Having made it through the first week of practice, the Birds are at it again in what looks to be another promising year for the club.  The boys have been running their butts off and sweating like dogs in a Chinese restaurant as they prepare for the upcoming season.

I’ve personally been focusing on the Jr. Pee Wee team as my son Drew plays on that team, but I’ve certainly taken notice of the Mighty Mights and Pee Wees as they drag various objects across the football field.  I couldn’t help but think of the grueling training scenes in Rocky IV when Rock was training in a barn out in the middle of nowhere. (queue Eye of the Tiger)

Practice resumes Monday after a well deserved weekend rest for the club.  Keep driving boys… your rewards await you.

• Tuesday 9/2: 6-8pm
• Wednesday 9/3: 6-8pm
• Thursday 9/4: 6-8pm
• Friday 9/5: 6-8pm

Also of note… they actually executed the E-A-G-L-E-S… EAGLES chant flawlessly at the end of practice.  If you weren’t there last year or didn’t see the year-end DVD… the first Eagles chant actually made the blooper reel as the boys more or less couldn’t buy a vowel on their first attempt.  And while I hesitate to use the word “cute” in a football context… that was just plain “cute”.

It was also great to see some of the folks that we haven’t seen all that often since last season and to welcome some new people to the Eagles family.  It’s also pretty cool that the whole Eagles Club is practicing on the same field together.  It really gives you a sense of community and togetherness that last year’s practice setup couldn’t provide.  It also gave us the opportunity to keep an eye on some of the older players from last year’s team that have moved up into the Jr. Peewee ranks.  I was able to catch Maison Ardans, Sam Oram, and Brad Beaver as they huffed and puffed there way around practice off in the distance last night.  It will be fun to watch their season progresses and unfold.

As far as the site goes, Ryan Ingram and I have some cool stuff cooked up for the upcoming season.  And while our emphasis will be on the Mighty Might team (since our sons play in that division), we have also invited anyone who is interested to post commentary and pictures to the blog that might have a son participating in the Jr. PeeWee or PeeWee divisions.  Some have already expressed interest in this, and I’d be happy to train anyone who wants to participate.  Contributing to the website is just as easy as using email, so don’t let that hold you back if you’re interested.  I’ll also try to post updates on the older Eagles teams as the regular season starts. It would be great to get some more insight from those of you who follow the other Eagles teams more closely than cicumstances allow for Ryan and I.

Side Note… we’d like to acknowledge and welcome Del Caron to the Eagles coaching family.  Your sharp wit and general well-being will be missed in the peanut gallery this year.  Don’t worry though… Ryan and I have already begun to gather some footage of your undeniable coaching prowess to include in future “Roast the Coach” sessions. Nice form on those crossing routes Del… Vinny Testeverde could scarcely hold a candle…

Well that’t it for now folks… stay tuned for your next practice update.  And as always… GO EAGLES!!

All kidding aside, I was incredibly impressed with the support and cooperation of the parents last year.  Other than those incidents that I personally instigated, I can’t think of one incident that caused any issues last season.  I suspect this year will be no different.  I’m also sure that Coach Gene feels the same way too, but hey… it goes along with the job.  So, now that we’ve gotten all of the obligatory sarcasm out of the way, I give you Coach Gene…

NOTE TO PARENTS:
Please realize we, the coaches, are volunteers, and by no means are we perfect.  We will make some mistakes, but do promise to do our best to teach your son the basic fundamentals of tackle football.  The number one goal of this coaching staff, is that each and every player on this team, regardless of record, will want to continue to play football next year, and that the skills learned and friendships made will continue throughout their young lives.

Please remember that there will be times that we, as coaches, will have to raise our voices to get our point across.  Football is an aggressive sport and there will be times that we will need to have the boys’ full attention and focus.  This will prevent the possibility of injuries and confusion on the football field.  Practices will be organized, fast-paced and highly spirited.
We as Coaches strongly recommend a parent is present at all practices & games, if your child is injured their Mom or Dad can typically comfort them better than a Coach. 
If you have any issues with me or any of the assistant coaches, please feel free to come to me and discuss the situation.  I want the communication lines to be open at all times.

Please let the coaching staff know if your son has any medical conditions we should be aware of.  Also, the following are some areas that we will need parent volunteers:

• Water distribution during practices.
• Field set up and take down.
• Chain gang.
• Weekly snacks. (Snack/Game schedule will be handed out).
• Snack bar coverage.
• Fundraising Ideas or Donations.

Thank you for your cooperation, and please let us know if you have any questions.

Coach Gene Erwin

“… There might be some adjustments but this is what it is now. I am also attaching the sponsor letter and the rules that were signed. Keep selling those raffle tickets! Byerley, the Durham brothers and Brewer sold all there tickets and requested more! Way to go Eagles! We will be drawing the lucky winners on Opening Day, September 6th. Also, I have put in the order for the football uniforms, so they should be ready by game day! To place the order I had to put 30% down and I will have to pay the remainder 70% before they will ship the uniforms. So please if you know anyone or company that can sponsor our team that would be wonderful! For those of you that ordered your own helmet, Schutt has received the order and the helmets should be ready the first week of August. For those of you who need practice pants, there should be some available at certification this Saturday for you to pick up.

Practices will be held at Desert Mountain Park on Ocotillo and Hawes.  Conspicuously close to coach Gene’s house… and mine too for that matter.  Awesome!!  Practices are from 6-8pm.

Here are the practice dates:

1. 4-Aug
2. 5-Aug
3. 6-Aug
4. 7-Aug
5. 8-Aug
6. 11-Aug
7. 12-Aug
8. 13-Aug
9. 14-Aug
10. 15-Aug
11. 18-Aug
12. 20-Aug
13. 22-Aug
14. 25-Aug
15. 27-Aug
16. 29-Aug

After this, we will go to 2 days a week. I will let you know once it has been confirmed if it will be (M/W) or (T/Th).

E-A-G-L-E-S… EAGLES!!

Then it happened… they issued the challenge. “Calling all fat men!”, cried Coach Erwin. “Get out here you numb nuts”, belted Coach Beaver. “That means you too Ardans”, exclaimed Coach Romel. And then, like a herd of hippos, the boys in the Peanut Gallery began to make the gradual ascent from the comfy confines and relative safety of the sidelines.

Snap, said Galloway’s knee… Crackle went Bill Oram’s L4 & L5, and Pop went the weasel. In other words my friends… it was on!! The Bald Eagles had accepted the challenge and made their way out to the field for a beatdown of epic proportions. They may have chosen otherwise had they anticipated the ill fate that awaited them.

As you might expect, the Bald Eagles were far more effective in the early stages of the matchup. On the games first possession, Bill Oram bullied his his way thru a gaggle of 3rd graders and barreled into the endzone for the games first score. The young Birds took the ball on the next possession and in a feat of athletic brilliance, John Ardans jumped in front of an ill advised out pattern and tip-toed into the endzone like a gutter ball at the bowling alley.

After the 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was levied on the ensuing kickoff for an overzealous TD celebration, the youth and superior skill of the real Eagles began to take over. It was clear that the Bald Eagles were running out of gas… that’s when the young fellas stepped on the pedal and blew their elder Eagles off the field with four unanswered touchdowns. Coach Gene mercifully blew the whistle signaling the end of the exhibition as the Bald Eagles limped off the field in shame.

“We’ll get ‘em next time”, yelled Pearson. “There ain’t gonna be no next time”, muttered Harris. Bruised, battered and beaten, the Bald Eagles gathered their belongings and headed for the parking lot.

The End.

Happy Birthday Walker!!

So what is Sportsmanship?

Sportsmanship is a great tradition in sports and competition that means playing clean and handling both victory and defeat with grace, style, and dignity. This is the reason why you guys line up after each game to shake the hands of your opponents at the end of each game… win or lose.

Sportsmanship includes playing fair, following the rules of the game, respecting the judgment of referees, and treating your opponents with respect. As a general rule of thumb, it makes sense to look at sportsmanship in a similar way that we view friendship… treat the people you play with and against as you would like to be treated yourself.

You demonstrate good sportsmanship when you show respect for yourself, your teammates, and your opponents, for the coaches on both sides, and for the referees, judges, and other officials.

But sportsmanship isn’t just reserved for the people on the field. Cheerleaders, fans, and parents also need to be aware of how they behave during competition. Sportsmanship is a style and an attitude, and it can have a positive influence on everyone around you.

Be a “Good Sport”… Win or Lose

In the last few years, taunting, trash-talking, gloating, and cheap shots have become all too common in sports. You’ve probably seen athletes who take their own successes too seriously, too. They celebrate a touchdown with a prolonged victory dance or constantly brag about their abilities. This is the exact opposite of what sportsmanship is all about. This kind of behavior might make you feel tough or intimidating to an opponent, but keep in mind it can also cause you to lose the game. Plenty of games have been lost to penalties gathered from “unsportsmanlike conduct.”

Everyone feels great when they win, but it can be just as hard to be a good sport when you’ve won a game as when you’ve lost one. Good sportsmanship takes maturity and courage – when you work really hard at a sport, it’s not easy to admit you made a bad play or that someone has more skills than you. In competition – as in life – you may not always win but you can learn something from losing, too.

It’s pretty tough to lose, so it definitely doesn’t help matters if someone continues taunting you or your team after the competition is over. Sometimes it’s hard to swallow your pride and walk on. But there’s always the next game. When you do lose – and it will happen – don’t take it out on your opponent, blame the officials, or blame your team. Take it in stride. When you lose, lose with class. Being proud of how you performed, or at least being aware of things you need to improve for next time, is key. When it comes to losing, good sportsmanship means congratulating the winners promptly and willingly. Also, it means accepting the game’s outcome without complaint and without excuses, even if you sometimes might suspect the referees made some questionable calls.

When you win, the trick is to be a gracious and generous winner. Good sportsmanship means acknowledging victories without humiliating opponents, being quietly proud of success, and letting victories speak for themselves. Even if you win by a landslide, good sportsmanship means still finding ways to compliment your opponents.

Practicing Good Sportsmanship

So what does it take to demonstrate good sportsmanship in real-life situations? Here are some examples of things you can do:

• Learn as much as you can about your sport. Play by its rules. Show up for practice, work hard, and realize that on a team, everyone deserves a chance to play.
• Talk politely and act courteously toward everyone before, during, and after games and events. That includes your teammates, your opponents, your coaches and their coaches, the referees, and even spectators (who can sometimes be loud and obnoxious).
• Stay cool. Even if others are losing their tempers, it doesn’t mean you have to. In the end, it’s just a game.
• Avoid settling disputes with violence. If you’re in a difficult situation or someone’s threatening you, seek help immediately from your coach or from an official. Remember, too, that if you respond with violence you could get penalized, which could hurt your team.
• Cheer your teammates on with positive statements – and avoid trash-talking the other team.
• When the refs make a call, accept it gracefully even if it goes against you. Remember that referees may not be right every time – but they’re people who are doing their best, just as you are.
• Whether you win or lose, congratulate your opponents on a game well played.

Sportsmanship Off the Field

Learning good sportsmanship means finding that the positive attitude learned on the field carries over into other areas of life. At school, for example, you’re able to appreciate the contributions made by classmates and know how to work as part of a team to complete a project.

Have a great Eagles day!

I didn’t catch most of the practice tonight, but the peanut gallery informed me that the boys were pretty intense as they prepared to shake down the Rattlers this weekend. Orem and Ingram returned from vacation (great to have you back fellas)… and the team looked locked and loaded as they wrapped up a special teams at the end of practice.

Football’s in the air fellas… can you smell it?

Check back tomorrow for an updated standings and some random STYFL ramblings. Have a great Eagles day!