Hill trying to build kids’ self esteem through sports

By Mark Rountree, Sports Editor

As a 16-year-old in Wagoner, Samuel Hill caught the coaching bug.

Twenty-one years later, he’s still at it.

Hill is the founder and program director of H.E.S. Sports, a 5-year-old community sports organization. The mission of the Enid-based program is to provide youngsters with a positive environment through athletics.

That mission is embodied in the organization’s acronym — Helping Elevate Sportsmanship.

“My goal is to keep kids involved in some kind of structured athletics,’’ said Hill. “There are too many negative things out there they can get into.

“It’s my goal to make kids realize there are other things out there for them to do. I love to see kids (participating) in a positive environment, and that’s what I’m trying to do with this.’’

Some of the more prominent activities in the program include the Light It Up Games basketball tournament, the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick tournament and the Hershey’s Track and Field Games. Hill is planning to start a flag football league in the spring.

Boys and girls from pre-kindergarten through high school are involved in various programs. Hill said the children are from every part of the city and from many ethnic backgrounds.

“Everybody is welcome,’’ he said. “We don’t turn anybody away.’’

Hill said he is not in competition with other youth organizations such as Denny Price Family YMCA or the sports programs by EJRT and Booker T. Washington Center.

“They have been very supportive of us,’’ said Hill.

Hill said he doesn’t earn a salary and there is no salaried staff.

“It’s all 100 percent volunteers,’’ he said.

Hill said event coordinator Adam White also has been instrumental in the growth of the program.

“Adam has the same vision as I do,’’ said Hill. “He doesn’t want the notoriety, and neither do I. This is all about the kids and keeping them involved in something positive.’’

The organization’s comprehensive Web site (www.hesbulldogs.com) includes pull-down tabs for any number of events and activities. The site also includes video clips of many activities.

“We have some (military) parents (stationed) overseas,’’ said Hill. “This gives them a way to watch their kids play.’’

Hill wants the focus of the organization to remain on the youngsters involved. In fact, there is no photo or biography of Hill located anywhere on the organization’s Web site.

“This is not about me,’’ he said. “It’s about the kids.’’

The program began with one girls basketball team that played in a competitive summer league. Hill said the organization will continue to grow in the ensuing years. He said about 300 children were involved in 2008. Hill expects participation in this summer’s track meet to triple.

“More kids are funneling into the program all the time,’’ he said.

Hill said his wife, Pamela, has played an important role behind the scenes.

“Without her, H.E.S. Sports would not be possible,’’ he said.

Hill devised the organization’s name (H.E.S. Sports) for a purpose.

“One thing, H.E.S. is my initials backwards,’’ he said. “And I knew that having a name like H.E.S. Sports would get people to notice it. They would interact about it and that would give me a chance to tell them about it.’’

Hill’s family is reflected in the organization’s official logo, which features an image of a person playing with a ball and standing on one leg on a foundation line.

“The (figure) represents my children playing basketball and the line represents my wife as the foundation of everything,’’ he said.

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