Donald Moore reaped the benefits of participating in a variety of sports while growing up.
So these days he’s committed to providing those same types of fun-filled experiences for his own children, as well as others throughout the community.
Moore, the father of three kids – Preston (10), Payton (8) and Cale (6) – is this year’s recipient of the prestigious Parents Association for Youth Sports (PAYS) Parent of the Year award, sponsored by Nationwide Insurance.
(In the photo - from left to right - are Robert Veronee, who nominated Moore; former NFL player and coach Mike Ditka, who presented the award, and Moore.)
“He is just a great parent and a great guy,” said Robert Veronee, the youth sports coordinator for the Naval Weapons Station Youth Sports program in Charleston, S.C. “He is just so genuine. He’s knowledgeable about sports and he doesn’t try to be something that he’s not. He’s just himself.”
The Parent of the Year award is annually presented by the National Alliance for Youth Sports to one special youth sports parent who consistently emphasizes fun, learning and safety, who treats every child with the same respect and patience as their own, and who is an enthusiastic supporter of the coach and the team.
Moore certainly has all those areas covered – and much more.
“It’s an honor but it’s not about me,” said Moore, who received the award during the annual NAYS Youth Sports Congress in San Diego, Calif. “It’s about getting out there with the kids. My parents were big about me being involved in different sports and that’s what I want to give to my kids, getting them involved so that they have that exposure.”
Moore credits his wife Rachel for how they are able to successfully juggle the ultra-busy schedules of their children.
“We keep the kids on a pretty tight leash as far as getting home and having them do their homework and when that is done then we can do the other fun stuff,” he said. “It’s a tight schedule but teamwork with my wife is how we get it done.”
That balancing act didn’t go unnoticed either.
“One of the big things that really stood out was they always get all their kids to their practices on time all the time,” Veronee said. “The way they did that is amazing.”
Moore’s current job – chief at the Navy Nuclear Power Training Center – has also provided him with some flexibility on being a part of the practices and games.
“Right now I’m blessed with a job on shore duty so I have a pretty set schedule,” Moore said. “So having most evenings and weekends off I’m able to get out there with the kids when they are practicing.”
When the Naval Weapons Station Youth Sports program was short a coach for one of its t-ball teams Moore gladly stepped in and took over the coaching reins and was a big hit with not only the kids but their parents, too.
“I had people coming up to me requesting him to coach other sports,” Veronee said. “So that’s always a good sign. He wasn’t even a full coach for us and people were already requesting him for other sports.”
Moore thoroughly enjoyed the experience as well and said the season was special for a number of reasons, most notably the interaction he had with one child in particular who had a learning disability.
“I had a child on my team who had a learning disability and when you have a team of 5- and 6-year-olds it’s hard because they have the attention span of a couple seconds,” Moore explained. “So I tried to keep him focused and did my best to keep everyone engaged. Toward the end of the season we reached the point where this child was practicing and involved and at the end of the season the parents came up and thanked me for all the work and extra time I had spent with him, so that was the most satisfying time that I’ve had.”
Handling the dual role of coach and parent has provided Moore with valuable insight. Based on his experiences he points to open communication as being the key to having a smooth running season.
“Having open lines of communication is the big thing,” Moore said. “If you are a parent you’ve got to talk with the coach if you have problems, but both parties have to be respectful in how they come across.”
He’ll use that knowledge as he continues to volunteer his time to coach, while continuing to be a source of positive support and encouragement for all the kids participating in the program that he is so well-known and appreciated for.
2010 Sponsor
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Nationwide is the proud sponsor of the 2010 Parent of the Year Award.
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