Wow, I can't believe it has been almost 2 months since I have posted. I trust everyone had a terrific summer and that the fall is going well. Fall is always going well for me because it is "Football Season".
I started back into coaching the Redhawks the last week of the summer and we are already off to a 1 and 0 start with a 36-0 win over the Carleton Place Bears. The boys are hungry to win and I am very excited to be part of this winning tradition.
I was thinking tonight about three phrases that I use a lot in coaching the defensive line. I would like to share each phrase with you and then share a parallel in life.
1. Fire Low - as a defensive lineman it is so important to fire low. This means coming out of your three point stance and staying low to the ground making sure you get under the pads on the offensive lineman across from you. If you stay low you often win the battle.
In life it is always important to "fire low". It is important that we remain on low and on the ground. It is very important that we realize how fortunate we have it and be thankful for everything we have. As soon as you lift up your head and walk on your toes you lose your footing and soon you will be flat on your butt. "Fire low" keep a humble attitude in life and realize everything you have is a gift and be thankful and use it wisely.
2. Keep Movin' Your Legs - again as a defensive lineman (and also running back) we teach our boys to never stop movin' your legs. A lot of student athletes think that their strength comes from their upper body but we try and teach them that strength comes from your legs (your thighs) and if you keep moving them you can move the person across from you.
In life we gotta keep movin'. Someone said to me once it is hard to turn the steering wheel of a parked car. But if the car starts movin' that it is easier to turn. Some people are sitting around waiting for some great chance hoping something will come. "Get up off your butt and keep movin'!!" Even if you don't know where your goin' or what your doin' KEEP MOVIN' YOUR LEGS!! If you are out of work, your marriage has failed, you don't know where to turn. Don't sit there, get movin', do something. Call a friend, visit an old friend, go to church, write a letter, write down a few dreams do something keep movin'!
3. If It's Easy to Get Through, Break Down - another lesson we teach our d line is if you go to block the person across from you and it is easy to get through, break down. To break down means to widen the width between your legs and bend your knees a bit. Breaking down, helps you to change directions
quicker. The idea is that if the offensive lineman across from you lets you in there is a reason, there maybe a screen pass coming. (if you don't understand this don't worry about it)
Sometimes in life we get trapped. We choose a way to go, to follow and it looks easy. Wow, we are livin' on easy street. Look at that commercial if I just buy that product life will be easy. Wow, if I just do that diet, I will lose a million and six pounds. CAREFUL, IF IT'S EASY, BREAK DOWN!!
Make sure you do not fall for it. Life is not easy, things are not given to us on a silver platter. We have to work, we have to pray, we have to try, life is hard sometimes. Don't get pulled it by the lie that life is easy and you don't have to work that hard. I have found as a man, dad, husband, pastor, coach it is never easy but we keep going and we break down and look at the situation and ask for help and make tough decisions.
Well that's enough for this time remember: FIRE LOW! KEEP MOVIN' AND IF IT LOOKS EASY, BREAK DOWN!!
Until Next Time.. GO REDHAWKS!
