Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. Up2Us Sports is fortunate to have several older AmeriCorps service members and following this year’s theme, Age My Way, we are excited to share a few examples of how two of our older Up2Us Sports coaches are serving their communities through coaching local youth sports.
At a time when older Americans are winding down in their careers, we asked Coach Steven (age 67) and Coach Carter (age 67) what it is about youth sports that encourages them to stay engaged with youth and how their experiences in life so far have been able to contribute to their time as a coach now. They also each shared their favorite part about coaching. Read about what each of them had to share below.
“I believe I got a little younger this year because of my athletes and see no reason to stop now.”
Coach Steven Feder - Morris Jeff Community School - New Orleans, LA
The youth of our country is the hope for our country. I worked for 35 years in television sports but I always knew that someday I would give of myself by sharing and teaching the lessons I had learned. Coaching at Morris Jeff has revitalized my life and I intend on staying in teaching.
I played sports with phenomenal athletes growing up in the 1960’s and early 70’s and I saw firsthand how sports can change a youth’s life. I played with the best and the brightest in NYC and I saw the ones who went on to phenomenal careers and the ones who [didn’t]…..the [problems] that drugs and poverty can cause. I used the triumphs and tragedies in my coaching. I feel it an honor to coach my kids.
My favorite part of coaching is the sharing and caring for the athletes. The loyalty and friendships are amazing and passing on my love of basketball has been a JOY!
I believe I got a little younger this year because of my athletes and see no reason to stop now.
“The best part in coaching to me is when the things we work on in practice, they execute in the game and the smiles that they show because of the new learned skill.”
Coach Carter Kendrick - LA Dodgers Dreamteam - Los Angeles, CA
In helping children and young adults to learn the sport of softball, it gives me joy and energy to see the smile on their faces, the interest in learning, and possibly helping them go play at the next level.
I have coached high school sports for 18 years and have seen the ups and downs of kids including kids who some people kind of gave up on. I like to be a positive influence to anyone I meet or work with. Being an older coach I have, as they say, "been there and done that," so I have a pretty good idea of how to use sports to relate to life experiences and life in general. Coupled with the training I have received from Up2Us Sports, the LA Dodgers Foundation and others, I feel I am equipped with the knowledge to help kids on the field and to use those skills in life as well.
The best part in coaching to me is when the things we work on in practice, they execute in the game and the smiles that they show because of the new learned skill. I also love the strategy and tactics during a game!
