2010 NFL Flag Football Regional Tournament (Raven's Stadium)

I love it when everything comes together at the last moment - which is exactly what happened for the Arlington Thunder 9-11 Flag Football Team.   Every year, Arlington Youth Flag Football sends one or two all star teams in each age group to the annual NFL Regional Flag Football Tournament, hosted this year in Raven's Stadium. Winners of the regional tournaments, held around the country, go on to the National Tournament in Florida, all expenses paid courtesy of the NFL.

Earlier in the season, the decision was made to send one Arlington team in the 9-11 category, but at the last minute there was a push to form a second team.  Just to provide some perspective - the first team was formed in August, before the actual season even got underway.  The second team, Arlington Thunder, was put together the first week of October and Ethan was asked to join the team.  The tournament was on the third Sunday of October.  In other words - Arlington Thunder had two weeks to assign positions, develop and learn plays and construct a defense.  And to confound matters a little more, the person who volunteered to coach had to back out at last minute. 

So when I got a call from the league commissioner asking if I would consider stepping into the coach position, I was at the same time flattered and terrified.  I was in no way qualified to coach an All- Star team!  Sure I coach a league team - but I was doing that by the seat of my pants.  I knew enough about running plays and setting up a defense not to embarrass myself or the kids!

As it turns out, I'm a pretty fast learner and so were the kids (okay - the kids learned faster than me, but don't tell them that!).  With a ton of help from the league commissioner and and a great assistant coach, we ended up having a pretty spectacular tournament.   Despite our late start, and the challenges of a Columbus Day holiday weekend, the kids pulled it together and exceeded everybody's expectations.  

Funny thing - we didn't win the tournament.  We didn't even win our pool, but after the disappointment of losing the final pool game wore off (which didn't take long) - there was immense pride over what we had accomplished.  We (and when I say we - I'm including the coaches) learned a new and complicated defense and contained the other teams - allowing only two touchdowns during pool play.  Now that's something to be proud of!  And on offense - not only did the kids learn the plays, they executed them well.  It was incredible to watch as I called in the plays from the sidelines through one of the players and then see them line up without confusion.  They we were calm and confident throughout the tournament. 

The kids who did not get much playing time were all mature, upbeat and supportive of their teammates.  These kids let the coaches focus on the game - they were ready to go in when needed and did not distract when they were not.  I have to give my own son, Ethan credit here.  Despite being the coach's son, he was substituted in one game for only two snaps.  And that was only because the assistant coach thought to put him in.  Ethan knew before the tournament that there was a high possibility that he would not play - he was the youngest player on the team and the only one that would be eligible to play in this age group again next season. Quite frankly, for the week leading up to the tournament he was miserable and at times made me miserable too.  But on game day, he learned what it meant to be part of a team.  Best lesson ever!