Tuesday night was our final middle school football game for the season, and although we lost 28 – 16 to Clear Lake, I believe we walked away with a win because these kids fought hard and played one of their best games of the season. They did exactly what I ask for of every player, “control what you can control: your attitude and your effort”.
I have said for a long time: middle school football/sports are extremely difficult. These kids transition from combined 5th and 6th grade YSF to single grade 7th and 8th grade sports and then back to combined throughout their high school careers. Now on one hand, this can make the kids better as they need to step up and work hard if they want to succeed. However one of the several downsides is we, like many schools, have low numbers and it can wear a kid down playing both ways with very little breaks when you don’t have the numbers to sub kids in.
It can be very discouraging to kids to not have success throughout their middle school careers and many of them drop out before they reach their potential. Every kid comes into their own at different times, those who may not be so great in middle school can become major contributors in high school and beyond. By the way, I call BS on the idea of “weeding out the weak” at a young age as you may be shutting down your school’s future all-star before they even have a chance to shine. so the “weeding” is a load of crap in my book.
If you coach any sports younger than high school, your job as a coach is NOT to win games (yes, I agree winning is more fun), your job is to develop these kids for when win/loss records count, and that is at the varsity level and beyond. Basics of your sport should be your number 1 priority, proper techniques, footwork, hand offs, tackling, etc. Teach the kids to love the game, the love to compete and to love the process of getting better, and not hate it because you didn’t win.
It took me some time to learn the “win” wasn’t on the scoreboard at the end of the game. The win is in the long game. The win is when you are able to watch that young athlete you coached in 5th grade or middle school continue to play through their senior year. The win is having those athletes go out of their way to say hi to you when they see you. The win is having those athletes call you well after they have graduated just to say hi or ask for advice because they trust you and you have built that relationship. The win is seeing those athletes become coaches themselves and do their best to fill your shoes and continue your legacy. That’s the coach I strive to be and although I will never be able to fill their shoes, I hope my coaches know I’m doing my best.
I will be forever grateful to those coaches that have had the most impact and have been the most influential in my life. They are the coaches I still go to today (I’ve literally talked to all 3 of these men over the last couple days), and they continue to guide and support not only me but my kids as well.
My eternal thanks to Coach Scott Hoegh, Coach Jerry Shafrath and Coach Dennis Swieter. I’m doing my best to live up to you all.
