Bantam West Carrollton Pee Wee Football
First and foremost, I want to say thank you to the Bantam West Carrollton Pee Wee football team, coaches, parents, and entire organization for allowing me to come out and create some memories with you guys!
While the evening didn't end with a victory on the scoreboard, there was a lot to appreciate about what I saw throughout the game.
And as someone who has spent a lot of time around athletics, those things stood out to me.
There's More to Youth Sports Than Wins and Losses
I'm a former football coach and currently coach track and field, so whenever I'm around a youth sporting event, I'm probably paying attention to things a little differently.
Of course, we're all competitive.
We want to win.
But especially at the youth level, I'm looking at what happens between the plays too.
How are coaches communicating with their athletes?
How do kids respond when something doesn't go their way?
Are teammates encouraging each other?
Are athletes willing to listen and make adjustments?
How are parents supporting the kids?
Throughout the evening with West Carrollton, I saw a lot of positives.
Positive coaching.
Teamwork.
Coachability.
Trust.
And people who genuinely wanted these young athletes to succeed.
Those are qualities that matter.
Building Championship Habits
Championship-level programs aren't built overnight.
They're built through habits.
They're built by teaching young athletes how to listen, communicate, trust their teammates, respond to adversity, and continue working when things aren't going their way.
Winning is obviously part of sports.
But learning how to handle the nights when you don't win is important too.
I watched coaches continue coaching.
I watched kids continue competing.
I watched teammates support each other.
And I watched parents continue encouraging their athletes.
Those are the building blocks.
Keep stacking enough of those moments together and eventually the scoreboard starts taking care of itself.
These Are the Moments They'll Remember
That's also why I enjoy photographing youth sports.
The final score will eventually be forgotten.
But these kids are going to remember playing football with their friends.
They're going to remember their teammates.
They're going to remember putting that uniform on.
They're going to remember Mom and Dad standing on the sideline.
And years from now, these photographs become a way to revisit all of it.
Some of my favorite images aren't necessarily the biggest plays.
Sometimes it's a kid listening to his coach.
A teammate helping another teammate.
The look right before the snap.
The celebration afterward.
A parent watching from the sideline.
Those little moments tell the story too.
I hope as you go through this gallery, you find a few photographs that make you smile and maybe even a couple that end up framed somewhere in your home.
Thank You, Bantam West Carrollton
Thank you again to the coaches, athletes, parents, and entire Bantam West Carrollton Pee Wee organization for allowing me onto the sidelines and trusting me to document your team.
Keep coaching.
Keep learning.
Keep competing.
Keep trusting each other.
And most importantly, keep making this experience something these kids will remember long after their playing days are over.
I hope you guys enjoy the gallery!
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