This morning my wife shared a Facebook post from a friend about a high school football coach that suspended his entire team because of rampant bullying (here’s the link to the story on Huffington Post). I thought: wow, what a courageous stand by the coach. Suspend the entire team?! I would think this kind of action would teach his players a lesson about responsibility and proper behavior for mature young men.
Later, I was watching ESPN as they showed an interview with LSU’s Heisman Trophy candidate running back, Leonard Fournette. He talked about how playing football in high school positively influenced his life. Fournette said he knew that if he didn’t make the grades in class, he couldn’t go to practice.
So often we hear stories about how athletes are given a pass with respect to being held accountable because of their athletic ability. The Utah high school football coach taught his players that their behavior off the field mattered. Leonard Fournette was held accountable to make the grades in the classroom in order to play football. Now football has him at a Division I university with a chance for a professional football career (not to mention a degree).
I find stories like these encouraging. It has been my experience that sports has such an opportunity to teach positive lessons to our kids. Lessons that they can carry with them throughout their lives. My intent with the Hustle & Attitude philosophy is to provide children the chance to play sports and experience the positive benefits of giving it all they have (hustle) and maintaining the right attitude.
Hustle & Attitude 