It is with great pride and responsibility that we are charged with making the case for NBHS football. We are pleased to have the opportunity to convince young men and their parents of the many benefits and rewards derived from playing the game of football. It should be noted that this appeal is aimed towards the students and families within the North Bend community
In 1905 coaches from the three most powerful schools in the country, academically as well as athletically, Yale, Princeton, and Harvard were summoned to the White House to defend their sport. At the time football was a violent game that had developed unchecked by its leadership the previous 20 years. Young men on college campuses across the country were using the game of football as an excuse for recklessness and untempered aggression. It was not
From that meeting the Big Three established the first of many codes of ethics coaches must follow. As it turns out Roosevelt was serious. He called Harvard head coach Bill Reid back to Washington a few weeks later to question him about the conduct of one of his players that was ejected from a game for fighting.
From the reality of President Roosevelt’s call to action football coaches across the country began to take heed. Since its origin, in 1922,
The AFCA remains the largest organization committed to the promotion and governance of the game. It’s 10,000 members combine to regulate, educate and promote the game of football among themselves and the world. Of the various branches of government in the AFCA, a committee currently made up of 11 men from across the country represents high school football. Several coaches on the Douglas High football staff play an active part in the AFCA and regard its rules and recommendations seriously.
Safety is always the biggest concern from parents who hesitate to allow their sons to play football. It is a valid reason and one that does not go unheard. However, it should be noted that there are recent studies that point to the fact that youth football is no more dangerous than any other activity. “ An April 2002 study by the Sports Medicine Center at the Mayo Clinic shows, among other things, that the risk of injury in youth football does not appear greater than other recreational or competitive sports.”
Secondly , our staff goes to great lengths to prevent injury at practices. We do this by teaching the physical elements of the game slowly. Bud Wilkenson, the longtime successful coach at the University of Oklahoma in the 1950’s addressed this issue, “The best way to teach tackling is very, very, very slowly over, and over, and over again.”
We teach elements of the game such as tackling and blocking the same way, slowly… over and over again. Let it never be said that that the Douglas High Football program ran a player off because of overly aggressive hitting drills. Players will learn to tackle and become aggressive when they are comfortable with the process. When a player realizes that he is in a safe position and can generate power from his body he will desire to become a great tackler and blocker. Coaches who yell and scream at young football players in order to develop aggressiveness have no place in our program.
It is the many intangible qualities that young men take from the game that make it worthwhile. Where else in our society can a young man be expected to pick
We admire and acknowledge the efforts and pursuits of the classroom. We are consistently monitoring the classroom progress and behavior of our athletes. However, we can think of no other academic arena other than the practice field where the young man can use his intellect, self-discipline and work ethic in a physical environment, which can manifest itself through accomplishing a common purpose.
One prepares for and takes an English test alone. His grade is kept in confidentiality between the teacher and his parents. The class as a whole does not rejoice or suffer the same fate as he. However, the football player receives instant feedback from his effort on every snap of the ball in every drill, every practice and every game. His coach is judged on the player’s performance and his teammates are the first to slap him on the back after his successes as well as those to suffer the most from his failures.
Teamwork is the essence of the game. None of us, as players or coaches, have a higher calling than to serve others. The success of the whole is dependent on the success of the individual. In what career or relationship do we not use the lessons of teamwork? What an outstanding way to compliment the some of the finest academic instruction in the state of Oregon.
We have attempted to illustrate the fundamental benefits of being associated with the game of football. If you are curious about our program we encourage you to come visit us one on one or to watch a practice. Ask your friends who have sons in our program what their experiences have been like. We are attempting to build one of the most respected football programs in the state and would like nothing more than for your family to join ours.