JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================_" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?y=)#LfLZ\Z\o-l_Uy5i98*gVn=*$gz۶fP0=`}*/4q38MEjD7~4):pwn)9S)4& ?!xw>Қk'w'dQN]A]#˫=ګaVp3ГcRmKk{y *)EbBV/mxݫ ,G95WJ$m^L灷<ʰ/èY?"T&@s\0wW:e'{t'$r)qG֤elQ)wb95S7z.g܇{L{o\}et+YU'{\yg56@+bCɵ 4Q.\,H<8##=ϯ]u%C*׏ҍ~4PІ#K W7C\Ck7"xc =A[i%x|[}iwBmkmbNAc]G<+̫h@Knf%rOZ]B[MrΏ|1K& [>zύ%h|F@׋AcŎil c8j12jEӓoVJuܒXJ<9 W~ iM|^[?ڣ1xV0]@w$Ja~fIܪhl i']5=7@5ݩeAP.Ǡֆ_-!C!)1]m#(Mpq4~e=9|حZ5\ܡ&"zeF~qM5KsvHpc^wnvgKg2sIFH@Ȯo1JZ%cϹ0 RLlguY1u:x.l$ -cq:b=OxVŵ+0ȋh<?&%SujM s,h%FqO?OkQ"^;|6xݞ}kz6LTz3?t+&וv2הh]@a;s'ڽU{S/mmlHu~".lj[|86:,ѫ뚵MG_i-m$$N;m еY AvZZNJSMiq dVLc⹣MEfN$hz aYsG4<1wg̥wGW+:[Ep_p5i[&23i|a5!wʨ|We :GWg=mh7F;?- xqoLW/tU\gs|omiC;K5d~o㰂VFԒ02 tO-xO'-Dg+ ~5~<5iKQeMx5x֣l1BpU{q^>*H>=c͚;eI$<*Ӱ5#G!Ws{9s˔NL+=@##5`W{Z06k9D՘]u7t=BK%C}-QuPT.c= +#xkLLEa  Fs}Nh抣;C6wx'9#5g?#֗$c$w`(P*mNG pKvnk-)8TH8cOjњI;iQ/Ӝkr j ktfs;HQrlih€aݚ)ӂlɷǗ\=qV"^L55@ӡmzIu,eGW5EKn)nl#ҵtZYDJd++l&^`%KKǐNՑ}}'vgx3'i6a+'`ۼk')]Ɠ4Uv{GdQEIAEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPw}C^(|"8׻J+XlaSsmly.<br>My next step was to practice that approach. I asked a big senior leader and a small ninth grader to come forward. I explained how hard it is for a ninth grader to adjust to a friendly situation, let alone an intimidating one. I asked the senior to look at the ninth grader and say,  Hey, you little wimp. Go get me a towel. He did, and everyone kind of laughed but they knew how bad this really looked. Next, I said,  Now let s do it the eleven way. I want you to be like a good big brother. Shake his hand, introduce yourself and say  Welcome to high school and our football family. We are really glad you have decided to play. It s going to be tough but I will be here for you to help you through it. Then smile and finish by calling him by name, telling him that he will make it! <br>After this role-playing episode was completed, I asked for a vote. The voting was unanimous. There was no question. The eleven way was what they felt they should strive to do from that moment forward. Of course, there were some other things we did. In addition, each player and some parents had read all or part of the Be An Eleven Guidebook. I left with hope but wasn t sure how it was all going to turn out.<br><br>Eleven weeks later I received a letter from the coach: <br>Our off-season was full of many challenges which nearly tore our team apart. I knew we would need to take strong, decisive steps to rectify things, and the Be An Eleven Seminar fit our needs perfectly. Having the seminar was a catharsis for everyone. Our senior leadership was the best I have ever had in 14 years of coaching. Consequently this is the most fun I have ever had as a coach. The phrases  Be An Eleven and  Today I Win are now a regular part of our vocabulary. <br>This year s season was a drastic turnaround from last year s winless campaign. Early in the season we lost three close games in a row to fall to a 1-4 record. Rather than throw in the towel, our kids rallied after those three heartbreaking losses and knocked off an undefeated team. We finished 4-5 and won our last game. <br>Our team knows that we could have easily been in the playoff hunt. Yet perhaps the greatest tribute to this group of kids is that they didn t dwell on what could have been or what we should have done, they