For many dealership owners, the role extends beyond the business itself. In communities across the country, local dealerships often stay involved in ways that go well beyond their day-to-day operations.
Rochester, Illinois, business leader Jeffrey Kallister has overseen daily operations at S&K Buick GMC since 2007. When he is not driving business at his dealership in nearby Springfield, Jeffrey Kallister spends his time coaching his son’s Junior Football League (JFL) team. He is a vocal advocate of the Rochester JFL’s ability to help youth athletes learn the importance of sportsmanship and teamwork, among other benefits.
That broader role is reflected in his work outside the dealership, where his community involvement includes coaching youth sports teams and supporting organizations such as the Family Guidance Center in Springfield, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Central Illinois Foodbank, and Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
The Physical Benefits of Youth Football
By many metrics, football ranks as the most popular sport in the United States. According to data from the National Institutes of Health, about five million American children and adolescents play organized football each year. Jeffrey Kallister is a firm believer in the sport’s many physical benefits for young athletes. Football is a fast-paced game that places a variety of demands on the body, such as sprinting, jumping, repeated stop-and-go movement, and quick changes in direction, all of which contribute to improved cardiovascular health.
Participation in youth sports like football has become increasingly important in recent years, with less than 20 percent of American children meeting minimum activity guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and supported by the American Heart Association. Similarly, the National Recreation and Park Association reports that the average American child spends just four to seven minutes each day engaged in outdoor play compared to seven hours in front of screens.
Health and Mental Impact on Youth
As a result, children in the US have experienced a notable decline in health since the turn of the century. Obesity in particular has risen dramatically and now impacts approximately 22 percent of children, plus another 12 percent who qualify as overweight, per CDC and KIDS COUNT Data Center information. Youth football programs help children stay active, reduce screen time, and maintain a healthy weight. Additional physical benefits range from improved motor skills to increased bone strength.
In addition to flagging physical health, American children and youth have experienced a significant rise in depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Participation in youth team sports, however, contributes to lower rates of these problems. Research also suggests that children who engage in team sports may develop a larger hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for emotional regulation and memory.
Social Skills and Life Lessons
Furthermore, team sports represent an opportunity for socialization and friendship for athletes. Children develop their communication skills as they discuss plays and strategies with teammates, not to mention the respectful relationships with coaches.
Finally, children and adolescents who play youth football can learn many important life lessons and develop valuable traits, such as teamwork and sportsmanship. Football players come to appreciate the importance of accountability as they learn about the role of their position and their responsibilities during each play.
Maintaining a disciplined attitude is also important during practice sessions, allowing youth athletes to complete repetitive drills and perfect various skills. These efforts contribute to a determined work ethic that serves players both on and off the field. Youth football also promotes resilience, perseverance, calm under pressure, and mental toughness in young people, who learn to overcome challenges and, when necessary, rely on others for help.