Last weekend saw the school football finals from primary school right up to high school played at the National Stadium.

My focus today though is on one school in particular and that is Whitney Institute Middle School.

For the first time in many years Whitney did not reign victorious.

It is no secret that the Department of Education is cracking down on children failing and that a high number of males are dropping out of school. Therefore, Principal of Whitney, Dr. Freddie Evans, issued a clear policy: If an athlete is failing any class, then they are not eligible to play.

Whitney places a high emphasis on the complete student athlete, making it clear that academics come first.

With all this in mind, a week ago just prior to the semi-finals it was Quarter 1 grade checkpoint. Approximately 10 team members between the Under-13 and Over-13 age groups were ineligible to play.

Whitney refused to forfeit and played only those students that had made the grade.

The Whitney coaches resourcefully scraped together a team for both semi-finals. Unfortunately, our Under-13s lost to eventual winners Warwick Academy 5-0, but our Over-13s managed a 4-1 victory over Saltus.

This set up what should have been an intriguing showdown with Sandys, as both teams were undefeated.

Those who have witnessed a Whitney v Sandys showdown know the atmosphere is filled with school pride and passion. It is always a big game. If there is one team Whitney loves to compete against and win, it is Sandys and vice versa.

Amazingly, some Whitney students thought that because it was the finals and that we were playing Sandy's, Dr.Evans and I would be lenient on them and allow them to play in the finals. To their disappointment we refused to drop our standards.

The final against Sandys never lived up to the expectations as Whitney, without five starters, were totally outplayed by a much sharper and skillful Sandys team. I do not want to take away from Sandys' win because they played some very good football.

It is not my goal to explain why Whitney lost the final, but my aim is to highlight a lesson that I , as coach, learned from all of this.

For me winning has always been everything. I have never stepped onto the field of play and didn't want to win or try to win. However, this was different.

After the game, something came over me and all I could do was smile.

As a coach, a player and as a human being I was taught a valuable lesson from a group of middle school kids. Sometimes you can lose and still be a winner.

If someone had told me this when I was at the peak of my career I would have disagreed with that statement completely.

After the game I began to get emotional from what I was feeling and what I had just witnessed and learned.

As the kids sat in the changing room in silence, I gave them a speech from my heart.

I told them that even though they lost the game they were still winners and that they were setting themselves up for a bright future. In addition, I also told them that they were role models for every student athlete in school as they had set the standard for the rest of the athletes to follow.

To be the best all-round student athlete the effort put into the sport has to be the same or better in education.

Learning is a continuous process and you are never too old to learn something new.

I recall reading an article about Stephen Fleming (cricketer) from New Zealand who said it wasn't until he was over 30 when he mastered a batting stance that was perfect for him.

So, as you can see from that, learning in sports and in school is an ongoing process that can only benefit and enhance your life. With all this in mind I urge and encourage all students, and especially student athletes, to buck up and knuckle down to your work.

There are scholarships and some unbelievable opportunities out there these days for athletes. At the end of the day, the only one that can stop you from becoming and achieving what you want to achieve, is you.

Quote of the week: "If you sacrifice early, you'll win late".