Gridiron Gang: Adolescent Athletes in the Kilpatrick Detention Center
The 2006 film Gridiron Gang is based loosely on a true story about adolescent athletes in the Kilpatrick detention center. Although the film is filled with cliches, it actually captures essential truths about the nature of coaching and especially of coaching adolescents. Sean Porter (The Rock) is a supervisor at Kilpatrick who incorporates football into the regime at the juvenile detention center. His personal struggles mirror the experience of any high school coach but especially those who deal with kids whose social lives are distinguished by gang membership. Porter
To try and help the adolescents channel their anger, aggression, and frustration on the field instead of onto other people is a challenge no coach would wish upon himself. His impatience with them causes him to lose their trust, almost completely. Showing players that their coaches are human beings with flaws helps them gain respect. presents football as an effective means of uniting kids from opposing gangs, engendering teamwork and cooperation instead of hostility and antagonism. One of the most realistic elements of Gridiron Gang is Sean's character. He is a multidimensional hero, not without his flaws. The film can therefore be used as an inspiring piece to play for varsity teams. Yet to rise to the occasion like Porter does is truly admirable. For example, the standoff between Free and Kevin is a heartfelt reminder that even the best coach cannot change endemic social issues. Similarly, the film reveals the psychological and sociological problems underlying violence and gang membership and might help coaches better understand their players and teams. All coaches know that adolescents don't take well to discipline, and will fail from time to time. While his methods do work, they occasionally fail in the film, adding a touch of refreshing realism to the movie. What the movie teaches is that failure is like a loss on the field: our biggest strength is our ability to move through the humiliation and pain and look forward to the ensuing victories.
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