Coaching Kids Off the Streets

This week I watched the Netflix Original Coach Snoop, a documentary series featuring Calvin Broadus (also known as his famous personality Snoop Dogg). The show follows Snoop Dogg as he owns and coaches a youth football league for kids and teens living in urban Los Angeles. Snoop’s mission is to provide a safe and fun alternative pastime for kids and teens living in impoverished and crime ridden neighborhoods; if the kids are playing organized football after school, they cannot be in trouble or involved with local gangs.

In the pilot episode, Snoop Dogg declares that helping kids to avoid being involved with drugs or violence is a passion of his due to his own personal history with gangs. Specifically, he cares about the kids whose parents are actively or formerly involved with gangs. The parents and Snoop work together to keep the kids and teenagers safe from the violent neighborhoods. Additionally, while Snoop Dogg is known for frequently smoking marijuana and living the stereotypical “rapper lifestyle”, he makes a clear distinction between Snoop-The-Rapper and Coach Snoop. Snoop does not bring drugs or alcohol near the kids, nor does he talk about those substances. When Snoop is engaged with the kids, he loses his rapper alter ego and becomes a protector and supporter of his football players.

I highly enjoyed watching this show as it caught my attention in the beginning and held it throughout each episode. Firstly, the prospect of watching Snoop Dogg on television is probably enough to intrigue anyone under the age of thirty enough to watch at least one episode. Snoop Dogg is quite an interesting and even comedic character in his rapper life; he brings these elements and others into his role as a football coach for the young men in Los Angeles. Secondly, the show is heartwarming; Snoop’s relationships with the kids grow as he spends more time with them and as he continues to encourage, challenge, and support them. 

I also liked this show for its format. Coach Snoop is a documentary and therefore relies heavily on interviews and direct address. While Snoop Dogg receives a majority of the screen time, I appreciate when one of the kids or one of the kids’ parents gives a testimonial. When the kids give interviews, they reveal what they are thinking and occasionally give background on events that have happened in their lives as a result of where they live. Further, I believe the interviews with the parents validate Snoop’s mission and add depth to the episodes. Some of the parents are in gangs or were previously associated with gangs, and therefore their children are in added danger of becoming involved with crime or violence. By having the parents explain their unfortunate situations in private interviews, they legitimize the purpose of the football team: to keep the kids safe and off the streets. Additionally, each episode has a run time of less than thirty minutes, which makes it easier and more fun to watch. I enjoy shows with shorter episodes for with each new episode comes a new sub-plot or interesting event, making the overall show seem more diverse and exciting.

            While I watched this show on a whim since my older brother turned it on, I will likely continue watching the rest of the season. This show is entertaining while also promoting the noble cause of helping children in less fortunate situations.