Football
Watauga Football 2026 (TEAM GRIT)
📅 2026-27 Watauga Football Calendar (Updated March, 2026)
We update this calendar regularly throughout the year, so please check it frequently for important dates, events, practices, and any changes.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FW4c40SJxEMcYaugUcMtu-sj4rckGponlBBZKhdZKmg/edit?
Incoming 9th Grade & New Player Football Meeting PowerPoint
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/186dIeIamsORkxtSu6D5h3e-10g0Mq8OHgCsxIa-J_7c/edit?usp=sharing
If you were unable to attend the April 15 meeting, please click the link below to view the PowerPoint presentation. All incoming 9th graders, new players, and their parents are encouraged to review the information that was shared.
To help us stay connected, all new players and parents should register for SportsYou by following the directions included in the presentation. Incoming 9th graders are considered new players and will also need to complete this step.
To be added to our 2026 Summer Workout List, please follow the instructions on the final slide and complete the registration process.
We’re excited to have you join our program and look forward to working with you this summer.
- Coach Habich
Current High School Football Players – 2026 Off-Season Update
Any current high school students who were unable to attend the February interest meeting should see Coach Habich as soon as possible to sign up for football.
All players in the program are expected to participate in our off-season strength and conditioning program and to ensure their names are added to the 2026 off-season roster.
We are now entering Phase 2 of our 2026 Off-Season, which includes:
- Phase 2 Strength & Conditioning workouts (3 days per week)
- 6 Blue Dawn morning workouts during the month of April
- 9 Spring Football practices in the month of May
Phase 2 will conclude on Thursday, May 21.
There are multiple opportunities each week for athletes to complete their three required workouts, even while participating in a spring sport.
Participation in the off-season program is a key part of our Team GRIT commitment to year-round development.
Work to Win must be our DNA here at Watauga Football.
2026 NCHSAA Summer Dead Weeks (2 weeks)
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Dead Period #1: June 29 – July 5, 2026
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Dead Period #2: July 20 – July 26, 2026
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2026–27 Start Date (Official start Date): Wednesday, July 29, 2026
2025 TEAM ATTACK Highlight Video
https://youtu.be/kGNQni_tmi0?si=eU9P7NFEIDPasA4b
2024 TEAM TRUST Highlight Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9QGbEYVt5A
2023 TEAM FOCUS Highlight Video
https://youtu.be/UDhSMXJAc7A?si=4osFPIwepNSUh0HG
Stay Communicated with Watauga Football
Twitter: WataugaFootball@PerfectEffort14
Website: www.wataugafootball.net
SportsYou App (Players & Parents)
The Watauga Way
A Watauga High football player understands that he must show up consistently, demonstrate a great coachable attitude, possess a burning desire to succeed, be willing to pay the price, and maintain integrity and discipline. If he does these things, he will succeed, and the team will also find success.
"Watauga Way" 5 Core Values
Attitude
Effort
Commitment
Discipline
Teamwork
Watauga High School Football
Mission Statement
We want to reach our full potential as a team while representing our team, school, and community in a positive way both on and off the field.
Vision
Be a team-oriented football team that is extremely disciplined and plays fundamentally sound football with great energy.
Culture
The three acronyms we will use to describe our team culture are:
WTW: Work To Win GPE: Give Perfect Effort TBM: Team Before Me
People ask what it takes to turn a team into a championship-caliber team.
There is no magic formula. Hard work, discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and trust win more often than they lose. We must play fundamentally sound in all areas of the football game. Examples are carrying the football correctly, blocking and tackling more effectively, and protecting the football. We will have to play smarter, and we will not tolerate players who like to “do their own thing.” We will need to eliminate missed assignments. We want smart, disciplined, and effort-filled play from all of us, including practices and other team activities. One of the things we will need to do is strive for excellence and perfection. We will help you do this if you remain coachable and have the right TEAM attitude. We will not tolerate players thinking just of themselves all the time. We believe in discipline. Discipline is not what you do to someone but what you do for someone. It needs to be done out of love and care. We want us all (players and coaches) to raise our expectations and strive for excellence and perfection. As a team, we will practice strict loyalty and trust in one another. We will learn to be loyal to our team, coaches, and teammates.
"Life is not always a Fair Game" Article by DL Stewart
This is a must-read for every parent who has a child who plays on a team.
"Football Is More than a Game" Article by David Riggs
A good article for all players and parents to read.