JUST JUMP:A CALL TO ACTION FOR COACHES & STUDENT-ATHLETES

By: Mike Trevino Boys Athletic Coordinator/Head Football Coach at Lytle HS

Every season, every game, every moment in this profession presents a choice: stand still or jump. “Just Jump” isn’t just a phrase, it’s a mentality, a standard, a demand for action. It’s about eliminating hesitation, embracing risk, and committing fully to what lies ahead. Whether you’re a coach shaping a program or a student-athlete chasing excellence, success comes to those who refuse to stay grounded in fear or doubt.

The Moment Of Decision

As coaches, we see it every day, players on the verge of something great but hesitant to take that final step. They hesitate before contact, overthink their technique, or doubt their ability to make the play. They stand at the edge, waiting for the perfect moment that never comes.

In reality, the perfect moment is a myth. The best players, the best teams, and the best leaders don’t wait, they JUMP. They embrace the unknown, push past fear, and trust the preparation that got them to this point.

What separates a championship-caliber athlete from an average one? It’s not just talent or genetics. It’s the ability to decide immediately and without hesitation, to step forward when others pause.

Coaches Must Lead The Jump

“Just Jump” isn’t just about our athletes; it starts with us. We preach toughness, commitment, and resilience, but do we embody it in how we lead?

Do we jump into opportunities that stretch us as leaders? Do we embrace the challenge of culture-building, of having the tough conversations, of demanding more from our athletes even when it’s uncomfortable? The standard we set as coaches dictates the response of our players. If we hesitate, so will they. If we commit, they’ll follow.

A coach who jumps into leadership, unapologetically and without fear, creates an environment where hesitation dies and courage thrives.

THE CULTURE OF “JUST JUMP”

Great teams don’t happen by accident. They are built on the backs of athletes who refuse to let doubt win. “Just Jump” is about creating a program-wide expectation that hesitation is unacceptable.

This is a mindset that must be woven into every aspect of our teams:

• Practice: Instilling urgency in every drill, every rep, every play. Demand players go 100% even when unsure of the outcome.

• Film & Preparation: Teaching athletes to trust what they see and act on it without second-guessing.

• Game Day: Building a team that plays fearless, fast, and free, without waiting for permission to dominate.

• Beyond The Game: Equipping young men & women with the courage to jump into challenges, opportunities, and leadership outside the game.

The best players are the ones who see an opportunity and move, without overthinking, without hesitation, without waiting for a sign.

Eliminating Hesitation In Your Program

The greatest killer of potential isn’t the lack of ability, it’s the hesitation. The player who doesn’t trust their speed, the lineman who waits for the defender to strike first, the coach who avoids holding players accountable, it all leads to the same result: regret.

As coaches, our job is to eliminate hesitation from our teams. Here’s how:

1. Demand Immediate Action: make “Just Jump” the expectation. Players should react without fear, trust their training, and play with instinct.

2. Praise Boldness Over Perfection: Reward aggression, even when mistakes happen. A player who jumps without fear will develop faster than one who hesitates trying to be perfect.

3. Emphasize Trust Over Doubt: Teach athletes to trust their instincts, their preparation, and their teammates. Doubt is hesitation’s greatest weapon; kill it at the source.

4. Model It As a Staff: Your team will reflect your leadership. If you demand boldness from them, you must live it yourself.

The Challenge

The question isn’t whether you or your team will face moments of doubt, it’s whether you will jump anyway.

The next time your team faces adversity, the next time a player hesitates before stepping up, the next time you as a coach are faced with a decision that challenges your leadership, choose action. Choose commitment. Choose to JUMP.

Because the ones who do?

They’re the ones who win.

Here are 5 key F’s to help you instill “Just Jump” into every aspect of your life:

1. Face Fear: fear holds us back - from making a big play, taking a leadership role, or pushing through adversity

2. Faith First: whether it’s faith in yourself, your teammates, or the process, sometimes you have to take the leap without knowing the outcome. “Are you willing to sprint when the distance is unknown?”

3. Full Force: not just “one foot” - when you jump, you’re all in!

4. Fail Forward: sometimes, we don’t land perfectly - but we have to get back up and jump again!

5. Fearless Focused: if you wait for the perfect moment, you’ll be waiting forever

JUST JUMP.

Want to read the entire April 2025 issue of Texas Coach magazine? Click here: https://issuu.com/thscacoaches/docs/texas_coach_-_april_2025_-_volume_lxix_no._8?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ