Larry Cooper wasn't nominated as today's Neighbourhood Hero because he has organized a four team mighty mites flag football league for kids 6 to 12, a peewee tackle football team for kids 8 to 11 and a bantam team for kids 11 to 13 ... but that certainly would have been enough to qualify him for the honour.

What makes "Coop" stand out, Lindsay Fitzgerald says, is the way he approaches the game and that same approach is mandatory for all of his players, coaches, referees, trainers ... and parents.

Cooper's positive philosophy toward sport and life comes from the women in his life he says.

"My wife, Inga, looks after all the fundraising and administration and supports me in every way," he told me, "and my mother and grandmother have been a positive influence all of my life."

When nominating Cooper, Lindsay Fitzgerald told me how he and his son got involved with mighty mite flag football.

A few years back his son played softball for two years but when the third season came around, he didn't want to play anymore.

"I'd rather play with my friends in the back alley," his son told him and Fitzgerald could see why.

"It was two years of politics and parents and others abusing kids by yelling and screaming both at them and the referees," Fitzgerald recalled. "But then, when he started playing flag football with the mighty mites, it was a totally different experience. It's a family affair. Everyone becomes friends and there is absolutely no yelling and screaming. Everyone is treated with respect."

Cooper has five rules and he makes sure that everyone that participates in any of his teams knows those rules well. They are:

• Everyone -- players, coaches, referees, trainers and parents -- must be respectful of one another. Kids are not allowed to taunt or make fun of their team-mates or opposing players. Cooper's teams are about building mutual support, teamwork and self-esteem.
• Rule two: Parents are not allowed to yell at the referees or the kids.
• Rule three: No fighting. All of Cooper's teams have a 100% friendship policy. Fight and you're gone...for the season.
• Rule four: Absolutely no swearing not even accidentally. Swear and you're out for the game. No discussion.
• Rule five: Kids are responsible for themselves and that includes respecting their equipment. It's up to them to have all their gear checked, ready and beside their bed the night before a game.

Both the mighty mite and peewee teams are non-competitive. Although they keep score, whether you win or lose is simply not part of the equation. These teams are strictly about kids having fun.

Cooper played football at John Barsby Secondary and started coaching community football with his brother soon after he graduated.

Seven years later when his son started to show a strong interest in sports, and especially football, he decided to build the kind of teams and leagues he would want his son to play in. The rest is history.

One of the highlights of Cooper's twelve years of coaching, he says, was being an assistant coach when Barsby won the provincial championship in 2000.

He also thoroughly enjoys the fact that he has coached nearly all of the coaches who now work with him - Most of the mighty mite coaches are Barsby players who get CAPP credits for participating. The majority of them then choose to stay on.

But by far his biggest thrill, he says, came last April when he saw his son, Devin, suit up for his first mighty mite game.