Put Hole #1 Behind You

Every team begins the season undefeated.

After Week 1, only half of those teams remain undefeated. But whether you won or lost, the most important thing is that Week 1 is over.

A high school football season is a lot like playing the front nine at your local golf course. Each week is a different hole, presenting a different challenge. Some are short par 3s, where a lack of focus can quickly put you in trouble. Others are long, demanding par 4s that require precision and execution. And some are par 5s that require patience, discipline, and the ability to put multiple parts of your game together.

The beauty of golf is that no matter what happened on the first hole, the next tee gives you a fresh opportunity. You may have birdied the first or made double bogey, but when you step onto the second tee box, Hole #1 is behind you. The score is already on the card.

Football is the same way.

Put Hole #1 behind you.

We were fortunate enough to birdie the first hole. We earned a win, but that score is now on the card. We can’t change it, and we can’t play it again. More importantly, it doesn’t give us a single stroke on the next hole.

Now our attention turns to Hole #2.

A new opponent. A new challenge. A new game.

We will prepare for it mentally and physically, embrace the challenge, and then go play it the right way.

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!