At this week’s Vermont Interscholastic Football League coaches meeting, St Johnsbury
Academy proudly accepted the VIFL Division I Championship Trophy. It is a rotating trophy presented annually to the team that wins the regular season and earns the #1 seed in the state. Regrettably, we did not win the state championship trophy. While trophies and championships are the most obvious goal for most coaches, the true rewards of coaching are the impact we have on the lives of our players. For all the players and parents both past and present who have recently reached out to me with kind words regarding the influence I had on them or their children, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The highlight came from a parent from another school whose daughter I got to know while I was coaching girls golf for the Academy in the Spring of 2014. It reads: “You probably don’t hear this from many parents from other schools, but my family and I are forever grateful for the respect and support you showed (our daughter) when she was an insecure freshman. Thanks for all you did, do and will do.”
Seasons come and go… Wins are great… Trophies are nice… But a friend of mine’s grandfather used to say, “There’s no luggage rack on a hearse.” If we are to leave a legacy of enduring value, it’s in the hearts and minds of those we serve. To have just such an opportunity is the real privilege of being a coach.
Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time!
O Line Skills 