Troy University Athletics
Troy Coaches, Player Speak to Youth
1/27/2009 6:00:00 AM | Softball
Troy softball coach Melanie Davis and assistant Sharon O'Mara traveled to Perdido Key, Florida over the weekend of January 23, but they didn't go to the beach. They went to teach.
“We talked about how to become champions,” Davis said. “It was great exposure for Troy University, and what the softball program tries to do here.”
Davis and O'Mara used the word CHAMPIONS as an acronym on how to become one. Character, heart, attitude, motivated, perseverance, initiative, optimistic, never quits and selfless spelled out the word CHAMPIONS in their presentation.
Pete Mulrey is the event director for Stars of the Future, and he said the camp was very proud to have the Trojans coaches as well as former Troy softball player Tara Blackwell. Blackwell is noted in the Trojans softball media guide as “the player and the fighter.” She suffered a neck and back injury causing paralysis during the 2005 season, and her career was cut short.
“Tara's topic was courage,” Davis said. “She talked about how courage helps her in her day-to-day challenges and her hard work to overcome a disability as a result of her accident. Her story is very inspirational, and the kids clung to every word she said. She's working hard in school trying to earn her degree, and she took time out of her busy schedule to go and speak as well.”
Blackwell said the camp gave her a very rewarding feeling.
“My favorite part was being on the field,” Blackwell said. “They respected and listened to me even though I was in a wheelchair. That meant a lot to me.”
Blackwell is working through therapy right now while she is also earning a degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice from Troy University.
“It was amazing,” Blackwell said. “If I could have told them one more thing, it would have been to get an education. I thought I was going to be a life-long athlete, and now my education is all I have.”
The purpose of Stars of the Future is to teach kids in the Perdido Key area that playing sports can be more than just a game.
“We try to teach them life skills through sports,” Mulrey said. “The coaches learn a lot themselves too. It's kind of a combo of training coaches and kids. The first day we trained the coaches on how to teach young kids, and then on Friday night they all spoke to the children. They spoke on topics like how to be a champion, spirituality and just about life in general to these kids.”
Friday night was about the off the field aspects of sports, but Saturday brought an action-filled day on the diamond.
“We had a clinic for them on the field teaching game skills,” Mulrey said. “Our goal is to teach life skills and game skills. There is definitely a need for us coaches to teach kids life skills.”
The program is in its fifth year now, and Mulrey hopes to expand Stars of the Future to be a bigger program so that many kids can benefit from the lessons.
“It just brings such a sense of awe to our community, and I want to spread that around,” Mulrey said.
