It is our belief that every family who participates in the Walled Lake Western Football Program should have knowledge of the philosophy and principles of the program that he is participating in.

 

Our football program at Walled Lake Western is strongly rooted in the TEAM CONCEPT PRINCIPLE.  It is our firm belief that if an athlete is to be a positive, contributing force in our program, he must set aside all of his personal goals and ambitions and be willing to accept his role as a team ballplayer. 

 

We strive to eliminate individuals in our program.  It is our concept to think in terms of “We” instead of “I”.  Team rules, goals, and playing positions are dictated on what will benefit the team, not just an individual.  We try to play the best players, but the team ballplayers will often play before individualized talent.  It is not easy being part of a team concept.  Not every athlete can measure up to the standards.  It means sacrificing individual needs and personalities to meet the general needs of the team.  It takes many selfless and dedicated athletes to have a winning team.

 

We win as a team and we lose as a team.  If we are successful as a team, then there is more than enough to go around.

 

Our program will expect the athlete to adhere to the following guidelines:

1.      The team’s goals, welfare and success must come before any individual.

2.      Act appropriately within the guidelines of the WL Code of Conduct.

3.      All players need to consistently attend practice sessions. This may include practices on weekends and during holiday breaks. It is the athletes responsibility to be on time and to inform the coach should he/she not be able to attend practice for a particular reason.

4.      Players must be receptive to coaching.

5.      Players are responsible for all issued uniforms and equipment.

6.      As a member of a team the athlete must agree to follow team rules and procedures. Athletes need to remember that they are ambassadors and represent not only themselves, but also the coaching staff, and the school.

 

Responsibility of the coaching staff

1.      The selection of the squad.

2.      The determination of the style of play, including offensive and defensive philosophy.

3.      The teaching and instruction at practice sessions.

4.      The determination of who starts and how long an athlete plays in a contest.

5.      The decision of who plays and in what position.

 

Participation on the football team

It is important to understand that participation on this football team is a privilege and not a right. Maintaining one’s membership on a team means accepting all of the responsibilities of an athlete. However, unlike recreation or intramural teams, equal or guaranteed playing time does not exist. In an effort to put the best team on the field, a coach will use the players best suited to the conditions or demands of the contest at that time.

            While our ultimate goal is to promote maximum participation              (platoon system), it may be necessary to cut the squad down to a workable number. This may occur due to limited facilities, equipment, or other factors.

 

Impact of Relationships in Athletics

1.      Player-Coach. Through media, cable, and dish TV, many adults feel that they understand or perhaps know more than the coaches. Everyone becomes an expert. While this new-found expertise may heighten your appreciation of the sport, as a parent, you are not the coach. A parent can have a profound effect on the player-coach relationship. While you may not agree with all decisions made by a coach, how and when you express your feelings can have a decided effect on your child. If negative opinions are expressed at home in front of your child, it must be understood that he/she will return to practice the next day and may carry with him/her your convictions. Your son/daughter will then have to interact with teammates and more importantly, the coach. Receiving technical or strategic instruction at home may interfere and conflict with the instructional process at practice sessions and games. This may ultimately impede your child’s progress and affect their playing time or whether they win a starting position.

2.      Parent-Coach. In your role as a parent, you obviously love your child and are concerned about his/her welfare. It stands to reason that you want the best for your child. Allowing the coach to instruct and guide the team is crucial in many respects. Coaches are with the player’s everyday and see each individual’s strengths and weaknesses. As a parent, we generally only see their strengths. As a parent, we are not at practice every day and can only hear about what their son/daughter has done well at practice that day or week. Coaches are evaluating every day. Please remember, it is the coaches decision in regards to who plays and how much.

3.      Parent-Player. Some parents tend to live vicariously through their child’s athletic efforts. Being positive and supportive is important, but adding pressure and unrealistic expectations can be extremely harmful. Allow your son/daughter to enjoy and grow from being apart of a team, everyone has their own unique and important role. This can not always be seen from the stands on game night but is unequal in measure during the week of practice and preparation.

4.      Officials. Officials at the high school level must pass yearly exams and attend rules clinics. While you may not agree with all of their calls, please make every effort not to harass, taunt, or verbally abuse them. The officials are in charge of the contest and have complete authority to remove unruly spectators. Please act toward officials as we expect the athletes to act – with civility, respect, and sportsmanship.

 

Beyond High School

            It would be nice if every high school athlete were able to go on and play at the collegiate level and have some or all of their expenses paid for by the college or university. However, this is not the case- only a small percentage of student-athletes go on to compete in college. Further, it is only a very small percentage of those that receive financial aid to participate at the next level. It is important to be realistic about an athletes abilities. Being the best player on a team or even being selected to an All-Conference team does not guarantee that college recruiters will be knocking at the door.