Off the gridiron: Football build character

The character-building of football was on full display this year in Lloydminster. Although both schools had different outcomes from their seasons, players’ personal growth was seen throughout. 

Lloyd Comp Barons’ held a banquet to recognize their award winners through the year. Guest speaker Riley Richardson, a University of Alberta linebacker and former Lloydminster Comprehensive High School Baron spoke about character. He emphasized the life lessons he’s learned while playing football. Including how you choose your character traits, you don’t get them by accident. 

“Every day you wake up and you need to choose your character,” he said. “You need to choose what you look like, what you smell like, what you eat, the first words that come out of your mouth.”

Baron’s Senior Football head Kiren Link concurs with that assessment. 

“Football requires dedication and selflessness. You need to lift weights and work hard when no one is watching. You need to be accountable to your teammates. It requires individuals to put the needs of the team before their own,” said Link. “Football is very physically demanding- it requires mental fortitude for long periods of time. The process of getting better at football helps individuals develop the skills of accountability, teamwork, and resilience.” 

Richardson shared valuable insights about how football shapes individuals, teaching lessons that extend far beyond the field. Additionally, through his own experiences, he illustrated how the sport demands integrity, perseverance, teamwork and character. He believes football helps shape you and described his former teammate, Devin Russell, as someone who exemplified true character.

“Devin was a smaller guy, but he showed up to every practice, every event, regardless of the temperature,” Richardson recalls. “He had an infectious attitude and just the will to win and get better.”

Despite not getting much playing time, Devin’s dedication to the team never wavered. 

“He wasn’t here to show off or be the star, He was literally just here for the team.” This selflessness, Richardson notes, is what football teaches: to play for the team, not the individual. “Devin didn’t need the ball to prove a point,” he said. “He just wanted to see the team win.”

Richardson asserted that football builds character in all players, whether they’re on the field or not. Additionally, the sport requires players to show up, give their best, and support each other. 

“In this program, you have the opportunity to do something very special, you can set the foundation. If you can learn to get tight-knit together and truly learn how to play for each other, you’ll be unstoppable.”

He encourages players to lean into the relationships the game gives them. “Football has a way to give you back,” he said. “Even way after it’s done. I have countless best friends I would do anything for, guys I met through this program.”

At Holy Rosary, head coach Vince Orieux, believes the sport is a powerful catalyst for character building. It teaches them life lessons beyond the field. 

Through training, teamwork, and competition, players learn the importance of discipline, resilience, and perseverance as they face physical and mental challenges. The camaraderie built among teammates builds a sense of belonging and teaches the value of teamwork and trust, which are essential skills for success as these student-athletes move from high school into post-secondary and beyond,” stated Orieux. Additionally, dealing wins and losses fosters humility and sportsmanship, teaching athletes how to handle both success and overcome adversity with class and dignity.” 

Student-athletes balance academics and sports; they develop skills in time management, commitment and leadership.

“These character-building values help to shape high school football players into responsible and successful members of their school and broader communities,” said Orieux. 

For Richardson, football isn’t just a game—it’s a transformative experience that shapes individuals for life. Meanwhile, his message to the next generation of players was clear: build your character, support your teammates, and never lose sight of what truly matters. The gridiron isn’t just about winning games; it’s about growing as individuals, making lifelong connections, and developing the kind of character that will serve you for the rest of your life.

In conclusion, he left them with a life lesson. 

“Find a way to demand the best of your teammates in their worst times so that in your worst times, they can demand the best of you.”

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