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Post by 42falcon on Apr 30, 2009 12:43:17 GMT -6
Hi guys, I am the new head coach of a strugling Bantam football team. I coach at the senior level in our organization but recently took this on as well.
Our Bantams (grade 7-9) aged players have been OK but often it has just been poor coaching. The kids I get at the HS level from the team can barely tackle well enough.
So here is the question: -I am allowed to run 3 spring camp days, leading up to our main camp in August. These 3 days can not be in equipment. In the past they have had the kids run 40's do agility drills and jump over bags.............. I truly could care less what the 40 of my grade 7,8&9's are I care if they can catch run tackle and block. So this being said what would you do with these days? Install offense and defense? teach indy skills? I am at a crossroads here and any help would be apreciated.
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Post by davecisar on May 6, 2009 11:26:40 GMT -6
#1) Make sure they have fun AND figure out what you have DO a bunch of fun team builing games that allow you to see WHO CAN PLAY FOOTBALL< we like games like deer hunter, towel game, sumo game, dummy relay races etc #2) Teach basic skills, agility drills and 40s are such a waste of time We are teaching the base block ( yes without pads), ball seating/handling, pass catching, tackling ( yes without pads, angle fit, splatter tackling) It is too early to teach your schemes without consistent reiforcement, they arent going to remember them in 2 -3 months #3) You can do other things to have fun and see what you have: things like Hawaiian rules football, dodge ball etc can do that as well.
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Post by 42falcon on May 10, 2009 15:33:40 GMT -6
Thank you for the reply! This is my first year coaching at this level most of my time has been spent with HS and College teams so this is going to be interesting!
How do you teach the blocking, tackling run fit with no pads. This sounds like something that I want to do but just need direction!
Thank you again.
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Post by davecisar on May 11, 2009 5:59:57 GMT -6
Just like you probably do with the HS kids Depends on what blocking techniques/schemes you use as well We are a shoulder blocking team so we probably teach it different than you Just like any movement Break it down into teachable components Teach and perfect the step, then add to it Doing it all in walk- close quarters mode Then moving it up in speed and distance We do all this with no real contact each player freezes on "impact" as coaches determine if the player has the proper pad level, foot placement, knee bend, head placement/angle With the exception of our "splatter drill", there is no "contact", that drill is in my blog etc
If you know these kids will be linemen Im also teaching the base blocking rules in those 3 days.
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Post by 42falcon on May 11, 2009 8:44:33 GMT -6
OK this is great thanks again, I am sure there will be some kids who will fall into the "I don't know where to go" position but we have over 20 returning kids so many will have positions they already are familiar with!
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Post by davecisar on May 11, 2009 9:27:54 GMT -6
I never let kids choose their positions, but if they were placed there the previous year, a starting point Kids do change some year by year though, especially in that puberty window, probably a good idea to evaluate em all to see if your predecessor had them in the right spots. IMHO it is a team game, so Im putting kids in the positions that are best for the team and that fit their legit physical and mental capabilities, not what they think their capabilites are. I figure that out where to put em on the first day with the fun eval games like deerhunter, towel game, sumo etc
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Post by cyflcoach on May 11, 2009 15:03:10 GMT -6
I ask my kids at the beginning of each season to write down their favorite 11 positions on offense and on defense and then GUARANTEE them that they'll get to play one of those positions! Believe it or not, they all get excited about what positions they're going to put down and several of them actually do turn in their lists! Dave Hartman CYFL Coach
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