Name: Otis Moses
Football Connection: Midwest City Falcons Sports Association President and Youth League Head Coach
Occupation: Restaurant General Manager
USA Football Membership: Administrator
Length of USA Football Member: 2 months
Coach and Administrator Since: 1998 (Coach), 2004 (Administrator)
League: Telstar Football League
City, State: Midwest City, OK
Team Name: Midwest City Falcons
Division: Ages 4-12
What do you enjoy most about your role as a youth football administrator and coach?
I like seeing the growth and development of the kids and working with all of the great people around us. I like seeing everybody coming together as one family and working together and meeting a lot of people. I like to see these young people develop and grow in not just football, but to become great characters in the community. I also really enjoy interacting with single-parent kids and getting to play that father role.
What are some of your goals for 2008 and beyond?
We want everybody to have fun and be safe, to have a disciplined group of kids and grow this league and be successful. Overall, we want to make sure our kids are disciplined and having fun and try to keep some of the kids' broken families from breaking up with football.
What made you want to get into youth football?
I played the game when I was young and I wanted a way where I could give something back to the kids because I've always worked with children and I thought this would be a great opportunity for me. I worked with a lot of "at-risk" kids, and the way I approached it in the past was I would just try to discipline them and talk to them at their schools. But, I always thought that we needed something new for them to get involved with, so I just wanted to give something back to the kids that they could do.
As a mentor, what are some of the messages you relay to your players?
I try to teach them how to be a positive role model and show them how to be a positive role model within their own community, teach them the Christian principles and family values, teach them teamwork and how to respect their teammates, team and their parents.
How did you learn about USA Football?
Through a clinic that I went to-there was another coach there that was with the league that we played in that told us about a clinic in Spencer, Okla., and then I went to that clinic.
What inspired you to join USA Football?
The benefits that they offer; I wanted to give my coaches some knowledge, so I like the idea that they can go look at practice planners and pick out plays with USA Football's library of information. I have a lot of young coaches who have never played football but they are great volunteers and they want to learn the game, so I would say USA Football opened the doors up for us in the way where I wanted to guide this association. I like all the information that is available, the insurance they provide, the great benefits that they have and I like the people that I've been talking to and working with. USA Football Regional Manager Deno Campbell (South Region) has been very helpful and has networked me with a couple of gentlemen who have football leagues and I learned some things from them that were able to benefit and help us, so I like the networking process also. From a coach's standpoint, you can't go wrong with USA Football.
What would tell someone who was considering joining USA Football?
I would tell them that they will support you-it's the best support and knowledge that we could ever have in football. Another great thing is that they provide insurance; a lot of guys won't offer us the insurance. I like the idea that they offer background checks, which make my job easier, and they get the knowledge. That's three entities where they strengthen you as a coach. With these three entities, I can take a young man who is willing to give us the time, join USA Football and teach them how to coach. Also, not only do they just deal coaches, but they deal with referees and officiating. So, USA Football is the backbone to our success within our organization when it comes to football.