A great experience begins with a coach inspiring and encouraging kids to have fun while playing the sport they love—football.
We didn’t have ambition, or even a desire, to play in a tournament when we decided to offer football practice during the lunch break three times a week at school. We didn’t think about how much this initiative could change the students’ behavior in the classroom or how this new environment would make students more responsible and caring toward each other.
From a simple playing time, we created the grassroots program. We couldn’t imagine that the students would be engaged and committed to attend the practices. Day after day, we had more kids asking to join football practice as they realized their friends were learning, playing, improving, and, most importantly, having fun.
As students were very engaged in the practices, we invited them to play in a local competition, the Canton Cup. They were very excited when we shared the idea and started commenting about it every day with friends, teachers, and parents. Some of them didn’t talk about anything else, only football.
We finally reached the most important date for them—the day of announcing the participants of the Canton Cup.
The tournament rules allowed us to take up to 10 players, and it was a challenge for us to choose. Students knew that we would be taking attendance, commitment, and behavior in consideration to select the group to represent our school.
The peak of our experience was in the tournament’s opening ceremony; the other 6 teams saw us and indirectly started intimidating our young players. Our boys knew about the challenge, and they also knew that they had to be tough in the field.
The team played exceptionally well, calling everyone’s attention as they played hard, fair, and demonstrated a sense of organization that no one seemed to believe. Our team was the youngest in the tournament, and it was admirable to finish the competition in 4th place and win the sportsmanship award, which from an educational perspective, is more important than anything.
The season is not over, and our student-athletes are motivated to continue practicing to improve their skills and have a better performance next year. Students have demonstrated considerable improvement in their capacity to challenge themselves and push their limits; they are willing to take more risks and do not worry about failing, but take it as a learning opportunity; they have improved their organizational skills and transferred this essential ability to classroom projects and they all agree that they are having fun while playing the sport they love.
I have had many memorable experiences during the course of my coaching career, but this season has been particularly special, as I have both of my sons in the team. I didn’t expect to have Bruno in the team, as he is not very enthusiastic to play football, and I believe he joined the team because of his brother. However, he did a great job as a defender, with an impressive sense of position and covering his teammates’ areas. Felipe was amazing, showing his great skills and the passion to play—most of the time, he was the first to come and the last to leave the pitch.
I can guarantee that this season has been one of the best, as I’m enjoying each moment with my students and my sons, doing what I love—learning, sharing, and inspiring.
As students were very engaged in the practices, we invited them to play in a local competition, the Canton Cup. They were very excited when we shared the idea and started commenting about it every day with friends, teachers, and parents. Some of them didn’t talk about anything else, only football.
We finally reached the most important date for them—the day of announcing the participants of the Canton Cup.
The tournament rules allowed us to take up to 10 players, and it was a challenge for us to choose. Students knew that we would be taking attendance, commitment, and behavior in consideration to select the group to represent our school.
The peak of our experience was in the tournament’s opening ceremony; the other 6 teams saw us and indirectly started intimidating our young players. Our boys knew about the challenge, and they also knew that they had to be tough in the field.
The team played exceptionally well, calling everyone’s attention as they played hard, fair, and demonstrated a sense of organization that no one seemed to believe. Our team was the youngest in the tournament, and it was admirable to finish the competition in 4th place and win the sportsmanship award, which from an educational perspective, is more important than anything.
The season is not over, and our student-athletes are motivated to continue practicing to improve their skills and have a better performance next year. Students have demonstrated considerable improvement in their capacity to challenge themselves and push their limits; they are willing to take more risks and do not worry about failing, but take it as a learning opportunity; they have improved their organizational skills and transferred this essential ability to classroom projects and they all agree that they are having fun while playing the sport they love.
I have had many memorable experiences during the course of my coaching career, but this season has been particularly special, as I have both of my sons in the team. I didn’t expect to have Bruno in the team, as he is not very enthusiastic to play football, and I believe he joined the team because of his brother. However, he did a great job as a defender, with an impressive sense of position and covering his teammates’ areas. Felipe was amazing, showing his great skills and the passion to play—most of the time, he was the first to come and the last to leave the pitch.
I can guarantee that this season has been one of the best, as I’m enjoying each moment with my students and my sons, doing what I love—learning, sharing, and inspiring.
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