Discipline problems have never been an epidemic for the Mercer Island High School football team, but the program has seen its share of incidents. While discipline is always a concern for parents, coaches and teachers, it is agreed that the best approach is to solve a problem before discipline is needed. The ideas of being a better citizen and getting the community more involved in Islander football are both aspects of the team’s new community outreach program.
The program has led to less incidents overall and helped coaches and parents to use football and the concept of community as a teaching tool. The coaches also hope that this results in more support in the stands.
“I think it has really changed behavior,” said Mercer Island football coach Kelly John-Lewis, who came up with the program. “They have been a lot more accountable.”
The program is set up to teach not only discipline but a pride in team, school and community.
“It was Kelly’s idea, and it’s working well,” said Mercer Island football coach John Williams. “It’s been a good help for the community.”
The parent of two Mercer Island High School football players, Barb Hovsepian, implemented the new program.
“This program reiterates that these kids need to be solid students along with good members of the community,” said Hovsepian. “They were excited to do this.”
All varsity players, except freshmen, are expected to take part in nine events during the season. The football team will participate in a total of 368 hours of community service.
“Every week they do these things,” said John-Lewis. “We want them to be thankful for what they have.”
The events range from painting the Islander Stadium bathrooms to washing the Mercer Island Police Department vehicles and helping out at the Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club.
“We thought about going off Island, but this is their community and we want them to take pride in that,” said John-Lewis. “It has really changed behaviors.”
John-Lewis admits that there have been some minor incidents but none as big as in past years. Along with the community service, the coaches monitor all of the players’ school attendance and grades.
“With all that these kids have to do, society sets them up for failure,” said John-Lewis. “We have rigorous academics here.”
Those rigors have brought some resistance from parents and students alike.
“There has been some resistance, and it is just about budgeting time,” said John-Lewis. “This is not a football lesson; this is a life lesson. We want to plant a seed to help these kids to be good people.”
Hovsepian has worked to alleviate those issues.
“We wanted to set the appropriate expectations of the kids,” said Hovsepian. “They have been thankful, and they love doing something for the community. I hope that the kids learn how to make a difference, how valuable their time is and how grateful people are when you volunteer.”
Along with community service, the coaching staff has urged more mentoring of freshman players by the more experienced students in the program. That mentoring has led to a benefit for the team.
“I think they are closer than in the past,” said John-Lewis. “We want them to be out there in the community and get more involved in school as well. We always talk about making good choices, and the kids need to be praised for making good choices.”
The demand for community service and the success of the program has spurred more interest from Island organizations.
“As we grow the program, we want to help as many people as we can,” said Hovsepian.
Whether it is working at the Mercer Island Farmers Market or helping with a food drive, the benefit for the community is obvious.
“These kids are doing good things, and all we ask for is the support of the community,” said John-Lewis.
