WALDORF, Md. — Entering its second season, the Westlake High School girls flag football program is looking to turn the lessons of its inaugural season into a foundation for long-term success.
Head coach Triston Coles believes the program is in a much better position than it was a year ago, with players returning with more experience, confidence and understanding of the game.
“From year one to year two, things are definitely trending in the right direction,” Coles told The BayNet.
Last season was a learning experience for a young Westlake team, with several players playing flag football or organized sports for the first time. Coles said the team sometimes struggled to respond when things went wrong, particularly when it fell behind on the scoreboard.
One of the biggest priorities heading into this season is teaching the players that a game is never over until the clock reaches zero.
“We’re going to fight and we’re going to compete until the clock hits zero,” Coles said.
That mentality has become a central part of Coles’ message during the offseason. He has emphasized what he calls “championship effort,” encouraging his players to stack together good practices, good days and good performances.
The team’s slogan, “No excuses, just results,” has also been a consistent message throughout the summer.
For Coles, the goals extend beyond simply winning games. The coach wants Westlake to compete for a championship while also helping his senior players earn college scholarships.
“That’s the number one goal,” Coles said of reaching the championship. “Outside of that, getting my seniors scholarships to college.”
The team has spent the offseason preparing for that challenge. During the spring, players focused on conditioning and the weight room. Once school ended, Westlake was able to use 12 practice days to begin implementing its offensive and defensive systems.
Those practices focused on fundamentals such as route running, coverages and understanding the team’s overall philosophy. As the season approaches, Coles said the focus has shifted toward game preparation, including film study and establishing a routine for game weeks.
The coach also believes the team’s chemistry could be one of its biggest strengths.
Coles said the group has developed a stronger bond than last year’s team, with players from different grade levels spending more time together and encouraging one another.
“Everybody is together,” Coles said. “Any successful team, you got to have good team chemistry.”
That sense of unity is something Coles has intentionally emphasized. He wants the players to view one another as a sisterhood and understand that the relationships they develop through football can extend beyond their high school careers.
On the field, Coles wants Westlake to develop an identity built around speed, physicality and effort.
He believes the team can become one that opponents do not want to face.
“Nobody is going to work harder than us,” Coles said.
Westlake will also face a tougher schedule this season, including more games and more travel. With new flag football programs emerging in St. Mary’s County, the team could face longer trips after school, creating another challenge for the players to manage.
Coles identified that travel, along with the team’s ability to respond to adversity, as two of the biggest challenges facing Westlake.
The coach is keeping some details of his tactical approach under wraps, but he did point to one notable change to the game this season: punting has been added to the rules, providing another element for teams to incorporate.
Ultimately, Coles wants to see steady improvement throughout the season. He believes that if Westlake prepares properly, remains mentally tough and continues to compete, the results will take care of themselves.
For the players, success will mean growth and development. For Coles and his coaching staff, however, the expectation is clear: they are building Westlake with championships in mind.
“I coach to win championships,” Coles said. “The school hired me to build a program, and that’s what I’m gonna do.”
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The post Westlake Girls Flag Football Eyes Championship In Second Season appeared first on The BayNet.
