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Post by jpdaley25 on Apr 24, 2009 10:47:01 GMT -6
Several years ago, we were physically hammering a team and had a 27 point lead with 9 minutes to go in the game - and we lost. We had a complete melt down, and I couldn't stop it. I'm still having nightmares about that night.
About 12 years ago, we were playing the #2 AAA team in the state of Ga. with a team that was little better than a J.V. We rattled off 31 points and they had a total of 5 or 6 offensive plays in the first half and about 7 turnovers. They melted down. We hung on and won that one 34-31 on a last second field goal.
How and why does this happen? How do you prevent it? How do you stop it when it starts? How do you get it started when you need it?
In those two games, it seemed like a magical force was at work...Like the hand of God had descended and was performing miracles.
Your thoughts gentlemen.
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Post by eaglemountie on Apr 24, 2009 11:08:34 GMT -6
I think it can be done a lot like how basketball coaches use timeouts to stop opponents runs and momentum swings.
Using timeouts early, re-grouping with your off/def/specials on the sidelines, putting your absolute best 11 on the field in crunch time, etc.
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Post by CoachMikeJudy on Apr 24, 2009 11:17:16 GMT -6
I don't think it can be summed up with one answer, but I'd like to throw out there:
1. FOCUS 2. DISCIPLINE 3. PERFORMANCE UNDER PRESSURE
I believe that a team's ability to perform under pressure (like when the other team makes a big play and we must answer) starts with focus. Having great focus will allow an athlete to see the big picture and play like it's 0-0- focus on doing his job to the best of his ability and let the chips fall.
Without discipline, focus will never be attained and the chance to swing or maintain momentum will be lost. Discipline is apparent when a kid is at the two extremes- we're up by 3 scores with not much time left...do I let them in back in the game by being lax or do I step on their throat with tuff disciplined play? On the other hand, we're down by 3 scores...do I lay down and say f* it/maybe start fighting out of frustration or do I continue to play hard and not blow a gasket through controlling my emotions?
Both of these attributes are learned- you practice using them everyday through accountability: being on-time, doing the right thing, suffering consequences, being part of the bigger picture [team]...
Coaches need to put kids through the fire at practice- worst case scenarios, i.e. tell the defense what play is coming, overload the scout D to try to stop the play, put them in "impossible" situations, MAKE THEM BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN WIN AT ALL COSTS!
My college coach was AMAZING at putting pressure on us- those practices/camps were the toughest football I have ever played in my life. The games were easy- these guys don't know the snap counts/calls/plays that we run inside and out...we've seen the worst case scenarios all week!
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Post by mariner42 on Apr 24, 2009 11:26:56 GMT -6
I saw Dick Tomey speak for about 20 minutes on the importance of using back-to-back timeouts to stop those kind of freefall/quicksand moments from really getting out of hand. Taking 2 minutes straight to organize the kids, let them get a squirt, and collect their thoughts, in his mind, was well worth the procedural penalty.
I really dig the idea of momentum and how to control it because we've all been a part of those games where the momentum swings and the feeling of inevitability gets heavier, and heavier, and heavier. Ideally, we're on the side momentum swings in favor of, but we've been on the side where you get crushed by it, too.
I think in football you can help to create and control momentum with good special teams play, in particular. A blocked punt, good kick return/TD, touchback after a quick score, can all put your team in a better position to score or prevent a score and keep the momentum away from them. I can recall a game where we scored 16 non-offensive points in a little over 2 minutes, talk about momentum. Punt return TD, booming kickoff to the 3, safety, safety kick return TD, the score went from 28-17 to 44-17 in a heartbeat and they, being a DW team, were finished.
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Post by warrior53 on Apr 24, 2009 13:06:37 GMT -6
I think a possible answer to this is prepare them mentally for it before it ever happens. Tell them about momentum swings, how to work through them, and then show them some examples of when this has happened - tons of games played in the college ranks each year where this happens that you can record and show your kids. ESPN Classic is a good thing to check out on this subject you can usually find what you are looking for when you know the outcomes of the games.
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Post by PIGSKIN11 on Apr 24, 2009 13:21:24 GMT -6
I put them in adverse situations all spring and summer...
When I just got my new job in March, I promised them that it will never be easy for them in any workouts. I want them go through some stuff so I can see how they react and then I can coach them up on how to react. You can see the born leaders, those who shy away, and the kids you can not rely on ever.
I feel that if your kids are well versed with staying together and riding out the storm it will help in dealing with that momentum.
I would still use to's and what not, but at least they can internally start to deal with that stuff early on.
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Post by touchdowng on Apr 24, 2009 18:08:15 GMT -6
Experts say that there is no such thing as momentum. How can one prove that momentum actually exists?
How can one prove that momentum doesn't exist?
This reminds me of camping trips when I was a kid.
"If the universe never ends, how does it keep going?" "If the university does end, what's on the other side?"
I would lie in my sleeping bag pondering this for hour upon hour.
If my players say, "HEY COACH, WE'VE GOT THE MOMENTUM!" I don't doubt them. I'll just say, KEEP IT UP!
If my players say, "HEY COACH, WE'RE LOSING OUR MOMENTUM!" I usually say, "If you want it back, you have to do YOUR jobs and play better!"
The teams with momentum are usually the teams that play better but the idea of momentum is sometimes hightened with a goofy bounce of the ball, or a good (or bad) call by the referee.
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Post by justryn2 on Apr 25, 2009 9:12:25 GMT -6
I sure don't know the answer to these questions about momentum but, I something happened in a game last year that really got me thinking. Not so much about momentum exactly but about emotion in football games.
In game three of the season we find ourselves behind for the first time. We go into complete emotional meltdown. We committed stupid penalties, including an unsportsmanlike conduct call and one for unnecessary roughness. Players were yelling at each other and even one of my assistant coaches went off the deep end in addressing a player on the sideline.
Anyway, I start thinking that maybe the problem is that I'm doing too much to get everyone fired up emotionally. This year, I'm going to do less of the "rah-rah" stuff and try to get the team to take a more workmanlike approach to the game. I hope I'm not hijacking this thread but to me, it seems like momentum and emotion are closely tied.
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Post by fbdoc on Apr 25, 2009 11:05:55 GMT -6
Your thought about doing less "Rah Rah" stuff goes along with Jim Collins' Good to Great book that says successful leaders don't try to motivate but rather avoid DE-motivating workers who have already bought into the "team".
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zbessac
Sophomore Member
Posts: 149
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Post by zbessac on Apr 25, 2009 11:16:00 GMT -6
Sometimes I think that matchups can be a real key. Sometimes you just match up a little better with one team and not so well with others. Also, inthe situation of walking in with a lesser team and beating a much better team, sounds to me like you were under estimated.
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Post by coachd5085 on Apr 26, 2009 15:23:29 GMT -6
Emotion gets you beat. Intensity brings you victory. Emotion lasts four or five minutes tops...then it exhausts you. You can be intense for the entire 2 hour game. Emotion clouds decision making. Intensity puts things in crystal clear focus.
Momentum is a collective focus (or loss of focus).
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Post by CoachDaniel on Apr 27, 2009 8:13:59 GMT -6
coachd puts it really well, when that snowball starts rolling and kids panic they have lost focus. And it is really hard to get that back. Sometimes, we can make it even worse when we panic during a half-time, or a time out. And notice that the lower the level, the more likely that is to happen - teams in the NFL don't lose focus as much as teams in NCAA, as High School Varsity, and so on. Experience will help you to control your emotions and your focus. Putting the team in those situations in practice will definitely help, in that case.
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Post by atalbert on Apr 27, 2009 9:23:57 GMT -6
Emotion gets you beat. Intensity brings you victory. Emotion lasts four or five minutes tops...then it exhausts you. You can be intense for the entire 2 hour game. Emotion clouds decision making. Intensity puts things in crystal clear focus. Coach D - that's very well put. In fact, I just copied and pasted that for future use. I always tell my guys to "simmer", not "boil over" with their energy and emotion. I tell them the only way I want to know you're all jacked up is through your eyes, not your antics.
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