Being a high school coach provides wonderful opportunities not only to seek prowess from students in sports, but also to instill in them some valuable life lessons. This is just the case with Donta Green, who is a coach at Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The dedicated coach has brought his school team to victory, and while part of this is down to physical fitness and practice, an improved general attitude has also played a key role in the team’s success.
One way Green has changed the behavior among his players is a strict no-cussing rule. This applies to players and coaches alike. If anyone uses bad language than they can expect to start doing push ups — 25, in fact.
In an article in the Post Gazette, Green explains his outlook:
“Communication is one of the biggest things lacking these days among our young people. We want to try and teach that. I don’t think you need to curse to communicate effectively, and kids need to know that. If we can’t get you to perform at a higher level without cursing, then we have a bigger issue.”
So with cussing off the table, the coach is also addressing the way the high school students dress. No students are to be seen wearing trousers hanging too low; and thanks to Green, the coaches, and donations, the players also walk the corridors of the school in blazer and tie.
And this is having a positive effect on the students and their academic success, with the team grade average being 3.2.
All of these positive changes are really affecting the way the players see themselves, as Keyshawn Morsillo, the team’s star quarterback, pointed out:
“He’s changed us. Everyone on the football team used to have, you know, that ‘hood’ culture. But he has showed us the right way to be a successful Black man. We look up to him, follow his footsteps. Really, he’s helping turn us from boys to men.”
And this is impacting the general attitude for these students not just in the school, but how they’re perceived in the wider community, too.
“A lot of the things we do might seem like small things, but they add up to big things. There are things we do that set us apart from other programs. It’s just a lot of simple disciplines. That’s what is lacking in a lot of our young people,” pointed out Green.
While the team continues to impress, it’s important to take note on how these small steps can inspire others. We can reinforce in our own children the importance of behaving appropriately.
To learn more about Coach Green and the program he has put in place, take a look at the inspiring video below:
And today we celebrate...