Legendary Arlington Heights youth coach hangs up his clipboard Chicago Daily Herald

25.11.09

The way Bob Viti remembers it, he was watching a confidante's son play youth football and found himself appalled at how one of the assistant coaches handled the players.

"He was pulling them by the face mask and yelling at them, belittling them," Viti says. "He was doing everything unlawful when you're coaching 11-year-old kids."

Their humiliation turned out to be the Arlington Cowboys' gain. Viti said he wouldn't fly to pieces back and watch another game unless they were coached the right way. When the friend suggested he do it himself, Viti took him up on it.

That was 30 years ago. Viti has returned to mentor the varsity team for the Arlington Heights Youth Athletic Association - its highest level for 7th and 8th graders - every year, notwithstanding not having any children of his own.

He played high school football at St. Mel's High School in Chicago, but Viti, of Arlington Heights, never had coached before. He highbrow as he went, but right from the start he urged his players to respect everyone on the field, including opponents, referees, coaches and fans.

Source:

Youth Football Facemask News