Wednesday, August 29, 2001
[ PREP FOOTBALL ]
Sounds of Silence AFTER watching his Kalani junior varsity football team drop its season opener to Waipahu last weekend, coach David Rita delivered a blistering speech to get the attention of his young Falcons. All except for Teva Robins.
Sophomore Teva Robins
doesn't let deafness get in the
way of playing for the
Kalani High School
football teamBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com"He gave them good scoldings," said Cookie Robins, mother of the sophomore offensive lineman. "I was actually kind of glad Teva couldn't hear."
Teva Robins attends the Hawaii Center for the Deaf and Blind in Kapahulu, which has sent deaf students to Kalani to play high school football for the past three years.
Robins, a sophomore, had never played football before showing up for the Falcons' first practice Aug. 1 and admits his introduction to the sport has been frustrating and often painful. But he doesn't blame his struggles on his lack of hearing.
"I'm happy to have the opportunity to play," Robins said through sign language interpreter Jenny Blake. "I just want to think positive and work hard so we can win."
Robins, who grew up on Molokai, said he expects two of his HCDB classmates to join the team this week. Another is also expected to turn out for the varsity squad. Several students live on the neighbor islands and usually don't arrive on Oahu until HCDB opens, forcing them to miss the entire preseason.
Robins was the only deaf player to participate in the Falcons' training camp, and despite his late start in football, Kalani JV coach David Rita sees a bright future for the 5-foot-9, 250-pound lineman.
"He's picking up football quite well because he's aggressive," Rita said. "He just needs knowledge and he'll be fine."
Mike McCray started for the Kalani varsity squad at cornerback last season. Falcons varsity coach Ron Dement said deaf players, like McCray, pick up the nuances of the game as well as those who can hear.
"Watching (McCray) on the field you wouldn't think he's impaired," Dement said. "He knows what to do with the ball and he knows how to play his position."
On offense, deaf players must watch the ball instead of listening to the snap count. And on defense, the players use hand signals to make on-field adjustments.
Robins said his teammates tap him on the shoulder during practice to let him know when the play is over and he uses visual cues to pick up pointers on technique from his coaches."They know what to do," Dement said. "You watch them play defense, you watch them hit, the whistle's blown and they know when to stop. In the three years I've been coaching, I have not had one penalty for offsides or late hit after the whistle."
Blake, an independent sign language interpreter, has become a familiar figure on the Falcons' sidelines over the past three years, as she signs instructions from the coaches to the deaf players during practices and games.
"I had to pick up on the coach's terminology for different plays that I have to try to relay to the players," Blake said. "Fortunately for me it's a plus that I know the game. But the biggest thing is trying to be sure that I make sure I'm saying the right things."
Robins said he's looking forward to having other deaf players on the team this week, but dealing with his hearing teammates may provide an even greater lesson.
"It makes him feel great that he can get along with other kids," Cookie Robins said. "It doesn't have to be hearing-impaired kids. They figure out how to talk to him."
Said Blake: "Teva interacts well with the other kids. But I know a couple of the other players from before were having difficulty with being the only deaf player on the team. But I think it's good for them and they find it rewarding to be accepted in the team. ... They feel good in giving these kids exposure and having them realize that just because they're deaf, doesn't mean that they're incapable of playing at the same level."
While playing football has enhanced Robins' social skills, it has also helped him cope with the loss of his father, David "Bla" Robins, who passed away in February.
"It's been a really big challenge for him this year, dealing with grieving for dad, and we felt this was really therapeutic for him," Cookie Robins said. "He wanted to do this, so I encouraged him."
And as Robins continues to develop as a football player in hopes of making an impact for the Falcons on the line of scrimmage, he has already left an impression on his teammates and coaches, several of whom have started to learn sign language.
"I am learning something every day that will help me communicate," Rita said. "I'm trying to learn as much as he is, trying to learn sign language so I won't need an interpreter."
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