Bluejacket Football Coach Ben Geisler is fully aware of the importance of homecoming. In one of the most distraction-filled games of the year, Geisler, entering his second year coaching the Jackets, makes a strong impact to ensure his players are focused.
“A lot of the week is spent prepping the players to help them understand their role of homecoming is the football game,” Geisler said.
A player’s motivation to play can be disrupted by a variety of factors throughout homecoming week. Whether it’s the school dance, spirit wear, or the nerves of the game itself, it’s not hard for a player to become distracted at this time of year. To combat this, Geisler comments, “You talk about it a lot… We are lifting every day before school, so it’s a chance to check in with our players and remind them it’s homecoming week.”
Geisler’s schedule for the team remains tight to ensure his players are ready for any game, not just homecoming. During each week, each day serves a different purpose than the next. Mondays are what Geisler coined as “Mental Mondays,” where they focus on learning. Going through the scouting report of their opponent, watching film, and coming up with ways to attack them are all bullet points for practice. Tuesday & Wednesday are days spent on the field preparing different plays, figuring out what works, and practicing the details the team plans to execute. The day before the
game, Thursday, is what Geisler calls “Polish.” According to him, “Hopefully all the work is done, and we just want to polish it and make it look good and be crisp.”
However, challenges often present themselves, potentially derailing the game plan. When asked about dealing with injuries on the team, Geisler says, “You hope for the best and plan for the worst.” During practices, Geisler ensures that many players get on the field and learn their roles, so if an injury does occur, Geisler & his players remain prepared. With varsity, JV, and ninth-grade teams, many players are able to get opportunities.
The rollout of talent on the team is huge, but Geisler’s scouting abilities help him know who to play. “We play the kids we trust… if we lose a game and I played the kids that I trust, then I’m okay with that.” Coaching philosophies come naturally for Geisler. He doesn’t just search for the best athletes; he also looks for players with the best character. “If they don’t have character, I’m not interested in playing them,” says Geisler. In fact, his team decides on captains differently than in other activities – by asking the players themselves who they think is the best leader. “It could be our captains could be a kid who’s never played a varsity down.”
The fans don’t see many aspects that present themselves off the field. Team chemistry is one of the most important parts of any team, and the way Geisler goes about finding that chemistry is by making sure his players feel loved. “I hope we motivate them because they feel loved, and they feel like we’re rooting for them.” Creating relationships between players, coaches, and staff is more important than simply stuffing the stat sheet or posting numbers on the scoreboard. Geisler exaggerates this by saying, “The players have one job, and that’s to love each other.”
