As we prepare for our first 7v7 tournament of the summer at the Pembroke Army National Guard Readiness Center in New Hampshire, I’m reminded of the two core principles that guided Harvey Firestone, founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company: “Do we need it?” and “Can we simplify it?”
These questions aren’t just business mantras—they’re a philosophy that transforms how we approach any challenge. Firestone understood that every unnecessary component, every extra step, every bit of complexity that doesn’t add value becomes a liability. His principles encourage critical evaluation of whether something is truly necessary, ensuring that time and energy are invested only in what provides genuine value.
The legendary football coach Vince Lombardi embodied this same philosophy when he said, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” He achieved this by relentlessly simplifying. The Green Bay Packers’ “power sweep” became unstoppable not because it was complex, but because it was executed to perfection through simplicity and repetition.
So as we approach the game plan for our 7v7 tournament, the question isn’t how many plays we can install—it’s which plays we truly need and can execute flawlessly?
A simplified, well-executed plan consistently outperforms a complicated, poorly understood one. We will only include plays that our team can execute with precision and that serve a clear purpose. Our goal is to confuse our opponents with formations, motions, alignments, and route combinations—not our own players. By using only the plays we need and thoroughly understand, our players can play fast and with confidence.
This approach creates a more focused and efficient team that has fun playing and competing together. When players aren’t overwhelmed by complexity, they can focus on execution, react instinctively, and play with the joy that makes football special.
Whether you’re building a tire company, a backyard deck, or preparing for a 7v7 tournament, the most powerful question you can ask remains the same: “What would make this simpler?”
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!
O Line Skills 