YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A SPECIAL FOOTBALL TEAM WHEN YOU SEE THESE THINGS
When everyone shows up to meetings 5 minutes early
When players who are going to be late or will not be able to show up for a Football related activity phone in advance to inform and explain
When no one “walks” on the playing field at any time during a practice session…………….they are always “on the hop”
When after every practice rep, individuals give encouraging feedback (“Put Ups”) to a teammate
When players learn how to stay completely focused and intense for a 2-3 hour practice, as preparation for game type intensity and concentration
When players who are frustrated with the play (or with a particular play) don’t “show it”, but simply “go back to work”
When every huddle break is crisp and everyone participates in it, regardless of how tired they are
When players move in and out of the huddle with urgency…………….play after play
When players run off and on the field, “through”, and not “to”, the sideline
When players are as excited about their teammate’s success as they are about their own successes
When someone makes a special play on the field and 10 guys acknowledge it
When the practice field is filled with guys who are smiling……… whether they “feel like it” or not……simply loving the pleasure of playing the game of Football and being together
When upper classmen see their “role” as being “Servant Leaders” to the underclassmen
When upper classmen pick up the field, locker room, bus and meeting rooms, and lunchroom, whether they made the mess or not
When players “cover for each other” when clothing or other items are left on the field, the locker room, bus, meeting rooms and lunch room
When players treat their coaches, teammates and opponents with the respect, regardless of whether they think they deserve it or not
When players greet each other with a kind word and/or handshake, both in the locker room, the lunchroom, in the dorms, and when walking around campus
When players sit up in their chairs during meetings, and fill the front rows of the meeting room and classroom, and have their eyes focused on the coach when he speaks
When the backside corner, backside LB and Def Linemen chase the play until its conclusion
When players 50 yards behind the play are chasing after the ball full speed
When during pass skeleton the non playing LB’s/DB’s yell “pass” and “ball”, every practice rep
When the quarterbacks carry out their play fakes every play, and takes charge in the huddle with encouragement and positiveness
When the running backs and receivers love blocking a much as catching the ball
When players look the coach in the eye when he is giving them feedback and correction, and are humble and teachable in response
When these things are done not because you “have to”, but because you “WANT TO
When players are out before practice begins working on their skill drills and goal sets…………….always taking advantage of opportunities to improve
When players stay out after practice officially ends to do extra conditioning or work on any areas of their play that need improvement
When players who realize that they are not in shape take it upon themselves to find creative ways to do extra conditioning so that their individual play is not a liability to the team’s best
These “little things” are very difficult to do, because “doing the right thing” rarely comes naturally
I’m not saying that if you do not do these “little things”, that you will not succeed
I’m only saying that if you do not consider doing these things, then there is a very small chance the team will reach its fullest potential
For when you do the “little things”, the “big things” take care of themselves
And when players fully realize the universal truth that, “more games are lost than are won”, then they will be more apt to take seriously the little things that enhance their opportunities for success each season
IF SOMETHING IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO DO, THEN IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO IT RIGHT
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FINALLY, SOME COMMENTS TO THOSE SPECIFICALLY WHO PROFESS TO FOLLOW JESUS
My experience is that you will only be able to accomplish these above things if you have “Supernatural Gas”
And supernatural gas is only found in a legitimately functioning relationship with Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit
Consequently, if you profess to follow Jesus, your mission is to “lead the way” in self sacrifice and selflessness toward these above goals as a visible expression of the life and death of Jesus to your teammates
Additionally, all the folks who watch you in action this year in practice and games will take note that “you have been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13)
Scotty Kessler – 1999
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