Former Marine Tejas Patel has an incredible background. From the American Red Cross to the Boy Scouts to youth referee organizations, we couldn’t wait to get Tejas in the studio.
Every year, BenGlassLaw hosts the Varsity Soccer Sportsmanship Challenge. In an effort to combat toxicity directed at referees from high school players and parents, the Sportsmanship Challenge rewards teams who can make it through the season with no yellow cards or red cards for dissent, profanity, fighting, or other unsportsmanlike conduct.
Tejas is the coach of the Annandale Boys Varsity Soccer Team, one of this year’s Challenge winners. If you told that to folks who knew the team in the past, they would be shocked that such a large culture change can happen in such a short amount of time.
Tejas spearheaded that culture change, and the results speak for themselves. Athletics Director John Ellenberger was thrilled with the progress Tejas made. The level of respect shown by the players and the overall attitude of sportsmanship is a night-and-day change compared to years past.
How did he do it? You’ll have to listen to find out!