I Am A Champion

This is dedicated to my 2013 SSR Aftershock team!  You boys have made me very proud this season!

2013 SSR Aftershock Team

I will conquer what has not been conquered Defeat will not be in my creed I will believe what others have doubted I will always endeavor to pull esteem, honor, and respect out of my team I have trained my mind and my body will follow

Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!

I will acknowledge the fact that my opponent does not expect me to win But I will never surrender Weakness will not be in my heart I will look to my comrades and to those who are a part of me in this world and those who have trained me And I will draw strength from them

Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!

To my side I have comrades, comrades that have been with me through thick and thin Who have sacrificed their blood, sweat and tears Never will I let them fall, never will I let them down, and I will never leave an enemy behind Because our opponent does not know my heart

Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!

Defense Wins Games!

Team Captains - Nathan, Andy & Joey

There's an old saying in football that says, "Defense wins games"... I have to agree after today's game.  My team went out on the field today ready to avenge last weeks loss and they went out with their war faces on.  We had several sacks, an interception and a couple of blocked passes. 

The game went back and forth with no scores after three quarters and finally in the fourth quarter we scored and stopped the Thunderbolts from running or throwing the ball.  This team is younger and smaller than my other teams in the past but still they seem to listen and work just as well, if not better. 

I am really enjoying this season and we're only three games into it.  Next week we will go out there and work on BLOCKING... This seems to be the Achilles heel of every team. 

My favorite part of the game had to be when we ran a trick play and it worked to perfection. That made me happy! Also, my son barreled his way for two big short yard first downs!

Man, this is what coaching is all about.

Coach

Flag Football is back!

2013 Super Senior Aftershock Team
Head Coach - Carlos Del Campo  Assistant Coaches Kurt Kessel & Dustin Brewer

So, after a nice break since NFL Flag, the regular Flag football season is back! Well, actually it started last week.  The reason I'm a week late on posting about it is because for the first time ever, I had to miss a game and not be on the sideline with my team.  Due to family commitments, we were out of the state and unable to be there... Very strange, but knowing that my team played great and that my assistant coach was able to lead them made it a great return.

This season I am taking a much more laid back approach.  I am allowing my assistant to call plays more often and I have stopped yelling during practice and even  during today's game, I didn't lose my cool when the refs let the opponents have 5 plays within the "Red Zone" to score.  Such is life.

My team made some really good plays and after the adjustments were made, the opposing team couldn't really get anything going on offense.  Unfortunately, we were down by one touchdown when this happened.

I have yet to beat the "gold team" aka- Lightning in my time as a coach but we have another chance this season and I am sure that my playbook will be filled with lots of new things for them by then.

I have a very talented team this season and I am looking forward to more amazing games!  We have a week off for Labor Day and then we're back at it. It's going to be a fun season!

Coach

NFL Season Almost Over

MY NFL FLAG PACKERS TEAM

So, this was a really enjoyable NFL Flag football season for me.  Maybe it was the fact that I had so many new players who I was able to interact with. Maybe it was the fact that the weather was really nice and I didn't feel so bad out there. Maybe, just maybe it was the fact that I didn't put too much worry on the outcome of the games since, like the show, "Who's Line Is It Anyways?", the points don't matter.

I kept the play book simple and made sure that every kid had the chance to do something productive.  I let a parent try to teach the ZONE Defense during practice even if I didn't feel that it would really work in this kind of format. I didn't argue with other coaches, or parents or even the players for a matter of fact.  I just went out there and coached and felt like I did make a difference to some of the kids.  

We still have two more games to play but I figured I would sit down and write this out now before the season ends and I'm left with a void till the regular Flag season starts.  I am really blessed that I am able to coach these kids and that after the season is over some of them will remember me as the coach that believed in their abilities.  I know that not every kid feels that way, but, hey... I'm only human.

Till next season! 

Coach

NFL Flag Season is Back

So, I realized today that I haven't blogged in a really long time.  The regular football season has been over for a while and so much has changed since the last entry...

First of all, we didn't make it to the Super Bowl. We did advance to the second round of the playoffs but it just wasn't meant to be.  Oh well, it was a very difficult year overall and let's just say that I am glad that it's over.

Now, onto NFL Flag.  I have three returning players from my regular team this season and overall a very good team.  I have a couple of really talented kids and some stellar players that I want to try to recruit for next season.  We are only two weeks into the short season and I am very impressed with what I see. It's nice to see the kids listen and actually break a huddle with enthusiasm again.

The other nice thing about this NFL Flag season is that  I feel zero stress about the overall performance of my team.  We are there to have fun.  No score, no records works great for me right now. I needed a break from the intensity.  I can kinda just have fun again coaching.  Till next season.  I'm already working up some plays for next season. It's going to be a good time!

My NFL Flag Team * - 2 players that weren't there

"End of the Regular Season - Pre Playoff" entry.

Aftershock SSR Flag Football Team 2012

I can't beleive that I have gone a whole season without documenting my teams successes and failures.  I did blog after the first game but then life went into overdrive and the ideas just got bundled up and I forgot.  So here is my "End of the Regular Season - Pre Playoff" entry.

As a coach I can say that this season seems to have gone by way faster than last season and I am happy to say that I did see some great improvement in my players.  As a parent, I can say that I saw my son run a couple of touchdowns in for the team, catch some passes and even get a big 20 yard gain out of nowhere.  Those are the moments that obviously carry a little extra weight for me.  I also realized that coaching is more difficult when there are too many Chiefs and not enough indians.  I had a blow up on the field for the first time against my assistant coach and in the end after the game was over and the dust had settled, we both realized that we are both very passionate about the game and sometimes we just butt heads.

This season also gave me a unique experience to be a part of a game that ended in a Tie.  All I can say about that is that, "It sucked".  Now, we are getting ready for the playoffs that start two weeks before my birthday weekend .  It's time for me to turn on the Del Campo Scowl & whip these kids into football shape.  I'll be practicing my speech and watching as many football movies as possible tonight and tomorrow before the game on Saturday.  

I told the kids during a game where it was obvious that we were just not going to win that I didn't mind losing as long as they gave me their all... Now, it's time to explain to them what I meant was in the regular season... During the Playoffs, It's Put up or go home.  I don't want to go home. I want to go to the Super Bowl.  

I'll be back in a few days with an update...

Coach

Great First Game of the Season

Our Defense is relentless! Check out all 3 players passed their blockers!

Well, after a long break between last season and NFL Flag Football season, Suntree Viera Flag Football is back! I had such a great first FULL day back out on the fields today!

As a parent, I have to start this entry by saying that I am so proud of my kids! Both of them are such special players!  Even though I only coach one of them right now, I am so happy to be able to see them both play and just shine out there on the field.

As a coach, it's always great to have the supportof all my players and team parents! I really think that the team came together nicely today especially since we were missing two players.  The kids really pulled together and worked well, espeically towards the end when we needed it the most! I challenged my son this season to really push himself even harder and make even more of an impact on the field.  He delivered big time!  He asked me to let him run the ball near the goal line and he did what he does best on offense; he ran over everyone in front of him and scored a TD that put us ahead!  The look of happiness and pride on his face was AWESOME! Then he continued to rock the defensive side of the game! 

My new QB did his job nicely! He ran for a TD & threw the ball and even had an interception!  My new players performed very well.  My returning players have improved so much.  One of my players leadership skills were on point today!

I can't wait until our next game!

One really great thing about this season is that there are 6 teams in the Super Senior Division.  I love this because it creates a lot more competition.  

I feel really good about our team.  We have very good teams in the Super Senior division and I am looking forward to the season.  

This is just what we needed for our first game! Healthy competition and a big W to start off the season!

Till the next entry.

Coach

Time for some Football!

That's my son diving for the flag!

It's here! It's finally here! Football season is back! 

I'm so excited about it! I have 4 new players coming on to my Super Senior Flag Football team and it's going to be a great season! 

This off season was tough because I lost my Center, My star Running Back and don't have a designated Quarterback, but, I have been keeping my mind open to the possibility of a totally different team and a totally different strategy so all I can say is that this is going to be a short post because I need to find my playbook and start getting ready for the first week of practice!

WOOHOO!! I am SOOOO Ready for some Football!!!

Coach

Summer Time

Summer Time 

Football Season is almost here.  Actually, it's approaching rather quickly! I have taken on the responsibility of Flag Coordinator and that means that I get to help the Flag Director with EVERYTHING related to the Flag Football this season.  I am really excited about this opportunity and even though I know it's going to require some extra hours on Saturday's I am okay with that.


There is a Football camp this weekend and I get to help out with it on Saturday.  My sons are both attending even though I am sure that they would rather be home playing video games and I totally understand that.  Luckily for them, I didn't give them a choice.  They are going to go and start getting mentally ready for the season.  


It's been an interesting off-season so far.  I just found out that my Center isn't returning. I am still uncertain if one of my start offensive players will be returning and I don't have a Quarterback yet.  It's a coaches nightmare not knowing what they will have.  


The good news is that the league will be holding an Evaluation day where the league can scout out some of the players and make sure that certain teams aren't "stacked".  I am looking forward to that day.  


It's really interesting to be vested in this program knowing that there is a future for my children as long as they work hard and keep motivated.  Summer break is a difficult time to be doing all this, but it is what it is.  


Time to start getting ready for some football.  


Coach 

Online Registration is here

Click here for the Registration Form

Football Season is just around the corner. Time to get registered early!!! The Suntree Viera Youth Football League's online registration is up & running!! There will also be the In-Person registration Saturday, April  7, 2012 from 11:30 - 3:30 at the Beef O' Brady's on the corner of Viera Blvd & Murrell Rd.

For more information check out SVYFL

New Suntree Viera Football Website

  

Suntree Viera Youth Football League Website 

I am very excited to be part of the Suntree Viera Youth Football League's Board of directors.  This is going to be a pretty short post.  We have a new website up & running & will be completely up to date by April 1st. *no, that's not a joke.  Open Registration begins April 1, 2012 & April 7th we have the big ALL DAY Sign up at the Beef O' Brady's in Viera.  It's going to be a great season.  I'm looking forward to this!

An "OFF DAY"

Good Sportsmanship is Very important

Well, you can't win them all. It's been said that sometimes, a loss is just what a team needs to wake them up. If that's the case my team should be "bright-eyed & bushy tail" next week.  We did not play very well today but at the same time NFL Flag football is just for fun right?  I am supposed to say, "Yes". However, I can't.  Simply because the kids, coaches & parents all keep score.  


The thing that upset me most today wasn't even on the field.  It was a parent threatening to take her kid home if her son wasn't going to play.  This happened at the BEGINNING of the 2nd quarter. REALLY!? WOW!


Either way, we did have an interception, some good runs and a good drive to start off the game.  I can't be upset about that.  It's only the 2nd game. Next week we have a double-header so this weeks practice will be way more disciplined!  That's for sure! 


That's it. That's all I got for this week. Here's a good picture from today...


-Coach

First game of NFL Flag 2012 is a W! (even if it’s an UNOFFICIAL Win)*

Pre-Game Warm ups

Alright! A new year is here and my new NFL Flag team has their first game under their belts.  There is nothing better than playing football during the winter!  I started this blog to keep people informed about my journey of coaching my sons on the football field and so far I have gained so much more from that journey than I thought possible.  It’s one thing to see your own kids succeed because you are training them but when other parents tell you how much you’re influencing their kids, it makes it even more rewarding. 

I was lucky when getting ready for this short NFL Flag season to have seven returning starters from my regular season as well as having my youngest son “Play up” to the next level with the older kids.  I also have two kids that are new to football but that have lots of potential. 

The great thing about NFL Flag is that the games are quick and there isn’t real score keeping. *officially that is.  I mean; kids, keep score, parents, coaches, family members do but the league doesn’t.  The rules are different in NFL Flag which means that I have had to come up with new and exciting ways to coach the kids to learn how to use their hands.  90% of the game is passing so learning how to catch a football while running a route is very important. 

That’s one reason that I was so excited to have so many returning kids who have worked together and know my style and are eager to learn more about football.  I am also excited to have my two returning coordinators back with me to make the games go by so much easier.  

Now, in the midst of all this “Tebowmania” I think it is fitting that our first game was against the Broncos.  The Broncos did score once and the kid who did it, did in fact, “TEBOW” in the end zone. Now, I didn’t see it, but I am sure it was great.  I’ve told my kids that they can spike the ball, do the “Discount Double-Check” or whatever other celebration they want as long as it’s not the river dance.  My team went for the jumping chest bumps.  Good for them. Just in case you were wondering, we scored twice! *Unofficially, we won the game. Eagles are now 1-0 for the 8 game Season.  We have 2 weeks of double-headers so I have to come up with a pretty easy and fast paced game plan in order to keep the “W’s” coming. More to come next week! 

-Coach

Getting Ready for a New Season

Well, after a short but enjoyable break from a wonderful Flag football season, NFL Flag is about to start today with my teams first practice.  When I was deciding what team to pick for this season, I had to take into consideration that some teams would be accounted for and that some teams would be more popular than others.  Also, I was thinking that it would be great if my sons could have new jerseys for their collection. 

My boys saw the Eagles play the Giants last season in what turned out to be a really exciting game so it was a no-brainer.  Let's be the Eagles.  I mean, they were labeled "the dream team" at the beginning of the season right?! So, tonight I get to pass out jerseys and reconnect with some of my players from our regular season.  We have 2 new players that have never played football and I am excited to see what they can do.  

The other great thing is that we finally have some football weather.  It's cold outside which means that it will be great out on the field! I am looking forward to getting out there and rocking and rolling with these kids.  I will have several returning starters back with me and they will continue to be with me for the regular flag football season for the last season of my oldest son's flag career before he and several of his friends make the jump to tackle.  I am really excited about that!

So, once again, I get to wear my coaches hat.  I get to strap on my whistle and grab the playbook out! It's gonna be a great, quick, short season.  8 games in 6 weeks.  Lots of passing and oh yeah, some trick plays. *(I love NFL FLAG)

Oh, yeah... I'm ready for some football!!!

-Coach

Just having fun

Well, just had an unofficial practice with some of the kids from my team... best part was that we got a new player & we were able to have our "Retiring" QB come out & have some fun with us... It was great.  Nothing out of this world but we had a really nice time!  NFL Flag season is coming soon... WOO HOO!!


- Coach

End of the year Letter from the Coach

I took an extra day to sit back and really contemplate about this last season before I started this End of the year email.  I wanted to have enough time away from the big game to be able to clear my head of any distracting thoughts that might cloud my judgment while sending you all the last email of this 2011 Flag Football season.  


I want to start by quickly telling you all a brief summary of why I chose to coach flag football.  For many of you parents who remember watching "Married with Children", you may remember Al Bundy always telling stories of his high school glory days and how he could have been someone, etc....  That wasn't me.  I didn't play football in high school.  I played Volleyball and was on student council.  That was it.  I was however and still am very close to many of the Varsity football team and our coaches.  I would help out in practices and was always allowed to travel with the team if I wanted to.  That was fun for me. 


As I grew up, I learned to love the game. I watch it religiously and study it from many angles.  I love to talk about players, plays etc. So for me there has always been a love for this game.  However, this love wouldn't really hit home for me until last year when my both my boys started playing flag football.  I was not able to coach them because my work schedule didn't permit me to so I was forced to watch from the sidelines.  Like some of you know; that can be frustrating at times.  I would watch Andy's practices and talk to Dale about how the coach was just not teaching them enough and how he was under utilizing some of the players etc.  Probably like some of you have done this season.  


So I decided to stand up and as soon as I could I volunteered to coach NFL Flag football and asked my sons, "Which one of you wants daddy to coach them?"  I was shocked that it was Shawn who replied first.  Andy's remark was, "Well daddy, you really don't know a lot about football."  I was shocked at his response, but I explained to him that it was okay if he didn't want his dad to coach him, even if it was killing me inside. So, I took the opportunity to coach & after that short season, Andy looked at me and asked me if I would coach him during the next regular season.  The rest as they say is history.  You got me as your coach and well, we had a great season.


Now here we are at the end of the season where we started 0-2 and things didn't seem to click as well in games as they did on the practice field. That was until our team got that first win and realized that they could do it.  I know you heard me say this all at the party but I have to repeat this.  I am blessed to have the team, parents and coaches that I got this season.  Without any of y'all, none of this would be possible.  
Each child played a particular role in the season, whether it was on the field or by teaching one of us a lesson. Each parent stepped up and did something special for this team.  You guys made banners, held chains, shared tents, took care of a crying child, cheered until your throats were sore and other intangible actions that may have gone unnoticed to some, but not to all.


For those of you who follow my blog, you know that this is just part of the journey.  There will be other seasons.  There will be other players.  There will be new coaches, etc.  For me, it's all about the kids learning and me just being there to be a part of it.  Parents:  Thank you for putting up with me and supporting my coaching decisions.  Thank you for allowing your children to take direction from someone other than you.  I know how hard that can be.


I want to thank you all for a very special season and I hope that your children continue to play football.  Whether it be NFL-Flag, or another season with the SVFL even if it's with another coach, each kid will always be special to me.  


To my coaches, Dale, Jeff Long and Jeff Brown; again I thank you for every moment that we shared together out there working on making our team better.  We didn't always see eye to eye, but we made it work and we made it fun.


I know that the kids are too young for this closing thought, but I think that as parents you will be able to grasp this and hopefully, one day you will share this with them.


Man in the Arena


"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
Once again, from the bottom of my grateful heart... THANK YOU!


Coach

Super Senior Aftershock Flag Football Team 2011

My amazing Aftershock Team 

Coach Jeff, Coach Carlos, Coach Dale, Coach Jeff L.

Trevor, Cooper, Andy, Cade, Brady, Jeff

Brandon, Macy, Julian, Nathan, Alex

24 hours and counting till the Super Bowl

Go Aftershock!

I am sitting here at my desk on a Saturday afternoon.  It feels weird to not be on the football field today.  It feels strange that this time tomorrow the season will be over and the off-season will begin.  It's odd that I am sitting here looking at my playbook and knowing that it's too late to add something new to the mix and yet, I'm still drawing little x's and o's on the notepad.


24 hours from now I will either be the winning coach of the Super Senior Flag Football Super Bowl or the coach whose team lost.  It's an odd feeling indeed.  I am sitting here thinking about how it’s flag football and yet, I am still running every possible scenario through my head that may or may not take place tomorrow. 


I'm also sitting here thinking back to just how far my team has come since day one.  My team has 12 players and only 4 have ever played football in an organized way before.  Now we are getting ready for the Super Bowl.  As a parent, I'm excited for my son and his friends.  As a coach, I am just trying to maintain a sense of cool.


We are playing a team that beat us 3 times this season. We are playing the only coach that really gets under my skin on a football level.  We are playing a team that seems to be so well put together and organized and all I can think about is how bad I want my team to beat them and win that Super Bowl. 


There are a lot of emotions in this one for me.  Last year my son played under another coach and got to the Super Bowl against this team and lost the game on the last play.  This season I get to be the coach that tries to dethrone them.  I'm also coming to terms with the fact that a few weeks after this game, my assistant coach is moving to Georgia to follow a career opportunity that he has been blessed with.  This will be his son’s last game here with his team.  I want the win for him too.  My other 2 coordinators have been amazing and their sons are an extremely important part of why we are where we are and I want the win for them too.


I'm sitting here at my desk with less than 24 hours to go before my team plays in their last game of the season and I am just thinking about how truly blessed I am to have the opportunity to coach my son and these children.  I know that tomorrow may be the last game for some of these kids that are together now.


I'm sitting here remembering when a couple of coaches told me after two games, "You guys sure do pass a lot. That doesn't really work at this level."  I remember asking them, "Says who?"  We won our playoff game on an amazing pass and a great catch on a 4th down because we didn't listen to that nonsense.  We did it our way. 


I'm sitting here with different quotes and sound clips going through my head.  I can remember Michael Jordan saying, "I can handle defeat.  Everyone gets defeated sometimes.  I can't handle trying."  I think of Jedi Master Yoda's famous words, "Do or do not. There is no try."


I'm sitting here looking at the clock thinking about tomorrow.  I can honestly say that tomorrow I just want my team to give me 100% of themselves.  I want them to push themselves harder than they have all season long. I want them to work as a team and if.... IF we get defeated, which I am not planning on.... that they can hold their heads up high & know that they didn't just "TRY"... They did.  They did something that no one thought would be possible after losing their first game 2-0 and going into week 3 with a 0-2 record and several practices rained out.  They made it to the Super Bowl and that makes them winners to me.


I will blog again regardless of the outcome of the Super Bowl because this is a journey about me as a coach and my sons as players and all the lives that come through our lives in this game of football.  I wrote about being a proud parent in my profile and I mean it.  As a dad, having both your sons playing in Super Bowls even if you're only coaching one of them is a big deal.  Luckily, they are both on the AFTERSHOCK... so... 1! 2! 3! Goooooo Aftershock!




-Coach

10 Days & Counting!!

The countdown has officially started & we are down to 10 days. 4 practices left. That's it! It's our time to shine! I am so proud of how far this team has come this season. Each player has played a special role.  We have to remember that football is a game that is sometimes decided by 1 play.  Last week proved that.  We can do this.

We just need to dominate our opponent.  We have to remember that as a team we win! It's our time... From the Start to the Finish... 


Every one on this team has a role & if we focus on that for the next 10 days we will be victorious! This is Aftershock football!

Post Game Speech!

Super Bowl Bound!!! (PART 2)

Part 2 - The Preparation

Practice before the playoffs

So what does a good team do when they lose the last game of the season? Pout? Cry? I don't know because I don't have a good team.  I have a GREAT team! Each coach took personal responsibility for a part of our strategy and decided that they would come up with ways to overcome what had just happened.  The only bad thing was that we had 2 weeks before our next game.  Any parent who has ever had to endure a "Winter/Summer/Spring break" knows how hard it can be for a kid to get back in the swing of things after any kind of break.  Why would flag football be any different?


I need to pause here and explain why I make sure to point out that I coach Flag football.  There are several reasons and one of them is NOT to relive my glory days like Al Bundy did on "Married with Children".  #1 - My sons play & I wanted to spend time with them. #2 - I love football and love coaching kids.  There are other reasons, but for right now, those will do.  I am a volunteer out there. My kids don't get paid.  There aren't scouts looking for the next great flag puller. (Well, other than the other coaches who might be looking for a player to join them the following season I haven't seen any) 


Anyhow... After a week off of practice, my team got together for a full practice and let me just make a point to say that it was obvious that there had been a "Break" in our regular cycle.  You can tell when kids are just not 100% into something & our first practice after that loss & a week off was evidence of that. Fortunately for me, I was only there for part of the practice because I had to referee another game.  By the time I got there, I noticed that there was some confusion among everybody!  So, I made a very clear point to everyone. YOU WILL COME PREPARED TOMORROW!!!  I really did say that. Guess what happened?  It worked! 


The kids came ready to learn & practice & we ran practice at full speed and with so much intensity that it almost didn't seem like flag football.  The coaches felt good.  The kids did great. The parents seemed to be really into it!  Afterwards, we rewarded the kids with some ice cream and FUN was had by all.  I gave them a pep talk to send them on their way & the final piece of the puzzle was soon to be put into place.  *Cue drum roll..... I would NOT be calling the plays out on the field with the kids.  One of the Assistant Coaches would.  This was at the request of my #2 man... The Assistant Assistant coach...  He thought it would be better for me to be on the sideline and just give my input from there & to watch the game.  Guess what? I loved the idea!  I would be lying if I would say that I was 100% in love with it... but for the most part I did really love it.  So, I did what any smart coach would do. I empowered the team & the "Coach" to work together & threw in one more trick play just to "stir the pot".  I am like the "Mad Hatter" of Flag Football... AND I LOVE IT! 


48 hours till the playoff game!