I like your style. I also coach 12 year old football, in Miami, FL. I use similar tactics to encourage the right behavior. Another thing we do is that each Friday before our game the players must select their 4 captains for the game (they will also be line leaders for the following week's practices). I remind them of the criteria, they nominate 4-6 players and vote if necessary. The instructions are “we are not selecting the fastest or strongest, we are selecting those that have lead through their example. We are selecting those 4 players that have consistently done what was expected and done it to the best of their ability.” It is amazing that they consistently choose the same players I would have chosen. It really provides an effective mechanism for highlighting and rewarding the right behavior. It also motivates the boys to perform well in practice in the hopes that they will be seen as leaders by their peers.

Gino