COACHES CORNER

To empower youth to be confident, motivated, responsible, and thoughtful students, players and most importantly people.  To provide a program based on accountability in all aspects of life, with a focus on the classroom, the field and the community.  To create an environment for growth and guidance that provides opportunity to experience a process that strives for success. 

Philosophy: “Do what is right.”  Simple yet extremely difficult to execute 100 percent of the time.  We believe as a program that from the top to the bottom if individuals can do what is right for the team, school, and community on a consistent basis, success will follow.  Individual sacrifice for the betterment of the group is the number one ingredient in achieving this success.  We will set lofty yet achievable goals and hold ourselves to a higher standard than expected.  

Warriors Creed:  I am a Warrior.  To be a Warrior is a privilege and not a right.  A Warrior is not entitled to anything unless they have earned it.  Everything a Warrior has earned can be taken away if they do not do what is right for their team, their school, and their coaches.  A Warrior is never selfish; when you are selfish you are telling those who count on you that you are more important than them.  A Warrior focuses on the smallest details, making sure to never cut corners.  Cutting corners hurts the success of my team; cutting corners is selfish.  A Warrior never quits; quitting is easy, quitting is selfish.  A Warrior believes in hard work; knowing that for everything good they must pay a price.  I am a Warrior!

Classroom:  Players should be giving the same treatment and attention to all members of the school staff as you would any coach in this program.  Do what is right.  Poor attitude, inattentiveness, tardiness, absences, lack of effort, incomplete assignments and any misbehavior will not be tolerated by players in the classroom.  Players are responsible for your academic performance and behavior, not their teachers, parents, or coaches.

On the field: Behavior on the field should model the behavior we are working to demonstrate daily in practice, the classroom and in the community.  Behavior that draws attention to yourself rather than the team and/or embarrasses the program will be addressed by the head coach.  We will celebrate great plays with each other as a team.  There will be no taunting, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct or profanity of any kind.  Much focus will be paid to handing the ball to officials, giving genuine congratulations to the opposition after the game, and showing thanks to our fans for their support.  

Practice: There are very few reasons to miss a practice.  It will be necessary for players to adjust their priorities while in season.  As a member of this program while in season your priorities will be family, school and football in that order.  That being said, a sister or brother's birthday dinner will not be an acceptable excuse for missing practice.  The expectations for practice are as follows.

• All practices are mandatory

Excuses limited to:

1. Family Emergencies
2. Extraordinary opportunities*
3. Extra school help*
4. Contagious or debilitating illness* 

*The head coach needs to be told in person when at all possible about missing practices and reserves the right to turn down a request that they feel does not fit the spirit of the above excuses.  In person is best, but if you must text or call you can.  If you text or call the expectation is that you keep your phone on you and immediately respond to follow up texts or calls (no hiding).  Missing practice should be a last resort for players and coaches.  If you are injured please see the head coach and then the head coach will send you to the trainer.  If injured you should still be at practice or rehabbing whenever possible.

• On time to practice is late to practice.  We do not waste time in this program.  Having respect for this program means you show up with enough time to be fully ready with some time to spar before the first whistle blows.   You will have your entire schedule for the season.  Reasons for being late are the same as missing practices.  
• Be prepared for practice.  If you are responsible for bringing things out or putting them back then do it.  If you should have watched film on the opponents defense before offensive practice on Wednesday then do it.
• Be able to compartmentalize at the start of practice.  We all have many things going on, but we must attempt to do the best we can to check those things at the door once practice starts and focus on the job at hand.
• Show up with the proper attitude and ready to work.  When we accomplish what is needed at a high level, I assure you the fun will follow.
• Get better.  Everyday is about improvement.  Improvement in the classroom, and in the relationships with your teammates.
• Practice will never be longer than it needs to be.  We believe in working hard but smart.  Everything we ask you to do has a purpose. 
• Do what is right.  Practice is a priority, conduct yourself properly.  No swearing.  

Parental Cooperation Standards:  We promise to hold ourselves and your children to a high standard and to continually make individual sacrifices for the group.  We believe players who participate in our program and hold that standard will be better suited going forward in all aspects of their lives.  We ask parents to do their part in supporting us in our players meeting those standards and to trust that we always want what’s best for all of our players and that we only want great things for each of their futures.

• We coach our football players like they are family.
• We expect your child's complete focus when we are teaching.
• We may require your child to be more disciplined than they are used to.
• The team will always come first.  The role any individual plays on our team will be decided by what’s best for the team.
• A Parent’s influence or position will make no difference in any decision made in this program.
• Our coaching staff will not be looking for or accepting any parents thoughts on football matters including but not limited to: 

1. Playing time or position
2. Practice Instruction
3. Schemes, play calling, in game decisions

• Our coaching staff believes in what we do.  We are passionate, do not waste time, have clear plans, and make all decisions based on sound evidence.  You may disagree with us at times on football matters and that is ok.  But many times these decisions are based on evidence and expertise you do not have.   
• If a need for communication arises do to a problem or perceived problem, we ask that you use the following chain of command:

1. Player to position coach (in person)
2. Player to Head Coach (in person)
3. Player and Parent to Heach Coach (in person)
4. Parent to Athletic Director (in person)

• Parents are always welcomed and encouraged to talk to coaches on non football  topics whenever they would like,i.e; family issues, school, etc…
• Schedule meetings with the coaching staff in advance, in accordance with the chain of command represented above. 

1. Remember our philosophy when evaluating a situation: The team comes first.   
2. The door is always open and so is our mind. 
3. Meetings should take place a minimum of 24 hours after an incident occurs (best to sleep on things and approach with less emotion). 
4. Please keep issues to your son, not to other players or parents.

• Place responsibility on your child whenever possible, help them grow and be a self advocate.  Before we know it, these children will be out on their own, let’s partner together to prepare them.