Middle school football season ends on a high note ‘Ready Every Down’

By Coach Adam Helmsing
Posted 10/30/24

The Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Football Season recently concluded with a tough match-up against Regis. The teams showcased tenacity, resolve, and improvement under the guidance of dedicated …

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Middle school football season ends on a high note ‘Ready Every Down’

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The Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Football Season recently concluded with a tough match-up against Regis. The teams showcased tenacity, resolve, and improvement under the guidance of dedicated coaches Adam Helmsing, Chris Krajacic, Sam Goettl, and Ben Goettl. The coaches’ commitment to instilling these qualities was evident in the team’s performance. The season was a mix of highs and lows, successes and failures, all indicative of a growing team. For many young athletes, this was their first time participating in organized football.
The season could be defined in three distinct ways. Realization, Resolve, and RED (Ready Every Down).
The first few weeks of practices served as an introduction and an opportunity for student-athletes to understand the expectations that they would be held to. This period was defined by understanding responsibilities, learning about accountability, and familiarizing themselves with football terminology and positions. These early-week games against Fall Creek and Neillsville were very physically intense games. 7th Grade found early success, while 8th Grade experienced struggles.
Both teams’ resolves were tested against Altoona and Loyal. Players were expected to be more familiar with the playbooks and operate with a higher execution level. As confidence grew, so did the teams’ trust in each other. The 8th Grade found more success in the passing game, while the 7th Grade worked to incorporate more players into the regular rotation. As responsibility grew, so did the need for all players to understand their jobs and hold each other accountable.
The final two weeks of practice revolved around coach Sam Goettl’s saying, “Ready Every Down.” Both teams had been tested, and now it was time for players to recognize what it meant to be a Stanley-Boyd representative. They were challenged in practice to strive for more and push themselves to be the best versions of themselves that they could be. 7th-grade Coaches were adamant that all athletes were expected to take the field with pride and rely on each other. 8th Grade did just this, and this evolution of “RED” became increasingly evident in the final defensive stand of the season when players on the sideline shouted to their teammates, “Be disciplined! Be ready!” And, no play better represented the notion of “RED” more so than the final play of the year when an uncalled Quarterback Keeper was run because the player was Ready Every Down.