Blocking & QB Sneaks are actually allowed.  Now... I said this before & I will just let my readers know it again: We WILL run the flea flicker next week... Watch out for it!!!

GO RAVENS!!

(Little Bear Playing QB)

A week of challenges & opportunities (from the heart)

So, this was the week of challenges for me... personally.  Not so much in the football sense.  I hadn't blogged in a while & then realized that my preparation for this weeks game wasn't as strong as normal.  WHY?  Well, because sometimes life throws you a curveball, or since this is a FOOTBALL Blog, a post left when your receiver runs an up & out.  In other words, life got complicated.  

Let's start with the fact that 3 of my players weren't able to make it out to practice on Tuesday night.  Hey, it happens. They're kids & that's life.  Then, as I am looking at my play book, I realize that the Defensive scheme is pretty much good to go & that the kids that I send in on blitz packages know their assignments pretty well.  So, on Tuesday night I decided that my team needed some FUN to be thrown into the mix.  So, we switched things around & I made sure that amongst our "trick plays"we would try the Statue of Liberty play... which is hard enough for College teams to run... SO you can just imagine explaining it to 5-7 year old's... I got the dads out on the field with me to run it a couple of times & that was great! The kids love to see their HERO Dads get out there & show off.   

So, we had fun, & the kids left feeling really great & I felt like it was worth sacrificing the perfect plays for fun... I think it was worth it.  

So fast forward 2 days & it's Thursday & all I can think of is how I wished I had scheduled a second practice, but sometimes you gotta give the kids a break.  That afternoon, after a great lunch with my family, I started to drive back to my office & that's when the "Curveball" hit!  My heart started acting up.  I am used to this since I have been dealing with this issue ALL my life, but after the first 20 minutes of this episode, my breathing techniques weren't phasing it & then I started to feel the tingle.... "THAT'S IT!" That was the sign. I called EMS & went to the hospital.  The whole ride there I was thinking about my family, my children, my mom, my sister, and my team.  I did NOT want to miss the game.  I didn't want to miss being on the field with them.  I even told the Dr who admitted me that I had to be home in time for the game on Saturday.  She smiled & said, "we need to get this checked out first, okay?"  

I knew that the kids would be okay if Coach Canida ran the game instead of me, but I didn't want to miss the game.  So I prayed & just let them run their test, take my blood, & vitals & kept asking GOD to let me get out of the hospital to be with my family & my football players. 

I was able to be released late Friday afternoon & I have committed myself to get into better shape & take better care of my heart so that I can give 100% of it to every day that I am alive... I want my kids to have a coach, a dad & one day a granddaddy for their kids.  So yes, I was out there Saturday morning with my players & my assistant coach & my family.  My team *the kids didn't know that there was anything wrong with me & they played very well.  We didn't "WIN", but that's okay. They played their little hearts out & had fun & at the end of the game, we huddled up & had our post game meeting & said, "GO RAVENS"... That made me smile... I had told my wife how blessed I felt to be able to be out there with my team. I meant it! 

I know that this is just "FLAG FOOTBALL"  & That it's not a job... I'm not getting paid, & the kids are just out there to have fun, which I think they do... But when I get emails from the parents telling me that their kids are loving it... that warms my heart.  

I plan on coaching in the fall for the regular football season & I hope that some of these kids are back on my team, because they all have a special place in my heart.  

You see, this week was a week of challenges in so many ways, but I stayed focused, prayed & GOD gave me the opportunity to make the most out of it.  Thank you to all of you... My Wife, My Kids & My Ravens... You are so AWESOME!!! 

COACH

Go Ravens

Great Saturday Football Game!!!

So, after a week of not posting anything to this awesome blog that I have established, I am back to let you know just what a week it was.  Let me start by saying that one of the reasons that I wanted to coach was because I was on the sidelines for a full football season watching as my kids excelled out on the field but some kids just sat there barely playing more than 5 minutes of a full game & it bothered me.  It bothered me enough to ask my sons if either of them would want Daddy to coach football during the NFL Flag Football season, which is basically "sandlot" football with cool jerseys & a chance for kids of all skill sets & ages to participate.  

So that was my plan this last week.  Get as many kids in as many plays as possible & make sure they have fun.  I mean, since we don't "officially keep score" what else is there but to have fun... 

Turns out my team was ready to play & we were able to run a trick play TWICE & caught our opponents off guard each time.  We were missing a player & yet the rest of the team was able to pick up the slack & make it a really great game.  I'd be lying if I didn't acknowledge the happiness I get from watching my son "take it to the house" on a long run down the sidelines or if I didn't get a kick out of watching the other sideline search franticly for the ball as we pulled off the ol' Fumblerooskie.... 

Ah, I love these kids! I love coaching! I love football! 

Running Attack is on Fire!!!