It is playoff time for the high school football season and we are blessed with a home playoff game. Win and advance. Lose, and the season is abruptly and unexpectedly over. That is the reality of the playoffs. As they used to say at the beginning of every Wild World of Sports episode when I was growing up, “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” Unfortunately, the latter awaits for most.
We have been very fortunate to have made the playoffs in every season at St Johnsbury Academy, but in only one did we finish with a win, raising the championship trophy. All others ended with a loss. In two of those seasons, that loss was the first of the year. Once again… the reality of the playoffs. For the great majority of players, their last high school football game will be a loss, as only one ascends to the championship.
Our job as coaches is to prepare them for the win. The win provides the gift of another week together, another game to play, and another week to be a football player. If we link enough of those together, maybe just maybe we can be the fortunate ones to finish with a win, once again raise a trophy, and celebrate all we’ve achieved together.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This weekend’s game is the focus of effort, and we will take it like we have every other contest this season… one game at a time. Each teammate contributes to the whole… We work together to support one another, shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm, and doing so with joy in our hearts because we are a team of character, perseverance, and together, far stronger than any of us would ever be alone.
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 