15/07/2017
In case parents have not figured it out yet or witnessed it with their own eyes. I will suspend a player and even cut them if their attitudes, morals, and/or character is not on par with the expectations of the Bengals Youth Football Program.
Our program continues to grow every year and every year I have to turn away kids from other teams who wish they could play for us but are not allowed. Playing football period, let alone for a great program like ours, is a privilege, not a right, and that privilege can be taken away at any time.
I have already suspended several players and even may have let a few go. We concentrate on building young men through football, not allowing football to reinforce a child believing they are immune from the rules and standards our community has set for them. I will take character over championships every time, no question.
Parents I am asking for your help to set the tone at home for how the players will be expected to behave while they are Bengals. We teach character building through participation in our football program. We emphasize certain character traits that we wish to see exhibited by ALL of the participants in our Bengals Youth Football and Cheerleading Program. These include but are not limited to sportsmanship, respect for adults, respect for others, commitment, hard work, dedication, integrity, concentration, determination, and pride, just to name a few. These character traits, if exhibited on a daily basis and reinforced at home, will lead not only the player but the team to becoming successful, both in life and in sports. These traits need to be learned, reinforced and exhibited at home, school, practice, games, anytime a Bengal player or cheerleader is out in public, and when they are alone and no one is watching.
My son once became really angry when he struck out in baseball and, me being his coach, yelled at him and sent him to the stand with his mother. Later in the game and he came and apologized for getting upset but he explained it by saying I wanted to make me proud by hitting the ball. I explained to my son, just like I will explain to any of my players, hitting the ball is not what makes me proud but what makes me proud is watching you be dedicated to learning how to hit it, determined to try your best to hit it and concentrating while trying to hit it. Even if you miss it you have already made me proud.
There is no way every player on our team this year can score a touchdown but every player on our team can become dedicated to coming to practice and being determined to get better and concentrating when a coach is attempting to make them better by pointing out the things they need to improve.
Character over championships.
Integrity over interceptions.
Determination over touchdowns
and Will power over wins.
If we work on teaching our kids this the wins and championships will inevitably follow.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, Love Coach Josh.
GO BENGALS !!!!!!
