As we press ahead with camp, players new and old return to the locker room and field, each with hopes and expectations of opportunities to contribute to the team and our goals. While a few arrive with a laser focus on goals, many approach camp (and subsequently the new season) wondering just “where,” and in some cases, “if” they’ll fit in.
As we’ve noted before, one of the things about football is it’s a game where the ball has points… Basketballs, soccer, tennis balls, and others bounce with reasonable predictability. Footballs do not, and such surprises force us to encounter things outside of our control. As players (and sometimes coaches) contend with things they (we) can control, and things they (we) cannot, it’s important to take stock of the difference. (Queue the Serenity Prayer!)
Over 30 years of coaching, I’ve learned to reinforce the importance of things in a player’s immediate control. The very best players and coaches I’ve encountered focus on:
• Attitude
• Communication
• Body language
• Work ethic
• Preparation
• Energy
Sometimes the ball bounces in your favor, sometimes not. Regardless of how the ball bounces, student athletes’ performance can be significantly improved by focusing on the list above. I would offer this sentiment as yet another example of how lessons from this great game extend far beyond four short years on the high school gridiron.
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!
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