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NFL Youth Coach of the Year winners are making a big difference in grassroots Canadian football
Canadian talent is becoming a bigger part of boththe CFL and theNFL, and a large part of that is thanks to the improving state of coaching and facilities at the grassroots level. Some of that is boosted by the CFL and its teams, but there's lots of room for other involvement, and NFL Canada is doing some great work on that front. The organization's made an impact at the university level with financial support for CIS programs, and their Youth Coach of the Year award has not only recognized outstanding Canadian grassroots coaches since 1999, but also provided those coaches with funds for equipment to boost their efforts even further. The 2013 winner and runners-up were announced this week (disclosure: I was on the panel that helped choose them), and all three of their stories show the remarkable impacts of volunteer coaches across Canada. Here's some of what the NFL Canada site had to say about winner Quentin Tynes:
The National Football League has named Quentin Tynes 2013 NFL Youth Coach of the Year
Tynes has deep roots in the Halifax football community. He grew up in a family of 13, but through football was able to attend Acadia University, where he captured Canadian University Rookie of the Year honours and led the underdog Axemen to a Vanier Cup victory in 1981.
Now a volunteer coach with the Halifax Argos ─ a Halifax Gridiron Football Association club that draws largely from the city’s lower-income North side neighbourhoods ─ Tynes was also inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame earlier this month.
“I have seen Quentin Tynes ─ known as ‘Snoopy around here’ ─ take 30 kids from different parts of town, different economic backgrounds and different cultures, and mold them into a single cohesive unit,” said Kent Clarke, one of Tynes’ assistant coaches, in a nomination essay. “He uses this diversity as a life lesson for the kids, and combines it with hard work, dedication and discipline. The time he dedicates and his willingness to share his love of football with every kid who is interested makes football possible in our community.”
Tynes is a very worthy winner. He inspired many with his play for Acadia, but he's perhaps done even better as a coach, helping build a squad once disparagingly referred to as "The Welfare Team" into an impressive team that gives underprivileged kids a chance to play football at a solid level. This award will help further his mission, too; thanks to it, Tynes' Argos will receive $5,000 worth of equipment and $5,000 for bursaries to help kids stay in the game. However, he's not the only impressive guy here, as the runners-up are pretty exceptional too (and they'll each get $2,000 in new equipment for their programs). From the NFL Canada release:
Ontario Provincial Police Constable Harvey Milne, who volunteers his time coaching at Ernestown High School and running Kingston’s U-12 OPP Football League, was named a runner-up and will receive $2,000 in new equipment.
“Harvey Milne instills a sense of pride and accomplishment through organized football,” said Kingston’s Robert Martell in a submission essay. “For ten months of the year his volunteer efforts ensure that approximately 250 children, ages five to twelve, have an opportunity to learn and play organized football.”
John Turner, a teacher and coach in Summerside, PEI, was also named runner-up and will receive $2,000 in equipment for minor football in Summerside.
“Over the past few years John has almost singlehandedly created a football program in our community,” said Turner’s nominator, Summerside’s Bob Mueller. “He has purchased equipment with his own money, recruited and taught both kids and parents, and faced a lot of adversity. He has even been awarded the Mayor’s medal of honour, recognizing those who have made outstanding contributions to the social, economic or cultural life of Summerside.”
While grassroots football in Canada is often low-profile, it's critically important to turning out quality players for the CIS, CFL and NFL levels. We're seeing better and better Canadian talent all the time, and a lot of that is thanks to the hard work of volunteer coaches across Canada. Moreover, many coaches like Tynes, Milne and Turner really go the extra mile, not just instructing players in drills and plays but also working hard off the field to finance the costs of equipment and league fees that often keep many out of football. Their hard work is crucial to developing the Canadian talent of tomorrow, and it's great to see them recognized like this.
