O Line Skills

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!

The Alercio OLine Clinic at St Johnsbury Academy in Vermont this past weekend was a huge success.  Enjoy the video clip from the clinic.  Below, I share the lyrics of the song choice, The Lineman’s Blues.

Down in the trenches where the big boys play

No fame or glory, just another workday

We hold the line while the crowd looks away

Sweat and grit pave our unseen highway

The quarterback shines, but we take the blows

The running back flies while our effort shows

Every push every grind, it’s the life we chose

Unseen soldiers where the battle flows

Strike…step…drive, drive, drive

Keep the pocket clean, keep the play alive

No spotlight here, but we still thrive

Strike…step…drive, drive, drive

We’re the wall, the fortress no one can breach

Carrying the weight within arm’s reach

Every yard earned is a lesson we teach

No cheering crowd, no name on the screen

But we’re the backbone of this gridiron scene

When the whistle blows, it’s a war machine

Grinding the glory into the unseen

Strike…step…drive, drive, drive

Feel the earthquake as the engines arrive

Push the limits of what we can survive

Strike…step…drive, drive, drive

This past Sunday, June 8th, Offensive linemen and coaches from all over New England converged on Fairbanks Field in St Johnsbury, VT for this year’s final iteration of the 2025 Alercio OLine Clinics.

Join us again next year when we come together to build on traditions of teamwork, character, work ethic, and trustworthiness while teaching “Techniques For The Trenches!” at the Alercio OLine Clinics. If you would like a clinic hosted in your area, Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog, our clinics, and joining our conversations. As always, thanks for your time!

Last week, I mentioned my lifelong friend and high school teammate, Todd Zimmerman, who coaches the offensive line at perennial powerhouse Atlantic High School in South Florida. Coach Zimmerman has been instrumental in helping me run many OLine Clinics in New Jersey before making his transition to the Sunshine State. His innovative thinking is what led to our game-changing decision to shift from traditional station rotations to brief individual sessions at our clinics—a format that has proven far more efficient in our teaching process.

After flying home from our West Orange OLine Clinic last week, Todd didn’t just take those “Techniques for the Trenches” and file them away. Instead, he immediately gathered local South Florida offensive linemen to share what we had covered, extending the reach of our clinic’s impact far beyond the original participants.

This exemplifies something I’ve written about before: when two coaches meet and exchange a penny, they each walk away with one penny. But when those same two coaches exchange ideas, they both walk away with two ideas. Ideas multiply when shared, unlike material goods which simply divide.

When Todd shared our OLine Skills techniques with his South Florida athletes, he wasn’t just passing along information—he was modeling the collaborative spirit that makes our entire coaching community stronger. Those young men will benefit from techniques developed through years of collective wisdom, not just one coach’s limited perspective.

The ripple effects of this collaboration extend far beyond the X’s and O’s. When we share freely with fellow coaches, we demonstrate to our players the power of teamwork, humility, and continuous learning. We show them that even their coaches are always growing, always willing to learn from others, and always committed to bringing the best possible instruction to their athletes.

So while a penny shared is merely a simple transaction, an idea shared becomes a transformation—for the giver, the receiver, and ultimately for every young athlete who benefits from that enhanced knowledge. In that light, exchanging ideas isn’t just twice as good as keeping them to yourself—it’s infinitely better.

This Sunday, I’ll be heading to our Vermont OLine Clinic with this same spirit of collaboration and exchange. I’m excited not just to share what we’ve learned, but to discover what new insights emerge when coaches come together with open minds and generous hearts. After all, the best “Techniques for the Trenches” aren’t just about blocking and tackling—they’re about building a community of coaches committed to developing champions both on the field and in life.

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!

My lifelong friend and high school teammate, Todd Zimmerman, who coaches the offensive line at perennial powerhouse Atlantic High School in South Florida, flew up and down the East Coast on Saturday and Sunday just to coach at our West Orange NJ Alercio OLine Clinic on Memorial Day weekend.  Now that’s an OLine Coach.  

Not only did he do an outstanding job coaching.  He videotaped portions of the clinic and before he boarded the plane in LaGuardia to return home, had produced the hype video you can view here.  His song choice for the video was Toto’s Hold the Line.  Perfect for an OLine hype video.

The phrase has its roots in military communication, where it was used to convey orders to maintain a position while under attack.  It is used by both offensive and defensive line coaches to emphasize to their players the importance of winning the battle at the line of scrimmage.  It is a phrase that emphasizes toughness, resilience, and controlling the trenches where many football games are won or lost.  It is a rallying cry to remain steadfast, dig down deep for mental and physical toughness, and not give up even one inch.  In fact, in T.H. Ferenbach’s “Some Kind of War,” the author recounts the Turkish practice (Turks were allies in the Korean Conflict) of unrolling their turbans in a line behind them and vowing to fight to the death rather than give up the ground to the attacking enemy.

While our linemen will hopefully never face the carnage of actual combat, this type of mental and physical toughness, coupled with the skills and techniques taught at our clinics, allows players of any size to have success winning the battle in the trenches.  Concurrently, the shared sense of purpose and belief in our common success while enduring adversity further fuels friendships like the one I share with Coach Zimmerman. Join us for our Vermont Clinic at St Johnsbury Academy on Sunday, 8 June from 9am-1pm and build your team and your future.

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!

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. Families and friends will gather for cookouts, beach trips, and pool openings across the country. While many head to the shore, I’ll be making a different kind of pilgrimage this weekend – driving down to West Orange, New Jersey, to host the second Alercio OLine Clinic of the year on Sunday from 9am-1pm.

This timing allows me to return home for Monday’s Memorial Day observance, a day that deserves our full attention and respect. Memorial Day isn’t just another three-day weekend – it’s a solemn day of remembrance and patriotic reflection as we honor the men and women of the United States military who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. Their courage and sacrifice are the reason we can freely gather for those beach trips, backyard cookouts, and yes, even offensive line clinics.

The freedoms we often take for granted – the ability to coach young athletes, to build character through sports, to gather and compete – were secured by those who never made it home. Every snap we teach, every block we perfect, every lesson about perseverance and teamwork we share with our players exists because brave Americans paid the ultimate price for our liberty.

On Monday, I encourage you to truly observe Memorial Day with the reverence it deserves. Display your flag (half-staff until noon, then full staff until sunset). Attend a local memorial service or parade if possible. Place flowers or a wreath on the grave of a fallen hero. Observe the National Moment of Remembrance at 3pm local time. Some of you might even tackle the Murph Challenge – that grueling tribute workout of a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and another 1-mile run, ideally while wearing a 20-pound weighted vest. It’s named after Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael Murphy, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005.

But whatever you do, don’t let this day pass without remembering why we truly celebrate. The barbecues and beach days are wonderful, but they’re made possible by those who gave everything so we could enjoy such freedoms.

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!

NY Giant Hall of Famer Michael Strahan recently addressed the players at the Giants’ Rookie Mini Camp. He concluded his talk by saying, “The harder you work, the easier it is.”

At this point in their careers, the path is steep, every step is a struggle, and every obstacle is like a mountain.  But his comment reminds them that when they keep showing up day after day and give their best that something incredible happens.

With consistent effort, they will build momentum.  What once felt overwhelming starts to become familiar. Their skills will sharpen and their confidence will grow, turning hard tasks into achievable steps. Eventually, those things that seemed impossible start to feel natural. Not because the challenges have disappeared but because they have earned ease through effort. 

Shane Parrish, host of “The Knowledge Project” Podcast (a close friend’s favorite) is often heard saying, “What separates good work from great isn’t talent, it’s persistence.”

So when things get tough in football or in life, remember: the harder you work now the easier it will become later.  You are not just working hard.  You are building resilience and a version of yourself that can handle anything. 

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!