What Is The True Meaning Of A Coach?

As I mentioned in last week's newsletter, the event I helped
launch at Getty's Middle School in Easley, South Carolina is
going to be a tremendous step forward for Physical Education in
the United States.

Last week, I was vague.

I couldn't give you all the details.

I wasn't able to explain the scope and depth of the project.

Well...

Now I can!

The 'world-class' fitness magazine I referred to is none
other than... Men's Health!

After spending 20 years as the beacon of truth for fitness and
health related issues for adult men, this esteemed publication
has decided to attack the problems of youth obesity and lack
of adequate physical education in American schools.

And I could not be more honored or humbled to serve as one of
the 3 youth fitness experts they have collected from across the
country in order to serve as the official Men's Health Fit
School's Faculty.

Who are the other two?

1) Jim Liston

Jim is the founder of CATZ Sports Performance. CATZ is a
franchise of training centers with locations throughout the
U.S. and specialize in the development of young athletes.

Jim himself is an incredible energetic and talented coach who
absolutely excels at getting large numbers of kids moving and
being active at the same time.

2) David Jack

David is the Director for a group of fitness and recreational
centers on the east coast called, Team Works.

He is an unbelievably passionate and charismatic professional
who is one of the very best motivators I have ever seen in my
entire life.

Combined with Jim and David, I am the third member for the
Men's Health Fit School's team.

Our task in Getty's Middle School last weekend was to deliver an
educational seminar for the PE teachers and faculty that taught
them the essentials of how to design and implement a
developmentally-sound and effective PE curriculum.

But the real fun part...

We got to 'kick off' the Men's Health Fit Schools initiative
with a school-wide assembly and 'fitness day'...

... And it was a TREMENDOUS success!

We had all 1,300 students in the gymnasium for demonstrations,
interactive games and various fitness-related contests.

Over 200 parents crammed into the gymnasium with us to watch
their children enjoy what one student told me was 'one of the
best days of his life'!!

It really was something special.

I posted a link to some of the media exposure we received on the
IYCA message board... Have a look:

http://www.iyca.org/board/index.php/topic,1057.0.html

You can also have a look at the entire Men's Health Fit Schools
project at this website:

http://www.menshealth.com/fitschools

Now, with all the glitz, glamor and media attention of this
event being what it is, how does this have anything to do with
today's newsletter message subject:

WHAT'S THE TRUE MEANING OF 'COACH'?

Check out this story...

I was gazing out at the student body from the stage.

The Men's Health Fit School Faculty had just been introduced
and the kids, all 1,300 of them, were going CRAZY!

Cheers, chants, applause... you could tell that these kids
were pumped and excited to get going!

Being the observant guy that I am, I noticed a group of girls
all sitting together in the front row.

There were 6 of them in total, and they were noticeably less
excited and enthusiastic then the rest of the student body.

It hit my in an instance why...

... These 6 kids were overweight.

They had just realized that this event was going to revolve
around fitness and exercise, and to me, they were starting to
build up a defensive wall around themselves.

"Don't get too excited".

"We're overweight and if we try any of this physical exercise
stuff, everyone's going to laugh at us".

You could almost tell what their inner dialog was saying.

As the day went on all 1,300 kids got rowdy, had fun and
literally tripped over themselves trying to volunteer for
games and activities we had created for them.

But these 6 kids sat quietly together.

Somber.

Removed.

I kept close tabs on them during the 5 hours we were in that
gym.

I wanted to see how they were reacting to the event at large.

And more than anything else, I wanted to reach them.

Events like this one and the need for improved physical
education in schools is FOR kids just like this.

And if we didn't somehow reach these 6 kids, than I would have
considered the event a tragic failure.

Every time I passed them, I was sure to chit-chat.

I asked them how they were doing.

What were their name's.

Were they having fun.

I didn't necessarily want or need them to participate in the
activities.

They clearly had boundary issues and I certainly wanted to
respect that.

I just wanted to make them feel part of everything.

That they mattered.

Fast-forward a couple of hours...

The first Men's Health Fit School's initiative was over and was
being touted as a major success.

We were wrapping up interviews with the local news, accepting
accolades and 'thanks' from students, parents and teachers and
just sitting back trying to catch a breath after 5 grueling
hours of providing activities and exercise for 1,300 kids.

My head shot up towards the back of the gymnasium.

My name had just been called out by a group of kids.

All 6 of these girls were madly waving good-bye to me and
yelling 'THANK YOU'.

........

After a long two days and a flight home from South Carolina, I
plopped my tired body down into my office chair.

I just wanted to check email one time before I would head home
and grab some well-deserved sleep.

An email was waiting for me from one of the fitness editors
at Men's Health who was responsible for the Fit School's
project.

The subject line read, "How Successful Were We At Getty's?"

I couldn't believe what I read...

The principle at Getty's, Mike Cory, had emailed saying that
a few of the kids in his school came up to him right after
the event was over.

They were telling him how much they enjoyed themselves and how
much the realized that exercise could be fun.

They were excited to begin a fun and energetic exercise plan
tomorrow and were thrilled to discover how much they now
realized the importance of physical fitness.

The email went on to describe who these kids were and why the
principle himself was so excited to tell us about this
conversation.

He explained how the kids were so happy that no one MADE them
do anything, but still took the time to get to know them and
make them feel apart of the event.

Yup...

... It was those same 6 girls.

We spend a lot of time debating and arguing about stuff that
just doesn't matter all that much.

What's the best way to produce speed?

How do you make your young athletes strong?

Why is one training system better than another?

When it's all said and done, isn't touching the life of a child
inherently more important?

Let me ask you this...

Who won the Oscar Award in 1985 for best actor?

Do you have the vaguest idea?

Now, who was the most influential Coach in your life?

The one who made you love your sport.

Made you relish physical activity.

Cared about you in a way that made you feel completely and
utterly included.

I'll bet that even if you're in your 60's, you know the answer
to that question.

Go out today and become THAT Coach for a kid.

It's the most important and gratifying thing you'll ever do.

'Till next time,


Brian