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