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Post by airraider on Apr 29, 2009 11:07:50 GMT -6
Quick Rant....
One thing that has really bugged me over the years is when someone asked a question.. such as.. playing video games.. going to a movie.. whatever..
and some coach shoots back with.. "Video games?? Where do you find time to do that?"
I get the idea that they are being condescending as if they are applying that you are less of a coach for taking time out to play video games.
I work as hard as I am willing to. If I were to work any harder, I would see it as overkill.
I get to work an hour before I am supposed to.. often times turing on the first light in the building.. this after my hour and 5 minute commute.
I usually end the day an hour or so after everyone else has left.. I then spend countless hours researching football as well as class subject material.
I work in a school that requires you to show your lesson plans weekly.. so I put a lot of time into those..
But.. on top of all of that.. I still "MAKE" time to watch my favorite TV shows and play a video game from time to time.
In season it is harder to do.. but during the weekend.. I have "me" time.. and "wife" time..
It is just something you have to do..
When I first started out.. I probably lived at the field house..
Actually have a good friend.. who actually DOES live at the field house..
His actual house is an hour and 40 minutes away.. so he sleeps on some bunkbeds he built during the week.. Spends the summers up there too..
To me.. that is an unhealthy way to live your life..
Spend some time on other things.. spending those 5 extra hours a week wont guarantee you to be a better coach.
End Rant..
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Post by fatkicker on Apr 29, 2009 11:13:18 GMT -6
hey....i'm not gonna miss my unsolved mysteries reruns........i don't care what season it is.....
and one day i'm gonna recognize someone......and win a pile of reward money......
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Post by Wingtman on Apr 29, 2009 11:26:50 GMT -6
Agree. Those guys who work 18 hour days, 7 days a week in season, more power to them. To me it seem counter productive.
I have a deep passion for this game, and our profession, but while it is a big part of my life, it does not define who I am.
During the off-season I do some research during the school day (Full time ISS) and dont take it home. Granted that doesnt keep me from laying in bed thinking about the buck sweep, but still...
Pre-season Im devoted to the work outs and weight room, but I'm still home 3 nights a week.
In season we meet Sunday nights at 5 and work til 9. Monday through Thursday in the office at 7 am home by 7 pm.
I love video games and movies. It doesnt make me less of a coach because I do that stuff. I m better because I can take care of me and my family first.
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Post by Coach Bennett on Apr 29, 2009 11:38:47 GMT -6
It is important to be "fresh" for your players, your wife, your family, etc. Within moderation, there's absolutely nothing wrong with some "me time."
Chances are that if you're on this board, you're dedicated to the profession and work your tail off to make it happen for your kids and your program.
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Post by gunrun on Apr 29, 2009 12:31:15 GMT -6
It is important to be "fresh" for your players, your wife, your family, etc. quote] Red, Good point. You have to be high-energy in practice if you want your players and your practice to be high-energy. You can't be high-energy unless you are fresh. |
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Post by touchdownmaker on Apr 29, 2009 14:49:02 GMT -6
With little kids, a wife, pets, two jobs plus football coaching, clinics, football study and the internet, all of the silly hoops required to teach and coach...................nope, no time for video games. I would be one of those guys who says "where do you find the time for video games?" but then again, I probably spend that time watching a personal dvd player with cutups on it. Its not working to me.
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Post by spartancoach on Apr 29, 2009 14:53:42 GMT -6
Between work, football and a nagging wife, if I couldn't find time for internet porn I'd go crazy!
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Post by coachdubyah on Apr 29, 2009 15:04:04 GMT -6
Whoa!WHOA! Easy Spartan!!! Too Much Information. Or as all female teenagers say these days: TMI!!!
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Post by wingtol on Apr 29, 2009 16:01:52 GMT -6
Ask Dick Vermeil of the Eagles area how it works when you don't take time away for yourself.
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Post by fbdoc on Apr 29, 2009 17:53:08 GMT -6
Let's see, time for myself... What is this? Huey or Oprah?  I think for me its like the Mike Tomlin quote, although Jon Gruden and others have their own version - "I don't have a hobby, Football is my hobby. They just pay me for it!" Now I love to take off and get on the jet skis (3-4 times a year) or hit the slopes for skiing (twice a year if we're lucky) but if your idea of relaxing is video games, go for it! |
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Post by kylem56 on Apr 29, 2009 18:01:36 GMT -6
Like some have said. Football usually isnt what I consider "work" to me. I love what I do. I do realize though that sometimes the mind needs to be on other things that football so I dont get burnt out. If you have good time management skills you will be fine. Fishing is a nice way to get the mind off life though  |
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Post by coachwilley on Apr 29, 2009 23:35:10 GMT -6
Airrader, this got me to wondering...how many coaches can't sleep at night because all they can do is go over football ideas for 1-2 hours?
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Post by wingtol on Apr 30, 2009 4:56:06 GMT -6
Ask thingy Vermeil of the Eagles area how it works when you don't take time away for yourself. Ok I think the filter on here needs to be tweeked a bit. I typed Coach Vermeil's first name on here and see it has been changed to "thingy". LOL I needed a good laugh this morning and that helped! |
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Post by brophy on Apr 30, 2009 5:33:21 GMT -6
You guys aren't real coaches.
I work 25 hours a day, 9 days a week
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Post by Coach Bennett on Apr 30, 2009 6:41:44 GMT -6
Fishing is a nice way to get the mind off life though Just slayed 5 brown trout last night! Funny thing is, as I was fishing, I was running how to block veer vs various fronts in this little cabeza of mine! |
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Post by phantom on Apr 30, 2009 8:07:44 GMT -6
You guys aren't real coaches. I work 25 hours a day, 9 days a week Yeah but I'll bet you take a break while you're in the bathroom. I use that time usefully, drawing plays on toilet paper. |
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coachgeorge51
Sophomore Member
Cliches and mottos is mindless verbal nonsense.
Posts: 151
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Post by coachgeorge51 on Apr 30, 2009 8:15:18 GMT -6
Do you guys ever have a bizarre and understandingly unhealthy feeling of paranoia about football? Such as missing the weight room, going on vacation, having hobbies outside of football, etc. Be honest now.
I have to get over this or I won't be able to stay in it very long.
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coachgeorge51
Sophomore Member
Cliches and mottos is mindless verbal nonsense.
Posts: 151
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Post by coachgeorge51 on Apr 30, 2009 10:18:56 GMT -6
Yea, I am the same way, but I don't want to be this way. I don't want to saturate my life with football but I know you have to. There is no other way to do it. Maybe all good football coaches need to be in therapy just to keep sane.
I, too, don't want to go on vacations but its because I feel this sense of guilt about it. Its not right, nor is it emotionally healthy for me or my family. It is really weird, actually. The years I took off from being a head coach, I wasn't like this.
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Post by airraider on Apr 30, 2009 10:27:28 GMT -6
Yea, I am the same way, but I don't want to be this way. I don't want to saturate my life with football but I know you have to. There is no other way to do it. Maybe all good football coaches need to be in therapy just to keep sane. I, too, don't want to go on vacations but its because I feel this sense of guilt about it. Its not right, nor is it emotionally healthy for me or my family. It is really weird, actually. The years I took off from being a head coach, I wasn't like this. I dont get the thought about it not being right to take a vacation. My wife and I go to New Orleans for our anniversary every summer and we tend to go on at quick trip towards the end of the summer. I never once felt like I was neglecting my team. Heck, maybe that week long dead period Louisiana has adopted is a good thing.. |
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Post by RENO6 on Apr 30, 2009 10:34:19 GMT -6
I'm football 24 hours a day. Other things just pop into the day. I need to change this for the sake of my family and my students. I watch game film on my iphone while I'm pooping. It makes me feel good to know I'm not the only one.  |
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Post by cmow5 on Apr 30, 2009 10:38:28 GMT -6
coachgeorge
I am the same way. like right now I am at home. t is 12:30 and we have workouts at 3:30. I am checking the clock every 5 mins to make sure I am not running late. I get sick to my stomach just thinking about being late. If I am not there at 3 I consider myself late. I miss two workouts this year. one my son was sick and the other was actually not my fualt. we was getting ready to go to a glazier clinic and the plan was to meet at a coaches house at 3:30. we "cancealed" workouts for the day. well I am at the coaches house at 3 andno one is there. I wait and wait and call and call. I finally go to the school and they are working out. The DC frogot to tell me we deciding to have workouts.
felt liike crap missing those two and said I will NEVER miss another one.
so I know how you feel.
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Post by Coach Bennett on Apr 30, 2009 10:47:35 GMT -6
Would you agree that nothing is more important than your family? If so, do you feel comfortable in saying "family first"? If that's the case, it's critically important, in my humble opinion, to make time for you and yours.
Easier said than done, I know. My wife loves to remind me how great it is to be a teacher with the summers off and then quickly, smuggly reminds me that "we" don't have summers off because I am at the school 3-4 nights/week.
That said, my buddy and I (we are on the same staff) have made it a point to make time for our families...yes, even in the midst of preparing for the fall.
I guess that's why it's important, if not critical, to have a staff that you trust and can work with. If I take a week off and get away with my wife, I don't need to be wondering if the ship is sailing smoothly. I know it will be.
If my buddy/d-coord. can't take a week off during early July to spend time with his wife and three kids, his family suffers.
We talk about football giving us a larger community, a brotherhood, a family. If that's the case, I want to make sure my "family" is rested and having appropriate time with the ones that are closest to them.
This, of course, is all predicated on the fact that when the wheels start rolling, it's all football.
A little off topic, but one thing we've talked about for the future is having our families get together on our Sunday meeting nights for a bbq where the kids and wives get to hang out while we spend a few hours game planning, etc.
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Post by jgordon1 on May 1, 2009 12:12:17 GMT -6
It's real interesting the ideas you get when you aren't in a box. I love to go out and run, jog, well whatever. I also get a lot of good ideas driving back and forth to work
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Post by dubber on May 1, 2009 12:31:11 GMT -6
I work as a financial advisor.
Much like coaching, a lot of bragging goes into HOW HARD one works.
Usually, the ones doing the bragging have no idea what it means/takes. They are looking for the admiration of others.
The FA's who I know WORK HARD never say a word about it. It's all about getting the job.
Like dcohio says, sometimes it takes 2 hours to get it done, sometimes longer........"getting it done" is all the matters, and anyone concerns with hours has their own ego tied up into the thing.
Sometimes I can get away with 6 hours in the office....sometimes it's 15..........job just needs done.
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Post by fbdoc on May 1, 2009 19:59:12 GMT -6
I've share this same thought many times in several different threads... it's NOT how Hard you coach, it's how efficient your coaching is.
Many HS coaches think its all about having a BIGGER manuel
Many college coaches think its all about spending the most time breaking down video
Its about being efficient with the time you have with your kids, which allows you to have time for yourself and your family.
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Post by coachorr on May 2, 2009 2:01:18 GMT -6
"But I will say this...if you cannot manage your time any better than to alienate part of your life...then I really have to question how efficient your processes are and how effective you really are as a coach. I mean you only get 2 hours of practice a day...there's only so much chit you can put in the horse."
Yep, and if I have an extra 45 minutes to play NCAA with my son then so be it.
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Post by wingtol on May 2, 2009 6:27:52 GMT -6
DC-- Can you come up to my schools where I work and give those figures to some of the people I teach with? I just don't think they get it some times and realize what a great job we have.
I use to coach on a staff where we would have our meetings on Sundays. We would meet for at least 10 hours often longer. Don't ask me what we did for that long because I am not sure LOL. Now in our meeting we are there from 3 maybe 4 hours and get the same amount of work done. So basically what I am saying is, like others have, it's the quality of work you get done not the quantity. So if a coach has time to do things outside of football does that make him a bad coach or mean he doesn't care? No way. You have to run football not let it run you.
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Post by Coach N on May 2, 2009 6:47:40 GMT -6
My take on this... you need some balance. As Vince Lombardi said, God, Family and the Green Bay Packers. Keep the priorities in your life in order.
As a young coach, I had to work long hours because I had to learn. Now after 20+ years, I still work long hours because I want to be a great coach, but football is my hobby it is what I enjoy, it is who I am. Work smarter, not longer and find time for the other important things in your life.
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Post by phantom on May 2, 2009 7:20:42 GMT -6
I can understand that in-season time is at a premium. To be honest, during the offseason what's so hard about the job? There are four months when you have to go like hell. What are guys doing during the other eight months that take up so much time?
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Post by jgordon1 on May 2, 2009 8:01:41 GMT -6
Like Tomlin and others say Football is a hobby. I will spend as much time on it as I want. DC you are so right about school hours. the people that bitch the most are the ones who could never get a job paying what they make in the real world. We have teachers (thats plural) making over 90,000 and I think there might be 1 or 2 making 100,000
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I think for me its like the Mike Tomlin quote, although Jon Gruden and others have their own version - "I don't have a hobby, Football is my hobby. They just pay me for it!" Now I love to take off and get on the jet skis (3-4 times a year) or hit the slopes for skiing (twice a year if we're lucky) but if your idea of relaxing is video games, go for it!
