Meet Coach Raul Rojas | Coach of the Week

Week 5

School: Jefferson High School

Years Coaching: 14

How long have you been coaching? Where did your career begin? College\university you attended?

• This is my 14^thyear coaching at some level of football. I began coaching youth tackle football with kids aged 5-13 with the Northeast Raiders. I then moved into coaching at the high school level, coaching defensive line and 7v7 football with Deathrow in an independent league.

Why do you coach?

• Coaching flag football this year was an opportunity to show the sport I love to the girls on our campus. Many look forward to the Senior PowderPuff game where they get to play flag football. This opportunity gave them a small taste of what it is like to learn new skills, grow in those skills, and get a taste of very real competition week in and week out.

What is the most rewarding\fulfilling part of your job?

• The most rewarding part of the job is the small victories: when the receiver who hasn't been able to catch a ball finally starts catching consistently, when the running back breaks one for a long gain, when the defensive players follow their assignment and come up with a big play, and when the rusher finally gets to the QB and gets their first sack. Best of all, the ladies trust themselves and trust each other. Seeing the moment on each player's face as the belief in their abilities grow, makes all the hours in practice worth the sacrifice.

In your opinion, what is the significance of the growth of girl's flag football?

• Football, in general, has always been seen as a male sport. Sure, we always had the occasional female come out to play but it has always been male dominant. The growth of girl's flag football has given an opportunity for girls to feel the same rush of scoring a touchdown. Learning the struggle of putting in a game plan and adjusting close out a game. They have been given a chance to show they can not only hang but excel in a sport that was dominated by men. There is opportunity now in college for girls to receive scholarships and continue to grow within the sport. The next logical step in Texas will be for the UIL to recognize it as a sport and allow these athletes to compete at the state level instead of just regionally.