ROCKET CITY FOOTBALL
Football tradition is alive and strong in Rocket City. Our football program begins in first grade and continues through to senior year. It is a cooperative program with coaches and players at higher levels working with coaches and players at younger levels. And the program works with players to develop more than their skills as football players. RP football develops strong leadership, commitment and dedication.
Kyle Jewett, head coach for Reeths-Puffer varsity football, shared his insight and overview of the Rocket City football program. Mr. Jewett teaches AP history and American history at RPHS. He was named the MLive Coach of the Year in November 2013.
Football tradition is alive and strong in Rocket City. Our football program begins in first grade and continues through to senior year. It is a cooperative program with coaches and players at higher levels working with coaches and players at younger levels. And the program works with players to develop more than their skills as football players. RP football develops strong leadership, commitment and dedication.
Kyle Jewett, head coach for Reeths-Puffer varsity football, shared his insight and overview of the Rocket City football program. Mr. Jewett teaches AP history and American history at RPHS. He was named the MLive Coach of the Year in November 2013.
“I played three sports in school,” he says, “but there is no other sport that disciplines a person better than football. You learn teamwork, work ethic, mental toughness, accountability, leadership and selflessness. These are the traits we work to develop in our Rockets. And, above all, we want to make it a great, memorable experience for them.”
The varsity players are expected to be leaders in the school. Coach Jewett frequently reminds the varsity squad of when they were the youth players who were looking up to the RP Rockets in green and white. “That’s who you are today,” he tells them, “now it’s your turn to be a role model and a leader and to make this experience special for the younger players.”
The varsity players are expected to be leaders in the school. Coach Jewett frequently reminds the varsity squad of when they were the youth players who were looking up to the RP Rockets in green and white. “That’s who you are today,” he tells them, “now it’s your turn to be a role model and a leader and to make this experience special for the younger players.”
Starting Young
Outreach from the varsity coaching staff to the youth program is strong. Youth league players are invited to every home game and encouraged to wear their jerseys and form the tunnel for the varsity squad as they take the field. At the end of the season, the youth league teams get to play their last game in Rocket Stadium. For these games the varsity players make the tunnel and stay to cheer for the younger teams.
In an effort to create a comprehensive and cohesive program, there is a lot of interaction and cooperation with the youth program. Coaches of the youth teams are all volunteers. Coach Jewett and other RPHS varsity football coaching staff hold coaching clinics to help these volunteers understand the elements of the high school football strategy. Players from the JV and varsity squads attend many of these clinics and demonstrate drills and plays. The youth program coaches are encouraged to attend JV and varsity practices and they are welcome to the sidelines of all the home games.
Outreach from the varsity coaching staff to the youth program is strong. Youth league players are invited to every home game and encouraged to wear their jerseys and form the tunnel for the varsity squad as they take the field. At the end of the season, the youth league teams get to play their last game in Rocket Stadium. For these games the varsity players make the tunnel and stay to cheer for the younger teams.
In an effort to create a comprehensive and cohesive program, there is a lot of interaction and cooperation with the youth program. Coaches of the youth teams are all volunteers. Coach Jewett and other RPHS varsity football coaching staff hold coaching clinics to help these volunteers understand the elements of the high school football strategy. Players from the JV and varsity squads attend many of these clinics and demonstrate drills and plays. The youth program coaches are encouraged to attend JV and varsity practices and they are welcome to the sidelines of all the home games.
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OFF THE FIELD
Coach Jewett thinks long-term about his players and their football skills, their character development, and their future beyond high school. He has helped to grow the off-season conditioning for the players by improving the football class, which is offered as an elective to all football players. He invites college coaches to speak with the squads about what it takes to play college football. Law enforcement officers come in to give talks on the consequences of bad decisions. The team adopts a family during Christmas and the players do the shopping and deliver the packages to the family. To reinforce their position as role models, players visit the RP elementary schools every Friday during reading month and read to the kids.
FACILITIES
Rocket Stadium is a state-of-the-art 6,000-seat stadium and track. It is one of the biggest stadiums on the lakeshore. This year the team will enjoy a fully renovated locker room. Over the summer contractors and volunteers worked hard, stripping, painting and adding new graphics depicting the history and pride of the RP Rocket Football program.
Every school is proud of their football program. At Reeths-Puffer “We are the Program”: players, students, faculty, families and everyone in Rocket City. Here in Rocket City, Rocket football is just one more element that works to bring our community together. With student, faculty and coaching leaders like ours, Rocket City is the best place to learn, contribute and compete.
Follow Rocket Football here:
RP Football Blog
Coach Jewett thinks long-term about his players and their football skills, their character development, and their future beyond high school. He has helped to grow the off-season conditioning for the players by improving the football class, which is offered as an elective to all football players. He invites college coaches to speak with the squads about what it takes to play college football. Law enforcement officers come in to give talks on the consequences of bad decisions. The team adopts a family during Christmas and the players do the shopping and deliver the packages to the family. To reinforce their position as role models, players visit the RP elementary schools every Friday during reading month and read to the kids.
FACILITIES
Rocket Stadium is a state-of-the-art 6,000-seat stadium and track. It is one of the biggest stadiums on the lakeshore. This year the team will enjoy a fully renovated locker room. Over the summer contractors and volunteers worked hard, stripping, painting and adding new graphics depicting the history and pride of the RP Rocket Football program.
Every school is proud of their football program. At Reeths-Puffer “We are the Program”: players, students, faculty, families and everyone in Rocket City. Here in Rocket City, Rocket football is just one more element that works to bring our community together. With student, faculty and coaching leaders like ours, Rocket City is the best place to learn, contribute and compete.
Follow Rocket Football here:
RP Football Blog
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