Bounty Program=Bad News

            Recent news of a bounty program in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, and possibly other teams is simply bad news. First, it makes playing the sport of football dangerous—more dangerous than it already is. An emphasis on concussions has been a major focus of the NFL in both research and rule-making groups, as studies have shown the negative medical effects experienced by many retired NFL players. To put all of the time and money into researching head injuries, and trying to make the game safer, and then to see where players go around the rules to devise programs where big hits and intentionally injuring players is rewarded basically thwarts all of the NFL’s efforts.

            Secondly, rewarding players for intentionally harming others goes against ethics, and comes close—at least in my mind—to breaking the law given charges for assault, etc. People can be arrested for fights in bars, but we applaud injury-causing hits and display them on Sunday Night Football on national television. Something is wrong with this picture.

            Third and finally, the NFL is viewed with honor, almost held to a sacred place in the minds of many families across the US. Young children cheer for their favorite players, and the Super Bowl might as well be a national holiday. What type of example does this give to youth when NFL players are being rewarded though financial payments for causing injuries?

Lindsey McAlarnen
Social Foundations of Coaching
Spring 2012

LEAD … for God’s Sake.

During the busyness of spring baseball last year at Notre Dame, I was encouraged to read a book by Todd Gongwer called Lead… for God’s Sake.  I met Todd at a Notre Dame Christian Athlete event and was even more inspire after to pick up his book and begin reading. Without giving too much away, the main character of the book is a young high school basketball coach Steve Rocker who despite all his successful coaching careers is now lost in finding the cure to his team’s failures on the court. Coach Rocker is also a husband and father struggling to balance his time and energy between his team and family.

As Coach Rocker continues to lose games and his players’ interest, he surprises himself as he finds help from the high school’s school janitor Joe Taylor. Joe helps Coach Rockers discover the fundamental answers to a meaningful life.  As Gongwer explains "if you’ve ever asked yourself WHY you do what you do, or what your PURPOSE is in leadership, or in life- this book is for you!”.  As lives intersect throughout the book, Gongwer brilliantly creates a parable that merges together inspiring lessons of leadership in the midst of a relatable and heartwarming story.  Coaches Lou Holtz and Urban Meyer are a few who have read the book and their commentaries can be found on the cover or in the book’s introduction. Lou Holtz writes “This is a book I could not put down until I finished it. Every parent, coach, manager, and leader should read it. I wish I had read it 30 years ago.” Trust me when I say this book has the power to transform you in every area of life. I am sure it will teach you like it taught me to LEAD… for God’s Sake.

-          Kaleen DeFilippis

Social Foundations of Coaching Spring 2012