SUMMIT TWP — On the gridiron at Summit Academy, first-year coach Anthony Becoate has been helping his players through a steep learning curve. A good deal of his team pulled on pads for the first time just a few weeks ago.

“A lot of these guys don’t have football experience previous to coming here,” Becoate said. “Right now, we have about 30 kids on the field. Maybe six of them have experience playing football.”

It’s a curious situation for Becoate, who grew up in McKeesport. There, he said, the sport is taken for gospel, from the youth level through the prep scene.

He’s assisted for the Knights for the last six years and enjoys the chance to work with troubled youths. Becoate is applying lessons he’s learned to steer them in the right direction.

“I like the fact that it’s changed so much since I’ve been here,” he said. “We have a huge spectrum of kids. Some kids are just CYS (Children and Youth Services) and don’t have anywhere else to go. Some kids have some type of charge or anything of that magnitude.”

Becoate grew up without a father and in a similar sort of environment as most of his players. The first-hand experience allows him to communicate and relate with his roster. Just like one of his mentors, McKeesport coaching legend George Smith, Becoate aims to be a positive authority figure for his players.

“McKeesport is a very tough area to grow up in,” said Becoate, who played collegiately at Clarion. “Being around the same temptations or the same urges and having to make decisions. I tell them all the time, I was never in trouble. I tried to make the best decisions I could make.

“It’s okay to be a square.”

The Knights will run a pro-style offense, mainly featuring the “I” formation. John McCloud, who’s coached the team previously, is now coordinating the defense.

“We’re just trying to keep it simple for them,” Becoate said. “We’re teaching them the fundamentals. The proper techniques of tackling, the proper techniques of blocking. Keeping it real vanilla.

“Even if it’s only five to ten plays that we run — as long as we run them good — we’ll be fine.”

The process of finding the right spots for players who are newer to the game is gratifying for Becoate. He’s looking forward to going through the journey with his players and seeing where their efforts take them.