The latest New Yorker of the Week coaches young adults to tackle life's fumbles and give it their all. NY1's John Schiumo filed the following report.

Every game begins the way it ends: with respect.

It's one of the most important plays on a ballfield in Washington Heights. 

Manhattan native Carlos Castellanos converted it into a football field with a bigger goal in mind.

"I started seeing an epidemic around here that kids were hanging out, drinking outside, using drugs. You had a lot of young pregnancies. A lot of kids were just doing nothing with their time," he says.

So, Carlos is appealing to their love of competition. He hosts flag football games every Saturday from August to December for free. 

It's a part of his nonprofit, Young Adult Leadership Development, or YALD. 

"YALD in the urban dictionary means to persevere, to give it your all, and it was just something that we teach here all the time," Carlos says.

"When you catch it, you feel like you just did a great job, like out of nowhere, and then just God blessed you with those hands, and then you just run for your life," says participant Jeremy Almanzar.

And along the way, Carlos and other volunteers, many of whom are his childhood friends, motivate the players to focus on their education and health. 

"We hope to give them a better future. And that's pretty much my bottom line. Support the kids. Give them an opportunity that, again, none of us had growing up," Carlos says. "I grew up here, my parents came from the Dominican Republic, and all they were able to teach me was to be a gentleman.” 

YALD teaches these athletes about responsibility, integrity and perseverance. 

"I’ve been under a lot of pressure, and I come here every Saturday to play, and it helps me calm down and relax," says participant Alexander Brito.

"Don't give up, don't put your head down and just give it your all throughout the entire game," says participant Christopher Melendez. "And with that also, you could take that into life."

"You see a lot of the young guys that come out of this organization, go on to college and do positive things," says parent Elvis Manzanillo. "You know, you definitely got to tip your hat to Carlos." 

We agree. That's why Carlos Castellanos is our New Yorker of the Week.

For more about the nonprofit, visit yald.org