Its Not Always a Caution Sign…

…that gets your attention. It always seems like it is the smallest things that get my attention…or maybe it is not the smallest things, but God knows how to get my attention and He uses these things I deem as small to capture it.  As many of you know I coach high school football.  Yesterday my team attended a 7 on 7 skills passing camp.  In essence what this is touch football without the big ole lineman.  I know some of you are not sure what lineman are…lemme see…to make it extremely easy…lineman are the really big guys that are usually hunched over with their hands on the ground banging heads at each other (if that makes sense).  Passing camps give coaches the opportunity to take a look at their receivers, backs (offense and defense) and linebackers in a competitive environment.  Even though a team might have competition within its camp, it is virtually impossible to replicate game speed and the competitive adrenaline when facing an opponent. 

At the camp I had the opportunity to catch up with former players I coached on a pee wee level…former teammates and coaches.  It was a great atmosphere.  There were about 8 teams there including my team, so I had the chance to witness some of the areas top talent.  I also had the chance to talk with a few members of regional scouting services…so all and all, my experience was great…and by the way we went 3-1…and that isn’t bad for a team that likes to tote the rock (run the ball).

We were into our second game of the day and we had many of our JV (junior varsity) players in.  Well, I used to coach the JV quarterback for a few years when he was younger so we have a report.   Our coach called a play in the huddle and as our quarterback began to direct the teams.  The ball is snapped and the play starts…I’m about 15 yards behind the quarterback (because coaches can be on the field in these camps) and I can see the play developing.   It is unfolding just like it is supposed to.  This all goes back to the big picture blog.  I can see the entire picture from behind the QB. We have a receiver running a slant pattern.  He run his pattern beautifully and the QB sees him…BUT if the QB looks a little deeper, we had another receiver running a deeper slant and he was wide open for a touchdown. What happened is that my QB was fixated so much on the first open receiver he wasn’t patient enough to allow the play to develop and see the second receiver through the big picture. The QB ultimately under throws the receiver.  A few people yell at the QB and he comes back to the huddle with a smile on his face as if to say, “I got this…my fault.”  The coach calls the exact same play and the scenario plays out the exact same way.  The QB is not patient enough yet again.  The receivers run their patterns and the QB under throws him again.  This time the QB gets a few more yells…but one thing I notice is that he was throwing the ball off of his back foot with no leverage.  Everything he threw was all arm, his technique was not sound at all.  I walked up to him and he has the same smile on his face…I share a few words of encouragement and he jogs back to the huddle.  Okay, now for the third time in a row the coach calls the exact same play.  This time our QB throws a better ball, one he finally decides to throw through the big picture the defender is able to jump the route (beat the receiver to where he is supposed to be) and knocks the ball out.  After talking with my QB I can tell some of the yells from his teammates rattled him slightly.

This is interesting because I just assumed that this was just another play.  Later on that evening I started to think about that play in particular.  It is all about execution.  In order for a play to work, it must be executed correctly.  Execution comes from repetition.  This means practice…practice…and more practice.  This small play encompasses life in its entirety.  Life is about executing the plays you are given…beginning with preparation…when you are preparing…you are putting yourself in position to make the plays.  You are gathering all the key components in order to be successful such as training yourself, learning your roles and placing the proper people around you.  Secondly, you must be able to place these components in motion (executing).  At this stage your technique must be sound.  Everything you prepared for is now manifesting…you must be able to mold everything you learned in the preparation into a positive outcome.  If there is a breakdown in any aspect of this step, the execution of the play will falter. 

As in football life is filled with plays.  We need to prepare ourselves…place the proper people around us…and execute what we have learned.  Take my young QB for example, his technique was not sound and he was fixated on what was in front of him.  If he would have settled himself and been patient, maybe he could have thrown that touchdown…through the big picture. One thing I have learned is that the one thing that will sabotage a play is the company we keep.  Make sure your teammates are the ones that have prepared for the plays…not someone that was a spectator and pretends they know the plays…Execution.