“When you make a positive impact on a child’s life you will soon learn that not only are you making them better people, but they are also making you better as a person.” – Ted Smith

Here’s His Take on Teaching Life Skills Through Sports and Top-Down Leadership

We interviewed i9 Sports of Winter Garden Director, Ted Smith. His reputation for top-down leadership and his inspirational coaching model have made him a household name in Horizon West. He is known as the kind of coach that kids will remember for a lifetime. And his dedication to building a better community is something that sets him apart in the sea of sports programs. Here, in Ted’s own words, is how he does it!

How Did You Get Started With i9?

Ted Smith: I was a volunteer coach in the program for multiple seasons and just fell in love with the model the program created. It felt like a very inclusive program that catered to learning the fundamentals, building confidence, and having fun. I built such a rapport with so many families through my coaching style and looked forward to it every weekend. At the time I was still working in the restaurant industry trying to work my way up through the ranks in management. As many of you know the hours and pay at that position are daunting. It created a strain on our home life with two small children and a wife working a full-time job. We struggled to balance childcare with people that were reliable, so I decided to refocus. I enrolled at Full Sail University to do something I truly loved and have a schedule that was more conducive for our family. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Sports Marketing and Media and then returned for my master’s degree in public relations. About a week after graduating, I was out at the fields coaching baseball with i9sports and the owner at the time said “How are you doing today Ted“, so I told him “Better if I had your job!” He replied, “I am thinking about selling it, but would love to sell it to someone with your energy and passion.” I was elated to hear that, and we started the process to see how it would be possible. The rest is history!

Why Did You Decide To Get Involved On a Leadership Level?

Ted Smith: The number one selling point for me to take on a leadership role was that I believed that if I could lead from the top with my culture, it would trickle down and create a youth sports program that is different from all other youth sports programs.

Do You Think Youth Sports, Specifically, Are Important for Young People?

Ted Smith: Our motto is to teach life skills through sports. Sports teach so many skills that we all need to utilize in adult life. We have created what we call Sportsmanship Values that we celebrate, teach and reward kids with a medal for learning and exemplifying on a weekly basis. These values are what we are hoping the kids will take with them and help them become exemplary young adults and future leaders. Here are the values we teach:

1. Respect
2. Positivity
3. Teamwork
4. Humility
5. Determination
6. Enthusiasm
7. Integrity
8. Inclusivity

What Do You Love Most About the i9 Program Model?

Ted Smith: The focus of i9 is geared toward building confidence in kids and giving them a chance to step out of their comfort zone; to play a position or sport that they may not get a chance to in other programs due to their lack of experience or skill level in the game. I love the smiles on these young athletes’ faces when they accomplish something they didn’t know they were capable of doing. I love to see their growth as people and players and finally, I love that it is not uber-competitive, and kids have the availability to try multiple sports while playing with their friends and having fun.

Why Do You Encourage Volunteering in the Program?

Ted Smith: Youth sports are built on the back of volunteer coaches. It is also very important as a league that we set the volunteers up for success. We have the task to create age-appropriate practice plans, safe environments, and coach’s meetings to set the expectation to make it fun and successful for them on the field of play. Also being a volunteer coach is one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. When you make a positive impact on a child’s life you will soon learn that not only are you making them better people, but they are also making you better as a person. It is meant to be a full circle moment in my opinion and from my experience.

What Are Your Hopes and Goals For the Program?

Ted Smith: My goal for the program is to be an integral fixture in the community by making a positive impact on our future leaders through the teaching avenue of sports. I am committed to mentoring, building confidence, and giving opportunities to all kids that want to learn how to play sports. I want to create give-back programs for our communities, grants, and scholarship programs for families in hardship times, and donate to our schools or provide lunches for our teachers. I want this to be a program that is recognized for the positive impact we make in the community and the families that live in it. I want to create a magical experience for our youth that they will remember for a lifetime and help remind them that they can accomplish anything they put their mind to. I want to eliminate the word CAN’T from every child’s vocabulary because we can do anything with the right mindset and positive reinforcement and the right mentors.

It’s easy to see why Ted has become a beloved leader, coach, and mentor to so many young people in Horizon West! If you haven’t signed your kids up for i9 Sports, Registration is Now Open.

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