zachharrod.com

#SurpriseUsin6 – “Why football?” pt. 2

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I was asked, “Why football?” During the start of our trip back and in my first post about this, I shared that I worshipped God through my work in the details as a coach and as a result that allows me to be fully present for my players and those in our organization. The other reason why I coach football is that through coaching I can show our guys God’s love in practical ways, which in a post-Christian society goes a long way.

Showing God’s love in practical ways comes in many different forms and it starts with stepping back and being very, very intentional. One of the ways we show this is radical generosity, which is a deep value of ours. Radical generosity means meals, creative opportunities for team building, donuts at practice and more! Generosity changes people.

Another way I show God’s love is through coaching differently, while I’m passionate and get excited, I strive to coach how I think Jesus would coach, and also be me in the process. I’m not Tony Dungy and I’m not Dabo Swinney, while I wouldn’t mind to have their success, I’m not them, I’m Zach Harrod and God wants to me to coach my guys and lead in the way he made me and ultimately in the way of Jesus. So for me, that means being quick to say, “I’m sorry” when I get too excited and need to repair a bridge. Being this type of coach is delicate balance between being a friend and also being an authority, which leads to those moments when I need to swallow my pride and pursue forgiveness. Also being this type of coach, and ultimately friend, means being honest and truthful, even if that isn’t the popular thing. I like how Brian Knight put it, “The simple skill of honesty is to tell the truth as you understand it, with love and purpose, in an effort to share something of value.”

“Why football?” Simply put, it allows me to bring value, love and purpose through relationship, which has led to character change and eternal change through a common language. While I’m still growing as a coach, leader and man, I’m humbled to see God move through the sport!

COACHES TRIP 2014

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So another year is here and that means another COACHES TRIP. Coaches Trip 2014 has begun and we are in New Jersey until next Wednesday. Please pray the details of the trip will be worked out and that God would show up in this trip to allow Jakub, Ondra and Red to have an amazing experience, but moreover that their lives would be forever changed after this trip. You can follow along with us on Twitter, Instagram and/or Facebook by using this hashtag #CzechInvasion.

Here’s the tentative schedule for the coaches trip:
January 30. – Fly to Newark, NJ
January 31. – AIA Super Bowl Breakfast
February 1. – Super Bowl Experience
February 2. – Sharing at Jacob’s Well, Super Bowl Party
February 3. – Rob Smith (Offensive Coach from Clemson, Rutgers and others)
February 4 – Rutgers, AIA RUTGERS MEETING
February 5. – TRAVEL – Piscataway, NJ – Toledo, OH
February 6. – Michigan
February 7. – Michigan State
February 8. – Hope College
February 9. – Travel Day
February 10 – Visit Chicago
February 11. – morning – Wheaton College/afternoon – Elmhurst College
February 12. – University of Wisconsin – Madison
February 13. – University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
February 14. – Time in Lake Geneva, WI
February 15. – Leave Chicago for Prague.

Television “star”…?

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In the last couple years, I’ve been blown away by different opportunities I’ve had on the field and off the field. In the last 6 years, I’ve been blessed to be interviewed 6 times, or so, on Czech television. The two most recent interviews have been my favorite and the most recent of them was live! I realize most of you watching this might not speak Czech, but what’s cool is to think that on national television in one of the most atheistic nations this was aired! Television “star”…? Probably not. Take a look. Enjoy…!

ZACH HARROD INTERVIEW TOUCHDOWN 2012 from Zach Harrod on Vimeo.

ZACH HARROD INTERVIEW PROFIL 2013 from Zach Harrod on Vimeo.

Closing out 2012 and rolling into 2013…

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This is a post that I should have hit about a month ago, but in the midst of the holidays, a lot of transition and the coaches trip/”Reverse Missions Trip” this month I never got to post this. It has been the theme for quite some time though here at zachharrod.com, hasn’t it? Maybe, just maybe, 2013 will result in some more posts and some more writing. Towards the end of last year I began getting more ideas about writing but I didn’t do more than start a few posts. We will see what 2013 brings.

I did think it would be cool to share with you some Lions videos from last year. When I was in the States earlier this month, many people asked to see them and didn’t know where they could find them. So here you go, our highlight videos from 2012 and our charity video from Christmas time.
Senior Highlight Video

Junior Highlight Video

HOPEMONTH 2012 HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

Things are happening here! We are making a difference. 2012 was a great year for the Prague Lions on and off the field, but what you don’t see in the videos a 100% is that lives are being changed. Continue to pray for life change and a revolution in the hearts of those we are reaching out to!

BE A REVOLUTION!

hello world, my name is zach

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Hello world, my name is Zach and I do have a blog! Recently, I picked up my phone and my father was on the other end of the line, he asked, “What’s up with your website?” As I have said before, when life seems to be getting the most of me, my blog is the first thing to go. I apologize profusely for this and as I wrap up the year that was 2010, I’m trying to think through how I can write more and keep this blog more updated in 2011. So here is a quick entry to end the year right on my blog and hopefully set the tone for 2011 (will it really be 2011?!?!? Crazy!)

So what had been keeping me busy this fall? These guys and everything going on around them! (By the way, F.A.M.I.LY. stands for Forget About Me I Love You. We disovered this from Rutgers University. I love what it teaches. To put my team and teammates before myself!)

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My fall was full of x’s and o’s, practices, game plans, conversations, games and lots of time with my team of 50+ guys (including coaches)! I loved it and more over I love these young men. I’m so blessed to be able to to be their coach and then some (or I least attempt to by more than a coach) to them. This season got off to a different start for us as we had our training camp outside of Prague, which included a leadership program we call “Srdce Lva” (“Heart of Lion”). In our leadership program, we discuss and ponder our team values – Tradition, Courage, Hardwork and Faithfulness/Loyalty. Beyond covering our team values, we talk about being a champion on and off the field, making a positive difference in our teammate’s lives and on our greater society and more! One of the greatest things about my fall, was that these young men bought into the plan and the program.

Them buying in carried us through our season and into the Championship game, which we won 34-23 over our cross-town rivals, the Prague Panthers. It was a hard fought game on both sides, but when it was said and done, our guys held on and we came out as Back-to-Back Champs! Here are a couple of vids. The first one, is our entrance to the field, which I happened to borrow from The Ohio State. It’s called “the Hive” and it represents that no one can divide us and we are a team to the very end. I hope this becomes a tradition amongst the Lions for years to come in some form, because I believe it is one of the greatest values we can teach the kids, that no matter what it is better to forgive and fight for unity than to divide! That’s character! The second video is our Championship Game highlight video!



I also said that we try to teach, and live out, that we want to be Champions off the field. I think I can, humbly, say that has happened this fall. Parents thanked me for an improvement in their sons grades (we did grade checks) and over all approach to life. How cool is that?! I received some of the most heart felt text messages and emails from parents and players! It’s worth it! They are worth it! In stressing being champions off the field, we also try to do good things for others. Recently, a few of us visited one of Prague’s main hospitals to bring some Christmas cheer, joy, gifts and motivation to children who are battling through cancer! Here is a short video from our visit.

If you are wondering what the Dominate shirts and bracelets are visit my friend’s, Phil, facebook page Cancer Kicker to find more information about how Phil is dominating Cancer! You can also join the domiNATION there!

There you have it, finally a new post and a new update! Thanks for all two of you that continue to stop by! Have a Revolutionary Christmas!

another new lions vid….

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…I said more vids were to come, I didn’t lie! My boy, Kachna, and I finished this one this morning. Check it out! It’s for our recruiting campaign – Zkus Hrát – which means, “Try to Play!” There will be more to come, of course, all in Czech! With that said, I hope you enjoy it, even if you don’t speak Czech!

new lions videos…

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Hello! It has been quite some time since I’ve made an appearance around here. I’ve been saying that a lot in the past few months. It is the rare moment that Zach Harrod makes an appearance on his own blog! Something is wrong with that! I need to get around to finishing all these “drafts” I’ve started. Trust me my silence on my blog hasn’t been without reason. It’s been a crazy 2010 thus far, and 2010 that has left me grasping, sometimes helplessly, for something firm to hold on to. Most of this, if not all of this, has revolved around the team (the Prague Lions) that I’ve worked with since 2004. I won’t get into the details, but with all the craziness going on with my team this off-season, I wanted to create a video to motivate my guys (mostly the juniors, but the seniors as well) to work hard but also to drive home key values of our team. Core values that I’m working into a leadership program, that is similar to what Coach Jim Tressel, of The Ohio State, has done with what he calls the The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life. I hope to blog some more on this in the future, as right now I’m working hard to put it together, which also include translating stories and quotes from English to Czech, as part of my Czech homework! I believe deeply in this, because at the end of the day if football is only about x’s and o’s and doesn’t develop young men to be better teammates, students, workers, sons, brothers, fathers and overall better citizens, then what is the point?!?! So with that said, I put this quick highlight video together for my junior team.

A rough translation of the text is this, “When no one else believes, and all that is left is the faith of the team, what does this this create?”

odvaha – courage
bratrství – brotherhood
láska – love
vernost – loyalty
vášen – passion
sláva – glory

Enjoy and look back for more Lions videos, as I’m wearing the hate of marketing/PR guy/videographer for the Lions, as well as the roles of Offensive Coordinator for the Senior team and continue as the Head Coach for the Junior team. GO LIONS!

zhtv #25 2009 finale

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Lions Win! Lions Win! Check out the newest episode of zhtv and learn about our BIG WIN! It was an amazing season and I’m so very thankful for every bit and moment of it! Stay tuned for another zhtv about the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and, hopefully, some blog posts again! But before I get to that, I’m jumping on a plane with my sister and heading to Barcelona for the weekend! I need a little change of pace and scenery. Have a great Thursday and an even better weekend!


Here’s some more footage from the game…

Lastly here is some video of our big come from behind victory over the Panthers in the regular season. If you don’t want to watch all of it, pick it up at about 2:00 into the video.

Thanks for stopping by zACHhARROD.com! Be a revolution today!

zhtv #24 fall 2009

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It’s a miracle! Their is blog activity at zACHhARROD.com! Here is a little zhtv love, this is what I’ve been doing over the last two months since my last post. We have our Championship game this Saturday. Please lift my each of the players up in prayer and also please also pray that I would rep Jesus well to my players, the Panthers, the fans and even the refs (which might be the biggest miracle!)! More to come. I hope to never have blog silence that long or intense again! Sorry. But hey, thanks for being you! Be a revolution today wherever you are!

GAME DAY!

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finale2009-big
Today is indeed GAME DAY! We will be taking the field, at the swank new “fotbal” stadium, at 6:30 tonight to take on our arch rivals, the Prague Panthers. It’s the XVI Czech League Bowl and it will be tough game. I’ve been trying to see if it will be streamed live on the internet, but I haven’t been able to find any details. Although, I’m probably going to have my camera along and shoot a bunch of stuff and try to throw a zhtv together for you this week! So stayed tuned and GO LIONS!

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