Howell Football Philosophy

Leadership

"Today a coach will play an instrumental role in developing tomorrow’s leaders." – Bryan Koch

Coaches have a profound ability to dictate attitude and strength of a team. When a coach creates an atmosphere of mutual respect, trust, integrity, honor, and accountability those around him tend to follow suit. All coaches must set the precedence by being their best and doing the right thing at all times. The energy and lifeblood of the team runs through the coach, and it is important to always be cognizant of that. The primary role of the coach is not to only win games, but to build LIFETIME character traits in their athletes. Establishing standards for effort, behavior, character, morals, and beliefs must be continually taught and corrected by coaches. Helping our kids distinguish the difference in what is right and what is wrong and instilling the courage in them to live by these standards is what a coach's leadership amounts to. One must learn to develop the willingness to do what it takes to achieve our goals. The ability to handle life’s many adversaries comes from experiences both on and off the field. Competition teaches us to put others ahead of ourselves, to think in a TEAM concept not a ME concept, to accept discipline and learn from it, to pour our heart and soul into what we believe in. Coaches have the opportunity to partake in the personal and athletic growth of their athletes and from that…coaching becomes an expression of love.

Work Ethic

"The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work."
– Vince Lombardi

When one measures a person’s character, they typically start with the strength of the individual’s work ethic. Great coaches demand only the best efforts from their athletes’ everyday in everything they do. Work ethic does not solely apply to the physical aspect, but more so in the mental aspect. The ability to PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS when an athlete is physically drained is not physical toughness, but rather mental toughness. A great coach of mine defined mental toughness as, "The ability to be at your best on command for an undetermined amount of time." Outstanding work ethic is not something that just happens over night; however, it can be taught by positive and demanding leadership. Success will only follow work; success will never come without working to achieve it. Work ethic is an admired trait that becomes infectious and spreads to those teammates around you.

A great work ethic will become a habit in all facets of life, leading to the achievement of lifelong dreams. This achievement fosters deep and lasting team friendships, loyalty, respect, and love, yet none of this can happen without a demanding work ethic. When a team develops a strong work ethic, winning will take care of itself.

Courage

"To see what is right and not do it is a lack of courage."
– Confucius

The ability to stand up for what you believe is right is a character trait that many individuals have a hard time developing. High school athletics can play a crucial role in developing courage among our youths in the community. Courage is exemplified by teaching young minds how to look past what may seem "fun" right now and envision life down the road. Being able to look at the bigger picture, and mold thought processes to view the advantages of doing the right thing will pay dividends in future. High school athletics achieves this feat. Athletics train our young adults to be upstanding, respectable members of our community. The values that are learned through participation in high school athletics are paramount to our children’s future. So many concepts are taught on the field of competition without kids even realizing they are experiencing change. Concepts such as team work, sportsmanship, perseverance, handling adversity are all components of every day life. By experiencing these principles at such an early stage in life, it prepares our kids to be successful in the daunting world that awaits them.

Integrity

"People trade what they want most for what they want right now."
– Bryan Koch

Integrity is something that is easy to have when people are watching. The true way to recognize the strength of a person’s integrity is what they do behind closed walls when no one is looking. A person of integrity has depth of character as well as a complete and sound foundation. Integrity is something that an individual must work diligently to gain, yet can be lost in an instant because of one bad choice. High school athletics help build the idea of integrity in our youths by teaching them to be GOAL ORIENTED. Being goal oriented is so much more than saying, "We are going to win state this year!" One is goal oriented by setting an end of season goal and taking the necessary steps every day to assure our goals are realized. Coming to practice at six o’clock in the morning, every morning to work out only to do it again the following day is having the knowledge that your ultimate achievement is in sight. When a football team is in the weight room at the beginning of January, it is not because they want to win a lifting competition in February; it is because they want to win a state championship in December, which happens to be "in sight." True winners always do what it takes to achieve their goal, and they do not stop trying until they grasp it. Ironically, even after a winner’s goals are achieved, they already have their sites set on the next prize.

Discipline

"Discipline is knowing what to do. Knowing when to do it. Doing it to the best of your abilities. Doing it that way EVERY SINGLE TIME."
– Bob Knight

Many people think that discipline is only used when someone does something wrong. On the contrary, discipline is a principle that needs to be instilled in and utilized by all athletes. Discipline is a very general and broad term, but when you break it down, discipline is simply doing what is expected of you. Whether it is studying for the test you have next week, doing the chores your parents ask you to do, or not jumping offside in Friday night’s football game. Discipline does not mean that we do what we should occasionally, but rather doing what we should on a CONSISTANT basis, and without having to be asked. High school athletics demand discipline because students are held ACCOUNTABLE. Teachers hold students accountable for their actions during the school day by expecting them be respectable role models, and while they are in practice they are demanded to give their best effort every time. Subsequently, when they get home students know the day is not over because there is homework to be done. Maintaining focus and staying on track are important elements of strong and sturdy discipline.

Respect

"Anytime you give a man something he doesn’t earn you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect."
–Woody Hayes.

Respect is something that can take a lifetime to earn. Respect is not something that can be given to our kids because of what they do in one day. Any one can be GREAT for one day, but to be great day in and day out takes dedication and a strong set of beliefs and values. High school athletics delivers this strong set of beliefs and values. When a group of fifty teenagers wake up at five in the morning to come up to the high school gym and run gassers until they feel like they cant go anymore, they develop a bond with each other that cannot and will not be broken. This bond will last a lifetime. The bond lasts a lifetime when you look around and realize that you are all in this thing together, and that you are all strong enough to accomplish anything you put your mind to. That is when the most ultimate form of respect is earned. You know that the guy next to you is hurting just as bad as you are, but he keeps going…not for himself…but for YOU. When you witness people sacrifice so much for something bigger than them, you never forget it. Our kids will never forget their experiences, and more importantly the life long friendships they will create just by playing high school sports.

Teamwork

"You must learn how to hold a team together. You must lift some men up, clam others down, until finally they’ve got one heartbeat. Then you’ve got yourself a team."
– Bear Bryant.

Taking a group of individuals and forming a cohesive unit is single handedly the most difficult, and overwhelming task a coach will execute in his lifetime, yet it is the most gratifying, and rewarding accomplishment that one can attain. Building a team is a tough responsibility because you may have kids with different backgrounds that are all trying out for the sport for different reasons. Some kids may have all the athletic ability in the world, but work ethic that falls short. Other kids may have the best work ethic you have ever seen, but their athleticism is questionable. And then, there are some kids that may be coming out for the team because one of their parents was a great high school athlete and they want their child to follow in their footsteps. Regardless of the diverse personalities, backgrounds, and difficulties that stand in the way of making many kids become one unit, it is the coach’s PRIMARY responsibility to overcome the barriers for the purpose of forming a team.
Teamwork plays an immense role in developing our kids for the world after high school. Upon entering the work force, students will be able to work on group projects effectively and get along with their peers. If we, as mentors, can facilitate an environment of teamwork, we are able to arm students with the necessary tools that will help with their success in the future.

Sportsmanship

"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
– Dean Smith

Developing sportsmanship is an integral part in the building of character in our athletes. Sportsmanship teaches us not only how to handle winning and losing, but how to handle winning and losing with dignity and honor. The true winner of high school athletics is not always decided on the score board. In some way, every kid that gets the chance to compete is a winner. Every kid that gets the chance to run out onto the field, shoot their first lay up, spike their first volleyball, march the field at halftime beating on their drum in front of their entire family is a winner in their own way. Whatever it may be that gives that individual athlete that distinct sense of pride also gives them a reason to try harder.
Sportsmanship and dignity go hand in hand. When athletes play with dignity they exemplify great sportsman. The scoreboard will not always show our team with the greatest number of points. When we do not come out on top, it is paramount to display grace. It is ok to give credit to another person or let someone else have the limelight because they played better than you. The lessons we learn from today’s opponent will help us find strength in ourselves to work hard and achieve our goal next time. The key is being able to learn from past mistakes, not dwelling on them.