Many coaches wonder how Tom Knotts does it.
   First in North Carolina and now Dutch Fork in SC, Knotts’ teams win titles. 
   It wasn’t easy. Knotts has the same advantages most high school coaches have:
• Talent. High school students everywhere are similar. They are kids who want to be stars. But all don’t come with the same natural ability. You find the ones with star talent and teach them how to use it.
• Smarts. Football requires brains as well as brawn. You look for intelligence in players. They need judgment, maturity and willingness to adapt.  
• Sacrifice. Football is a rough game. You have to be able to take the licks. You have to be willing to show up for practice on an icy Thanksgiving morning and go onto the field with nothing on but your pants, shoes and determination.
       What to look for
You find kids who have:
• Attitude. Some rare ones are born winners. They come with that level of confidence. But they must learn it is not just about them. They need the humility to believe they need their teammates and great coaching.
• Brains. You must play smart. That does not mean you can’t play with passion. But you can’t let emotion lure you into doing stupid things. Don’t cost your team 5 yards by lining up offside or 15 yards for roughness.
• Character. You must be mature enough to make mature choices. Do I get up at 5 am for practice? Can I choose to play the game within the rules, or am I going to play dirty if that’s what I think it takes?
      8 seconds
Football is a game of inches and seconds. You block to give your runner an extra inch of daylight. You stretch to get that extra inch for a first down or a touchdown. 
On every play, you will probably get knocked down. But every play averages only 8 seconds. In 8 seconds you can do amazing things. In 8 seconds, you can endure incredible pain.
     Knotts’ record
   Knotts has an enviable record as a high school coach. His teams at 3 NC high schools won 11 state championships. Yet in his first 2 years as coach, his teams lost more than they won.
   It takes character to keep coming back after every painful loss. You feel guilty that you – yes, you – didn’t prepare your kids better.
His teams have won 3 5A championships at Dutch Fork. How does he do it?
Please go back and read what I just told you.
Congratulations to Tom Knotts and the kids he teaches to be winners.

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