Beyond the Game - Introduction
617 views · Published 10 June 2015 · 2:25 · Indexed 15 October 2026
Channel: USA Football · 2015 · Sports
Grant Teaff, author of “A Coach’s Influence: Beyond the Game” and executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, explains why he was motivated to write the book and how he helped lead the charge to research new social issues that affect youth athletes. Why is A Coaches Influence: Beyond the Game important to you and those you teach? Every person should strive to be the best they can be, particularly if you are using yourself as an example for others to follow. Whether you really want to or not, if you serve as a teacher and/or coach, it is your obligation to be the best you can be. As teachers and coaches, we must back up our words with our actions. For students, working and striving to win is an important part of the growth process. Combine that with learning to handle both victory and defeat and you have the makings for great life lessons. The ultimate lessons you can teach through the game of football are respect, accountability, integrity, and eliminating negative peer pressure. Teaching the importance of developing a consistent work ethic will dull the prevalent and rampant feelings of entitlement. Developing a personal value system is the fertile earth from which positive character traits grow. Personal development is important because being better developed, educated, and trained makes a better teacher, coach, and role model. The chapters in the abridged version of A Coach’s Influence: Beyond the Game, will help the teacher/coach master the keys to success, convey them to those they teach and strengthen their influence as leaders.
