Local coach infuses life lessons into football

ROCKWALL/HEATH, TX (July 13, 2014) While juggling a job and a family of six kids, Preston Nix still finds time to give back to his community and make an impact in the lives of young athletes by coaching football for the JER Chilton YMCA.

Nix started a sports program eight years ago to offer a fun, safe environment that would allow local kids to participate in all kinds of sports and also expose them to Christian values and leadership skills.  Recognizing that Nix’s mission aligned with theirs, the Rockwall YMCA approached  Nix about three years ago and asked if he could bring his talent for coaching to the YMCA. The Y wanted to provide a quality, community-based football program that builds healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

“[The Y] has the same values and morals that we were trying to incorporate and develop. It was just a natural bond, so we came together as one. The YMCA is known not just locally, but nationwide. They offer a good competitive league that I think people feel comfortable putting their kids in.”

Nix has quite the football background. He began playing in third grade, and received a football scholarship toTexasChristianUniversity. A back injury eventually ended his football career, but did not diminish his love for the sport. His three sons play football, too.

Nix said his method of coaching involves a hit average of only 10% at any given practice, whereas most programs encourage a hit average of 80%. He said that lowering the points of contact expected of the kids is a good thing—it keeps them from burning out on the sport when they reach middle school and high school. His players only practice twice per week, and the season cannot begin until after the high school teams have started practicing in padding.

While Nix teaches football techniques, he also infuses each practice with life lessons. He said it is important to him that the kids he coaches feel comfortable enough in their environment to fail.

“The key is to get the kids to learn leadership values and morals, and to give them a place to fail because that is the only way they can succeed,” he said.

Nix also encourages his young players to develop their spiritual lives. Practices include prayers and devotionals, often given by the players. Nix said to him, the most rewarding aspect of coaching is “seeing the kids light up, when they learn something, memorize a verse, or participate in a devo.”

Nix said that this spiritual focus does not mean the players are any less competitive.

“The good Lord has high expectations of us, and therefore we have high expectations of ourselves,” said Nix.

Nix said coaching gives him an opportunity to be a role model and lead the kids he teaches to a better lifestyle because football inherently contains life lessons.

“It is important to me because it allows me the opportunity to serve,” he said. “It’s not for us—it is absolutely 110% for the kids. That is why we are so passionate about it. This is just our way to give back to the community.”

By Blue Ribbon News staff writer and reporter Julie Anne White. 

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