HIGH SCHOOLS ‘ZOOM’ ABOVE THE LINE WITH SOCAL COYOTES – ‘10 THINGS ALL SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS DO’ 

(CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif.) – The SoCal Coyotes – America’s #1 Developmental Pro Football Program – have gone virtual during COVID-19, much to the benefit of high school educators who capitalize each year on the non-profit’s award-winning ‘Above The Line’ leadership influence. 

Most recently Cathedral City High School – led by teacher and coordinator Travis Smith – was the latest to ‘Zoom’ their distance-learning students forward by engaging the staff, players and coaches of the six-time champions. 

Success in high school isn’t easy to quantify: Is it earning a 4.0 GPA? Getting elected class president? Simply being happy and generally successful? Success, teach the Coyotes, might look different for every student, but the tools for achieving it are generally the same.

It’s one thing to identify the ’10 things that successful high school students do’ – quite another when that foundation, mindset and work habits are taught, and reinforced, by the Coyotes greatest players and community leaders.

The Coyotes’ Zoom ‘Above the Line’ delivers an unforgettable 45-minute program – that school administrators can ‘slot’ into online classes with ease.

Coyotes’ Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ben S. Wehrli, Athletic Director Robert L. Cummings, assistant coaches Greg Marshall and Joel Felix, defensive end Jake Sheffield and quarterback Michael Karls are among a star-studded crew who frequently join SVP Ron DiGrandi, and Founder/Head Coach J David Miller for the organization’s ‘Above the Line’ sessions.

“We’re reinforcing students to optimize their high school years, so they can hit the ground running when they graduate,” says Coach Miller, himself a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection.

At no cost to participating schools, the Coyotes deliver all this – in addition to the ‘Above the Line’ tenets of ‘skillful, intentional, on purpose and driven,’ while teaching students how to eliminate the negative undercurrents of ‘blaming, complaining and excuses.’

According to the Coyotes non-profit, here are the 10 things successful students do – (coming soon to a high school near you): 

1. Set Short- and Long-Term Goals. “Break work down into manageable chunks, and hold yourself accountable,” says Dr. Wehrli. 
2. Master Time Management. “This means making and sticking to study schedules, developing systems of organization that work well for you, and learning the art of multitasking,” says Coach Cummings. More direct, says Coach Miller, is “love is a four-letter word spelled T-I-M-E … show me where you spend your time, and I’ll show you what you love.”
3. Select a Balanced Course Load. Take the most challenging core subjects that won’t overwhelm you – then balance them out by “selecting electives that interest you,” says Coach Marshall, who has earned multiple degrees, from two separate schools.  
4. Make Your Free Time Valuable. Engage in your community, and be active outside the classroom, says DiGrandi. “Successful high school students are able to speak up and effect change in a positive way,” says Marshall. “Make your next move your best move.”
5. Participate in Class. “Simple participation in class encourages teachers that you actually care – and increases your opportunities,” says Dr. Wehrli, who overcame early learning disabilities of his own to become a world-renowned physician. Says Coach Cummings, “pay attention, listen and focus.”
6. Take Care of Yourself. “Eat well, get enough rest, take care of yourself,” says Felix, also the Coyotes strength-and-conditioning coach. 
7. Find Out What Makes You Tick. “You can’t fake passion,” says Coach Cummings, who also holds a doctorate degree. “Pursue activities that fascinate you.”
8. Learn to Say ‘No.’ To prevent hurting your important commitments, DiGrandi says successful students learn to say ‘no’ – “in ways that are both graceful, and humble.”
9. Earn Leadership Roles. College admissions directors love seeing students who started at the bottom and rose to the top, earning respect and leadership roles along the way, says Dr. Wehrli. 
10. Build – and Use – Your Support Network. “Don’t wait until your house burns down to get fire insurance,” says Coach Miller. “Build strong relationships with teachers, coaches and peers – and connect with them, early and often.” 

EXTRA CREDIT – For more information or to schedule an ‘Above the Line’ at your school, business, or church, get ‘extra credit’ now – by e-mailing [email protected] for a ‘lesson plan’ tailored to your organization.

ABOUT THE SOCAL COYOTES

The six-time champion SoCal Coyotes are the national standard of American developmental football, and are 88-13 under Hall of Fame head coach and non-profit founder J David Miller. The Coyotes’ organization provides elite athletes a professional environment that refines and showcases their skills through trademarked processes similar to the NBA’s D-league and MLB’s minor-league systems. 

Additionally, the Coyotes’ 501c3 and award-winning ‘Above The Line’ leadership programs impacts the social, mental and physical growth of more than 50,000 youth annually through remedial curriculum, training camps, clinics and symposia. NFL executives have named the SoCal Coyotes organization America’s #1 Developmental Football Program™ for its national, scalable brands, community outreach programs, nine-year operational track record, verifiable data, youth curriculum, sales, public-private sector alliances, and measured results.