It is that time of year again for a classic tradition: Pampa Harvester Football Championship Week. During the first six weeks of their off season, the PHS football team is in their competition phase. In this phase, the football team is divided into six teams with two student-elected team captains per team. Throughout these six weeks, each student has the opportunity to gain points for their team. The team with the most points at the end of the competition phase is the winner.
The points the students earn revolve around positive habits. There are numerous ways to earn points such as: receiving a positive referral from a coach or teacher, being highlighted for their efforts or achievements, eating healthy, keeping hydrated, community service, or attending PISD sports games. Essentially, anything that a student does that will further propel them into an upstanding citizen will net them points.
Cody Robinson, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, explained the reasoning behind Championship Week.
“We want our young men to develop positive habits that they will use throughout their whole life,” Robinson said. “By incentivizing healthy habits, the more likely those habits will stick with them.”
Just as there are opportunities to gain points, there is also opportunities in which points can be lost. Negative points can accumulate in a variety of ways such as: giving a coach or teacher attitude, failing classes, getting written up, being late to class or practice, or refusing to communicate.
For the first five weeks of the competition phase, the students will accumulate points for their team. The top and bottom three teams are then divided into two teams: the Green Team and the Gold Team. During the final week, there will be a series of physically competitive stations in which either team can have a chance to win it all.
The winners will be rewarded with exclusive PHS shirts and a dazzling golden football trophy.
Robinson notes the overall goal of Championship Week.
“We are teaching these kiddos the characteristics of a winner,” Robinson said. “Even after competition phase ends, we don’t stop doing the good habits we formed.”
There are a number of physically competitive stations that students participate in. The Gut check Station, a mile relay in which every team member must run a lap, tests effort and stamina. The Speed Station is all about maintaining peak speed from start to finish. The most iconic of the stations is the PRIDE Test in which students must work as a team, communicate, and pay attention to detail in order to win.
“PRIDE is our foundation and our creed every Harvester learns,” Robinson said. “Perfect effort, all in all out. Relentless attack, Harvesters never quit. Integrity, courage over comfort. Discipline, do it right or do it again. SelflEss, the second E I comes second. Every kid leaves the program knowing that.”
For the final event of the competition phase, John Arnett, the Varsity Football Coach, will be conducting and overseeing the students perform.
Robinson expressed his enthusiasm about Championship Week.
“We have awesome kids,” Robinson said. “They have fun with it and work hard.”
