By Matt Browning
Brandon McVey has been volunteering at the YMCA since his son, Gavin, was three years old. Gavin is now almost 10.5 and McVey is still going strong as a volunteer coach.
“I currently coach a competitive 10U softball team, YMCA football, assist with a competitive basketball team and coach a YMCA basketball team,” McVey said. “My youngest will be three soon which means I will be coaching T-ball again next summer. We are always busy, with practices almost every night of the week. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
McVey has had countless memories through his nearly eight years with the YMCA, but there is one memory that stands out from third grade football.
“Coaches always try to instill teamwork, teaching players the team is more important than yourself,” McVey said. “We have a drill at the end of most practices that is the length of the football field. We call it, red light green light football edition. This time the drill ended differently, once the faster boys were done. One of them yelled let’s help our team. They all ran back and helped until the last player crossed the line. To me that is teamwork, never giving up on each other.”
More than just a coach, McVey views himself and the other coaches at the YMCA as a person the players look up to. That in itself is more important than any sport being coached.
“Nothing beats seeing a kid in public,” McVey said. “I haven’t coached in a few years and they yell ‘hey coach’ then run over and give me a hug. We are more than coaches to these kids. There is nothing better than helping kids grow into great young people.”
