A year review
keep going...
Its a rainy morning here in Southern Cali today, so I’ll decided to do a quick review of the last year and let me tell you - man, it has been fun. For those who do not know, I was a high school football coach for many years. From 2005 to 2012 at my alma mater, a short stint in 2015 at Schurr High (only lasted 4 games), then a full triumphant return to the sidelines for a full 10 game season, again at Schurr High School.
I had just returned home one year ago to the day, from Las Vegas, where I was at with the Real Coaches Summit networking and meeting some amazing humans - many of them are my real good friends to this day. So, March 13, 2024 was also the day I found out, our head coach had just lost his father. I was going to help out as much as I could — for at the time, I wasn’t fully committed to the making a full return to the sidelines. The moment Raul (more on him in the future) told me Dave had lost his father - that moment at the high school - I decided I HAD to return and help my mentors. One final Rodeo as I labeled this last season (there was inside info to me, Dave was going to step down as head coach at the end of the year).
I was introduced to the team and gave them an authentic view of who I was and what I was going to bring to them from the start. I basically told them - a father figure to me and to them is in a lot of pain at the moment and we need to be there for him as much as we can so on and so forth. I ended my talk with them in a huddle and had all of them lean on me, who was at the bottom of the huddle - the idea being I’ll carry them, if they carry me as a team. And, sure enough it was awesome and I felt from that moment on - they understood what type of energy I was going to bring them.
Now, I’m going to fast forward a bit to the season. Luckily for myself, I was able to keep all of my personal clients - who are so understanding and flexible with me. I have all of them to thank for the success I have with Personal training. Without them, I have nothing. Coaching football, working a 36 hour job with security and training my clients was going to be a lot on my plate. But I did it.
Back to football, we go 4-1 in the preseason and a perfect 5-0 in league for an impressive 9-1 campaign on the year - we were the 2024 Almont League Champions with a record setting defensive and a high scoring offense. We were beating people by a plus 40 margin most of the time. Our record setting defense gave up a total of 7 points during league play. Our offense averaged more than 40 points a game.
3 games, I’m going to mention - Homecoming - which I will forever remember, because I shared a moment with each one of my Wide Receivers. We looked at the atmosphere of high school football - The band at Schurr High which is one of the larger ones in the area, the fans in stands, the cheerleaders, the alumni, our coaches up in the box. A moment in game, I shared with each of them - I thought that was pretty damn special. I love my guys.
Montebello - the heated rival down the street. The two schools play for the City trophy every year, and we wanted to keep it on the Hill at Schurr and boy did we. 42-0 was the final. I remember early in the week, I was talking to Cheese (Cesar) our 1st Team All League Wide Receiver - and had mentioned I wanted to feel like Ray Borque when he finally won the Stanley Cup in 2000 with the Avalanche - look it up on youtube and you’ll know exactly how felt when he handed me that trophy. I kissed it and raised it above my head - just like Ray. Beat your Rival - one mission accomplished on to the next.
Bell Gardens - this was the one I wanted. The one I NEEDED, the one I had circled on my calendar months in advance. Bell Gardens or BG is my alma mater where I played, coached and won Almont League Championships in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2012. I needed this game, because it was the first time I got to go up against my school. I had former players, alumni calling me and talking madness all week which was great. I just wanted the demons inside me to go away - the demons of playing against my school for the first time. It may sound dumb to you, but this one meant the world to me - I needed to win. Without a doubt, we put them away early in the 3rd quarter with a play we ran for many years at BG - 4 verts but with one of verticals coming from the running back “R seam.” We hit that for a 86 yard touchdown - thank you Tyler for trusting in me for that one specific play. 49-7 was the final.
Our season ended the very next week in the first round of the Division 6 playoffs vs Muir High School of Pasadena. It came down to the wire, literally the last 10 seconds. Just like 9-2 and the season was over.
As season came to an end, I needed to have something else to work on. Enter Nick Lambe and his Impact Speaker Academy - which is currently still running. I have learned so much about public speaking. From tones, to pitches in your voice, using the voice you have as a piano to spark emotion. Its been amazing!! Its to help further my career/evolve my personal training career. I’ve learned so much in the personal training field, not only do I want to help out my clients and potential clients - I also want to help out other trainers train their clients while providing solid information for them. With that, I’ve also started a podcast called “15 with Phil.” You either get 15 mins of me solo or a guest with 15 question. The best part, if it doesn’t work, I can always revamp it haha. To be its just another form of long content, just like writing this blog post. Someone, somewhere can use it and learn from it. I look forward to having many fitness industry leaders on to help provide that solid information. Its going to be great!
As I come to and end with this one, I’m excited for the future. This weekend I get to hangout with Brad Schoenfeld, Bret Contreras and Alan Aragon 3 fitness industry GIANTS!!! Then next month, back to Vegas for the Real Coaches Summit with all my friends. More networking opportunities, more learning. All to better my craft as a personal trainer/coach. I’m going to sit back for a few minutes and listen to “This Must Be the Place” by the Talkings Heads and the rain. Thank you for checking me out today.
be good humans,
Phil