Approaching the HATE game

Why do we hate?

Walking into our own school last year they blocked our entrance and wouldn't let us through, then their coaching staff tried to sneak into our pregame area and wouldn't leave when confronted.

Why do we hate?
Because they dance on our field and point to our bench.
Because of the classless quotes in the newspaper that questioned our hearts.

Have our kids been perfect? Probably not, but the rivalry is there.

have you ever though maybe they did that to get into you and your players heads? I am not defending them. seems what they did lacks honor and class not only for you but for the game of football it self.

however by responding emotionally you tire yourselves faster then they tire. your body gets into a heightened state of stress where you and your players do not think clearly. you are so caught up in the lack of respect they had for you. so you made it about you. If you explain to your players why we ignore these kind of things you are better off as well.

one of the ways I keep my kids from getting in this environment is to basically get off the bus just in time for kickoff. we will find a place to do our warm up and we will dress at our school. we will ride home stink and all to shower at our place. Say what you want but it upsets the apple cart for the other team wondering if you are going to show up.
If it is a far ride we will just warm up on the other teams practice fields in the dark if we have to. run on to the field just before the the game.

we do the same thing at home. we just go on to the baseball field which has lights and do our warm up. run through the stadium tunnel, crashing through the banner the cheerleaders have made.

we have it down to an exact science now. J.T. Curtis has been doing this for years.

I think this is the right approach- it's always about us, what we do, how we perform and not about "hating" anyone- it's an emotion that is just likely to get high schools kids to step over the line and do things that disrespect the game and do not promote success on the field. Just my two cents.

Delt with this a few weeks ago. The varsity played a team on Friday we get them the next Thursday(frosh). varsity knew they where a hard hitting team and we had a fight on our hands. So, that Friday on the sidelines I hear the "N" word from the other team. I am not talking about the way kids use it today I am talking about the BAD way. The other school all white and we are mixed with everything. Then one of my players tell me that the HC called him one, then walking to the locker room at halftime one of our coaching staff gets called it from a fan, then the next day at the JV game the same thing was happening. Also, had two of thier players with cast on actually punch one of my guys in the ribs as he was tackling him and every tackle made they led with thier helmets like it was taught that way by their coaches.

So, preparing my team for the frosh game I made it perfectly clear how I felt about the other school. I also, made it clear that they WILL talk with their mouths and we will talk with our pads. We will hit them harder and faster then they ever been hit and they will fight right back. I challenged my guys as a team and asked if they are a family and will they let anyone disrespect their family. I am usually intense but that week I/we took it to the next level. I had some of the upper class guys talk to them about keeping their cool and hitting HARD I have NO respect for that school or their coaching staff and we beat them 40-0!

Brain / psychology studies of brain and chemical function have shown hatred and fear release the same inhibitors which cause severe impairment to reaction - kinesthetic awareness etc. While love, pride, honor release endorphins and other "good" chemicals which stimulate brain and neuro muscular function.
Marine corp combat training rarely talk about the enemy in negative or "hatred" speech. They use neutral words to describe tactical and strategic lessons. They focus on individual - small group and large group dynamics in relation to the situations.
Bottom line - If the other team is using unethical or unscrupulous strategy - get someone to document it and report them, but keep your team focused on WINNING the game by doing what you do best.

I say keep them focused and let them "unleash the fury" at kickoff. Don't blow your load too early...don't go premie...

It is also why they call the enemy targets of opportunity and elminating tragets of opportunity. they use these words instead of killing the enemy.

dcohio - you are absolutely correct - you are focusing your kids attention and focus on THEIR abilities and attitudes "We will out hit" "We will take it to them" etc. I would hope we all do this as motivation. However, telling a kid to "hate" the other kid and using that "hatred" as motivation to hit him, to me just doesn't work.
To me people do stupid things and make poor decisions out of hatred, anger and fear. Telling your team to out hit, giving out awards for slobber knockers/pancakes/beetle bug etc, making highlight films with every big hit, those are some of the best parts of this game. I just don't understand how you motivate a 16 year old to play football by "hatred".