One of our coaches recently shared an idea from Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz. In On War, Clausewitz described what he called a “remarkable trinity”—three different forces that interact to shape the character and conduct of war: the people, the military, and the government.
High school football is certainly not war, but the concept translates surprisingly well.
As coaches, we spend a tremendous amount of time preparing our football team. We develop schemes, teach fundamentals, watch film, lift weights, practice, correct mistakes, and prepare our players for Friday night. But the more I thought about Clausewitz’s trinity, the more I realized something important:
A football team can only be as strong as the community that supports it.
At St. Johnsbury Academy, our own remarkable trinity is our players and coaches, our school and administration, and our parents, alumni, and community. Each has a different responsibility. But when all three are pulling in the same direction, the results can be pretty special.
One of the common threads among successful high school football programs in Vermont isn’t simply talent. It isn’t simply coaching. It is the environment surrounding the program.
Successful programs have communities that believe in them. They have parents who support them. They have administrations that understand their value. They have alumni who remain connected. And they have players who take pride in wearing the uniform.
At St. Johnsbury Academy, we talk often about our football family. That phrase isn’t simply a slogan. A family works because everyone understands that they have a role.
Coaches coach. Players play. Parents support. Teachers educate. Administrators provide leadership and resources. Alumni stay connected. The community believes.
None of those roles replaces another, and none succeeds entirely on its own.
We can build the best game plan in the state, but we still need players willing to execute it. Talented players still need coaches willing to teach them, challenge them, and demand more from them. Great players and coaches still need a school willing to support the program. And even with all of those things in place, there is something different about playing on Friday night in front of a community that genuinely cares about Hilltopper Football.
That’s our remarkable trinity.
The strength of the team.
The support of the school.
The commitment of our families and community.
Three different parts, each with a different role. But when all three believe in one another, support one another, and pull in the same direction, they become something much stronger than any one of them could be alone.
That’s what it means to be a football family.
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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