With 90 percent of Nottingham High School’s football team coming from single-parent families, the coaching staff has taken it upon themselves to teach their players how to grow into responsible men. Discipline, accountability and brotherhood are all part of the values instilled by the coaches into their players. The coaches hope that by teaching these boys values, a change in the community can take place.
This story won the military award in the Syracuse Fall Workshop 2015, and second place in the 2015 Department of Defense Military Photographer of the Year Competition multimedia category.
With 90 percent of Nottingham High School Football team coming from single-parent households, the coaching staff pushes their players to reach beyond for something greater. Waiting at the top of the hill, Nottingham High School junior varsity coach, Virgil Reese, drills his players during a summer practice Aug. 27, 2015 in Syracuse, N.Y. as an assistant coach runs with the players. The coaching staff pushes their players, encouraging them to climb any hurdle life may place in front of them.
With about 90 percent of Nottingham's players coming from single-parent households, the coaching staff is often dealing non-football related issues that stem from the home and penetrate every-day life for the boys. Here, a player takes a moment to rest his eyes, relaxing before practice starts Aug. 17, 2015.
Coach Virgil Reese stops in during the school day to speak with quarterback Jevon Jones Oct. 16, 2015. Reese, a special needs teacher, checks in on his players throughout the day, making sure the boys are doing well in school, and to see if any family issues are flaring up that day. "We're coaches, but we're also friends and we're also councilors," -- Coach Virgil Reese.
Players prepare before for a game Oct. 17, 2015 in Syracuse, N.Y. According to the coaching staff, working as a team requires the players to come together, letting go of any selfish desires--an idea the coaches feel isn't always taught at home.
Nottingham High School football player, Kenaz Thomas, looks up at coach Virgil Reese during the team's last practice of the season Oct. 16, 2015 in Syracuse, N.Y. "It all comes down to growing these boys into men. These young men will go out into the community and make a change. They can make a difference and it all starts right here," -- Coach Virgil Reese.
Coach Virgil Reese listens as one of his players calls teammates to figure out why they're not at the school before a game Oct. 17, 2015. The Nottingham coaches hope that if they teach their players to look out for one another on the field, that they may translate to off the field actions too.
Players cut-up during a lunch break at school Oct. 16, 2015 in Syracuse, N.Y. "If the boys grow together now, those bonds will bring the community together as they become men,"--Coach Virgil Reese.
Coach Virgil Reese smiles while talking to one of his players before a summer practice Aug. 25, 2015. "I want to build a sound character young man that understands his value and his desire to work hard to achieve what he wants,"--Reese.
Nottingham High School junior, Jakeev Jackson, stairs out the window on a Sunday morning Oct. 17, 2015 before his last football game of the season. "I don't want to be here forever ... I hope to make it out," said Jackson.
Players come together at the end of practice, counting up to three before yelling the word "family," Aug. 27, 2015. Nottingham High School's football team chants the word "family" before, during and after every practice and game.
"When there is a deficiency in the parental-unit, boys grow up to be men this community doesn't need. If we can grow these boys into good men, we can change the community. That change starts with a football team," -- Coach Virgil Reese.
