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Post by tobnpr on Sept 18, 2008 7:58:36 GMT -6
Hi, guys.
New to the board, and seeking some opinions.
My son attends a small (100+ students) prep school in Fl. This year we instituted a six-man program- full contact, basically ALA the Texas program that's been around for years.
The coach (new to coaching) has full contact scrimmages every day during practice. He is now even extending a full-pads contact workout on Thursdays- before game day- because he feels it's "necessary". OK, so they're 0-4 so far- new program, new coach. Actually, two of their four losses they've beat themselves, the other tow they got beaten by better teams. I'll add that they ONLY have 10 players total, so risking injury in a practice setting is something you want to avoid at all costs IMO.
MY concerns are two fold:
Should there be full contact scrimmages every day? This seems to me to be a fruitless exercise anyway, because they do not have enough players for an "even" six-on-six scrimmage. What's the point in running a scrimmage with six men on offense and three on defense?
My other question relates to intensity of the contact during practice. My son got his knee tweaked yesterday, and will be on the way to the doctor shortly. Coach does not instruct the players to hit with any less intensity than they would an opposing team. Seems to me that live scrimmage contact should be at far less intensity to minimize risk of injury.
Do you guys think his coaching/practice methodology is correct?
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Post by coachjoe3 on Sept 18, 2008 20:51:26 GMT -6
Hi, guys. New to the board, and seeking some opinions. My son attends a small (100+ students) prep school in Fl. This year we instituted a six-man program- full contact, basically ALA the Texas program that's been around for years. The coach (new to coaching) has full contact scrimmages every day during practice. He is now even extending a full-pads contact workout on Thursdays- before game day- because he feels it's "necessary". OK, so they're 0-4 so far- new program, new coach. Actually, two of their four losses they've beat themselves, the other tow they got beaten by better teams. I'll add that they ONLY have 10 players total, so risking injury in a practice setting is something you want to avoid at all costs IMO. MY concerns are two fold: Should there be full contact scrimmages every day? This seems to me to be a fruitless exercise anyway, because they do not have enough players for an "even" six-on-six scrimmage. What's the point in running a scrimmage with six men on offense and three on defense? My other question relates to intensity of the contact during practice. My son got his knee tweaked yesterday, and will be on the way to the doctor shortly. Coach does not instruct the players to hit with any less intensity than they would an opposing team. Seems to me that live scrimmage contact should be at far less intensity to minimize risk of injury. Do you guys think his coaching/practice methodology is correct? I don't think so. Having a full contact scrimmage each day is like having a game each day, over the course of a season it would be pretty tough on a body, even a ten-foot tall and bulletproof teenager. Before I started coaching flag, I started something I learned from other coaches: the "THUD" period, a brief scrimmage where player have contact, but do not bring the opposing player to the ground. Other coaches might call it something different . . . We never did it more that twice a week though, and never the day before a game. Games are tough enough without hitting in game-like conditions every day. Send him to this board, there isn't a better (or easier) way for a brand new head coach to learn efficient practice habits. Good luck to your son and his knee too. Hopefully these daily scrimmages won't hurt anyones else. |
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Post by tobnpr on Sept 19, 2008 6:27:59 GMT -6
Thanks for your thoughts.
Being new to the board here (and dumb) I don't know if this belongs under the "general" section or under "youth"- is HS ball considered "youth" on this board?
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Post by coachjoe3 on Sept 19, 2008 10:53:44 GMT -6
Maybe the "General" category works better for this, no problem though, it happens.
I think what most people consider youth is from beginner through the eighth grade, but 6/7/8 is considered MS ball by some as well.
Read somewhere (I think John T. Reed) something to the effect that many coaches start out as parents of players, then jump into coaching 'cause they can't stand how wrong their kid is being coached . . . maybe this will apply to you as well.
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Post by los on Sept 19, 2008 20:52:32 GMT -6
I can't imagine how you could get that much contact in 6 man football anyway, outside of the guys playing on the interior line?.... I'd love to hear the rules.....seems like it would be like sandlot football, except wearing pads.....you know...QB in the gun.....lots of passing....sweeps.....QB scambling for yardage, etc....far as the "live" contact, perhaps the coach feels these guys that are new to football, need to get use to the hitting and intensity of a real game? There's always been two schools of thought about how intense the hitting should be at practice......both have merit......the question for me wouldn't neccessarily be about the hitting or minor injuries(thats part of playing football).....but.....are they learning any skills? In any case.....you guys should talk to your coach(in person) about these concerns.....not about him or behind his back. Good luck los
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Post by tobnpr on Sept 21, 2008 8:06:26 GMT -6
los-
Please understand that my questions are not to be taken as "talking about him behind his back". I chose my words carefully- I questioned the methodolgy behind the coaching, not the coach- or his abilities and dedication. In reality, I think he has both of those covered.
You said yourself there are two schools of thought on this- and I'm merely trying to get information from both sides, from those who know a lot more about this game than I do.
You were spot on in your comment about skills, and after we got creamed this past Friday it became more evident to me that lack of execution of the basics is perhaps our fundamental problem.
To answer your question- you are again correct- six man rings of sandlot ball to me as well. The rules are pretty simple- field is 40 x 80, 15 yards for a first down. Point after is two points for a successful kick, one point for pass/run. The defining difference is that all players are eligible receivers, and the QB cannot run with the ball unless there has been a clean exchange of the football first.
Our coach uses the SG, but I've seen some of our opponents have another player take the snap under center and immediately ptich the ball back to the QB, making him eligible to run right off the bat. Timing/execution (the basics, as you say) seem to be our biggest problem on offense- mostly poor snaps and then the pitch after. Prevents them from getting the timing of the play nailed down.
We've got something like twenty offensive plays, I also wonder whether we'd be better off cutting that in half and focusing more on execution. But that's for another thread...
Thanks again for the opinions.
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Post by los on Sept 21, 2008 10:40:53 GMT -6
Thanks for the 6 man info.......thats very interesting......thing about a new football program(and yes, I was part of "new to football", small private school program(11 man football though)..... for a few years)......it may take years to become competitive in a league, where they've been playing for decades......however you practice? Sometimes the parents/students/fans lose patience and expect faster results ("WINS").....than is realistically possible......not saying you guys don't have legitimate concerns......just keep the lines of communication open with your coach and give him a realistic chance......good luck los
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