Page 13 - Talk of Tequesta - January '22

The Talk Of Tequesta, Page 13

honoring

Chad Rollins: NAYS Volunteer Coach Of The Year

For more than two decades Chad Rollins has been impacting if kids see their coaches having fun they will follow in their That’s exactly how Rollins has been coaching kids and
young lives as a beloved volunteer coach through the Jupiter- footsteps, and they’ll do the same and have fun.” changing lives season after season. And he’s genuinely touched
Tequesta Athletic Association (JTAA) in Florida. Parents love having their young athletes learn from Rollins, when he hears from former players who share how much he has
Big hearted and humble, with an endless supply of energy too. And while he works with youth – encouraging, motivating, meant to them in their lives.
and enthusiasm for kids, his days are packed with coaching and inspiring them – he never seeks out attention for his efforts. “One kid must have had to do a school project on somebody
youth football, junior varsity girls basketball and track and field. He’s all about the kids – all the time. that they admire, and he wrote about me,” Rollins said. “So, I
Plus, this dad of three somehow finds time to volunteer to coach Rollins was nominated for the award by Brad Caldwell, had tears in my eyes. He was like ‘when I was 5 Coach Chad
young athletes in the Special Olympics, too. president of Jupiter Mustangs Tackle Football and Cheer. “Chad helped me do this and helped me do that.’ So that’s what it’s all
It’s all these qualities – and many more – that earned Rollins coaches my son in two different sports, and I’ve coached football about right there.”
the prestigious Volunteer Coach of the Year award, annually with him for a couple years,” Caldwell said. “For the basketball
presented by the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS). league there’s eight to 10 kids and he runs around a couple
“Just seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces and seeing them different towns to pick them up. Most of them have broken
having fun, that’s what it’s all about,” Rollins said. homes, and he always puts these kids first. One day, Chad asked thEatrE haPPEnings
Rollins was selected among hundreds of nominations if I could step in and coach basketball because he was going to
submitted from recreation agencies nationwide and U.S. military be about 15 minutes late. I was curious why he was going to be
bases worldwide. Judging is based on how the nominee upholds late because he’s never late – and it was because he was with the
the NAYS Code of Ethics for Coaches, which includes placing Special Olympics that day, which is one of his big passions. I Rex Recommends
the emotional and physical well-being of players ahead of a never knew that he did the Special Olympics on top of coaching
personal desire to win; treating each player as an individual and high school and all of the youth sports here at JTAA.”
understanding the range of emotional and physical development Community Commitment By Rex Hearn
for the same age group; and doing his/her best to provide a safe Rollins is well-known throughout the Jupiter community
playing situation for all players; among many other key areas. for his strong commitment for helping all the kids on his teams Happy New Year! The
Focusing On Fun become not only better players but – more importantly – better wonderful people at The
“With the Jupiter Mustangs, we’re focusing on learning people. While players are stretching at the start of his youth Kravis Center have a jam
the game and also having fun playing the game,” Rollins says. football practices he can be seen weaving all over the field, talking packed selection to choose
“Once you have a kid who’s having fun at a young age they will and fist-bumping and high-fiving every single young athlete. from. Space won’t allow
grow up and love sports so that’s my biggest accomplishment With Rollins’ engaging personality and kids-first focus, for all their goodies, 30 or
is making sure the kids love the sport and also learn the sport it’s easy to see why he is a wonderful mentor for new coaches more to be listed here. So
that we are teaching them.” coming into the JTAA program. And a terrific source for here are a few I recommend.
One of Rollins’ biggest attributes is his unwavering focus on longtime coaches as well. Support the Arts and check
having fun. When he steps on a field, court, or track, he always “I am the coaching liaison here for this program so when first- for protocols so as not to be
brings a big smile and genuine passion – and his young athletes year coaches come to our program I try to tell those coaches to disappointed.
latch onto his energy and are excited to compete. make sure it’s all about the kids, because if it’s not all about the Kravis Center, West Palm
“When I start at the beginning of the year I don’t care how kids then you’re in the wrong profession,” Rollins says. “You Beach
old they are, I like to have fun coaching them,” he says. “I think have to do it from the heart.” Renee Fleming, that great American soprano diva gives
a recital on Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. in Dreyfoos Hall. “Summer” the
Donna Summer musical goes up Jan. 5 to 9. On Monday, Jan.
10 at 7:30 p.m. the Palm Beach Symphony takes the stage.
Gerard Schwarz conducts the superb pianist Yefim Bronfman
in Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. Also on the program
is Kikimora by Liadov and Shostakovich’s bone rattling
masterpiece, his Symphony No. 5.
On Tuesday, Jan. 11 two young artists, in the Classical
Series: Gabriel Martins, cello and Geneva Lewis, violin, give
a recital at 7:30 p.m. in the Rinker Playhouse. On the same
night in Dreyfoos Hall at 8 p.m., there’s a tribute to Tina Turner.
Comedian Jay Leno appears on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m.
in the big hall. On Friday, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday,
Jan. 15 at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m., Billy Stritch and Gabrielle
Stravelli celebrate the greatness of crooners Mel Torme and
the late beloved Ella Fitzgerald, princess of “scat.” Another
comedian, a prickly one at that, the very bright, no nonsense,
Bill Maher will entertain you on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 8 p.m. The
Detroit Symphony Orchestra under conductor Jader Bignamini
visits on Monday, Jan. 17 for Regional Arts Classical Concert
Series at 8 p.m. Program: Dvorak Cello Concerto in B minor
with Alisa Weilerstein, soloist, Banner is next by Jessie
Montgomery. Brahms’ resounding 2nd Symphony ends it.
The Heart of Hobe Sound Orchestra Big Band appears with Michael Feinstein
Est. 1926 On Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. the Kravis Center Pops
conducting and singing. Now for some theatre! The Aquila
Troupe presents Shakespeare’s Macbeth in the Rinker
WE WILL BE RENOVATING OUR ALMOST WE are YOUR Playhouse on Friday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday,
100 YEAR OLD CHURCH Jan. 22 at 1:30 p.m. Another great visiting orchestra flies
(IT’S GOING TO COST $350,000) Community Church in from Ohio, The Cleveland Orchestra, conducted by
donations welcomed and appreciated. their distinguished leader Franz Welser-Most, part of the
All Visitors Welcome Regional Arts Classical Concert Series on Sunday, Jan. 23
THINGS WE ACCOMPLISHED OVER We Invite You to Worship with Us at 3 p.m. Just two symphonies grace their program, Mozart’s
CHRISTMAS ... the HEART of the community ... Every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Symphony No. 36 Linz and Tchaikovsky’s magnificent
• New prosthesis for a 10-year-old boy Symphony No. 4.
An unusual talk takes place in the Gimelstob Ballroom
• Christmas cards sent to our service men and women overseas of the Cohen Pavilion on Jan. 24, a Monday, at 11:30
• Christmas baskets delivered to first responders Give us a call or visit our a.m. Dr. Robert Watson will tantalize in “Affairs of
website for more information. State”: an irreverent history of presidential mistresses and
FOR THE FORGOTTEN
Christmas gifts for adult disabled men and women (772) 546-5043 misbehavior! Fascinating!
www.heartofhobesound.org Now celebrating 60 years of grand opera, our own very
MONTHLY DINNERS special Palm Beach Opera present Bizet’s Carmen on Friday,
Monthly dinners to help offset some of the almost $350,000 in Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. and
renovation cost to our Church – Dinner will be held on the 2nd Friday Sunday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. Conducted by Antonello Allemande,
of the month at 5:30 p.m. from October thru May directed by Garnett Bruce, the soloists are: Carmen, American
Cost is $15 per person mezzo from the Metropolitan Opera, J’nai Bridges. Rihab
JAN. 14 - Rib dinner
FEB. 11 - Valentine’s dinner with violins Chaieb, mezzo, sings the role on Jan. 29 along with Don
MARCH 11 - Corned beef and cabbage Jose, Ukrainian tenor Migran Agadzhanyan. Jonathan Burton
essays the role Jan. 29, sung in French with English supertitles.
11933 SE Juno Crescent • Hobe Sound, Florida 33455 Remember proof of vaccination is needed and one must wear
a mask. Contact the box office at (561) 833-7888.