I write this blog every year. It is my annual preach to the young men who are going to start their August practices next week for the upcoming football season. The message is mainly directed at the seniors, but all of the upperclassmen need to realize that they shouldn’t gripe too much about the heat, hard work and amount of time it takes because before you know it; it’s over. Ask your former teammates who just graduated, “The Class of ’22” about how you shouldn’t take anything for granted.
For every young man (or young woman in volleyball or other sports as well) the physical and mental stress of practice and conditioning is worth every minute. Before you know it the games will be here, the postseason will come, and the season will end. You think three weeks is hard, look at the Olympics, just imagine three long years of practice and training for these two weeks of competition. Many of the athletes won gold in Rio back in 2016, but one gold medal wasn’t enough, so they worked hard again for the next three years to get back on the podium. That is more work and dedication than I can ever imagine.
It doesn’t matter if you win all your games, go to state, finish .500, or lose every game; as long as you give it your all for the next three months you will enjoy the time with your friends that you will have for a lifetime and share memories that will be reminisced at reunions. Not to mention the stories that you will tell your kids and grandkids. Don’t take this time for granted and give it your all.
Don’t wish the summer away and don’t look forward to the end of the season. These are the best times of your life and you will never get to go back and do it over again. Practice and play so hard you won’t look back with regret knowing you could have done more. Win or lose you guys will look back at this time together like nothing else in your life, so cherish every moment; and give it your best.
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