The selection of our four core values was a decision we approached with great care and consideration.

 At Animal Instinct Performance, we believe that Effort, Discipline, Focus, and Love are fundamental values that every young man should embrace.

We are deeply committed to the holistic development of our athletes, recognizing them as young men first, not just as football players. We view football—and by extension, the defensive line—as a powerful metaphor for life. There will be moments when we find ourselves "out of our gap," and in those times, teaching young men how to respond to adversity becomes far more important than teaching them how to stop the run or rush the quarterback.

We firmly believe that young men need the guidance and support of their older counterparts as they navigate their journey through life. Often, all a young man needs to succeed is someone who believes in him, even when he may not believe in himself.

"The best coaches I had were extremely tough on me, they demanded my best every single day. On the other side of the equation, they knew me individually as a person and gave me the love and confidence that I needed to go be my best. They taught me the lessons that have helped shape me into the man I am today. As a kid all I needed was someone to believe in me so I could believe in myself. That's what I want to be now, my playing days are over, now I want to be a resource to others that I wish I had sooner in life." 

- Coach Antonio Valentino