sports – O Line Skills

Celebrating the Season: Showcasing Achievement and the Behaviors That Build Champions

December 11, 2025 Coach AlercioLeave a comment

This weekend, we will gather the 2025 Hilltopper Football Team one final time for our annual banquet—a moment to reflect, to honor, and to celebrate the season we built together. After watching our highlight video, sharing a meal, awarding varsity letters, acknowledging post-season honors, and recognizing the contributions of our seniors, we conclude the evening with our Superlative Awards.

These awards matter for reasons that go far beyond individual achievement. Each one reinforces a standard of behavior we want carried forward. They illuminate the habits, mindsets, and daily choices that shape a championship culture, offering returning players a clear path to follow.

Our Most Improved Player embodies our belief that games are not won on weekends in the fall. His relentless commitment to self-improvement—through the off-season and in every practice—was matched by his energy, effort, and enthusiasm. His growth elevated both himself and the team.

The Scout Team Player of the Year represents the purest form of selflessness. Operating in near anonymity, he approaches each day with a singular mission: to push his teammates to be better prepared for game day. His contribution is measured not in headlines, but in the competitive edge he gives everyone around him.

In a program full of heroes—where many players earn media attention and postseason accolades—the Unsung Hero stands apart. He does everything asked of him, without expectation of praise, and in doing so becomes indispensable to the team’s success.

Our Most Valuable Player is not simply the one who scores the most points or fills the stat sheet. He is the player whose presence most profoundly shaped our season—as a performer, as a leader, and as a standard-bearer for what it means to be a Hilltopper.

These awards remind us that success is built on behaviors worth repeating. By elevating those examples, we offer every returning player a roadmap for what comes next.

Time Well Spent

December 4, 2025 Coach AlercioLeave a comment

It takes a lot of hours over multiple days to meet 1-on-1 with every player on a 50-man roster, but it is time well spent and an exercise I enjoy every year.

This year’s meetings were held in our newly designed athletics conference room. I sat in one of four chairs surrounding a 4-foot round table. Interestingly, after several meetings, I noticed that more veteran players sat in a chair closest to me while younger players sat across the table in the chair furthest from me. It was a stark reminder of how uncomfortable a teenager can be in that type of setting with an adult.

Before the meetings, I messaged all players to be prepared to discuss their reflections on the season, their role on the team, how they were treated on the team by teammates and coaches, their plans for the off-season, their plans for next year, and finally, I asked them to be prepared for what I might say about them.

Providing them with an outline of how the meeting would go, I hope to better prepare them as well as allow us to be efficient with our time. Regardless of what was said during the meeting, the goal is to end every meeting on a positive and motivating note, reinforcing my belief in their potential so that they feel encouraged to work hard in the offseason and look forward to returning to the team for Spring Ball.

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!

Until the Last Whistle — And Beyond

November 20, 2025November 19, 2025 Coach AlercioLeave a comment

“Let the sun go down on you like King Harold at the battle of Hastings — fighting gloriously. Maybe a loser but what a loser.”

We set a goal to go 1–0 every week this season—and we did that in nine of our eleven contests. Each time we stepped onto the field, our players and staff fought the warrior’s fight, shoulder to shoulder, until the final whistle. The state championship trophy wasn’t ours to raise this year, but effort, unity, and heart were never in question.

As we’ve often said throughout these conversations, football mirrors life. Adversity will always find us. What matters is how we meet it—and how we rise the next morning. The ending wasn’t the one we imagined, but the opponent was worthy and the battle was real. Over four decades of playing and coaching this game, I’ve seen some seasons end with cheers and confetti and others end in quiet reflection—but in both cases, the sun still rises. And with each sunrise comes a new responsibility, a new chance to grow, lead, and serve.

This coming weekend, five of our seniors will wear the green helmet with the white STJ one final time as they represent St. Johnsbury Academy in the Vermont North vs. South All-Star Game at Norwich University. Kickoff is Sunday at 12:30. When the clock runs out, they’ll take that helmet off for the last time—but the lessons learned, the brotherhood formed, and the growth they’ve earned will travel with them wherever they go.

It may be the close of a chapter, but it is far from the end of the men this game helped shape. I hope the bonds and friendships formed this season last for decades like the ones I formed more than 40 years ago.

Setting A Personal Example

November 6, 2025November 6, 2025 Coach AlercioLeave a comment

It was a great weekend for football in St Johnsbury, VT. The Hilltoppers advanced to the state semifinals, and our youth team captured a state championship for the second year in a row. The weekend was made even better when the head of our youth program shared the following letter she received:

My son plays QB & LB for BYSA. I just wanted to reach out to express my gratitude and ask if you could please pass along a message to the families of players 59 and 50. At a few different points during the game, both of these boys came up to my son, gave him a hug and told him he was a great athlete and to keep fighting. Their kindness and sportsmanship truly meant so much to him and to me as well. Please let them know how much we both appreciated their encouragement. Congratulations on your win and thank you again for raising such remarkable young men.

Football may at times be a violent sport, filled with hard hits and fierce competition, but being a good sport is still essential. Players must learn to compete intensely while keeping control and showing integrity. Good sportsmanship turns a rough game into a test of character as much as skill.

I am proud of all of our youth coaches, many of whom played for us, and all of the players, but especially these two young men who I watched grow up over the past dozen years as they are the sons of two of our coaches. We look forward to welcoming them and their teammates into our Hilltopper football family in 2026.

Keep The Main Thing, The Main Thing!

October 23, 2025October 23, 2025 Coach AlercioLeave a comment

This weekend marks the 120th playing of “The Game” — St. Johnsbury Academy versus Lyndon Institute. The rivalry dates back to the fall of 1894, making it one of the oldest high school football rivalries in the nation. In 2013, USA Today conducted a national poll to determine the greatest high school football rivalry in America. The Game swept the Vermont, New England, and Eastern regions before finishing fourth in the nation overall.

The week leading up to The Game is Spirit Week — a celebration that transforms the entire school. Teachers and students dress according to daily themes, classes decorate hallways, floats are built for the parade, pep-chapel skits bring energy to the auditorium, and the bell towers in each town are illuminated with school colors. This year, for the first time in history, The Game will be played under the lights on Saturday night. Add to that the fact that we’re competing for the #2 or #3 seed in the state tournament, and it’s easy to see how distractions can multiply.

I have a former high school teammate, lifelong friend, and retired Marine LtCol who often reminds me that when life pulls in too many directions: “Focus on the mission.”

From a leadership perspective, personal example matters. As coaches, we have to model the focus and discipline we expect from our players. Our actions should reflect the same attention and composure we ask of them. We reinforce that focus in the words that follow our actions — and by publicly recognizing those student-athletes who lead by example. And when necessary, in quieter moments, we take time to counsel those who drift from the mission and our collective goals.

In football, academics, or in life, remember to keep the main thing, the main thing!

National Coach’s Day

October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 Coach AlercioLeave a comment

Today, Monday October 6^th, is “National Coaches Day.” It’s not a scheme to get you to buy a greeting card, nor some food promotion promising free tacos or burgers… It was first proclaimed by President Nixon in 1972, to acknowledge the influence coaches have on young people through sports. The day is dedicated to honoring and appreciating coaches of all sports and levels, from volunteers to professionals, for the positive impact they have on athletes and communities.

My first job after college was as a teacher and coach at Admiral Farragut Academy, a military (Naval) based preparatory school with all the traditional trappings of a military hierarchy. I was given the option of receiving a pseudo-military rank/title or being called “Coach.” I chose Coach, and that is all I have ever wanted to be called. My coaches were my mentors…the examples I wanted to follow…At the time, I questioned whether I was actually worthy of the title, but I resolved to earn the trust and respect of my players, the same way my coaches had earned ours: one day at a time.

As coaches, we play a profound and lasting role in shaping kids’ lives, acting as mentors, role models, and even parental figures while we coach them, and those relationships last for years to come. Our influence goes beyond teaching skills, schemes, and plays. We help shape character, values, and outlooks on life. For nearly four decades now, I’ve considered coaching as a privilege. A privilege I cherish, and one that serves as an homage to all the great coaches who have supported and invested in me over the years.

Today, I encourage you to reach out to a current or former coach of yours, or perhaps your child’s, and simply say, “Thank you.” We do not need anything more than that. Our reward comes in the celebration of successes as players on the fields and courts near and far, in the lives they build with their families, and the positive impacts they make on their communities for years to come.

Three Girls, One Camp, Infinite Possibilities

July 10, 2025July 9, 2025 Coach AlercioLeave a comment

We recently hosted our annual Hilltopper Youth Football Camp. In looking through the camp photos, the one shared in this blog jumped out at me—not only because of the 6’3″, 220-pound 8th grader who has the athleticism to make this spectacular one-handed catch, but because of the girl in the foreground. She is one of three girls who attended our camp.

These brave young ladies participating in a traditionally male-dominated sport are breaking the cycle of gender norms and showing other kids that football truly is for everyone. Like boys have experienced for decades, girls who play football gain confidence, discipline, and a sense of belonging—qualities that can positively impact them for the rest of their lives.

With the backing of the NFL and Nike, flag football is growing rapidly and is now sanctioned as a varsity sport for girls in several states. Some NAIA schools are now offering college football scholarships to women for flag football. In 2028, women’s flag football will make its debut in the Olympics!

I have often said that girls are the future of football because girls who love the game will become mothers who encourage their kids to play football. But maybe they are not just the future of football. Maybe they are already part of the present.

These three young ladies at our camp reminded me that the game we love is evolving, and that evolution includes opening doors that have been closed for far too long. When we teach fundamentals, teamwork, and perseverance, those lessons are universal, regardless of gender. The field (like life) is big enough for everyone who wants to compete, learn, and grow through the game of football.

Old Dogs & Good Coaches

May 8, 2025May 7, 2025 Coach AlercioLeave a comment

“Old dogs can learn new tricks—and good coaches never stop learning.”

Experience is valuable, but growth comes from staying open to new ideas. In the ever-evolving world of coaching football, the best coaches are the ones who adapt, innovate, and keep learning. Whether it’s a fresh tactic, a new training method, or a different way to motivate players, every lesson learned makes you a stronger leader. Lifelong learning is essential for coaching success.

I recently made two very productive and informative professional development trips. One was to Dartmouth College where I caught up with a couple of other coaching friends who were visiting from NJ. We spent time in meetings with Linebacker Coach Don Dobes and Offensive Line Coach Keith Clark then we observed practice to see how what we learned was implemented on the field. The other trip was to Norwich University to visit National Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year, Scott Caufield. I brought our Strength Coach and Assistant Football Coach on the visit so that she could also learn from one of the best.

Experience provides a strong foundation, but growth comes from staying curious and open to change. In football coaching, embracing new tactics, technologies, and training methods not only improves team performance but also keeps a coach current in a fast-evolving sport.

A true coach is both a lifelong learner and a lifelong teacher. When you commit to both learning and teaching, you build a legacy that goes far beyond the scoreboard. That is why for 25 years I have invited coaches to attend my Offensive Line Clinics at no cost. Even if they do not have any of their players attending, they are welcomed to join us, to learn, and to pass it forward.

Rites of Spring

April 24, 2025 Coach AlercioLeave a comment

For millennia, humans have celebrated rites of spring, embracing renewal and refreshment as we shake off the darkness and cold of winter. Longer days bring spring flowers, animal migrations, and budding trees, reminding us of the promise of new beginnings. Easter symbolizes hope and joy for Christians, offering permission to leave the past behind and embrace a new life. Easter eggs and the Easter bunny represent renewal and rebirth, themes that resonate deeply during this season of change.

Spring also marks a time of transition for football teams. Seniors prepare for graduation and the next chapter of their lives, while coaches focus on the players who will fill the depth chart for the upcoming season. Each new football season offers a clean slate—a chance for teams and players to compete, grow, and achieve new goals.

The NFL Draft, held every April, epitomizes this sense of renewal. Teams seize the opportunity to acquire fresh talent, fill roster gaps, and rebuild for the future. The timing of the draft, coinciding with Easter, underscores the shared themes of new beginnings and fresh starts.

Inspired by this annual ritual, our coaching staff conducts its own draft exercise. After celebrating Easter with their families and enjoying the NFL Draft, each coach receives an alphabetical list of all eligible returning players. They channel their inner Mel Kiper or Todd McShay, ranking players in order of their “Best Available Player.” No criteria are provided—each coach uses their own parameters to create their list.

I then compare their lists to mine and to each other’s, identifying our team’s “Best 11.” This process helps shape personnel packages, position changes, and highlights outliers. When a coach ranks a player significantly higher or lower than the staff average, it sparks valuable conversations to understand differing perspectives. This collaborative exercise ensures alignment as we prepare for Other Team Activities (OTAs) in June, setting the stage for a season of growth and success.

Forging The Future

November 21, 2024November 20, 2024 Coach AlercioLeave a comment

After the season is over and all the equipment is collected, players schedule a one-on-one year-end meeting with me. These meetings serve as an opportunity to reflect on the past season, assess their progress, set off-season goals, and discuss where they see themselves next year.

I try to orchestrate the process of self-reflection to be motivating and affirming. I want players to recognize the progress they’ve made, the skills they developed, and the goals they reached. Further, I try to very tangibly acknowledge the contributions they made to the team, fostering a sense of appreciation and making the player feel valued in the program. It also provides an opportunity to discuss what didn’t go well and why. I’m genuinely interested in players’ perceptions and encourage them to raise concerns, discuss obstacles they faced, and share challenges they have off of the field that impact their performance on the field.

These meetings also give me an opportunity to provide feedback on what they did well and opportunities for improvement. I make every effort to ensure the feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on improvement for the individual player and the team.

The year-end meetings are a chance to strengthen the coach–player relationship by creating a two-way dialogue that hopefully fosters trust, leads to more engaged players, and conveys how much I care about them. This opens the door to conversations about any misunderstandings that may have occurred during the season, while opening the door to future dialogues whenever players feel the need.

By giving players an opportunity to voice their opinions, share their concerns, and provide feedback we create players who feel more engaged and invested in the program leading to greater retention and hopefully recruitment of their classmates.

In closing, year-end meetings are a critical opportunity to reflect, learn, plan, and motivate ensuring both the player and the team are set up for success and looking forward to the year ahead.