Practice Makes Almost Perfect

Last season, Callan and his team were thrown right into the fire—no scrimmages before game one. It became evident that the lack of live practice in a controlled setting was a significant disadvantage for the kids’ learning opportunities.

Fortunately, this season has been different. We’ve had two great chances to learn, and I truly mean “we,” as it’s been beneficial for the coaches as well. These little men look like gladiators when they’re suited up, and it’s easy to forget they’re just 7 and 8 years old.

How do you temper expectations and emotions while instilling accountability? How do you demand maximum effort and a positive attitude while pointing out failures—not to chide them, but as opportunities for growth? How do we soften the rough edges of little egos, all of whom want to be the star back or quarterback? What metaphor resonates with a 3rd grader’s understanding? “A rising tide lifts all boats” might be too abstract, and “there’s no ‘I’ in team” feels so overused that it goes in one ear and out the other.

How do we do it? I’m not sure.

But practice makes almost perfect.

Franklin Panthers vs. natick Scrimmage