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Warrior Signee Adds to Impressive Resume
Posted: Mar 25, 2009
A four-year member of Play It Smart at Long Beach Poly, Lyles has been an active participant in the program, inspiring his teammates to balance their powerhouse status on the field with equal success in the classroom and as leaders in the community. “[Play It Smart] has taught the whole Poly family, about family and that there are no individual successes without family success,” said Lyles. “So this honor is a team honor, not an individual honor.” Lyles, who has received numerous football accolades, recently signed a letter of intent with the University of Hawai’i to play football in the fall. On the field, the team captain led his team to a 14-1 record, a California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section title (the school’s 18th), and a runner-up finish in the CIF Open State Championships. “Play It Smart is like a big brother standing over you and encouraging you to perform on and off-the-field,” said Lyles. “While my friends from other schools were fumbling around trying to keep up with the recruiting process, I was already set thanks to Play It Smart.” “George’s leadership skills have been invaluable to the football program,” said Long Beach Poly Academic Coach Monica Kim. “As team captain, he has taken on his younger teammates and stressed the importance of academics and discipline.” “Coach Kim has helped me get to where I am today,” said Lyles. “Without Coach Kim, I don’t know where I would be.” “Each month we honor student-athletes who demonstrate excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in service to others,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “George is one these extraordinary student-athletes. We look forward to following the bright future of this remarkable young man.” Lyles recorded over 150 tackles this season and was named to several All-State teams. In addition, he was crowned Moore League and CIF Southern Section PAC-5 defensive MVP. Even with all the accolades on the field, Lyles found the time to give back to his community, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, the Long Beach Rescue Mission, Foundation for Kids’ Long Beach One Million Toy Benefit, Miller’s Children’s Hospital, and reading and mentoring local elementary school children. “Volunteering at the soup kitchen was one of the most beneficial activities we did,” said Lyles. “It really put life into perspective, it reminds you to be humble.” “George is just a great kid, a hard worker, and an awesome leader,” said Head Football Coach Raul Lara. “He is a real student of the game, and that’s because his classroom ethics transfer over to the football field.” “This young man is a tremendous talent on the field and he has become a valuable asset to his community through his volunteer work,” said Len Stachitas, Play It Smart Executive Director. “Hawai’i is getting a great football player but an even better young man.” Each month the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame honors one student-athlete as the Play It Smart Student-Athlete of the Month. Winners are selected from nominations received by academic coaches from 160 schools in 33 states. At the end of the school year the “Student-Athlete of the Year” will be selected from the monthly winners to be honored at the annual Play It Smart National Conference. Play It Smart would like to recognize each of the student-athletes nominated for the February 2009 National Student-Athlete of the Month Award. http://www.playitsmart.org/february09_students.php of the Month Award Nominees
With major financial support from a broad-coalition of school districts, corporations, individuals and organizations, including the NFL and the NFL Players Association, the Play It Smart program achieved dramatic results that include: * 95% of seniors graduating high school, compared to 76% of their peers; * 80% of seniors enrolling in college compared to 63% of their peers; * Participants completing more than 55,000 hours of community service annually; * Participants earning more than $8 million a year in scholarships; and * 270-plus graduates earning places among the elite collegiate ranks during the 2008 season on Division I rosters. Launched in 1998 and proven as one of the most comprehensive and effective youth development programs in the nation, Play It Smart currently partners with more than 160 schools in 33 states throughout the country. The program has shown that sports, when coached in the proper environment, can be used as an effective tool for significantly enhancing the academic performance and goal-setting practices of its participants. Play It Smart fulfills its mission by facilitating the hiring and training of “Academic Coaches” who work at high schools in underserved communities during the entire school year. The year-round Academic Coaches teach participants how to transfer the life skills learned on the playing field and apply them in the classroom and the community for success throughout their lives. Academic Coaches build on the positive peer pressure of the team and a participant’s interest in football by utilizing a set of guiding principles and tactics, which are designed to make academic achievement the norm. Tactics include one-on-one goal setting meetings, career and life skills sessions, mandatory study halls, SAT/ACT prep classes, community service projects and other team building events. The success of the program requires the full support of a team’s head coach, who must lend his full authority with his players to the efforts of the Academic Coach, as well as the support of the school’s administration, especially the principal, the head of guidance, and the athletics director. |
