When the Superior Bobcats football team isn’t on the field practicing tackles or running plays, they might be found with jerseys on up in the elementary, providing counsel and leadership to the fourth-grade classroom.  

In his eleventh year as head football coach, Jeff Schultz is relishing his second season of his student-athlete mentorship program. His players have paired up with Stacy Crabb’s fourth graders, and it makes quite the winning combination. Schultz said, “If they have a sibling, they get matched up with them; if not, they are assigned a buddy.”

Over the course of the football season, the players will visit the classroom at least two or three times. Their first task is to learn more about their fourth-grade mentee. 

Schultz explained, “They will ask the fourth graders 10 different questions. Things like what’s your favorite subject, sport, professional team, type of cookie, and most importantly, kind of candy bar.”

By the end of the mentorship program, the football boys buy them each their favorite candy. 

Mrs. Crabb stated, “There were many smiles, laughter, and excitement about their new ‘buddies.”

Relationship-building activities during introductions included thumb wrestling, rock-paper-scissors, and playing a math game called “Sticks” together. Mrs. Crabb will also make training cards of the football team, then have her students go and get them signed by their favorite players. Schultz expressed, “It makes the older players feel pretty good about themselves, and the younger students get really excited and feel special.” 

During the next visit, Mrs. Crabb will have her class draw up personalized posters for the football team incorporating their photos, to hang up for games. She exclaimed, “Most of my students were very excited about the players coming to meet them. Some were a bit nervous.” 

Mrs. Crabb shared, “The students are excited about watching football games to cheer on their buddies. I feel this program helps the school's culture by creating a more inclusive and connected school community across age groups.”

The motivation for the mentorship program came from Schultz’s attending various coaching clinics. He described, “It’s all about culture building, using football as a community and school foundation. The more you can incorporate the town, the better. These elementary kids look up to these guys; they are always watching. When you guys are doing something stupid, or if you’re on the right path, they have to always be thinking about that.”

“My oldest daughter is in the fourth grade, so it was an ideal class to use and to bounce ideas off her,” said Schultz. 

In Superior, the 2nd-5th-grade football program joins forces with the high school during the season and plays short scrimmages during halftime at the home games.

On Oct. 10, during the high school football game versus Plains, the last youth football game will be held during halftime. The second and fifth-grade players will also get to warm up with the high school team. 

Schultz noted, “They will pre-game with us, walk out and warm up, practice tackling, cats, defense, and play at halftime. They will walk in with the older players during team introductions.” 

Coach Schultz encourages the community to come and support this multigenerational football event for the young students, as well as their mentor buddies, on the football field during this special home game.