Athens(OnFocus) – The Athens Bluejays are set to embark on their first year of 8 Man Football, a change to a decline in numbers. The move to 8 Man has Athens Head Coach Todd Diethelm excited but unsure of how things will look for Athens this season. Diethelm did, however share the same message with his players as he does every year at the start of football:
“This is a special sport, let’s make it a special year. Play every play like it is your last.” – Athens Football Coach Todd Diethelm
Athens Football Season Preview
Coaching staff
HC – Todd Diethelm
Darion Ellenbecker
Offense: key returning players
Cooper Diedrich
2021 Athens Football Schedule
Defense: key returning players
Conference outlook
This is something new, the outlook I have no idea how it will turn out. 8 man is new to all the teams we are playing as well as us.
Hoping we can adapt to the 8 man game and have a successful season.
Keys to your success on offense
Ball security and clock control will be what we want to focus on. Letting my athletes be athletes and let them make plays.
Keys to your success on defense
This side of the ball will be tricky, film watching will be the key for week to week prep.
Our staff’s popular saying is “Players make Plays, Be a Player”
Behind the scenes: Who are some of the people that help your program succeed?
My assistants makes the program run, without their dedication to the program it would be a tough road.
Also, the player’s parents buy into the process when this happens and the program succeeds. Long practices, weightlifting and so on are what greases the wheel and without the parents bringing the players in and picking them from the process the program success would be lacking.
2021 Athens Football Schedule
What is Athens football all about? What does it mean to be a member of the Athens Bluejays football program?
Football is about “Family’ working together for a common goal!! There is nothing more special than playing under the Friday Night Lights with your Family. Playing High School Football is an honor, 99% of young players only get the opportunity to play this sport for 4 years and will never get the chance to play with their Football Family again.
Coach’s comments: anything else you’d like to share?
I tell my players on the 1st day of practice every year “This is a special sport, let’s make it a special year”. Play every play like it is your last.
We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!
Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
