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Post by coachcb on Aug 27, 2008 9:21:29 GMT -6
Last season, I coached a freshman football team while finishing up college. I graduated school and moved back to my home town and am now working with a great staff in a great program. However, issues from the last season have popped up.
Last season, at my former school, we had a very successful freshman football season; we went 7-2, losing those 2 games by a combined 7 points. Our primary goal, as laid out by the administration, was to win football games. Playing all of the kids was secondary, at least according the AD. All of the kids got playing some time; the bare minimum amount of playing time was around 10 quarters for the bottom of our depth chart.
The freshman football team evaluated the freshman staff at the end of the season and we graded out at the very top of ALL sports, not just the football program. Throughout the off season, the voluntary work outs and camps were packed with freshman football players.
Then the season comes around, and a bunch of last years freshman decide not to come out for football. Now, I am the only member of the freshman staff that's gone; so I am being throw under the bus.
I have been racking my brain over the past few days, trying to figure out exactly, if anything, that I did wrong last season. I have come to the following conclusions.
1.Playing time is the cause of the issue; our starters not only played freshman ball; most were starters on the froshmore team and several were jv starters. By the end of the year, they were really beat up. On the flip side, the bottom of our depth chart basically only played mop-up during the freshman football games. So, our starters were way overworked and our back-ups were under played.
2. I have some responsibility for the playing time as I was in charge of the OL playing time. I should have made a bigger push to get those back-ups in more. I did suggest several times that we consider our freshman games against weaker opponents B-Squad games, but the staff (myself included) had gotten a little caught up in "winning".
3. Something must have happened during the off-season; all of the kids were participating in off-season workouts throughout the school year and the summer, and then they just don't come out... Bear in mind that I wasn't involved in these workouts as I had moved.
4. I'm no longer a part of the program; if any of the kids had a direct issue with me, it's null and void. I'm not coaching them, nor am I involved in the program.
But after all of this; I am being painted as the villain in this situation. I have been accused of "jumping ship" by last year's staff. They're really trying to pin the whole issue on me.
Should I even bother defending myself in this situation? Is it even worth my attention? I have debated about sending an email to everyone involved, but I just don't know.
I am in a great place right now; great staff, great program, long tradition.
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Post by phantom on Aug 27, 2008 9:48:38 GMT -6
Last season, I coached a freshman football team while finishing up college. I graduated school and moved back to my home town and am now working with a great staff in a great program. However, issues from the last season have popped up. Last season, at my former school, we had a very successful freshman football season; we went 7-2, losing those 2 games by a combined 7 points. Our primary goal, as laid out by the administration, was to win football games. Playing all of the kids was secondary, at least according the AD. All of the kids got playing some time; the bare minimum amount of playing time was around 10 quarters for the bottom of our depth chart. The freshman football team evaluated the freshman staff at the end of the season and we graded out at the very top of ALL sports, not just the football program. Throughout the off season, the voluntary work outs and camps were packed with freshman football players. Then the season comes around, and a bunch of last years freshman decide not to come out for football. Now, I am the only member of the freshman staff that's gone; so I am being throw under the bus. I have been racking my brain over the past few days, trying to figure out exactly, if anything, that I did wrong last season. I have come to the following conclusions. 1.Playing time is the cause of the issue; our starters not only played freshman ball; most were starters on the froshmore team and several were jv starters. By the end of the year, they were really beat up. On the flip side, the bottom of our depth chart basically only played mop-up during the freshman football games. So, our starters were way overworked and our back-ups were under played. 2. I have some responsibility for the playing time as I was in charge of the OL playing time. I should have made a bigger push to get those back-ups in more. I did suggest several times that we consider our freshman games against weaker opponents B-Squad games, but the staff (myself included) had gotten a little caught up in "winning". 3. Something must have happened during the off-season; all of the kids were participating in off-season workouts throughout the school year and the summer, and then they just don't come out... Bear in mind that I wasn't involved in these workouts as I had moved. 4. I'm no longer a part of the program; if any of the kids had a direct issue with me, it's null and void. I'm not coaching them, nor am I involved in the program. But after all of this; I am being painted as the villain in this situation. I have been accused of "jumping ship" by last year's staff. They're really trying to pin the whole issue on me. Should I even bother defending myself in this situation? Is it even worth my attention? I have debated about sending an email to everyone involved, but I just don't know. I am in a great place right now; great staff, great program, long tradition. Defend yourself? To whom? How? More importantly, why? What do you have to gain? |
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Post by coachcb on Aug 27, 2008 9:55:22 GMT -6
I see your point phantom; I am just really frustrated right now...
I was originally the first freshman coach hired the summer before last season. We only had enough money to pay 2 coaches and we needed at least 3. None of the other hired coaches or coaching candidates were willing to volunteer or to split 2 stipends 3 ways, so I gave up my stipend to the third coach and volunteered for the season.
So, I volunteer my time, experience and energy for the betterment of the program, get one the coaches who is trashing me a paid position, and then become a scapegoat..
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Post by midlineqb on Aug 27, 2008 9:58:25 GMT -6
You had nothing to do with the kids not coming out. Don't worry about it, you've got to lookout for yourself; no one else will. I learned that a long time ago in nearly the same situation, only I was head coach of the varsity. When I left a lot of players didn't return. People let me know I was the reason. Don't pay attention to the negatives; be yourself and take care of #1.
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Post by ajreaper on Aug 27, 2008 11:11:32 GMT -6
The guy not present always get's the blame- it's a universal rule of life. After all you don't really think those coaches still there are going to take the hit?
I find it odd however that you all have a great eval from players, really strong participation in the off season then all of a sudden the season rolls around and kids quit- I presume you've not been there all through the summer so how can anyone with half a brain accept you are to blame? Hell if anything if you were the problem YOU ARE GONE NOW, they should have more showing up not less- LOL. Don't worry at all about this.
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Post by justryn2 on Aug 27, 2008 11:27:14 GMT -6
AJ is absolutely right; no one who is still there is going to take any blame. You're gone so you're the one that everyone is going to point to as the culprit. And by the way, in almost every program there are large numbers of freshmen players who don' t come back. A lot of those guys were playing football for the first time and have decided its not for them. No harm in that. As much as I love this game, I'm the first to admit that football isn't for everyone
Let it go. You've moved on and I am certain you will continue to have success. You don't need to dwell on what past associates are saying.
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Post by coachcb on Aug 27, 2008 12:26:38 GMT -6
The guy not present always get's the blame- it's a universal rule of life. After all you don't really think those coaches still there are going to take the hit? I find it odd however that you all have a great eval from players, really strong participation in the off season then all of a sudden the season rolls around and kids quit- I presume you've not been there all through the summer so how can anyone with half a brain accept you are to blame? Hell if anything if you were the problem YOU ARE GONE NOW, they should have more showing up not less- LOL. Don't worry at all about this. Blew me away too; I kept in contact with the staff throughout last year and the summer after I moved away. I got all kinds of kudos: "Too bad you're not still around, the kids are doing great" "If you get a chance, come up and see the kids; they'd really like to see you." Then out of no where, one of the guys tells me that a bunch of freshman aren't going out for football. I asked one of the guys on my current staff if I struck him as the type of coach that ran kids off. He was shocked that I even asked... Oh well, thanks for the responses guys. I was really teetering towards blowing it off and you guys have helped convince me that it is the right decision. |
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burn
Sophomore Member
Posts: 181
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Post by burn on Aug 27, 2008 22:57:21 GMT -6
Coach,
You can't worry about it because it is not your issue to deal with anymore. The reason that the blame falls on you (by the school and the staff) was that you left so it is easy to point the finger at you because you are not there anymore. I look at it differently. Kids probably loved their experience with you and may feel that it won't be as good next year with out you. Also they were able to go to the stuff in the off season with out you and maybe it really wasn't the same or more to the point wasn't as positive or done as well so they chose something else to do. It is tough leaving kids, a community and your team but you must take care of yourself and there are deserving kids everywhere that will benefit from your coaching. Don't beat yourself up over it because it is out of your control. Maintain your character that you obviously have exuded to these kids, school and community and continue to take the high road and don't get into the mud by trying to explain yourself because you have nothing to explain. Good luck.
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Post by talexander on Aug 28, 2008 4:10:38 GMT -6
In coaching, at least 1/2 the people at any given time think you are an A-hole.
If you are losing, you don't know what the hell you are doing.
If you are winning, you are not playing the kids enough, you are cheating, or you "lost two games this year, what the hell is going on down there."
Coaching is thankless, if we defend ourselves every time someone says something bad, that is all we will be doing (instead of coaching). Believe me, I don't like it either, and sometimes I want to kick someones ass, but criticism comes with the glory and high pay (ha ha)
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Post by dubber on Aug 28, 2008 5:58:03 GMT -6
The freshman year, ime, is the has the highest turnover of any class.
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Post by coachcb on Aug 28, 2008 8:55:53 GMT -6
In coaching, at least 1/2 the people at any given time think you are an A-hole. If you are losing, you don't know what the hell you are doing. If you are winning, you are not playing the kids enough, you are cheating, or you "lost two games this year, what the hell is going on down there." Coaching is thankless, if we defend ourselves every time someone says something bad, that is all we will be doing (instead of coaching). Believe me, I don't like it either, and sometimes I want to kick someones ass, but criticism comes with the glory and high pay (ha ha) I hear you on that one; this is same ol story when coaching freshman teams. I just didn't expect the guys I coached with to go after me. I have coached freshman football during 3 seasons; I am glad I am at the varsity level and I don't ever want to go back. -Season 1: we go 8-2 with our A squad and had B-squad games as well. Most of the A squad kids go out the next year,but a lot of the B squad kids don't. The gripe then: "The B-squad kids didn't feel like they were a part of the team; they didn't play "the real games". -Season 2: We decide to play everyone as equally as possible; I even had one of my old youth-league playing time records on the sideline. We lose a lot of games; we were competitive against those teams that played everyone, we got thumped by those that didn't. Half of them don't go out the next year. The gripes then: "The coaches don't know what they're doing, they're not competitive, they don't want to win and they don't play the best kids." "We don't want to play for a losing program." -Season 3: Before the season starts, I make sure I ask the powers-that-be what our objective for the season is. "Win the game first, then get those "other kids" in. They're not going to come back out if they get their asses kicked." Now, the freshman HC and I still have a hang-over from the Season 2; so the ADs policy on winning is fine with us. We go 7-2, but we had 4 games where the depth chart didn't get much playing time. We didn't get any complaints from the parents, the administration, or the varsity staff. Needless to say, we felt like we were doing pretty well; I guess not, LOL. |
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Post by knighter on Aug 28, 2008 12:13:59 GMT -6
F_ _ K EM!! MOVE ON.
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Post by ajreaper on Aug 28, 2008 14:03:44 GMT -6
Knighter don't beat around the bush- say what's on your mind!!  |
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Post by 19delta on Aug 28, 2008 19:16:46 GMT -6
The freshman year, ime, is the has the highest turnover of any class. Yep...I agree! In my experience, you lose the MOST kids between the freshman and sophomore season than anywhere else, including junior high. Kids get a little taste about what high school football is like and if they don't like it, they aren't coming back for their sophomore year. If you can get kids to their sophomore year, you have a good chance of getting them for four years. |
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