We read about professional athletes giving back all the time. It’s almost become an expectation; a responsibility; an obligation.

Fortunately, most athletes that give back do so for none of those reasons. They do it for the reason they should – because it’s the right thing to do.

This is a lesson that can and should be taught at an early age, while kids are more-easily swayed to one side of a moral issue or the other.

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A flag football team recently played a game on a brutally hot Sunday afternoon. It wasn’t part of a tournament or a regular season matchup of any sort. In fact, the game was meaningless. That is, in the win-loss column.

What the opposing teams were playing for was something that won’t appear in any newspaper box scores, television headlines or anywhere else. They were playing for Special Olympics. The game was a fundraiser for a group of athletes who aren’t quite as fortunate in some ways – but as the players learned, more fortunate in others – than the young men sweating on the gridiron in front of a larger-than-usual crowd.

The families voted unanimously to put their own money up to pay for the field rental and referees so that the $2 spectator fee would go entirely to Special Olympics. The players organized parents to sell raffle tickets and homemade treats to add to the total money raised.

The Special Olympics athletes and their families cheered on the players, mingled with spectators and enjoyed the concessions. Several athletes even got into the game at various points.

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The amount of money raised on this hot Sunday afternoon was irrelevant because something far more important was raised – the awareness of the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities.  

Giving back to a local charity is an activity every youth sports team should participate in. It’s an opportunity for coaches to educate players about things far greater and more useful in life than sports – helping others.

As you begin planning for the fall football season, now is the time to figure out a way your players can give back to the community. It can be raising money, volunteering “people power” at an event, or participating in a local race or other fundraiser.

We always say that sports teach life lessons, and giving back to the community is a great lesson for every person involved with your team.

Jon Buzby has been involved in and writing about youth sports for the past 30 years with perspectives as a parent, coach and board member. Jon is an award-winning writer and his latest book, “Coaching Kids Made Easier,” is available on Amazon. Send comments or future blog topics you'd like to see to JonBuzby@hotmail.com and follow him @YouthSportsBuzz on Twitter.