It Takes a Special Person to be a Youth Football Coach

By Peter Schwartz | Posted 10/15/2019

When my son Bradley started playing tackle football in 2010, I somehow wound up being an assistant coach of his team. The director of the program initially wanted me to be the head coach, but in reality, I wasn’t comfortable being a coach at all. I had to be talked into being an assistant coach and only did so to help out at practice and on the sidelines during games. Football wasn’t a sport I grew up playing, so considering I didn’t have real-life experience I felt like I didn’t have much to teach the kids.

Also, I just wanted to be a dad and enjoy watching the games. 

After that season, I didn’t coach again until now when I reluctantly agreed to be a coach for Bradley’s flag football team. There were no coaches listed when the rosters were emailed to parents. A few days later, I saw that the father of Bradley’s friend was now listed as a coach. Later, he called me to say the program put him down as the coach without asking and he wanted to see if I could help out. After we both agreed to coach a third father joined to help.

But it didn’t take long for me to realize why I didn’t want to be a coach. I’m terrible at it. It makes me appreciate even more just how tough of a job it is and how it takes a special person to be a sound youth football coach. You really have to know what you’re doing and how to draw up plays. A good coach has the ability to make the kids listen and come together as a team. My kids have been fortunate to have some terrific coaches over the years and those guys certainly have the traits that I’m talking about.

It takes patience to be a good coach. It’s also imperative to be able to deal with the parents of the players. Flag football is a bit different than tackle. My job is mainly to keep track of substitutions. Even with my knowledge of the game, it’s been difficult. Deep down it’s hard for me to be my son’s coach.    

I’ve already decided that after this season, I’m not going to coach anymore and am at peace with that. It’s not something I’m cut out to be. With that said, I salute all of the quality youth football coaches out there who give up their free nights and weekends to volunteer their time to teach and coach these kids.

I’ll always be a volunteer, but just let me be on the chain gang, at the PA microphone or help out with fundraisers. That’s a job I’m comfortable with and can handle.

Peter is a sports anchor for the CBS Sports Radio Network, FOX News Headlines 24/7 and WCBS 880 Radio in New York.  His son Bradley plays middle school football on Long Island and is a participant in the U.S. National Team program while his younger son Jared plays flag football.   Peter, his wife Sheryl and the boys are busy cheering on the New York Jets when they’re not at a youth football field.

Share