'Twas the Night Before Fall Camp...
Fall Camp is one of the most exciting times of the year. There is a palpable
feeling of mystery and wonder. As each coach takes the field they wonder, what
adventures will this year bring? Anybody who has coached for any length of time
will tell you, no two days, let alone two seasons are the same. This year's team
isn't last years, the personalities are different, the kids are different, the
staff may be different. But one thing should remain the same, the mission. Our
mission as coaches is to journey side by side with our athletes and help them
discover the best possible version of themselves. Whether that be athlteically,
academically, or even socially. I have coached numerous kids that never made a
difference on Friday night, but they became better people because of the journey
that they embarked on. I have also coached D1 athletes who needed help on the social or academic side, regardless, they all have their own journey that we as coaches have to embark with them.
As I write this on the morning of my 7th Fall Camp as a coach, I am reminded of the joys of the process. When I was struggling with balancing College Undergrad, Coaching, working a retail job, and interning at a local training facility, my dad used to always ask me "Noah, how do you eat an elephant?" reluctantly (and probably with some eye roll) I would reply "One bite at a time." Little did I know, but that stupid saying has stuck with me through the good days and the bad days, it bleeds into how I talk to the athletes on the sidelines and it helps me stay grounded. By eating the elephant one bite at a time, we are able to take the journey with our athletes one day at a time, one moment at a time. During a halftime speech last year, I heard this phrase come from our then Defensive Coordinator "... Win one play at a time, win enough plays then you win the series, win enough series then you win the quarter, win enough quarters then you win the game" That was so influential for me to hear, it was "Eat the Elephant" playing out in real life.
So coaches, as you embark on your 1st, 5th, 12th, or even 25th Fall Camp. I emplore you, Eat the Elephant. As you stand on the sideline, preparing to go out and fight for the hearts of Young Men or Women, remind yourself that you can't fix everything at once. Water doesn't boil just by getting hot, it is only at 212° that one can see the water start to boil. Nobody can see it warming for the other 211°. Be good stewards of the work that is required, bring your best daily, and Do the Work. There are no shortcuts, be patient but be urgent, be demanding but loving, be the coach that your athletes deserve, especially your seniors. There is nothing like High School Football, honor them in your work.
A few passages from people who are smarter than me
Winning has a price, and leadership has a price. So I pulled people along when they didn’t want to be pulled. I challenged people when they didn’t want to be challenged." - Michael Jordan
"Thus it is foresight, the biggest blessing humanity has been given, is transformed into a curse" - Seneca 65 A.D.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" Matthew 6:34
As I write this on the morning of my 7th Fall Camp as a coach, I am reminded of the joys of the process. When I was struggling with balancing College Undergrad, Coaching, working a retail job, and interning at a local training facility, my dad used to always ask me "Noah, how do you eat an elephant?" reluctantly (and probably with some eye roll) I would reply "One bite at a time." Little did I know, but that stupid saying has stuck with me through the good days and the bad days, it bleeds into how I talk to the athletes on the sidelines and it helps me stay grounded. By eating the elephant one bite at a time, we are able to take the journey with our athletes one day at a time, one moment at a time. During a halftime speech last year, I heard this phrase come from our then Defensive Coordinator "... Win one play at a time, win enough plays then you win the series, win enough series then you win the quarter, win enough quarters then you win the game" That was so influential for me to hear, it was "Eat the Elephant" playing out in real life.
So coaches, as you embark on your 1st, 5th, 12th, or even 25th Fall Camp. I emplore you, Eat the Elephant. As you stand on the sideline, preparing to go out and fight for the hearts of Young Men or Women, remind yourself that you can't fix everything at once. Water doesn't boil just by getting hot, it is only at 212° that one can see the water start to boil. Nobody can see it warming for the other 211°. Be good stewards of the work that is required, bring your best daily, and Do the Work. There are no shortcuts, be patient but be urgent, be demanding but loving, be the coach that your athletes deserve, especially your seniors. There is nothing like High School Football, honor them in your work.
A few passages from people who are smarter than me
Winning has a price, and leadership has a price. So I pulled people along when they didn’t want to be pulled. I challenged people when they didn’t want to be challenged." - Michael Jordan
"Thus it is foresight, the biggest blessing humanity has been given, is transformed into a curse" - Seneca 65 A.D.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" Matthew 6:34
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