When Scott Tutterow isn't guiding jumbo jets across the Atlantic, he can be found in pinstripes, working as an official during high school football games in his hometown of Clemmons, N.C. Similarly, Damon Huntzberry of Smithsburg, Md., owns his own construction company, but still finds time to coach kids in grades 5-8.
Both of them recently turned to USA Football in order to enhance their knowledge of America's favorite sport. Huntzberry bought eight coaching DVDs at the USA Football Web Store, while Tutterow, a USA Football officiating member, also purchased eight. Interestingly, seven of the videos were on coaching, and the other on officiating.
"I pretty much got every DVD they offer," said the 32-year-old Tutterow, now in his fifth season as an official in the high school ranks near Winston-Salem, N.C. "I had not played football in such a long time, I wanted to see what the coaches are teaching to be better informed on what I might see during a game. That's why I got all of the coaching DVDs.
"It allowed me to get back into the swing of things, and helped me look for the right keys. I watch the different formations so I can understand what's going on when I see it live. The coaching DVDs are great. I really enjoyed watching those."
In addition to working high school games, Tutterow officiates in the local Pop Warner league.
"On Friday nights with the high school teams, I enjoy the good football," he said. "On Saturday with the younger kids, it's fun to help teach them the rules. It's more hands-on. I haven't seen an 8-year-old yet that can stand still at the line of scrimmage, so we try to work on that."
Tutterow enjoys watching the kids' progress over the years after they start out in football as inexperienced and green.
"It's absolutely satisfying to see them develop," he said. "I still see some kids year after year, and see how much they've developed and improved."
Using the DVDs to make the football experience better for the players is just the start of what Tutterow hopes is a lengthy tenure in the profession.
"I would love to make college ball one day," he said. "Whatever I can get my hands on to study and help my positioning, I'll do. Positioning is one of the most important aspects of officiating.
"One of the DVDs brings up a good point in that you should position watch instead of ball watch. It's easy to miss what you should have been watching because you were watching the ball instead of your position. There are some great tips that help you become better at officiating."
Huntzberry, meanwhile, was looking for something new to add to his practice plan, so he bought DVDs on practice planning, fundamentals and drills, coaching offense and coaching defense.
"In all my years of coaching, I've just gone off of my memory," Huntzberry said. "Like anything else, there's always room for improvement, and someone's always got a better idea for how to do things. The DVDs were very helpful that way, with providing new ideas."
When Huntzberry heard former University of Maryland and NFL standout quarterback Boomer Esiason talking on a commercial about USA Football, he took the word of the fabled athlete, who now serves as a spokesman for the independent non-profit.
"If Boomer's involved in it, it's probably a quality thing they're doing," is how Huntzberry described his introduction to USA Football. "That's what made me go on to the Web site."
Now players on his team can look forward to some fresh practices next season.
"It'll be nice for the kids to see totally different drills for next year that I'll use from the DVD," Huntzberry said. "It's done well and gives you some things to think about. It can be as simple as how one guy describes the way he teaches tackling.
"The kids hear the same sermons over and over, and the DVDs give you some ideas that will get their attention. I'd definitely recommend them to other coaches. I'm going to go through them and give them to the other coaches on the team."
Huntzberry has had the joy of coaching his sons Cole, a fifth-grader, and Lane, an eighth-grader, over the past four years. A former football player at Smithburg High School, Huntzberry looks forward to the fall every year in the Washington County Junior Football League.
"I've always had a passion for the game," he said. "I enjoy the interaction with the kids. It's nice to be able to teach the sport to my boys. I was asked to coach, and I'm glad I was."
Huntzberry doesn't mind the zaniness that goes along with coaching players in grades 5-8.
"This year, it's been a case of anything that can go wrong will go wrong," he laughed. "We only have 14 kids on the seventh and eighth grade team, so you can imagine how tired they can get in the second half. We also have the fifth and sixth grade team. It gives twice as many kids a chance to play, and it's paid off at the high school level. More of them get quality playing time, and it's game experience that really pays off."
Smithburg, Huntzberry noted, has made the playoffs three of the past four years. Thanks to his interest in becoming a more well-informed coach, there's a good chance that streak will continue with Huntzberry coaching the youngsters.
Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.
