I agree. Many youths that have been asked a question of who was the most influential person in their lives gave the answer my coachwhich preceeds my teacher or my parent. That's right. A coach that is often overlooked. Often times the coach of a youth in whatever sports or activity it may be, is often the most influential person to put youths on the straight track of a conscientious life of respect, responsibility, and accountability. It is often times, the only time teamwork and individual contribution is highly focused that our youths do not see it reflected enought from anywhere else. A coach can be hard, firm, and strict, yet also being compassionate, supportive, and positive. Youth coaching, coach them to achieve in life through sports or activity.

sound words there and i agree

It is also quite astonding that most youth who are spoken to on an equal level of an adult conversation, tend to reciprocate an equal level of dignity shown to them. You treat them with the given respect that they are capable individuals with their own mind and thoughts and they will often give you that same respect towards all others. Furthermore connecting to our youth on a personality level, creates a commonality for the structure of the conversation. If they're light hearted and like to make humorous references, connect to them on that level. If they're a short few words and blunt forward sarcastic type of person, connect to them on that level. If they're a wordy and out of the box thinker, connect to them on that level. There isn't a one simple straight forward solution to everyone. There is only just keeping an open mind and an attempt to make connections to come to an understanding. Don't flower your words to one person and censure another. If you speak to your youth the same as you speak to everyone, it's all the more reverence you will recieve from your youth.

Some things to keep in mind...

AWESOME RESPONSE !!!!
The reference of the "coach" in our life, SO TRUE!!!!. Slipperybob, you seem to have a GREAT insight on how to "Touch" what kids, (most) these day's need outside and inside their normal day-to-day. I found that whenever we take a troubled "kid" fishing, they have been in a "hide away" place deep within themselves, unable to open up to anyone. It makes NO difference "How", rather that they were there!! That's what most of the kids we take fishing, or walk and talk, or even do something as small as play catch with the baseball, suffer from. We see that when they are hurting so bad inside and cant seem to tell anyone why they are hurting, it's because (90%) they don't think anyone will understand, and their scared of being laughed at if ANY of what they are saying "gets out". The heavy drinking, the drugs, whatever the tool is at first is simply because they dont know how to open up and start talking.
As you said, "It is also quite astonding that most youth who are spoken to on an equal level of an adult conversation, tend to reciprocate an equal level of dignity shown to them. You treat them with the given respect that they are capable individuals with their own mind and thoughts and they will often give you that same respect towards all others".....AWESOME !!!!! It's a "LAW" within our house, (so to say) that EVERYONE ls treated the same!! With respect, understanding, honor and above all,,,,, Love. Not only will we see better relationships with our own children, but within the family structure. I always tell people, "if you want to have a strong, secure future, it starts within the four walls within your home", and I truely believe, the future of America has to start with the Love and respect we show our children. How else will we stop the crazy junk of tomarrow, next week, next year if we don't start today with our kids?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

More to come soon!!!!

I only wish I read these words of wisdom two weeks ago.After church on Sunday, I and my two boys usually go fishing.We look forward to it(weather permitting). I lost my mother a week ago, their grandmother whom they loved very much.Coming from a big family, my brothers and siste's consoled each other, leaving the grandchildren out as to not hurt them anymore than they were.They were left out of the hugs, all the remembrances of mom, all of it.Thinking I was protecting them I learned a crushing lesson. Hey guys, when this is over we could go fishing. Grandmom loved to fish.The answer floored me. No I don't feel like it.Why not, me and Dan don't want to.Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Not once did I ask them how they felt, are you guys O.K, do you want to talk about this.I was so lost in self pity I forgot about what matters the most, my family! We had a long talk and we're taking this Sunday off.Just because they're young doesn't mean they don't feel sometimes deeper than you.I can't wait to fish with them again and talk. Jesus was a fisherman too. To end this I want to thank the men above S. B., F.F. and of course, Mr. Bill.
P.S Have any one of you guys watched a movie called A River Run's Through It ?

yes i have and i loved it. also thank you for the kind words. or should i say your welcome.

i was brought up with this in my life. my dad was a scout master for the local troop for almost 50 yrs. the only short coming of that was, my dad didn't push or work with me as mush as he did with the other kids that he work with. so even though i saw the good of such thinking i also felt the sad part of it.
i was able to use what i learned from watching my dad and other men that was in the troop over the years with my kids and those that i have made contact with over the years. i umpired little league games-- even thou my kids never played baseball or softball. i couch and refereed basketball-- my kids did play in a youth league for a couple of years. the same with soccer.

the thing i would like to say is......we must not be drag down when we see a kid that we have reached out to, turn away and say no thanks. i don't want to be happy and life sucks. we have to remember that we can only reach those that is open/wanting to be reach. we're not going to reach them all. but doesn't it feel good when we know that we have reach one. i know i do. i said this just as much for me as for anyone else that has had this feeling.

GOD has given all of us a gift to teach the children around us and it's up to us to us that gift to our fullest. we also must remember we don't do these things for our sake but HIS and to do what is right for the generations to come. yes the kids of this world are the future and without the proper teachings, all will be lost one piece at a time, one child at a time.

i know that i am not as deep of a thinker as some of you guys. i'm just a simple man trying to live a simple life. learn what i can and teach what i learn. thank you very much for your words of wisdom and i look forward to reading more.

Good Day All !!!!!
I have to say, All of the simple ideas, thinking and aspirations each of you show in your comments, proves to me that there are many more men out here that truely have a place to teach. I mean to say, I have just spent the last 11 days dealing with an old health issue. I withdrew inside myself because I became angry at what the doctors told me. I had a visitor on the 6th day of my "pitty", (the mother of feeling sorry for myself) when a 11 year old young man came by to visit and to share how he won over the heart of a bully in school, simple by listening to him when he was angry!!!!!! I was awe struck already hearing him tell his story, when he reminded me that I showed him how to be "That kind of person". I simply listened to him. So, he asked me what my problem was, and I told him. See, I fell into a trap that most of us "Adults" fall into, I was the adult, and I did'nt need to share what I was going through. DUMB.
We built a great thing here!!! We are changing a tiny bit of the next generation for the better. Teaching young boy's and girl's how not only to cope in day to day life and each other, but how to be leading members of a "silly society" in which they will play leading roles for them and for us as "older folks" lol. We are not "shrinks", just good ole country folk trying to live the best way we know.
That's the key, "Just trying to live the best way we know".
WHAT DO YOU THINK??? TELL ME.
GOOD TO HEAR ALL YOUR THOUGHTS GUY'S

MORE TO COME SOON......
KEVIN