O Line Skills

In honor of President’s Day, we recognize those past presidents who cultivated and honed their leadership skills as football players.  

Gerald Ford was an all-state player in high school and a team MVP at Michigan who had offers to play professionally but chose to attend law school at Yale where he actually coached football making him the only US President to both play and coach college football.

Dwight D Eisenhower was a two-way starter at West Point who had the distinction of once tackling the great Jim Thorpe.  

Ronald Reagan not only played the “Gipper” in the movie “Knute Rockne All American,” he was also a lineman at Eureka College.

Richard Nixon, at all of 5’11” and 175 lbs, was a reserve Tackle at Whittier College. You have to love the undersized lineman!

Donald Trump was a three-sport athlete at the New York Military Academy who played football for one year.   

Football provides a unique environment for developing leadership skills, as it requires individuals to work together towards a common goal, make decisions under pressure, and overcome obstacles as a team.  Players first learn to follow before they can lead. Many of the successful ones often pattern their own personas after the successful players and coaches whose examples they try to emulate. These leadership skills learned on the football field clearly translated to success in other aspects of life for the aforementioned men as it has done for so many who have played team sports in general, and football in particular.

Life is a team sport. (At least it is in my opinion.) The team surrounding any successful individual brings together the complementary characteristics of each individual and unites them for a common purpose. Undoubtedly some fair better than others, and all are subject to the unexpected in life, just as we find unexpected bounces from a ball with two points! Nonetheless, we find ourselves better for our experiences. Better for the teammates who shared in our collective adversity… Better for those who set examples of excellence, held us accountable for performing at or beyond our potential… and better after recognizing that when we play together, we really are capable of extraordinary achievement.

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!

When I attended Super Bowl XXIII in 1989, still one of the greatest Super Bowl games ever, the face value of my ticket was $100.  No one famous sang the national anthem or performed at halftime.  That may have been the last year Super Sunday was just a football game. 

It has become a cultural phenomenon having long ago transcended its status as just a football game, or even a sporting event. With tickets starting at around $5,000, and readily going on the secondary market at more than twice that, I can’t imagine being two years out of college and having such means…  Sunday’s game between the Chiefs and 49ers will draw more than 100 million viewers from all over the world regardless of whether they are football fans. 

Beyond the game itself, Country Music star, Reba McEntire will perform the national anthem, Contemporary R&B star, Usher will put on the halftime show, the most expensive commercials in the history of television will air, and you might even get a glimpse (or way too many) of Taylor Swift.  The halftime shows and commercials have often attracted as much attention as the game and contribute to the overall spectacle of the event.  

The Super Bowl is clearly much more than just a game on the second Sunday in February.  It is a cultural phenomenon, an economic powerhouse, and a symbol of national pride and unity.  In my experience, it serves as a communal experience bringing friends and families together to watch the game, enjoy food, and socialize.  It has become an annual tradition for many fostering unity and camaraderie.

In 1989, Joe Montana led the 49ers on a 97-yard drive, completing 8 of 9 passes in the closing minutes to punctuate one of the most exciting finishes in Super Bowl history. I hope we see as competitive a game this Sunday as I enjoyed 34 years ago, but regardless of the score, I genuinely look forward to sharing the evening with friends and family. I hope you enjoy the same!

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!

On 2 February, Punxsutawney Phil will let us know whether we can expect six more weeks of winter (not a bad thing for us skiers) or if Spring will come early.  In the Bill Murray movie. “Groundhog Day,” he plays a weatherman stuck in a time loop on Groundhog Day, repeating the same day over and over.  Ultimately, he realizes he can use it to his advantage.  Unfortunately, only in Hollywood can you relive the same day over and over again righting the wrongs of the previous day.  In reality, we must make the most of every day.  That movie always reminds me of a quote I keep on the bulletin board outside my office called “Seize the Day.” It goes as follows:

This is the beginning of a new day.

God has given me this day to use as I will

I can waste it, or use it for good.

What I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.

When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever leaving in its place something I have traded for it.

I want it to be a gain, not loss: good, not evil: success, not failure: in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it…a day of my life.  

Along a similar thought regarding the value of a day, and as put by the Coach himself in the Apple TV Show “Ted Lasso”:

“Every day is a gift… That’s why they call it ‘The Present!’”

In many ways, our student-athletes are now as we were then, and seemingly “bulletproof” in their own minds… “Young men and women of steel” (as the Superman comic would say…)

We who have lived life a little longer and fuller, recognize there is no guarantee of tomorrow for any of us, and many have seen abrupt and unanticipated changes to our, or friends’ plans for the future.

So make the most of today, enjoy the present, and Carpe’ Diem!

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!

You know your message is hitting home when you send a “Save the Dates” announcement to the president of your parents’ group asking her to share it with the other parents and she forwards it with the following message:

“In the body of this email, you will find the schedule (so far), from Coach, for this winter, spring, and summer. These are important dates! Please add them to your calendar to help you and your player stay on track.

Players should plan on attending the lifts on Thursdays beginning until February vacation. This keeps the guys in the weight room and continues the teambuilding bond. Games are not won on Friday nights or Saturday afternoons – They are won in the offseason working out, learning plays, and building that brotherhood!!“

Last week our blog focused on today’s players needing more extrinsic motivation.  It is a challenge to gather multi-sport athletes and players who work in the off-season, but when they hear the message at school and home, it has a much better chance of sinking in. The essence of “team” is found in a common vision, values, goals, and a common belief in our ability to succeed. Having parents reinforce these messages of unity and express their belief in the value of our objectives is pure gold!

Our upcoming Schedule follows. Our goals are to develop our student-athletes mentally, morally, and physically. Together, we’ll once again find we are more capable, dynamic, and stronger as a team than any of us could ever be alone.

	Day	Date	Location	Time
Team Lifts	Thursdays	18 Jan-22 Feb	Weightroom	3:30-4:30pm
Spring Ball	Mon – Fri	11-15 Mar	Turf/Fieldhouse	3:30-6:30pm
	Sat	16 Mar	Turf/Fieldhouse	9-noon
OTAs	M-W-F	10 Jun-19 Jul	Turf/Weightroom	5-7pm
Mini Camp	Mon – Fri	22-26 July	Turf	TBD
7v7 & Strongman	Sat	27 July	Turf	8am-2pm
Training Camp	Mon – Sat	12 Aug-17 Aug		TBD
	Mon – Sat	19 Aug-24 Aug		TBD
Essex	Fri	30 Aug	Turf	7:00 PM

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!

A New Year’s resolution is a tradition in which a person sets a goal or commits to improve some aspect of their life in the coming year.  For any and all offensive line coaches or anyone who knows a high school or middle school-age offensive lineman, mark your 2024 calendar.  The Alercio OLine Clinic dates and locations are set.  Sunday 14 April at The Hun School of Princeton NJ and Sunday 9 June at St Johnsbury Academy VT.  We’ll give you the tools of the trade, and techniques for the trenches, that will help you be the best offensive lineman or Oline coach you can be!

Alercio OLine Clinics have specialized in teaching techniques for the trenches for over 20 years.  We believe that the true “Skill Players” in football are the offensive linemen.  We teach the coordination and execution of learned physical tasks that allow linemen of any size to achieve both individual and team success.

Come see why American Football Monthly stated “Rich Alercio, a guru of offensive line play in the Northeast part of the country” and X&O Labs wrote, “The clarity of your teaching simplifies the game tremendously”.  

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!

Last weekend, our coaching staff gathered for an early Christmas dinner.  Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  But beyond the holiday’s religious significance, it is a time of togetherness and shared joy bringing families, friends, and communities together in festive spirit.  It is a time of giving, gratitude, and creating cherished memories with loved ones.  

Regardless of religious belief or affiliation, rituals, and relationships have been part of the human experience for millennia. Whether amongst teams, families, or friends, I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy the season, and its celebrations, and reflect on the blessings we all encounter and enjoy.

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!

A gentleman in our community recently approached me to inform me that he will be coaching his son’s youth basketball team and asked what advice I would give him as he begins to coach?

Without putting much thought into it, I replied “Make sure the players know that their interests are prioritized above yours.” He looked both puzzled and intrigued by my reply. Perhaps it was not what he was expecting. The goal of every youth sports coach should be first and foremost to see that the kids have fun and experiences catalyzing a desire to return to the sport the next year. Youth coaches should focus solely on altruism. Focus on giving to others without seeking personal gain. Best selling author Simon Sinek (and others) refer to this concept as “Servant Leadership.” 

Servant leadership flips the traditional power dynamic. Instead of leaders focusing on their own authority, they prioritize serving and empowering others. By fostering a collaborative environment and prioritizing the well-being of team members, servant leaders cultivate a high-performing and engaged group. This philosophy benefits individuals, teams, and ultimately, the entire organization.

Additionally, putting others’ interests ahead of yours demonstrates selflessness and fosters strong relationships. Prioritizing the wants and needs of others contributes to a positive and supportive environment that benefits everyone on the team.

Coaches should be process-oriented and not results-oriented. If you do all the right things during the process, more often than not, you will achieve favorable results. To quote Zig Ziglar, “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help other people get what they want.”

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!

Positive reinforcement is a powerful strategy in shaping good habits and desired performance.  At our annual football banquet this past Sunday, after recognizing our letter winners, all-division team members, and seniors we honor 7 team members with the following awards: Scout Team Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, Most Outstanding Lineman, Most Outstanding Back/Receiver (which also includes Linebackers and Defensive Backs), Most Valuable Player, Coaches Award, and the Hilltopper Award.  

As I present these awards, I provide specific details of each player’s actions to earn the award, presenting a road map for the returning players to follow.  By reinforcing the most desirable actions with positive outcomes, individuals are motivated to repeat those behaviors leveraging the psychological principle of positive reinforcement.  Whether in personal development, workplace management, or parenting, recognizing and rewarding positive actions fosters an environment conducive to growth.  It creates a feedback loop where individuals are more likely to engage in behaviors leading to those rewarded outcomes, ultimately contributing to establishing lasting and beneficial habits.  The key lies in acknowledging and celebrating the steps aligning with desired goals, reinforcing success, and ensuring a continuous cycle of improvement which ultimately leads to a positive team culture.

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!

With the playing of the Vermont North v South All-Star game, the 2023 football season is in the books.  Now, we encourage our athletes to participate in a Winter sport.  We believe engaging in multiple sports cultivates a more well-rounded athlete, enhancing physical fitness, imparting diverse skills, and fostering mental resilience.  

The versatility gained from engaging in different sports improves agility, coordination, and adaptability.  It also reduces the risk of burnout and overuse injuries associated with specializing early in a single sport.  The multi-sport athlete also develops a broader social network increasing their circle of friendships.  

We will have players participating in Alpine Skiing, Basketball, Ice Hockey, and Indoor Track and I look forward to watching them compete.  For those athletes who choose not to participate in a Winter sport, we have a 3-day/week strength and conditioning program that will better prepare them for their Spring sport as well as the 2024 football season.

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!