Based out of Brooklyn, New York, newborn author, and youth sports coach John A. DeAngelo made his literary debut upon the release of his new book entitled Your Guide In Youth Sports. DeAngelo is a seasoned youth sports coach and a very active and motivated persona to his family, friends, and his fellow employees. Recently, I had the blessed opportunity to talk with Mr. DeAngelo about his new book and some insights about coaching. Enjoy!
Warlock Asylum: How did you acquire a love for sports?
John DeAngelo: As I said previously, I started at a young age. I believe because of my cousin and his dad who always took the time to take me to games and play different sports with me.
Warlock Asylum: What were some of your favorite sports that you played during your teenage years?
John DeAngelo: Basketball, baseball. hockey, football, and softball in later years. This does not include a whole bunch of street games such as stickball, slap ball and whiffle ball to name a few.
Warlock Asylum: How did you get involved in coaching youth sports and in what ways did you find it different from playing the game?
John DeAngelo: As I stated earlier, we did not have a travel basketball team during my junior year in high school, so I asked the director at my grammar school if he had a team for me to coach. He made me help this coach who worked with a team that was struggling. The team had 0-4 record, but after I showed up, we won five in a row. It was not the winning that kept me there. It was the fact that I’m 16 and these young kids are listening to me. They were actually doing everything I said. The difference between playing and coaching is as follows.
When playing the sport, you’re trying to help your teammates prevail. As for coaching, you’re teaching youth. If done right, you’re not only teaching the sport but also giving life lessons through sports, principles that you hope the kids will take with them and use in life.
Warlock Asylum: What were some of the challenges that you have faced and lessons learned as a coach of youth sports?
John DeAngelo: As for challenges, well for one, all children are different. Some children have disabilities and you have to know how to handle each situation differently. Of course, coaches have to deal with the parents and while some may get what needs to be done for their child to have the best experience possible, others may not. In addition to that, you have some directors who refuse to do right by all children, which is really bad in youth sports. Remember, in high school, it’s an honor to make the team in youth sports. You want to keep all the kids happy.
Warlock Asylum: After working as a coach for over three decades, what qualities would you say is important for every youth sports coach to possess?
John DeAngelo: Every coach should be responsible and every coach should have patience. Also, if you’re going to coach, do it for the right reasons. Do it because it is something that you want to do and not because your kid is playing and the team simply needs coaches.
Warlock Asylum: I would also like to congratulate you on your new book entitled “Your Guide In Youth Sports”. What inspired you to write such an incredible book?
John DeAngelo: Well, to be honest, a supervisor I work with named Iris gets some credit because she always pushes her people to do different things. The actual reason is that we were being tuned out and ended up, moving to a different organization. So, you know what they say the pen is mightier than the sword.
Warlock Asylum: How long did it take for you to complete the book?
John DeAngelo: I started in 2015, but call it life getting in the way, laziness, and/or writer’s block, but I finished in 2018 after taking a strategic business writing class and the professor saying; “ you need to contact a publisher”. I explained that I wasn’t finished, but that made me finish.
Warlock Asylum: What were some of the things that you learned about writing during the process of creating Your Guide In Youth Sports?
John DeAngelo: I’ve always been good at writing but learned a lot about editing since beginning the new book. I wrote about 80 pages and they knocked me down to what 58, 60.
Warlock Asylum: What are some of the exciting things that readers can expect to find in your new book?
John DeAngelo: I don’t know about exciting but maybe readers will find my approach to the subject appealing. I really feel that I spoke from my experience and used terms that are important in youth sports such as core values.
Warlock Asylum: What can we expect to hear from John DeAngelo in the next five years? Any final thoughts?
John DeAngelo: I don’t know what the future holds I live for today because we don’t know about tomorrow. For now, I’m trying to get this out there in any way possible for young and future parents.
On behalf of Warlock Asylum International News, I would like to thank you once again for sharing a little bit about your work as a coach with us. I wish you all the best in your endeavors. Readers looking to purchase Mr. DeAngelo’s book can do so by visiting the following link: Your Guide In Youth Sports
Warlock Asylum: Before we begin, I would like to thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions and share some insights about your life and work. However, for some of our readers who may not be familiar with your person, please introduce yourself. Who is John DeAngelo?
John DeAngelo: I was born and raised in Brooklyn N.Y. still live in the very same house I grew up in. Sports was in my blood from a very young age. I guess because of my cousin and his dad. I started coaching during my junior year in high school when we did not have enough for a travel team and I’ve been doing it ever since.Warlock Asylum: How did you acquire a love for sports?
John DeAngelo: As I said previously, I started at a young age. I believe because of my cousin and his dad who always took the time to take me to games and play different sports with me.
Warlock Asylum: What were some of your favorite sports that you played during your teenage years?
John DeAngelo: Basketball, baseball. hockey, football, and softball in later years. This does not include a whole bunch of street games such as stickball, slap ball and whiffle ball to name a few.
Warlock Asylum: How did you get involved in coaching youth sports and in what ways did you find it different from playing the game?
John DeAngelo: As I stated earlier, we did not have a travel basketball team during my junior year in high school, so I asked the director at my grammar school if he had a team for me to coach. He made me help this coach who worked with a team that was struggling. The team had 0-4 record, but after I showed up, we won five in a row. It was not the winning that kept me there. It was the fact that I’m 16 and these young kids are listening to me. They were actually doing everything I said. The difference between playing and coaching is as follows.
When playing the sport, you’re trying to help your teammates prevail. As for coaching, you’re teaching youth. If done right, you’re not only teaching the sport but also giving life lessons through sports, principles that you hope the kids will take with them and use in life.
Warlock Asylum: What were some of the challenges that you have faced and lessons learned as a coach of youth sports?
John DeAngelo: As for challenges, well for one, all children are different. Some children have disabilities and you have to know how to handle each situation differently. Of course, coaches have to deal with the parents and while some may get what needs to be done for their child to have the best experience possible, others may not. In addition to that, you have some directors who refuse to do right by all children, which is really bad in youth sports. Remember, in high school, it’s an honor to make the team in youth sports. You want to keep all the kids happy.
Warlock Asylum: After working as a coach for over three decades, what qualities would you say is important for every youth sports coach to possess?
John DeAngelo: Every coach should be responsible and every coach should have patience. Also, if you’re going to coach, do it for the right reasons. Do it because it is something that you want to do and not because your kid is playing and the team simply needs coaches.
Warlock Asylum: I would also like to congratulate you on your new book entitled “Your Guide In Youth Sports”. What inspired you to write such an incredible book?
John DeAngelo: Well, to be honest, a supervisor I work with named Iris gets some credit because she always pushes her people to do different things. The actual reason is that we were being tuned out and ended up, moving to a different organization. So, you know what they say the pen is mightier than the sword.
Warlock Asylum: How long did it take for you to complete the book?
John DeAngelo: I started in 2015, but call it life getting in the way, laziness, and/or writer’s block, but I finished in 2018 after taking a strategic business writing class and the professor saying; “ you need to contact a publisher”. I explained that I wasn’t finished, but that made me finish.
Warlock Asylum: What were some of the things that you learned about writing during the process of creating Your Guide In Youth Sports?
John DeAngelo: I’ve always been good at writing but learned a lot about editing since beginning the new book. I wrote about 80 pages and they knocked me down to what 58, 60.
Warlock Asylum: What are some of the exciting things that readers can expect to find in your new book?
John DeAngelo: I don’t know about exciting but maybe readers will find my approach to the subject appealing. I really feel that I spoke from my experience and used terms that are important in youth sports such as core values.
Warlock Asylum: What can we expect to hear from John DeAngelo in the next five years? Any final thoughts?
John DeAngelo: I don’t know what the future holds I live for today because we don’t know about tomorrow. For now, I’m trying to get this out there in any way possible for young and future parents.
On behalf of Warlock Asylum International News, I would like to thank you once again for sharing a little bit about your work as a coach with us. I wish you all the best in your endeavors. Readers looking to purchase Mr. DeAngelo’s book can do so by visiting the following link: Your Guide In Youth Sports
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