CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – On the football field, coach Keith Burrell is teaching lessons that go far beyond the sport.
“Just because you fail now doesn’t mean you’re going to fail later,” Burrell said.
He said success doesn’t come overnight.
“If you’re patient and you wait for the skills to develop, you will be successful,” Burrell said.
Burrell has been coaching youth football in Cedar Rapids for several years, mainly with the Metro Youth Football Association. Now, he also serves as the organization’s president.
“It’s seeing the kids develop,” Burrell said when asked what draws him to coaching youth football. “I love seeing the development of the kids and seeing them get better in general. And that’s what it’s truly all about.”
One of the players Burrell has impacted is Bodie Johnson. His mom, Annie, said Burrell helped grow Bodie’s love for the game.
“In kindergarten, he was like, I kind of like football. I don’t really know, but I’ll try it again. And then first grade, he just developed this huge love for it. He was hooked. And I really think that Keith was part of the reason,” Annie said.
She said Burrell has not only impacted Bodie’s game but how he handles loss. One moment, she said, really stood out.
After an undefeated season, Bodie’s team lost the championship in another league. He was devastated.
But Annie said Burrell pulled him aside after the game.
“Keith like picked my son up and is holding him up in the air, like hugging him and whispering something in his ear. And after that, he was not sad about the loss anymore. He was just like happy that they got to do it,” Annie said.
Burrell hugging Bodie Johnson after loss(Annie Johnson)
As a mom, she said there aren’t words to describe moments like that.
“When your kids are hurting or they’re sad or they feel like they failed at something, you want to do everything you can and make it better. And nothing I was doing was working, but just that one moment with him and Keith, he was good,” Annie said.
From those moments, Annie believes Keith deserves a 9 Who Care nomination. Keith said he feels fulfilled.
“To see the young boys grow and begin to believe in what they do and how they do it, it’s a great feeling,” Burrell said.
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