Expectations and Outlook
As the new football season approaches, there’s a shared sense of anticipation across locker rooms, classrooms, and the fan base for what’s to come next. After months of on and off training, recoveries, and collaboration, our North Canyon football team is finally ready to take the field once again. Both players and coaches are setting their sights for what’s to come, the challenges ahead and the journeys that lie within.
Player Expectations
For players, the off season is a time for preparation, recovery, strengthening, and refining skills needed to achieve victory. With the start of the new season, players are proud to be able to demonstrate the work, and improvement they’ve made this year. When interviewing players AJ and Elijah, they both came to the conclusion that although they’re going to do “pretty good” there’s obviously “going to be ups and downs, but still” they’re “going to try to win more games than lose this year.” While optimism is good, it will only take you so far. That’s why our team is doing the best they can in order to achieve victory. Although no major improvements are needed, minor ones like trusting one another and sportsmanship could be improved. As stated by Elijah Villareal, “If we don’t trust one another, then we can’t trust the whole team” and without this, we can’t achieve victory.
Coaches Expectations
For Coach Anthony Johns, the new season is an opportunity to help others become the best version of themselves. While players are focused on their personal development, Coach Johns focuses on the bigger picture, which is building the best team possible. Coach Anthony Johns has 19 years experience coaching in many schools including “St. Marie’s, Barry GoldWater, Valley Lutherin, Heritage Academy, Sandra Day O’Connor and now North Canyon.” Although new to this school, Coach Johns states that he “loves it here, it’s great. The kids are great.” Coach Johns has high hopes for this school year, believing that we could win every game. He stated that players should always “go into every game believing that you could win and give it your best effort pushing forward.” This is not only true in a mental way but also in general since your mindset could be your biggest friend or enemy when stepping onto the field.
The Road Ahead
As we arrive closer to the start of the season and teams prepare to take on the field, we are brought both excitement and uncertainty. While there is hope, every season is unpredictable. Our performance, mindset and match-ups will determine the outcome. Although down a division, players believe that it shouldn’t change a thing since “Football is Football in the end of the day your gonna get hit in the mouth no matter the division you’re in.” The only thing certain is that the coach and players will set the tone for what’s to come. All they could say is that they’re excited to give it their all this year.
