John Barsby’s varsity football team brings a winning attitude to a new season

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He has high expectations for the season and a group of players who has been at work for several months already.

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John Barsby's varsity football team brings a winning attitude to a new season

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“We have workouts in the winter, we have spring non padded long term workouts and we’re allowed ten practices in spring and then we shut down until two weeks before Labour Day with the pads on. But in the summer we work on conditioning and skills and drills.”

Stevenson explained his players already show up at camp with a base for schemes and fundamentals which allows the team to be sharp right from the first snap.

Both the varsity and junior varsity teams at Barsby have the same philosophy.

“It’s a meritocrisy. Nothing is given and everything is earned,” Stevenson said. “You’re going to be known for your commitment and your effort and only then can you show your talent. Those are life skills that go beyond the football field. It’s about personal accountability. At a core level it’s a mentality and way of thinking that is a lifetime skill set.”

The varsity team is ranked fifth in the province heading into the season and made it to the provincial quarterfinals in 2025.

The goal is always a championship but Stevenson said they only talk about winning a title once in the early season and never bring it up again.

From that day forward he wants the focus on the day to day.

“What we have to do is win the rep, one rep at a time at practice, the weight room and the game. If you stack those winning reps you’re creating a winning mentality. When you get to the game the other team has a say but if you’re consistently taking care of things one rep at a time it tends to create a championship prism of mentality, physically and attention to detail. That can take you through some big games.”

Stevenson believes the approach of the Barsby football program doesn’t just build strong players but strong people as well.

“In talking with our alumni a lot of them credit successes they’ve had professionally and with their families to what they learned on the field here.”

The Bulldogs have a bye week upcoming before visiting Argyle on Friday, Oct. 9.

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