Who told you to have fun?!?!?

Levi Nelson
Jul 27, 2017 · 2 min read

I serve as a high school football coach and call the plays for our offense. During defensive practice I am blessed to work with our “scout” team whose job is to simulate the offensive of the opposition and to prepare our defensive for the upcoming game. Scout team members have a HUGE role in the success of the tribe. The better they execute their job, the better our defensive becomes thus giving us a better chance to win football games.

Regardless of how much coaches strive to stress the importance that everyone has a role to play on the tribe, some scout team members feel that because they are not “starters” they are unimportant and “go through the motions” during practice. Yesterday, I called a routine running play and our scout team QB, handed the ball off as instructed and then faked a pass, something he decided to do on his own.

After the play, I put on my best poker face and asked in a stern voice, “Reese…who told you to fake a pass?!” Nervously he replied, “No one.” Quickly I smiled, gave him a huge hug and let him know how cool I thought that was! The whole scout team had a quick laugh and I shared with them that one of the points of playing football is to have fun!

Sometimes we get so busy focusing on the final results or what other people thing of us that we forget about the journey, the process, and the reason we do why we do.There was a time when I had never played the game of football. The reason I decided to give it a try was because it looked like it fun!

Today I felt called to challenge you with one question: What is one specific way you’re going to have fun at what you today? Identify, execute and inspire others with your enthusiasm.


Coach Nelson serves as a high school football coach who is pursuing his doctorate in Sport and Performance Psychology. He has worked for division 1 athletic departments, professional sport franchises, a Fortune 100 Company and has won numerous awards for his LEADership abilities.

His mission is to positively influence the world through Love, Effort, Attitude and Discipline (#LEAD). To learn more about the LEAD philosophy follow him on Twitter Levi Nelson or reach out via email at rln10@zips.uakron.edu He’d love to learn about or help you in your journey!

Levi Nelson

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My mission is to positively influence the world through Love, Effort, Attitude and Discipline. #LEAD

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