F e at u r e
COACH AAU team for the TRUTH. The girl’s team, coached by Hall-of-Famer
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Nancy Lieberman, made it to the playoffs in their league. Cheerleading, started in 2010, is run by Kim Mathis. There are
“I want to be part of the solution in these children’s lives, not the problem.”
roughly 30-35 girls in the program ranging from ages 8-14. Their first competition is expected to be in November/ December.
“Momma told me she thought my calling was to be in the church, I told her ‘Momma, THIS is my calling.”
Soccer is run by Kevin Mathis. The inaugural 8 year old team is “competing to have fun”. “The way we trick the kids is to make them compete for who was having
The core of the future is the children and we have to make sure the core doesn’t fail.
the most fun, not who is the best player. All the kids know right now, is that they are playing a sport that they love. They don’t realize that
By Alejandro Roseberry Photos by Willy Orji
this sport teaches a multitude of life skills: patience, respect, and
n April of 2008, Coach Ray Elder met
athletes. It was primarily started to include girls in
Deion Sanders at local radio station
the program because the organization wanted more
97.9. Through conversation about
diversity. It also included field events for the kids who
their own children, both men got into
wanted to showcase their abilities. Baseball is run by
the topic of youth sports and decided
Coach Rick Funches. They had one team of 11 year
to merge their select football teams.
olds who competed in every competition they could.
Coach Elder and Sanders wanted a
The team went to the World Series and finished 4
th
out of about 72 teams.
higher level of competition for kids who
They’re going to “Shiloh [Sanders] was scoring 30 TD’s a season in s ta rt k e e p i n g leagues that had kids that were playing football for every kid instead the first time.” –Coach Ray Elder. of just keeping the The inaugural football team was created in June. The b e s t. T h i s m e a n s m o r e team drove from downtown Dallas to Frisco twice a week for practice to help accommodate every player’s t e a m s w i l l b e m a d e . ” didn’t have exposure.
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living location in the DFW. Although the inaugural
“it really changed the perception of the stereotype
team might have had a little jet lag, they managed to
that African American players can’t/ don’t play
go undefeated.
baseball. We had a lot of diversity on the team.” –
As the football program was becoming successful,
Coach Ray
this sparked ideas to create more sports for the
Basketball started in 2011, run by Coach Steve
other children in the growing T.R.U.T.H family. There
Smith. They participate in leagues in both Lancaster
are about 600 kids in 6 programs. Track has 70-80
and Oak Cliff. 8-12 year olds. In essence it is an
U N D E R R A T E D I Yo u t h F o o t b a l l
honesty.” – Coach Kevin Mathis. T.R.U.T.H CREED
> Coach Ray<
I want to let the kids know how serious it is to be an outstanding student, citizen, then athlete.”
Remond (Ray) Elder. Grew up in Carrollton, Georgia. He played Running Back at Grambling State University from ’89 – ’94the. Part of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, he says it helped him being able to help kids. Director of Football Operations & Track Coach.
“Trust in God. Respect myself and others. Understand that I have unlimited possibilities. Try and do my best. Honor myself and the TRUTH creed at all times.” TRUTH coaches try and make it a way of life, not just pertaining to sports. They challenge the parents, players, and staff to make them be better students, athletes, families, and citizens. An A – B grade average is a requirement to be on any team in the organization. “We want the best StudentAthletes, not just the best athletes. We make it a point of emphasis that grades are going to better their lives more than sports will. Once they have that mindset, then everything else starts to fall in place for them” –Coach Calhoun
(C.Q) “90% of participation in the organization comes from the families IN the organization...that’s unheard of.” “My title in the organization isn’t something that defines me. I want to make sure everybody has what they need to succeed. If they need help doing something, I don’t mind passing out uniforms, pick up trash, work the concession stands.” [On single parents] “The TRUTH is giving them an opportunity to cheer and enjoy their time instead of having to worry their son’s or daughters are hanging out with the wrong people.”
> Coach Reginald< His son made the inaugural team and he started volunteering immediately. President of PTA sports. Served 21 years in the Army, was a bronze star recipient and finally retired in June of 2007. U N D E R R A T E D I Yo u t h F o o t b a l l
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