"The answers to these questions will determine your success or failure. 1) Can people trust me to do what's right? 2) Am I committed to doing my best? 3) Do I care about other people and show it? If the answers to these questions are yes, there is no way you can fail."
(Click Here) for an article I came across thanks to my friends at Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) who send out various articles each day they come across that pertain to youth sports throughout the country. Some of my friends and even assistant coaches may disagree with me and think that the actions described in the linked article are part of the game and as an opponent; you should always be prepared for anything and everything. The latter I can agree with, we should be prepared for anything. But the Choice made by the winning team’s coach is embarrassing and bush league and he should not have done it. As PCA tries to teach all those affiliated with sports but especially children and teens about honoring the game, this was as dishonorable as it gets with the exception of blatant cheating such as using illegal players or equipment.
Why do it Coach, were you outcoached and this was the only way you could win? Since the game was close and this gave you the winning score, I have to think your kids were on par with their opponent. I know the victory gave you a chance at Nationals and a trip to Florida but was it worth it? I have been to this tournament (not as a coach, as a parent) and it was fun but it was special based on how the team got there; they earned it through hard work and teamwork. If you have any type of conscience, this is eating at you Coach and I recommend you own up to your poor Choice sooner than later, especially to your players. It must be 100% sincere and admitting you screwed up with that call as you were so consumed with winning and did not think about how you disrespected the game. You are human as I too saw this play on YouTube and Sportscenter numerous times and thought about putting it in. But then I realized how much the cons outweighed the pros as well as what lessons I would be teaching kids.
As for those parents of the winning players who were upset – wow are you caught in a huge Catch 22. I admire those that threatened to not have their kids play for Nationals with this team but can/did you really hold to it? We are still parents first and want our kids to experience as much as we can provide them in their lives and this is usually a once in a lifetime shot to play for a national title and travel to Disney with their friends. I am not sure what I would do as a parent in this case until I was put in that situation.
As for the Board of Directors of this program – you want to be in a leadership role, then I hope you stepped up. If this head coach is a man, he will own up to this call and step down immediately or you should have removed him immediately. If it was another coach who made it (like an Offensive Coordinator who has full control over plays), then that coach should be removed but the head coach must still take accountability for what one of his staff did. What the Board cannot do is nothing as the kids needed to know immediately that the way they won was not what their program both locally and nationally is all about – just read their mission statements. As for National American Youth Football (AYF), this is the 2nd black mark in my eyes for this organization but in no way would I hold you accountable for this coach’s rogue Choice. However you will be hearing from me in the next few days to follow up on some other things that involved sportsmanship, playoffs and Choices and for that, I am holding you 100% accountable.
Notre Dame is one tough place to coach and they are looking for a new head coach these days. As tough as it was towards the end for former coach Lou Holtz, who gave us our opening quote; I do not think he would have resorted to this type of play in order to win and possibly save his job. A trick play is a double reverse, hook and ladder. This was not a trick play, it was a dirty play.
