My high school team participated in our championship game this past weekend. The outcome wasn’t the best for us. We lost a bid for our seventh consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship to Our Lady of Good Counsel. I would like to congratulate them on their first league title and a job well done. Our kids played their hearts out but we came up short, 14-7. You would think it would hurt less after winning six championships in a row, but no, it’s still tough losing that last game.
I am sure that some of you have some great stories about the end-of-season games you are participating in. Chime in and share your exhilarating victories and your heartbreaking losses. As we all know, for the little guys, it shouldn’t all be about winning. I want the kids that come to my program from youth leagues that focus on the fundamentals of the game. Teaching young players proper stances and the correct way to block and tackle will help you win more games than a playbook with 200 pages. To learn more about USA Football’s online coaching education program, click here. Whether you’re already a coach or are considering becoming one, I encourage you to check it out.
Filed in: Coaching Education, High School Football, Youth Football.
Dwayne “Deno” Campbell not only enjoys football – he lives his life around it. By day, he works as the South and Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager for USA Football, the official youth football development partner of the NFL and NFL Players Association. When night falls, Deno hits the field as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at DeMatha Catholic High School, which is consistently ranked in the USA TODAY Super 25 high school football rankings. He was a Stag himself earning All-Met honors his senior year before earning a full scholarship to suit up at the College of William & Mary as a linebacker. Deno, also a member of the DeMatha Hall of Fame, is now in his 23rd season coaching at his alma mater and was named DCSportsfan.com’s Assistant High School Coach of the Year in 2008.
Coach Deno — good stuff. I had great youth coaches in the 80s, but they didn’t have training. No excuse not to have it these days. It’s important.
Youth football for me, aside from having fun, was a great way to get in shape. I was a heavy kid who loved football — I still do. But to play on gameday, I had to be under 115 lbs at age 11 or so. I busted my rear and I made weight every gameday. We didn’t have a very good team, but we loved to play and I’ll always remember — and be grateful for — the sacrifices and dedication instilled in me through football. No doubt the game helped me in a lot of ways.
Keep up the good work, bro!