Teaching the game: People who love sports and kids find a calling as coaches for youth leagues

Youth sports can't exist without people who step up to coach and officiate the games.

Matt Rubel, a physical therapist, has been coaching youth sports for about 10 years.

"I used to play, then I started helping out my siblings, and now I coach my own kids," he says.

Rubel stays very busy in the coaching game, as he coaches five girls' basketball teams at Immaculate Conception School in Jackson and one soccer team through the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department.

"Our fourth- and fifth-grade daughters both play basketball, and we have twin daughters in first grade who play soccer, so I coach them all," he says.

Rubel says his favorite thing about coaching is watching how a team comes together.

"It's great to see kids learn how to work together as a team and to see the success that comes from that hard work," he says.

The biggest challenge, he says, is channeling the energy of the younger ages: "They bring a lot of energy, and they also feed off your energy."

The advice most given by Rubel to his teams is to always do their best.

"I always tell the girls that sometimes we will win the game and sometimes we will lose the game, but if you always work hard and give your best effort, you still win no matter what," he says.

Matt Rubel coaches an Immaculate Conception School junior-high girls basketball team March 14 in the Drury Southwest Junior High Invitational at Notre Dame Regional High School. (Photo by Fred Lynch, flynch@semissourian.com)

Rubel, who played basketball through college, says he puts in about 10 to 12 hours of coaching a week during basketball season and around three hours a week during soccer season. Like most coaches of youth sports, he is an unpaid volunteer.

"I had lots of good mentors and coaches that I played for and coached with along the way," he says.

He also sees the time he spends coaching as a way to spend time with his girls, and a way to give back to their school and community.

"It's a way to be a part of my girls' lives and something we can do together," says Rubel. "I may not be able to do other things at their school, but I feel I have a talent for this, and I encourage other parents to do it and just have fun doing it."

Randy Brugger, who works for Manac Trailers in Oran, Missouri, also works as an official for youth basketball, football and baseball, as well as slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball. He has been officiating games for nearly 30 years and says he still enjoys it.

"I get paid to exercise," he says.

He says the biggest challenge for what he calls "rookies" is standing your ground as a sports official.

"Fans will test your knowledge," he says.

He adds there is a certain amount of training you have to take to be a youth sports official, and you have to fill out some paperwork and pay your fees.

"Every year, there is a slow-pitch softball clinic that lasts for about two hours," says Brugger. "With fast-pitch tournaments, you have to get recertified with every organization."

Brugger is certified with six different organizations.

"A lot of area businesses (benefit) from that, as Cape has a name as a good place to hold tournaments, and it's known for having good umpires," he says.

Brugger says he puts in about 30 hours a week officiating games.

"Guys who are MSHSAA (Missouri State High School Activities Association)-certified do lots more," he says.

Brugger enjoys being a youth sports official for a variety of reasons.

"I like using my knowledge and love of the game to teach kids how to play the game right," he says. "(Officiating games) is a good way to exercise and to meet lots of different people."

Cody Hinkebein, a student at Southeast Missouri State University who is majoring is sports management, has been officiating youth basketball, flag football, baseball and softball for three years.

"I like to be outside in the summer, and to help kids become more knowledgeable about the game," he says.

He adds that being a youth sports official is a great job for college students.

"I was looking for a job in sports that I could do in the evenings," he says.

The downside can be that you don't always get a lot of work hours, he notes.

"Sometimes, I only work three hours a day," he says.

In addition to being certified to officiate youth sports, Hinkebein is MSHSAA-certified for high school sports.

For those looking for part-time work, Hinkebein says he recommends being a youth sports official.

"You get to meet a lot of people and you can do it and still work full time or go to school," he says.

Jim Simpson, a supervisor at TG USA in Perryville, Missouri, has been involved with coaching youth sports for most of his adult life.

"I coached high school football, baseball and softball during the late '80s and early '90s for about 10 years," he says.

He also coached Perryville Youth Football for three years and has coached Little League Baseball and softball for almost 20 years.

His love of working with kids keeps him interested in being a volunteer youth sports coach.

"Working with the kids and the youth is what I enjoy most, no doubt about it," he says.

Simpson serves as head coach of his daughter's traveling softball team and assistant coach of his son's traveling baseball team.

"I've been coaching them since they were old enough to have a ball in their hands," he says. "But we didn't ever force them to play."

Simpson has attended several coaches clinics over the years and studied physical education at Southeast Missouri State University.

He estimates he puts in anywhere from three to 15 hours a week as a volunteer youth sports coach.

"The three things I always preach are have fun, give 100 percent hustle and give 100 percent focus," he says. "(In youth sports), you're not out there just to win, but you are learning how to win."

Simpson believes getting kids involved in sports can help them later in life.

"Kids who are stronger in athletics are usually stronger in life," he says. "They are able to stand up and say 'no' when they need to say 'no.'"

John K. Brown, an operating engineer with local union No. 513, is from Perryville and has been a youth sports coach for seven years.

"I coach rec league softball and basketball and a traveling fast-pitch softball team for youth 14 and under," he says. "I played (sports) when I was younger, and I (coach) to be a part of my kids' lives and also to help other kids in the community."

Brown's favorite part is seeing kids improve, and the joy and satisfaction kids get from that.

"I love seeing the smiles on their faces when they accomplish things," he says. "If I can help one kid improve over the course of the season, then I know I did something right."

Brown says the most challenging part of coaching can be dealing with the parents.

"Most parents aren't like this, but there are always some who can be confrontational and are too hard on their kids or embarrass their kids," says Brown. "They need to remember that we (coaches) are volunteers."

One of Brown's best memories from coaching came just last year.

"Last year, we hosted 12 and under Girls Little League districts and state," says Brown. "Our team won its first game and lost its second. ... Then, we came back and won four straight in a row. We ended up winning districts and going to state. I love how the girls fought back and never gave up."

On how many hours he puts into coaching youth sports each week, Brown jokes that his wife says its "too many!"

"Between practices and games, I probably put in anywhere from four to 25 hours per week," he says.

Brown encourages people to get involved with youth sports.

"It's hard to find coaches out there, and rec league gives kids that might not be able to play on a traveling team a chance to play," he says.