Competition is important. It elevates performance, creates accountability, and builds resilience. However, without proper guidance and shepherding, competition can breed resentment and division, adding jealousy and friction to what should be a unified effort. Unchecked, teams may sacrifice character and develop “win at all costs” mentalities that poison the very foundation they’re built upon.
On our team, competition isn’t about tearing each other down—it’s about building each other up. Every sprint, every lift, every drill, every rep, and every challenge pushes us to be better, not just for ourselves but for the guy next to us.
This past weekend, we drove down Interstate 93 to Concord, New Hampshire, to compete in a 7v7 tournament and experienced tremendous success. No, we did not win the tournament. We made it out of pool play and into the playoffs but lost a close game in the semifinals. Our success came in finding camaraderie and reinforcing unity through competition.
“Iron sharpens iron,” so the saying goes. The more we compete, the more we grow—not just as individual players but as a team. As coaches, we channel that competitive energy, fanning the flames that burn brightest in the direction we want our team to progress while dousing any signs of negative impact.
We battled against our opponents, we fought for spots on the depth chart, we played through pain, and we left everything on the field. In doing so, we learned to value the effort and work required. We built trust, earned respect, and discovered what it means to play for something bigger than ourselves.
Through competition, we become brothers and grow together as a team. The scoreboard may not have reflected a tournament championship, but it captured something far more valuable—the forging of character and the strengthening of bonds that will serve these young men long after their playing days are over.
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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