It is often said in sports that winning the game is everything and is the only thing that matters. No doubt winning is an important and rewarding part of the game of football. It certainly feels better to win than to lose a game. But competing with everything you have is what matters. Working as hard as you can in every single practice, drill, scrimmage, game, quarter and play is being a fierce competitor. Be the first one to get to the field, the last one to leave, and the one who does the most to get better. The player who works hard everyday to compete is a winner because he will always get better, win plenty of games, and be a competitor even on the day his team loses. What really matters is whether a player has the discipline, courage, and character to be a fierce competitior every day.
It is often a skilled player who scores a touchdown that gets the credit and headlines. No doubt the quarterback throws and a receiver catches the TD pass. But what about the other people who helped make things happen, the center who snapped the ball, linemen who blocked, coaches who called the play, fans who cheered for the score, defense who stopped the other team, school who educated the players, and last but not least God. The reality of the situation is that there are literally hundreds of people responsible for a TD pass and catch. What happens on the field is not about you, but rather about your team, fans, and school. So quarterbacks and receivers celebrate by giving the credit to your team and everyone else who helped you throw or catch that TD pass, including God.
Commit yourself to learning everything
about the offense, defense, and especially
the positions that you are playing.
Be disciplined enough to work hard in
every single practice, drill, game, and play
and to always do things the right way.
Be the first one to arrive at the football
field, the last player to leave, and the one
who works the hardest to get better.
Be completely confident in yourself and
have the utmost faith in your own abilities
and your potential for greatness.
Be the player with the courage to step up
and do great things and to make everyone
else around you better in the process.
Respect the game, show sportsmanship,
and realize that what happens on the field
is not about you but about your team.
Coach Gene Straughan
about the offense, defense, and especially
the positions that you are playing.
Be disciplined enough to work hard in
every single practice, drill, game, and play
and to always do things the right way.
Be the first one to arrive at the football
field, the last player to leave, and the one
who works the hardest to get better.
Be completely confident in yourself and
have the utmost faith in your own abilities
and your potential for greatness.
Be the player with the courage to step up
and do great things and to make everyone
else around you better in the process.
Respect the game, show sportsmanship,
and realize that what happens on the field
is not about you but about your team.
Coach Gene Straughan
What Really Matters
Leadership Qualities
Who Receives Credit
Leadership Qualities:
The Straughan’s Air It Out Football Academy is dedicated to developing leadership attributes in football players. It is not enough to be a skilled quarterback and receiver. They have to be strong leaders who possess the qualities of commitment, discipline, confidence, character, courage, and so on. Players must commit themselves to learning everything about playing their position. They must have the discipline to work hard in everything and to always do things the right way. Be the first one to arrive at the field, the last one to leave, and the one who does the most to get better.
AIOFA stresses the need for football players to be confident by believing in themselves and their potential for greatness. They must have faith in their abilities and the courage to step up and do great things. They must also come to understand that their character as a person is what matters at the end of the day. They need to respect the game, show sportsmanship, and realize that what happens on the field is not about them, but rather about their team. Quarterbacks and receivers are expected to become teammates that make themselves and everyone else around them better.
AIOFA stresses the need for football players to be confident by believing in themselves and their potential for greatness. They must have faith in their abilities and the courage to step up and do great things. They must also come to understand that their character as a person is what matters at the end of the day. They need to respect the game, show sportsmanship, and realize that what happens on the field is not about them, but rather about their team. Quarterbacks and receivers are expected to become teammates that make themselves and everyone else around them better.
Straughan's Air It Out Football Academy
Director Gene Straughan, PO Box 189, Colton, Washington, 99113, airitoutfootball@yahoo.com, 509-432-5535
