'I take my role as football coach seriously'

Jim Martin stocks up every fall with sheets of star stickers - the better to reward his players.

This month, the Arlington Heights man he wrapped up his third year of coaching 9- and 10-year old football players, most in their first experience in tackle football.

Martin coached one of the Blue level Pack Ten teams for the Arlington Cowboys, which has players from Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove and Rolling Meadows.

Most, like Cameron Butler of Rolling Meadows, were disappointed to see the season end.

"(Coach Martin) had so much energy and excitement, and he brought that all onto the field," says Cameron's mother, April. "He was 100 percent positive, all of the time. Even when they were losing, he went out of his way to recognize individual efforts."

That's where the stickers come in. After every game, Martin awarded stars to each player, recognizing outstanding contributions for things like big tackles, good blocks, scoring touchdowns, and just showing extra effort. Every player earned one.

Martin concedes the stars were not his idea, but they helped his effort to affirm the positives in his players rather than dwell on the negatives.

"I take my role as a youth football coach seriously," Martin says. "If this is a child's first exposure to football, I want them to have a good experience - and want to keep playing."

Martin himself grew up playing football in the Northwest suburbs, including at Prospect High School 1984-1987. He coaches his 9-year-old son, Jimmy, on the team now.

"I have a huge passion for football," Martin says. "I think it is the greatest sport in the world, mostly because there are so many life lessons to be learned from playing on a team."

He preaches four pillars of youth football: good sportsmanship; being a team player; learning the fundamentals and having fun.

Yet parents say his influence lasts beyond football season, and for that they are thankful.

"He boosted the confidence of each and every boy," Butler adds. "And he role-modeled what good sportsmanship should be, both to the boys and their parents."