CRESTVIEW — In coaching middle school football, it’s important to first establish a work ethic for players to understand the standards they should strive to achieve.
Davidson Panthers coach Chris Small said that starts in the classroom: “Do your homework,” he said.
“With student athletes, school comes first and we’re second.”
Other dos and don’ts?
●”Do the right thing.” A student athlete is an ambassador to the school for which they play.
●”Do work hard.” Effort is crucial in a physical sport. In middle school, players learn as they go, so their effort flows through each tackle and run.
●”Do expect to win.” Attitude is everything in football. Who expects to lose?
That leads to:
●”Don’t ever quit; don’t ever give up; don’t ever lose hope,” Small said. “You fight through it, and whatever goes on, you don’t quit.”
In a sport that at its best is physically demanding, and at its worst is overall exhausting, tenacity creates the difference between wins and losses.
The message that Small wants to instill in all his players when it’s time for them to move on after eighth grade is that they are “Always a Panther.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Davidson football team's 5 do's and don'ts