This is Part 3 of the 3 part series “The Culture of the Unit”. This post will go into the important aspects of Leadership, The Brotherhood of the Trenches, Team Morale, and Longevity.
Part 1 is here.
Part 2 is here.
Leadership: A Unit-Led Unit
Leadership shouldn’t be a top-down construct but a shared responsibility. A successful O-line has multiple leaders, each contributing in their unique way.
Coach's Role
The coach should identify potential leaders early on and nurture them, providing opportunities for them to take on responsibilities and make decisions for the unit.
Player's Role
Players should step up, not just in their performance but also in their attitude. The designated leaders should inspire by example and encourage a culture of mutual respect and ambition.
Brotherhood: The Soul of the O-Line
A line that plays together stays together, on and off the field. The bonds formed among these athletes often last a lifetime.
Coach's Role
The coach can foster this brotherhood through team-building activities, shared experiences, and by emphasizing the importance of each player to the unit’s success.
Player's Role
Players should invest in these relationships, supporting each other during the highs and lows of the season.
Team Morale: The Invisible Fuel
Morale can make or break a season. High morale can carry an average team to victories, while low morale can sink even the most talented of squads.
Coach's Role
The coach has the responsibility to maintain team morale, which includes celebrating small victories and treating setbacks as learning opportunities. Open, consistent communication is key here; players should always know where they stand and what they need to do to improve.
Player's Role
Players contribute to team morale by maintaining a positive attitude, encouraging one another, and remaining focused on team objectives rather than individual accolades.
Longevity: Building for the Future
Success should be sustainable. A season is but a chapter in the long book of a program's history. The goal is to create a culture that endures, that continues to churn out successful O-line units year after year.
Coach's Role
The coach can contribute to the program's longevity by laying a solid foundation, which includes everything from training methods to team culture. Recruiting should also be forward-thinking, with an eye on developing underclassmen to fill the shoes of outgoing seniors.
Player's Role
Players can help ensure longevity by buying into the program's culture and helping to pass it down to younger players. Their leadership, work ethic, and commitment set the standard for future generations to meet or exceed.
In this comprehensive world of high school football, each principle, from trust to longevity, is like an interlocking gear in a finely tuned machine. Coaches and players have different roles to play in cultivating these elements, but the ultimate goal is the same: to create a successful, enduring offensive line unit.
The philosophy extends beyond just chalkboards, playbooks, and Friday night lights. It's about laying the groundwork for not just a successful season, but for successful lives. A well-coached, well-led offensive line can serve as a launching pad for life skills that extend far beyond the gridiron: teamwork, discipline, accountability, and the value of hard work.
Savage Style has what the OLine needs!
