When coaches connect with kids, fun follows After soccer season ends, tae kwon do steps up

Our 7-year old son, Nate, recently wrapped up his soccer season, and what a time he and his teammates had. Under the auspices of the Bangor Parks and Recreation Department, coaches and players had the opportunity to participate at the fine facilities of the Union Street soccer complex.

And speaking of coaches, in all my years of being a soccer dad – hey, is that a new term? – I’ve never witnessed a finer coach for these youngsters. Noted baseball man Jay Kemble took over his charges a few weeks ago, and the kids were the fortunate recipients of his caring, patient attitude.

As a second-grader, Nate performed on a Montana squad that saw more skill development than in the past. Heck, they even moved away from the Ouija board token movement of the lower grades. And they had fun.

Speaking of fun, old Nate and a few of his buddies are also having quite a time at Master Hwang’s tae kwon do classes on Harlow Street in Bangor.

Now, make no mistake about it: This is fun but serious stuff.

Parents like Shelly and me are happy to enroll in an athletic program which teaches discipline and incorporates skill instruction and fun.

According to Master Hwang, the sport “trains its students so they learn to develop physical, mental, and spiritual strength while achieving proficiency in self-defense.”

Personally, I get a kick – no pun intended – out of watching Shelly, my wife, and Nate practicing their routines in the family room in front of the fireplace.

They both are so serious, and for parents of a second-grader to witness such concentration and self-discipline is a rewarding feeling indeed.

The sport of tae kwon do is growing by leaps and bounds. Tae kwon do is a traditional Korean martial art. Translated, it means “way of the hand and the foot” and remains a proud cultural heritage of the Korean people. The sport is more than 2,000 years old.

How popular is it?

In 1975, it was accepted as an official sport of the Amateur Athletic Union. AAU is known best in these parts as the governing body for such team sports as basketball. AAU’s popularity in Maine is perhaps only surpassed by sports at the high school level.

In addition to its association with AAU, tae kwon do gained recognition as a full-fledged Olympic medal sport in 2000. And that, my friends, is nothing to sneeze at.

What Dad likes is the skill and grace, developed through hours of practice, and, of course, the disciplined, caring approach of instructor Ki Hwang. This man loves what he does, and it shows.

30-Second Time Out

Nobody was happier to see the return of the Bangor-Brewer high school football game than I was.

It was certainly a classy move by Brewer and Bangor athletic directors Dennis Kiah and Steve Vanidestine, respectively, to invite former participants in the contest to appear at the game.

Both of these gentlemen always go the proverbial extra mile for their schools, and although much of what they do for their programs is done behind the scenes, the kids who participate are always the beneficiaries of such efforts.

I was lucky as a kid to be a part of both school systems. In Brewer, there were educators such as Bump Hadley and Wes Jordan. Across the bridge, giants such as Gerry Hodge and Norris Nickerson shaped the athletic fortunes for adoring youth.

BDN columnist Ron Brown, a retired high school basketball coach, can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net