Some coaches shy away from “ankle biters”. Not Cal Simons. The 60-year-old Bermuda Pacers Track Club coach adores working with young children.

“They’re a lot of fun,” he said. “Sometimes [six-, seven- and eight-year-olds] can be very playful. You have to know how to handle them.

“Sometimes I have to threaten to call their mom or make them sit out, but I love their energy.

“They are like sponges; they pick up information so quickly.”

His late mother, Joan Simons, helped to found the Pacers in 1981. He became a coach that same year.

Mr Simons is being honoured for the 35 years he has devoted to the job, with a community service award from the Epsilon Theta Lambda chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

It came as a complete surprise.

“I never do things for this kind of attention,” he said.

Ironically, he refused to join a fraternity while studying physical education at Ohio’s University of Toledo.

“My roommate was a member of a fraternity,” he said. “I don’t remember which one. I laughed and told him, ‘I’m a fraternity all in myself’.”

Many of his former students are well-known runners — Jay Donawa, Brian Wellman, Devon Bean and Aaron Evans.

“I love it when young people grow up to be top athletes, but I’m just as proud when they become productive, respectful citizens,” he said.

Mr Simons was always a “sports nut”. At Elliot Primary and Warwick Secondary School he excelled at shot put, javelin and hammer. He also ran and played cricket, football and rugby.

His greatest support came from his mother.

“I don’t know if she did any sports in her younger days,” he said. “But she was always encouraging me. She was heavily involved in fundraising for the Bermuda Pacers and she had friends who had children involved in track and field.

“She told me, ‘Cal, if you decide to do something, make sure you love it. Make sure you get up every day and that is what you want to do’.”

Mr Simons joined West End Primary School as its PE teacher in 1981.

“My goal there was always to build a team,” he said. “I wanted to make a dynamic impact.

“In the 25 years I spent there I did the best I could.

“I enjoyed it until I left ten years ago to work as the senior sports development officer at the Department of Youth and Sport.”

He coached the Bermuda Pacers throughout that period. Although he retired from the Bermuda Government last October, he still coaches several times a week. He’s proud that he has remained dedicated to his passion throughout his life.

“I have always been flat out about sports,” he said. “I have coached track, football and netball.

“I was a referee at an international level. I was on the Fifa list for four or five years and had the opportunity to travel to Jamaica to officiate in football. It has been a great experience for me.

“I couldn’t single out one thing that would stand above the rest. One of the most important things was trying to find scholarships for Pacers athletes.

“That is critical to me and the Bermuda Pacers. We really want to promote academics. When we have a student who is struggling in school, we try to find a mentor for them.

“I have been actively involved in so many organisations. I was part of the Bermuda Referees Association Executive. I was chairman of the Bermuda School Sports Federation executive. I was also part of the Warwick Parish Council.”

He said it was all about having a good time, whether he’s coaching, refereeing or officiating.

“This past weekend I helped out at the Telford Electric Mile, which had 900 children competing,” he said. “It is really fun to see the children taking part in that kind of event.”

When he’s not coaching, he loves spending time with his father, Glaxton Simons.

He said he could not have been involved in all of his activities without the support of his wife of 33 years, Joan, and their three daughters, Calvina, Kaleah and Jakea.

“They aren’t into sports the way I am but they are very supportive,” he said. “If I am doing something sporting that weekend, they will come out and watch. Or they will help hand out numbers to the children at an event like the Telford Mile. I really appreciate that.

“When you retire, people say, ‘What are you going to do now?’ You choose what direction you want to go in.”

Mr Simons has received many awards for his work in Bermuda sport including the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour in 1996.

He’ll received his award from Alpha Phi Alpha on Saturday, at their annual Black and Gold Ball at Fairmont Southampton.

Bermuda Sea Cadets commanding officer Dwayne Trott will also receive a community service award at the event.

• Tickets to the ball cost $150 and are available by e-mailing info@bermudaalpha.bm or calling 534-1906