High School Players Lead the Way for Younger Students

The FCA Bowl

Kade McGee, American Christian Academy, Tuscaloosa, AL

The FCA Bowl (FCA stands for Fellowship of Christian Athletes) is a youth flag football and cheer league operated by Coach McGee that involves the high school students coaching and mentoring the youth kids in Tuscaloosa. High school football—predominantly juniors and seniors—serve as coaches and mentors to the kids playing on the team. During each evening during the four days of the Bowl, there are two games for each team along with a “devotion time” led by their high school student-athlete coaches. High school cheerleaders are also involved with the event, taking interested youth through different cheers and leading small “huddles” during devotion time.

The FCA Bowl provides an incredible opportunity for high school students to serve the younger generation and give back. It also gives the high school kids an opportunity to take on a leadership role and learn what how gratifying it is to provide service to others in their community.

The FCA Bowl is an idea that Kade picked up from Chad Phillips, an NHSSCA member at Strength & Conditioning Coach at Westbrook Christian School in Rainbow City, Alabama. “All the credit goes to Coach Chad Phillips and Westbrook Christian School for sharing this idea with me and helping us bring it to American Christian Academy,” said Kade.

Three Questions with Kade McGee

What does it mean to you that your student-athletes have chosen participate in this valuable community service project?

“Inside our Football program at ACA, we are always looking for ways we can give back to the community. We are a K-12 school so our younger elementary kids see our varsity football players each day and really look up to them as role models. We try to preach to our high school kids that every move they make and every word they say is important because younger eyes are always watching, and we want them to set good examples for them to follow. We knew that the FCA Bowl would work perfectly because every word our high school students say to the younger kids carries a lot of weight given the respect and admiration our younger kids have for our older kids at the school. What better way to give back than to teach them how to play the game, how to compete, show good sportsmanship, and most importantly, share the love of Jesus Christ.”

What does it mean to help your student-athletes do so much for others, especially around the Holidays?

“I believe the Holidays is the perfect time to take a step back and reflect on what really matters, and in the end, what really matters is what you are doing to benefit others. How you use your gifts and talents to make someone else's life better is what's most important. So teaching our high school student-athletes to use their platform and talents God has given them to give back to the younger generation and make a positive impact on them is pretty special. Hopefully, the joy and fulfillment our high school kids receive out of participating in the FCA Bowl will inspire them to search for other ways to give back throughout the year.”

What advice do you have for other NHSSCA members who would like to put on their own efforts to help others, especially around the Holidays?

“Find ways to serve in other capacities at your school and community. Yes, coaching is a service and an important one at that, but look for other ways to get involved and give back. It could be working with an organization like Fellowship of Christian Athletes, or giving your expertise and service to less fortunate kids in the community on the weekends. I know I have seen John Garrish give back to his community in ways like this in Florida, and that has been inspiring to me to look for other ways where I can make a positive impact. Look for other ways to use your talents than just helping your athletes at school. The more people you can impact, the more you are changing the world for the better—and that's a pursuit worth chasing.”