BLOG: Quick Check In: No Pain, No Gain

No pain no gain, an adage preached by almost every coach. No matter how cautious you try and play, injuries are just another part of the game. Throughout my brief football years I have sustained numerous bruises, sprains, and dislocations, I have however been fortunate enough to have never suffered anything beyond dislocating my elbow. I never really woke up sore from football practices in the past, but this season has been different. The mornings after practices, I usually take 20 minutes after I wake up before I can move my arms and legs. The intensity and level of competition I have seen during these spring practices have been a first for me; players selling out every single snap like it were an actual game.

Going up against the best in the area, you have to really give it your all every moment or else you’ll get left in the dirt. It’s a challenge I really do enjoy. The level of competition totally blows away anything I’ve seen at the high school level. On an average High School team there are anywhere from 2-4 players who will go on and play at the next level (CIS, NCAA). The average OVFL team will have anywhere from 10-15 athletes who can play at that University level. Linemen at this league routinely push 300 pounds in weight and the skill position players can really fly down the field.

As a Linebacker specializing in run defense and tackling, these few practices have really given me a chance to hone my other skills in a relatively short time; the coaching at this level is the best I have ever received. Not to speak negatively of my high school coaches in any matter. At this level I have received extensive coaching at even all the little things. Never before have I ever paid so much attention to my hand placement and footwork! It’s like I’m learning the game for the very first time.

Another new thing is the numbers of players trying out for a single starting spot. Competing with 7 Linebackers for 3 starting spots is really something I’ve never experienced before. Going into these practices I knew I was good, the thing is every player at this level is “good”, you have to be great to really have an impact.

Finally the biggest difference from the High School to OVFL level is the analysis of game film. In high school, we would watch film maybe twice a year. Here in the OVFL, our practices are even filmed and the littlest things are scrutinized. The OVFL is a level of competition and play I have never seen or experienced for and I have never been so excited for something in my life; 4 weeks till the first game of the season. I leave you with a quote from the movie “The Program”

“I don’t know, its the battle, the going to war with the other guys, hanging together,… having a chance to be somebody, to do something that people look up to you for, your strength, your courage, not everybody can play football… were the lucky ones”

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