Building a sports program from scratch is not an easy task.
Building a sports program from scratch is not an easy task. It is an undertaking that encompasses hard-work, dedication, a sense of humor and above all else, a thick skin.
Just ask any coach at Sobrato High School or Anchorpoint Christian, I’m sure they’d tell you it’s a formidable challenge to build something out of nothing. But everyone’s got to start somewhere and even some of the most impressive athletic programs once found themselves at ground zero as well.
One of the biggest tasks in building a young athletics program is answering the question of how to raise excitement and support for a team that doesn’t yet have a face or personality.
Unlike professional sports where new franchises can benefit from an expansion draft, high school programs must play the hand they are dealt and uncover athletic talent, ability and drive within the student body.
Athletes also have to buy into what the coaches envision for the future of the team. Nobody likes to lose, but when starting from scratch, it often takes a lot of losing before any real winning can begin. That is what can make new programs a hard sell.
New athletic programs are rarely on par with established competitive counterparts. For example, take a look at the Tri-County Athletic League. All year long, Sobrato’s new varsity programs, without the benefit of senior athletes, have had to do battle with strong, established teams in the TCAL. The Bulldogs have had to take their lumps throughout the year, believing next year will be easier as the only thing to see them through.
A great example of this is Sobrato’s young, inexperienced boys’ volleyball team. Although the Bulldogs had just one player with previous volleyball experience playing on the team, Sobrato was a team not to be underestimated, especially the second-time through the TCAL schedule.
“We’ve had the privilege of other coaches telling us how well the boys are doing,” said Sobrato assistant coach Kevin Miller following Sobrato’s match against Live Oak last week. “Their learning curve is through the roof. It is really sad to see the season is ending. They’re starting to develop a real love for the game. We’re super encouraged for next season. We’ve already had coaches tell us, ‘Next season, you guys are dangerous. We’re glad you’re leaving the league.'”
Miller went on to say that several players have asked about forming a club team, just so they can continue playing. The young Bulldogs players have bought into what direction their coaches are trying to take the program.
Another part of building a successful program is creating a family environment within the team and between all of its members. Athletes should feel like they are working together for a common cause. If it’s not of winning, then one of improving or gaining skills and fundamentals.
One athletic program that has succeeded by getting the athletes to believe in themselves and each other is the record-setting De La Salle football program in Concord.
For nearly 13 consecutive seasons the De La Salle Spartans abused opponents and didn’t lose a single game. The most impressive part about the Spartans’ winning streak is that nine times out of 10 De La Salle was not the strongest, fastest, or even the most talented team.
The one thing that the Spartans had that other teams couldn’t match was their loyalty to each other and their coaches. They trusted each other and whole-heartedly believed in the philosophy that there is no “I” in team. It is their trust and belief in each other that led the Spartans to their storied place in high school football history.
Athletics is about so much more than just wins and losses and as Sobrato and Anchorpoint Christian build their athletics programs, hopefully they will find that the student-athletes understand that. A winning program is one that will take time – often years – to develop and through the losses a team truly learns how to become a gracious and deserving winner.
