Post by coachbigelow on Apr 24, 2008 18:29:24 GMT -6
This was the main topic given by Coach Barnes of Los Alamitos High School at the BYU coaches Clinic in March. I know this isn't the clinic notes section but I think that this fits well even in the general board section. As I sat there taking notes one of the older coaches kept saying oh that is true, that's true too. So here they are, this may be a long post sorry about that, but it's good advice.
1. Respect for Players
Respect your players and they will want to play hard for you. If you don't then why would they want to play hard on game day for you?
2. Have a Big Clock at Practice
Having a big clock allows everyone to see how much time is left in a drill. You can tell a player that with five minutes left in a particular drill to jump in and they can do so without having to ask you. It makes practice run more efficient.
3. Don't Overwork your Staff
This is pretty easy to understand what he means by this, make sure your coaches have time to spend with their family.
4. Play One Way Players
Now this would be obviously tough on smaller schools but for large schools this has sound advice. He says he realized he needed to platoon players after one game in which his best player was already gassed in the middle of the third quarter. Playing players one way also increases the competition as more players will know they have a chance to play and also the recruiting of more to come out. It also allows those players to focus on the one position during the week so they will be ready to play in the game.
5. Sophomores Practice with Varsity Coaches/Use Coaches for one position.
This will allow the Sophomores to learn what they need to step in the next season and allows the coaches a chance to focus on one position to coach their players.
6. Develop a Philosophy and Stick With It.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Don't change your coaching philosophy the way the wind blows.
7. Have a Small Change for Seniors
What he meant by this is doing something small within the program for the seniors, etc. Whether it be changing your helmet stickers, types of socks worn. Make each senior class feel unique in the the contribution they made to the program.
8. Keep Players With You on Game Day
How many times have the players done something stupid leading up to the game when they go home? Keeping them at the school and with you cuts down on problems you could have.
9. Teach Your Coaches to Speak at a Banquet
Take time out each year to go over what coaches should say at the banquet. How many times have we seen this. Johnny and his parents are excited about the banquet, he might not have played much and the coach gets up and says, "Johnny worked hard all year." Make sure the coaches know how to make each presentation personable per player.
10. Don't be Afraid to Pay for Football Info
He related a story of being in the CIF playoffs and losing to a team that ran the Run and Shoot offense. He contacted the Offensive Coordinator of the team and paid him for a day to come down and explain the offense to him and his staff. They utilized it against this same team the next season and won.
11. Make Friends with Parents and Boosters/Have an Open Door
Doing this will help get the parents behind you as you run your program. Parental and booster support is important to success.
12. Find a Mentor
Find a coach that will mentor you and never hesitate to ask him questions. He said that to this day he will still call his mentor to bounce ideas off of him.
13. Hold Player Evals
At the end of the season for all underclassmen hold evaluations to let them know where they need to work for next season. It will also help you and your coaches know what you need to work on for next season as well.
14. Schedule Your Games and Pick Your Booster Club President
You know the strengths of your team. Being able to pick the games will allow you to schedule a season that will allow you to get the most out of your team. You get fired for so-so seasons, not for winning seasons.
He also never picks a male to be booster club president. He always picks a female so he doesn't have to worry about the booster club presidents always being like an extra coach in your ear second guessing you.
15. Be Excited, Have a Passion, and Show It
Showing your passion and excitement will help raise those around you. It will help the players feed off of that and make them want to be a part of your program.
16. Have a Great Banquet it's an Important Eval of your Program
Having a great banquet will allow you to showcase what you are doing as a coaching staff and allow you to see what you also need to work on with parents.
17. Start Building Traditions, Stay Long Enough to Make Them Stick
Don't start a tradition and then just leave. Building traditions makes the kids want to participate more in the program.
18. Let Your Coaches Coach, Make Them Want to Contribute
Lavell Edwards gave this advice to the head coach of the program I am with. It is good advice.
19. Include the Wives Once in Awhile
Women will never understand fully why men get so involved in a football game but involving them in your activities as coaches will help avoid many problems that could arise from coaching.
20. Hold Players Responsible-Senior Leadership
21. Build QB and be Flexible
Sometimes you might now have the perfect player that fits your philosophy but you can build a QB that can fit into it. Don't hesitate to be more flexible with your offense though if needs be based on your needs.
22. Make Calendars so there are no Excuses
Making a calendar will let parents know when to take Johnny on a vacation. Don't pull something on them at the last second.
23. Make sure off-season workout are planned
Doing this will allow you to get the most out of your players before the season starts. Unplanned workouts never develop the growth needed.
24. Vision of Program and let Everyone Know
People knowing what the vision is will work hards toward it so let players and coaches know what you envision.
25. Broken Leg Theory
Don't get caught up in problems that you can't control. Worrying to much about something you have no control over won't help the situation and only hurt your team. He recounted the story of his team losing one of their best players because he messed up before a game and wouldn't play ever again. Instead of worrying he told the rest of that team that the player wouldn't play anymore and that is was a broken leg. The team moved on and won because he didn't panic. If you can't control a problem don't let it bother you.
That is the list like I said it is pretty long but I liked it. I know that I will utilize this advice. What do you coaches think about this list? I just thought I should share this list where I think more people tend to look than anywhere else.
1. Respect for Players
Respect your players and they will want to play hard for you. If you don't then why would they want to play hard on game day for you?
2. Have a Big Clock at Practice
Having a big clock allows everyone to see how much time is left in a drill. You can tell a player that with five minutes left in a particular drill to jump in and they can do so without having to ask you. It makes practice run more efficient.
3. Don't Overwork your Staff
This is pretty easy to understand what he means by this, make sure your coaches have time to spend with their family.
4. Play One Way Players
Now this would be obviously tough on smaller schools but for large schools this has sound advice. He says he realized he needed to platoon players after one game in which his best player was already gassed in the middle of the third quarter. Playing players one way also increases the competition as more players will know they have a chance to play and also the recruiting of more to come out. It also allows those players to focus on the one position during the week so they will be ready to play in the game.
5. Sophomores Practice with Varsity Coaches/Use Coaches for one position.
This will allow the Sophomores to learn what they need to step in the next season and allows the coaches a chance to focus on one position to coach their players.
6. Develop a Philosophy and Stick With It.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Don't change your coaching philosophy the way the wind blows.
7. Have a Small Change for Seniors
What he meant by this is doing something small within the program for the seniors, etc. Whether it be changing your helmet stickers, types of socks worn. Make each senior class feel unique in the the contribution they made to the program.
8. Keep Players With You on Game Day
How many times have the players done something stupid leading up to the game when they go home? Keeping them at the school and with you cuts down on problems you could have.
9. Teach Your Coaches to Speak at a Banquet
Take time out each year to go over what coaches should say at the banquet. How many times have we seen this. Johnny and his parents are excited about the banquet, he might not have played much and the coach gets up and says, "Johnny worked hard all year." Make sure the coaches know how to make each presentation personable per player.
10. Don't be Afraid to Pay for Football Info
He related a story of being in the CIF playoffs and losing to a team that ran the Run and Shoot offense. He contacted the Offensive Coordinator of the team and paid him for a day to come down and explain the offense to him and his staff. They utilized it against this same team the next season and won.
11. Make Friends with Parents and Boosters/Have an Open Door
Doing this will help get the parents behind you as you run your program. Parental and booster support is important to success.
12. Find a Mentor
Find a coach that will mentor you and never hesitate to ask him questions. He said that to this day he will still call his mentor to bounce ideas off of him.
13. Hold Player Evals
At the end of the season for all underclassmen hold evaluations to let them know where they need to work for next season. It will also help you and your coaches know what you need to work on for next season as well.
14. Schedule Your Games and Pick Your Booster Club President
You know the strengths of your team. Being able to pick the games will allow you to schedule a season that will allow you to get the most out of your team. You get fired for so-so seasons, not for winning seasons.
He also never picks a male to be booster club president. He always picks a female so he doesn't have to worry about the booster club presidents always being like an extra coach in your ear second guessing you.
15. Be Excited, Have a Passion, and Show It
Showing your passion and excitement will help raise those around you. It will help the players feed off of that and make them want to be a part of your program.
16. Have a Great Banquet it's an Important Eval of your Program
Having a great banquet will allow you to showcase what you are doing as a coaching staff and allow you to see what you also need to work on with parents.
17. Start Building Traditions, Stay Long Enough to Make Them Stick
Don't start a tradition and then just leave. Building traditions makes the kids want to participate more in the program.
18. Let Your Coaches Coach, Make Them Want to Contribute
Lavell Edwards gave this advice to the head coach of the program I am with. It is good advice.
19. Include the Wives Once in Awhile
Women will never understand fully why men get so involved in a football game but involving them in your activities as coaches will help avoid many problems that could arise from coaching.
20. Hold Players Responsible-Senior Leadership
21. Build QB and be Flexible
Sometimes you might now have the perfect player that fits your philosophy but you can build a QB that can fit into it. Don't hesitate to be more flexible with your offense though if needs be based on your needs.
22. Make Calendars so there are no Excuses
Making a calendar will let parents know when to take Johnny on a vacation. Don't pull something on them at the last second.
23. Make sure off-season workout are planned
Doing this will allow you to get the most out of your players before the season starts. Unplanned workouts never develop the growth needed.
24. Vision of Program and let Everyone Know
People knowing what the vision is will work hards toward it so let players and coaches know what you envision.
25. Broken Leg Theory
Don't get caught up in problems that you can't control. Worrying to much about something you have no control over won't help the situation and only hurt your team. He recounted the story of his team losing one of their best players because he messed up before a game and wouldn't play ever again. Instead of worrying he told the rest of that team that the player wouldn't play anymore and that is was a broken leg. The team moved on and won because he didn't panic. If you can't control a problem don't let it bother you.
That is the list like I said it is pretty long but I liked it. I know that I will utilize this advice. What do you coaches think about this list? I just thought I should share this list where I think more people tend to look than anywhere else.
You had better learn to delegate if you plan on doing everything on that list. Am I just way off here???