Video: Local Coaches Talk Importance Of Mentoring Players

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s easy to cheer when a student athlete makes the big play on the field.

But what about when he or she stumbles.

When a stand-out athlete lands in hot water, it can cost them everything from embarrassment to court fines – even jail time.

That’s why some local adults want to reach young athletes early.

Luther Riley is the head coach for the Columbus High School Boys Basketball team. His team just won the state championship.

He says his love for kids is what called him to become a coach.

But along with that, comes another role.

“Being in the role, it’s not a question of whether or not you want to be a mentor, you have to be a mentor,” said Coach Riley.

Coach Riley says it’s important for student athletes to have a good support system to guide them in the right direction and this is often where he steps in.

“My first job there at Provine High School, the principal told me one thing and he said and it stuck with me for awhile, ‘the children don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.’ So once they know how much you care, then they’ll climb any mountain for you. And certainly we try to show the young men here at Columbus High that we care,” said Coach Riley.

That takes extra time and attention.

“You have to look at their support system and if it’s not complete, you have to serve in roles, such as a father figure, not the father but a father figure for a young man that may need to talk to somebody, may need to share some information with, something that he’s going through, you may have to be a listener, big brother. And I try to keep my office door open all the time. I’m not saying I can solve every problem, but I can listen and try to get help with the problem,” added Coach Riley.

Tyrone Shorter is the head football coach at Noxubee County High School.

He has coached for 18 years and also played professional football.

He says he uses his own experience as an example for his players.

“I’ve seen so many guys lose their career, lose their chance of going to college, once they get to college lose their career in college, so I use myself as an example. I try to explain to these guys what to expect once they get to college and what they need to do as they prepare through high school,” said Coach Shorter.

Coach Shorter has a mentor program for his players that meets weekly.

“We set away from football, we get away from football and we talk to them about preparing them for life, molding them to be young men and building character. And that’s one thing we do here in our program, because I want to see these guys be successful once they leave high school, have a chance in life,” said Coach Shorter.

He also wants his players to know that one bad decision can leave major consequences.

“It takes a few seconds to get in trouble, and it takes a lifetime to get out of trouble. Everything that you do, wrong or right, has a consequence behind it, and that’s what we try to tell these guys, Think before you do something because it’s always behind it,” added Coach Shorter.