Trust the process: Olympia JV football team develops young talent

“Patience is a virtue.”

That famous line of thought has been quoted since the 14th century, but it remains ever relevant in 2019 — especially for members of the Olympia junior varsity football team.

When 10th graders Chase Copper, Gabriel Sterling and CJ Brooks take to the practice field alongside teammates, it’s the word “patience” that they try and keep in their minds, particularly during the hard times. Because while life on the JV team isn’t bad, per se, when you’re an underclassman trying to leave your mark and make varsity, it can be discouraging at points.

“It’s a little frustrating, but being patient and trusting the process is the main thing,” Brooks said. “Just knowing that the coaches have a good plan for you. You just have to wait it out and be patient.”

The concept of staying patient and waiting your turn is one shared by both Copper and Sterling.

“Your time will come, because most of the guys in front of you are either older (or) most people — if they don’t get what they want right away — quit or transfer,” Copper said. “If you just wait, your time will come eventually.”

“(You have to) be ready and know when you’re time is coming,” Sterling said.

That moment of opportunity is what every JV player waits for, but it doesn’t just come out of thin air. It requires effort, dedication and the willpower to take what the coaches give them and run with it. 

That, of course, is easier said than done, said Narlin Clancy, the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator on the varsity team who also helps coach JV.

In fact, for the coaches at Olympia like Clancy, one of the first things they do when players arrive is establish what is expected of them. Some players come into the program with high expectations of going straight to varsity, and while some might do just that, not everyone does.

“Pop Warner football is different, this is high school now — you have to prove yourself all over to not only your teammates, but to us as coaches,” Clancy said. “It’s just getting them to understand that there is a waiting period. 

“Sometimes you have to play JV, and sometimes you have to sit behind a starter and earn your time on the field,” he said. “I think breaking the idea of being ‘the man’ to taking a backseat at times and trying to develop is sometimes the issue.”

It’s unfortunate that some players see being put on JV to develop as an issue, because if a player buys into the program and works hard, it can really pay off in the long run, Clancy said.

From a coach’s perspective, it’s a perfect time to work with players, because they come in with no bad habits — meaning you can shape and mold a player to fit your specific program.

“In the very beginning, you get to establish what your regiment is going to be, what your philosophy is and what your identity is as a team,” Clancy said. “You’re just trying to get the kids to adapt and understand … this is why we’re doing it.”

Drilling those ideals into the heads of players is a complicated process, but it is one done with a refined approach.

“It’s a little frustrating, but being patient and trusting the process is the main thing. Just knowing that the coaches have a good plan for you. You just have to wait it out and be patient.”

— CJ Brooks

Unlike the guys on varsity, who have been through the whole process and understand what is expected of them, members of the JV team simply haven’t “been there” before.

“I think when it comes to the JV team you have to be a little bit more nurturing, because a lot of times they are younger or not as developed,” Clancy said. “You don’t want to break their spirits — you really want to build them up and get them to their (fullest) potential.”

In the case of Brooks, Copper and Sterling — all of whom are in their second year of JV — being on JV has offered a chance to not only develop, but to also see the bigger picture when it comes to high-school football as a whole.

All the blood, sweat and tears that have been shed through the last two years will ultimately lead to a coveted spot on varsity, but the work doesn’t stop there.

It’s one thing to be on the team, Brooks said — it’s another to leave your mark.

“I feel like it’s a big accomplishment, but you can’t just be satisfied with that,” Brooks said. “You have to keep grinding, because there’s always the next level to every part of football — no matter if you’re in the highest league or youth football.”