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Post by coachneb on Sept 9, 2008 8:33:06 GMT -6
 :-/Hey coaches, I am a first time DC on a 9-10 year old team that has a lot of potential. I'm a student of the game and also believe in teaching the kids the basic fundamentals of football. But I am working with an HC that feels that we don't have enough time in a two hour practice to teach basic fundamentals. And when I addressed this issue with him, his reply was that most of our 9-10 year old kids have played the game before so they don't need to be drill on the fundamentals such as tackle and position drills. And when I ask how are we going to handle the first year kids who have not played before, he responded by saying that they have to learn as they go. And when the kids miss a tackle or tackle improperly, they get chewed out. The practices are not structured or planed at all. So if there is a coach out there who could give me any advise on how to deal with this problem I would appreciate it.
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mrry475
Freshmen Member
Vince Lombardi once said, ?A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself !!
Posts: 51
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Post by mrry475 on Sept 10, 2008 9:54:21 GMT -6
That is not a good situaton to be in . I would think that you would have to work on your relationship with the head coach. I had the same problem a few years ago but i was lucky that one of the assistant coaches had a very good relationship with the head coach and he would listen to me . I would tell him what we needed to do to improve and he would bring it up to the head coach . Maybe you need to get someone else on your side .
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Post by coachjoe3 on Sept 10, 2008 10:55:08 GMT -6
"Learn as they go . . . " That kind of worries me.
Have you thought about bringing up the fact that fundamental football is safer football? If kids have proper tackling technique, they are less apt to get injured. If their coaches aren't teaching proper technique, the kids will try to imitate what they see on TV, which is not always good. Or their Dads may try to fill the gaps with outdated techniques that aren't always safe, for example, planting your facemask in between the numbers on a tackle, etc.
Ask for five or ten minutes a day, like maybe after warm-ups, to teach them proper tackling. Time shouldn't be too much of an issue . . . two hours is more than I was allowed when I coached youth tackle! Proper planning and practice tempo on the part of the HC should alllow you the time to walk through tackling and get some live circuits going once they get the technique down.
Good luck, Coach.
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Post by coachjoe3 on Sept 10, 2008 10:57:13 GMT -6
PS:
Even returning players need proper technique reviewed and reinforced. A nine month off season for a kid might as well be three years.
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Post by dlsmith99320 on Sept 10, 2008 13:19:07 GMT -6
All we spend most of our time on is proper tackling and proper blocking with 10&11 yr olds, Fundamentals first, and plays second, on defense recognition drills and proper tackling, special teams, more on speed and effort and kicking,We get lots of reps and have games that teach speed, recognition and tackling skills, try to reason with the coach, say hey if we spend a little more time doing fundamentals and actually play better, then give it a chance. If he says no, then talk to the other coaches and try to get a united front, fundamentals before X's and O's is something I hear from other coaches on this board all the time.
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Shotgun1
Sophomore Member
It is better to die trying than to quit...
Posts: 214
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Post by Shotgun1 on Sept 10, 2008 19:59:21 GMT -6
Building a football team needs to be done in a part whole philosophy. Professional football teams and college teams do fundamental work in practice all the time so I do not understand how the HC thinks Individual time is not needed.
Try and get the point across that individual time is used to work on individual skills needed to run specific plays. When in this segment of practice target the skills needed for these plays. Then come together for group and have the skill players come together and rep out the plays and continue to build and refine the plays. Make sure your skill guys are in groups and rotate quickly and get lot of reps. While we do this the Oline is still working on the same plays and each group is getting lots of reps. Then come together for a team period and rep it out against air, bags, or live defense. At any time if a kid does something wrong we show and go. We either let the kid/group do it again quickly and do it correctly or an assistant coach pulls him aside and reviews the skill. Bottom line is that building fundamentals will make your team successful.
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:-/Hey coaches,
