C-L’s Smith honored for ‘coaching boys into men’
Clarion-Limestone mathematics teacher and head baseball coach Todd Smith has recently received the third annual Western Excellence in Male Leadership award from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Smith received the award for his work with the Coaching Boys into Men program that has been implemented with the Clarion-Limestone baseball team. Coaching Boys into Men is a program funded by the Centers for Disease Control that teaches student athletes healthy relationship skills and the idea that violence does not equal strength.
The Coaching Boys into Men program aims to use the athletic coach to teach important lessons to their players such as healthy relationship skills and a nonviolent attitude. Sessions are held weekly where he discusses a certain topic and questions with his players. “The program talks about a lot of the stuff I would already talk about as a coach,” Smith said. It moves on from not only respecting yourself, respecting others but then into respecting women and girls. “We also talk to the guys about domestic abuse. In our culture, there is an issue with how women are treated. I think the best way that we can deal with it is to talk about it. If the young men that are in our life can take leadership than it can make an impact for a long time.”
Senior team member Ian Hawthorn said, “It’s good to have these things, especially at practice. There is more to life than sports, and it is good that we can learn about them here. Everyone is human and deserves to be treated with respect.” Sophomore Curvin Goheen added, “We are taught the basic aspects of respect from the time we are little, but this program helps as a reminder in what is right and what is wrong, so now we have the chance to step up and say something if we see violence happening.” According to Smith, he has received positive feedback from the parents and players, stating the sessions often lead to discussions at home.
Smith was approached by Dawna Allison of Clarion County SAFE about bringing the Coaching Boys into Men program to Clarion-Limestone a year ago, and implement the program for his players this past season. Clarion-Limestone is the only school in the county with a Coaching Boys into Men program. “It is our hope that other Clarion County coaches will join with SAFE and Coaching Boys Into Men by embracing their role in the movement to end violence against women and girls,” said Allison. “The Coaching Boys Into Men program works as well as it does because athletic coaches play an extremely influential and unique role in the lives of young men. Nowhere is this truer than with Coach Smith.” Smith will be honored at 4:05 p.m. June 16 at PNC Park, where he will throw out the first pitch and be presented with his award.