WEATHERFORD KANGAROOS
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Leadership is kind of crazy .
Sometimes you have kids that are real vocal , and sometimes you have kids that lead by example . ing and gives you a reason to get up , and we don ’ t want that to happen again ,” Sims said . “ We felt a whole lot better when we were winning games compared to when we lost a game .”
Sims has drawn on that emotion to build mental toughness , even showing his players film this summer of some of last year ’ s hiccups .
“ It is not something that we shy away from ,” he said .
Looking ahead , Sims and his crew are focused on preparing their players to be leaders in every phase of life , and the head coach acknowledges not all of those leaders may come with the same characteristics .
“ Leadership is kind of crazy . Sometimes you have kids that are real vocal , and sometimes you have kids that lead by example ,” Sims said . “ I think the biggest thing for us is just getting those older kids to mesh with those younger kids . We are going to have some sophomores that are going to have to play , and when that happens you are going to have some of those young kids make mistakes .
“ You ’ ve just got to have those older kids follow up behind them and reassure them .”
Mentorship opportunities have come in a variety of ways . Kids from the youth league are assigned a varsity football player , who messages and encourages them . On Saturdays , varsity players attend peewee football games .
“ There are a lot of leadership things that they have established here that are awesome and that kind of help with that process ,” Sims said . ★
60 FIRST DOWN !