Well, it has been quite a while since I have written a post for my blog.
I want to tell you a story, a true story of something that happened that was quite incredible this year.
As many of you know I coach tyke football in our spring program in Smiths Falls. We started indoor training after the March Break and then our season ran from early May to the end of June.
This year was like many other years, except I we had more players who had never played football before. Out of our entire team, we had less than a third that had played one year of football. I was talking to one of my co-coaches and thinking, "Wow, this is going to be a challenging year."
The season began. We seemed to do well on offence. We had some players who had played one year and we were able to score some points. The defence was another story. Because so many of our players had never played football before, the tackling took us a few weeks.
I want to fast forward to the play-offs. We end the year in last place out of 4 teams. Our record for the season was 2-4. But we won our last game before the play-offs and I had a sense we were going in the right direction. In the semi-final game we played a team that we beat once and they beat us once. It was an incredible game with 96 points scored. Now for those of you who know very little about football, "that's a whole heap of points for one game." We Won! The boys and girl were ecstatic we were going to the finals and the truth was that in the second half it was our defence that got us there.
Now on to the finals, we were playing a team, the only team that we had lost to twice in the regular season. I knew we could beat these lads but it was going to be a tough game. The first half was very challenging, their defence came on strong and we could not run the ball very well. At the end of the half it was 14-0 for the other team. In the second half, I had a sense that if we could just score the kids would get back into the game. Well, the first play of the game the other team kicked off and one of our lads ran the ball all the way back for a touchdown!! It was 14-6 just like that and the bench was jumping up and down. All of a sudden our confidence was back on offence.
Our defence went out on the field and shutdown their team not just for that series but for the entire rest of the game!! We scored 3 more touchdowns and won the game 24-14!!
I must say in my 21 coaching seasons I have never had a more exciting end to a season!! Last year we lost on the last play of a game to the same team in the semi-finals. It was so awesome to see the boys and girl come back from behind and win!
What are the lessons from this season:
1. NEVER EVER THINK YOU CAN'T, WHEN YOU CAN
We started with the majority of players who had never played before and ended up with a 2-4 record and yet we won it all!!
2. WHEN YOU THINK IT'S OVER, IT AIN'T OVER
At the end of the first half of that championship game it just looked like we couldn't get it done. But one play into the second half there was new life and that was enough to encourage the kids that we could win.
3. UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WIN SOME AND YOU LOSE SOME
Four seasons in a row we lost in the play-offs and never won the big game. This year we won it all, due to hard work and the kids never giving up.
Maybe you feel like you are in a "losing season". Don't give up because: YOUR TIME IS COMING!
And when you think it is over - IT AIN'T OVER!!!
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
ANTICIPATION!!
Are you ready?
Is it coming soon?
Can you wait?
I can't wait! It is gonna be awesome!
Anticipation: "The Act of Looking Forward"
This is a great word! It's also a great feeling!! What is coming, what is next, when will it start, I can't wait.
You see, we could all look back and say, "Wow, I wish that had not happened; why me?; why did things have to fall apart?"
Or,
We could look forward with anticipation and say, "Ok, bring it on! Can't wait! It's gonna be better this year, this season, this week!!"
Our Spring football season is only 3 weeks from starting. Wow, we have had some awesome seasons, but this year, oh yeah, this year is gonna be awesome!! You see in many ways you get what you speak.
A guy in the Bible by the name of James said, "life and death are in the power of the tongue". What are you speaking? What are you hoping for? What is exuding from your thoughts to your tongue to speak out?
This winter I had a strange encounter. A gentleman was angry because he had brought his son to our arena to find out that it was not a free skate. He had read the website wrong, but out of his mouth came the statement, "Figures, Smiths Falls" in other words, "yeah I shouldn't be surprised this is Smiths Falls." I had to remind the gentleman that he was in my town and that Smiths Falls is awesome!!
Wow, 3 weeks to Spring Ball!! ANTICIPATION!! Can't wait, it is gonna be AWESOME!!
Are ready for some football?
See you on the field and get ready, get ready, get ready! You are what you speak, you are what you do!
Let's make this season the best!
I can't wait!
See ya on the field
Coach Birl
Is it coming soon?
Can you wait?
I can't wait! It is gonna be awesome!
Anticipation: "The Act of Looking Forward"
This is a great word! It's also a great feeling!! What is coming, what is next, when will it start, I can't wait.
You see, we could all look back and say, "Wow, I wish that had not happened; why me?; why did things have to fall apart?"
Or,
We could look forward with anticipation and say, "Ok, bring it on! Can't wait! It's gonna be better this year, this season, this week!!"
Our Spring football season is only 3 weeks from starting. Wow, we have had some awesome seasons, but this year, oh yeah, this year is gonna be awesome!! You see in many ways you get what you speak.
A guy in the Bible by the name of James said, "life and death are in the power of the tongue". What are you speaking? What are you hoping for? What is exuding from your thoughts to your tongue to speak out?
This winter I had a strange encounter. A gentleman was angry because he had brought his son to our arena to find out that it was not a free skate. He had read the website wrong, but out of his mouth came the statement, "Figures, Smiths Falls" in other words, "yeah I shouldn't be surprised this is Smiths Falls." I had to remind the gentleman that he was in my town and that Smiths Falls is awesome!!
Wow, 3 weeks to Spring Ball!! ANTICIPATION!! Can't wait, it is gonna be AWESOME!!
Are ready for some football?
See you on the field and get ready, get ready, get ready! You are what you speak, you are what you do!
Let's make this season the best!
I can't wait!
See ya on the field
Coach Birl
Friday, 19 October 2012
Character - You Win Some You Lose A Lot
Well, we just finished a tough season at SF. It is the first time in a long time that we did not make the play-offs. I must confess it was a tough year. We had lots of new grade 11s this year. We had a lot of change and many injuries. We won our first game and then things went down hill from there. We had a couple of close ones but ultimately we had one win.
That... is not the end of the story.
The reason why I love this game so much is because the lads never gave up. That's right after our fourth game, the coaches were concerned about who was gonna show up. There was already a good chance that we may not be in the playoffs after a close loss to our arch rival. But the boys kept coming out.
Our last game of the year we lost to a team 35-10 that beat us 51-0 the first time we played them. Now I am no math genius but I would say even by the score and for sure by the game we improved!! We had many starters injured including: starting qb, both running backs, slot back etc etc. Yet the lads did not quit!
You see there is this thing called character. Character is not about never falling down, it is about getting up every time you fall down!! The lads kept getting back up! This is why I love this game called football. It teaches you to get back up even when you are down.
I want to say to the Senior Boys Redhawks hold your head up! You never gave up! And I am proud to associate with you.
To the rest of the world that reads this blog and doesn't play football. When you fall in life, get back up! Don't give up! You can do it! Even in the seasons of life when you lose more than you win. That season will be over soon and with that character you have learned you will go FAR!
Until Next Time! See you on the field.
Coach Birley
That... is not the end of the story.
The reason why I love this game so much is because the lads never gave up. That's right after our fourth game, the coaches were concerned about who was gonna show up. There was already a good chance that we may not be in the playoffs after a close loss to our arch rival. But the boys kept coming out.
Our last game of the year we lost to a team 35-10 that beat us 51-0 the first time we played them. Now I am no math genius but I would say even by the score and for sure by the game we improved!! We had many starters injured including: starting qb, both running backs, slot back etc etc. Yet the lads did not quit!
You see there is this thing called character. Character is not about never falling down, it is about getting up every time you fall down!! The lads kept getting back up! This is why I love this game called football. It teaches you to get back up even when you are down.
I want to say to the Senior Boys Redhawks hold your head up! You never gave up! And I am proud to associate with you.
To the rest of the world that reads this blog and doesn't play football. When you fall in life, get back up! Don't give up! You can do it! Even in the seasons of life when you lose more than you win. That season will be over soon and with that character you have learned you will go FAR!
Until Next Time! See you on the field.
Coach Birley
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Coach, Is He Gonna Be OK?
Recently we have a very challenging football game. It proved to be the last of the season. We lost on the last play of the game. Nearing the end of the game we had one of our amazing players get hurt.
The personnel on the side lines decided it was in the student's best interest to call the ambulance.
All of our players were affected by what was happening on the sidelines. To be honest here was a little look of fear in all the boys eyes. Then one of the players said to me, "Coach is he gonna be ok?" To which I immediately responded, "Yes he will be fine." Not necessarily because I knew that for sure, but because I wanted to give the boys some assurance and hope.
Soon after that the other team got the ball and scored on the last play of the game to end the game. I will never forget going back to the team after the game and sharing with them that they are all champions, that I was proud of them and that they scored 30 more points on the team than they did the last time we played them.
After the game I was told the young lad would be fine and I felt so much better. As I drove home I remembered the question, "Coach is he gonna be ok?"
Football is a very physical sport but it is also a sport that promotes family. I knew when I was asked the question and when I looked into the eyes of the boys around me that we were all family and everyone was concerned. I will never forget that huddle when I saw the look in each of the boys eyes.
Let's take the time to ask the question, "Is he or she gonna be ok?" Let's not race through life and not stop to ask the question. Maybe there is someone at work, at school, in your family, in your neighbourhood and everything is not ok. Don't ignore it! Ask the question. Sometimes we are afraid to ask the question because if they say no, or they start to talk, we don't know what we will do next. Trust your instinct it is a God given quality! Don't ever be afraid to ask, if everything is all right.
Another season has come and gone and it will only be a couple of months and I will be back on the high school gridiron. Over the summer take sometime to ask the questions. Parents, hugs your kids and take some extra time to hang out around a campfire or by the beach. Time is flying by.... there is always time to ask, "Coach, is he gonna be ok?"
See You on the Field!
Coach Birley
The personnel on the side lines decided it was in the student's best interest to call the ambulance.
All of our players were affected by what was happening on the sidelines. To be honest here was a little look of fear in all the boys eyes. Then one of the players said to me, "Coach is he gonna be ok?" To which I immediately responded, "Yes he will be fine." Not necessarily because I knew that for sure, but because I wanted to give the boys some assurance and hope.
Soon after that the other team got the ball and scored on the last play of the game to end the game. I will never forget going back to the team after the game and sharing with them that they are all champions, that I was proud of them and that they scored 30 more points on the team than they did the last time we played them.
After the game I was told the young lad would be fine and I felt so much better. As I drove home I remembered the question, "Coach is he gonna be ok?"
Football is a very physical sport but it is also a sport that promotes family. I knew when I was asked the question and when I looked into the eyes of the boys around me that we were all family and everyone was concerned. I will never forget that huddle when I saw the look in each of the boys eyes.
Let's take the time to ask the question, "Is he or she gonna be ok?" Let's not race through life and not stop to ask the question. Maybe there is someone at work, at school, in your family, in your neighbourhood and everything is not ok. Don't ignore it! Ask the question. Sometimes we are afraid to ask the question because if they say no, or they start to talk, we don't know what we will do next. Trust your instinct it is a God given quality! Don't ever be afraid to ask, if everything is all right.
Another season has come and gone and it will only be a couple of months and I will be back on the high school gridiron. Over the summer take sometime to ask the questions. Parents, hugs your kids and take some extra time to hang out around a campfire or by the beach. Time is flying by.... there is always time to ask, "Coach, is he gonna be ok?"
See You on the Field!
Coach Birley
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Nice Catch _____ !
I just wanted to share a wonderful moment that I saw a couple of weeks ago.
We were practicing football with our young team in SF. One of the lads that plays running back was replaced by another young lad who was not as "seasoned" at that position. On the snap of the ball the new running back went out for a pass, he caught the ball and was tackled by the original running back who was now playing defence. When the tackler got up, he handed the ball to the young man and said, "Nice catch ____ " (his name in the blank).
It was just 3 words, "Nice catch _____". I will never forget this. The young lad who said these words, is a very good football player. He doesn't say a lot, but those three words were filled with life, encouragement and changed the atmosphere on the field that day.
Words are very powerful things. In the Bible it's say that "life and death are in the power of the tongue."
I learned a lesson from a young lad playing football. Who took the time to speak words of life!!
So what is the lesson, the challenge from this. We all have an opportunity to learn from this young man who spokes words of life. Today would be a great day to offer words of life! It doesn't have to be a lot of words, sometimes it's just 3. But take the time and speak words of life: in your home, at school, at work, in the store, to a total stranger. IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Until next time.
Coach Birley
I just wanted to share a wonderful moment that I saw a couple of weeks ago.
We were practicing football with our young team in SF. One of the lads that plays running back was replaced by another young lad who was not as "seasoned" at that position. On the snap of the ball the new running back went out for a pass, he caught the ball and was tackled by the original running back who was now playing defence. When the tackler got up, he handed the ball to the young man and said, "Nice catch ____ " (his name in the blank).
It was just 3 words, "Nice catch _____". I will never forget this. The young lad who said these words, is a very good football player. He doesn't say a lot, but those three words were filled with life, encouragement and changed the atmosphere on the field that day.
Words are very powerful things. In the Bible it's say that "life and death are in the power of the tongue."
I learned a lesson from a young lad playing football. Who took the time to speak words of life!!
So what is the lesson, the challenge from this. We all have an opportunity to learn from this young man who spokes words of life. Today would be a great day to offer words of life! It doesn't have to be a lot of words, sometimes it's just 3. But take the time and speak words of life: in your home, at school, at work, in the store, to a total stranger. IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Until next time.
Coach Birley
Friday, 16 March 2012
Oh Yeah Spring is In the Air - The Spring Challenge
Wow, can you believe it? Winter is oooover!! In just three days I've had 2 football games, some serious passing routes and a couple of basketball games in the driveway. You gotta love spring. This is a very special spring in that all of my lads will be playing football. I know the bug is bad in my house when my youngest is in tears because Dad says it's too cold to play a game of football behind the dale.
Spring is a great time of the year!! Life springs up!! I can see the buds coming on the trees. The birds are back, the bulbs in the garden are just starting to come up out of the ground! Spring symbolizes newness, life, change. The days get longer and the dark gets shorter. You get to see your neighbour out in the yard and you see people all around.
I want to put up a challenge this year. With Spring symbolizing change, and newness and growth. I want to challenge each one of you to do something different this Spring. I did something different last Spring, it involved cutting back on the eating and doing some more exercise. The result so far is 32 pounds lost. I also this winter started playing squash with a few good friends at 6:30am.
Let's do something different this Spring. Get off your... duff (I think that is a good choice) and do something! Anything! Change it up! Mix it up! Laugh it up! Come on... forget the same old same old!
I can't wait for next week we start Spring Football. It is going to be amazing being out there with those lads and seeing all my boys playing. It makes life crazy but hey... it's Spring! Come on!
Do something and tell someone. Send me a note and let me know what you are doing.
Until next time! Let's try something new!
Coach Birl
Spring is a great time of the year!! Life springs up!! I can see the buds coming on the trees. The birds are back, the bulbs in the garden are just starting to come up out of the ground! Spring symbolizes newness, life, change. The days get longer and the dark gets shorter. You get to see your neighbour out in the yard and you see people all around.
I want to put up a challenge this year. With Spring symbolizing change, and newness and growth. I want to challenge each one of you to do something different this Spring. I did something different last Spring, it involved cutting back on the eating and doing some more exercise. The result so far is 32 pounds lost. I also this winter started playing squash with a few good friends at 6:30am.
Let's do something different this Spring. Get off your... duff (I think that is a good choice) and do something! Anything! Change it up! Mix it up! Laugh it up! Come on... forget the same old same old!
I can't wait for next week we start Spring Football. It is going to be amazing being out there with those lads and seeing all my boys playing. It makes life crazy but hey... it's Spring! Come on!
Do something and tell someone. Send me a note and let me know what you are doing.
Until next time! Let's try something new!
Coach Birl
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
I Can't Wait for Next Season
In coaching there are times when you just can't wait for next season. This year we had a "toughie" at the school I coach. You know sometimes you just don't see the potential that you think you have in a team.
I can remember one year when I was coach in Hamilton. Our team had won the city championship the year before and we were 0 and 5 in the present season. Our last game of the regular season was against an opponent that was 1 and 4. If we beat them we would not be in last. The game was cold and wet and very muddy and... WE LOST!! BIG TIME!! It was our last game and and we thought we could beat them and we got killed. At the very end of that game a thought came to me... "I can't wait for next season!"
It was really strange. I was emotionally drained from the game and the lousy season we had but there was this little spark that ignited in this phrase in my head, "I can't wait for next season."
Well, 2011 is over!! For some it was a lousy season. For some you are glad it is over. 2012 is here and it is a new season. Forget about the mistakes, the losses, the lack, the frustration, the failure! It's only 3 days old! It's gonna be better, believe it and live it!! Get out there! Get in the game! Play to Win!
Or as we say at SF, Play like a Champion, Act like a Champion!
Until Next Time
Coach Birley
I can remember one year when I was coach in Hamilton. Our team had won the city championship the year before and we were 0 and 5 in the present season. Our last game of the regular season was against an opponent that was 1 and 4. If we beat them we would not be in last. The game was cold and wet and very muddy and... WE LOST!! BIG TIME!! It was our last game and and we thought we could beat them and we got killed. At the very end of that game a thought came to me... "I can't wait for next season!"
It was really strange. I was emotionally drained from the game and the lousy season we had but there was this little spark that ignited in this phrase in my head, "I can't wait for next season."
Well, 2011 is over!! For some it was a lousy season. For some you are glad it is over. 2012 is here and it is a new season. Forget about the mistakes, the losses, the lack, the frustration, the failure! It's only 3 days old! It's gonna be better, believe it and live it!! Get out there! Get in the game! Play to Win!
Or as we say at SF, Play like a Champion, Act like a Champion!
Until Next Time
Coach Birley
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