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Post by brophy on Oct 11, 2009 14:46:29 GMT -6
I'm sure this is going to come off as crotchety old man rhetoric, and I hate to endulge this because some things just don't matter...but, I am unsure how/why players will look for any reason to take their helmets off.... Early on in the Spring, Summer, and through the season, I was a holy terror forcing kids to wear their GD helmets. Sidelines, practice, timeout, whatever....whenever they weren't actually playing in a snap, they were removing the helmet (don't like to wear it or just want to be seen?). I couldn't understand why/how this came to be (maybe its just OUR program) but no one else (staff) seems to have a problem with this. "Hey Joe! You're In!" (Holy {censored} ! Now I've got to fumble around with my mouthpiece, four buckles, and my braided beads.....to get in the game) I never remember taking the lid off except for halftime or the end of the game (and we've done that at every other program I've been at) - is this just not necessary? Any more, I've given up trying to swat the knats of this issue...I guess it isn't something to lose sleep about (but it is annoying). I just don't know what is worth 'taking a stand' over or not (we "outlaw" spats, but don't seem to mind loafing). Also, we have a locked locker room, and each player has a locker with a lock....but none of them locks their locker. We have stuff come up missing (misplaced) all the time, but what can you do? The kids don't lock their stuff away....(And we don't enforce it) apparently because they can't remember a combination
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Post by 19delta on Oct 11, 2009 15:23:04 GMT -6
"Hey Joe! You're In!" (Holy {censored} ! Now I've got to fumble around with my mouthpiece, four buckles, and my braided beads.....to get in the game)
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Post by brophy on Oct 11, 2009 15:28:24 GMT -6
That wasn't a very important game, though
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Post by touchdownmaker on Oct 11, 2009 15:58:33 GMT -6
Put that expectation in writing like most of the other ones. I had to put "no shower shoes" in writing because the kids would wear them and not be able to run plays in tthe gym very well without falling out of their flippers/slippers/sandals etc.
nah brah, put it in writing and clamp down on it.
I think the best way to do it is this, pull the captains in for a meeting, give them all of the mickey mouse stuff "never sit on your helmet, never clip your mouth peice, make sure water bottles are full , dont sit on bags, hustle from station to station" - give them ownership of that stuff so they have something to actually lead.
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Post by fbdoc on Oct 11, 2009 16:41:15 GMT -6
Brophy - your key phrase was "we don't enforce it..." Since I'm an assistant this year I've had to swallow my tongue more than once to support my header, a good coach and gentlemen but who some does things differently than I would.
I've tossed out a few cliches this week but I believe that they are true - Here's another one...
Everything you see on the field is either COACHED, or it is ALLOWED. Which one is it for your team?
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Post by brophy on Oct 11, 2009 16:52:10 GMT -6
Well, not blaming anyone because maybe my gripes really aren't that big of a deal.
I don't think my personal nuances are that big of a deal to impose on another staff.
I guess I'm asking if this should even be something to get worked up over (and understand how other folks work/accept)
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Post by davecisar on Oct 11, 2009 16:53:38 GMT -6
Matt,
I dont get it either.
When I played I always had my helmet on and was ready to play. Heck I had team mates that often were on the sidelines with helmets on and mouthpieces in for most or all of the game.
Im with you, on game day, helmets on
In practice we are 100% helmets on or 100% helmets off, no inbetween allowed.
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Post by CoachFetty on Oct 11, 2009 16:58:16 GMT -6
always fighting thi battle as well... they always out it down with the facemask on the ground .. i want it with the"hole" down....
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Post by fbdoc on Oct 11, 2009 17:01:50 GMT -6
I wouldn't get worked up about it. But it is one of those little things that we feel are important and we have the kids keep them on. I've relaxed a bit - I don't go ballistic if a kid has his chin strap "loose" during stretching .
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Post by formrbcbuc on Oct 11, 2009 18:06:11 GMT -6
We have similar problems here about helmets even more so with our starters. More importantly guys "forget" to put up their pads and helmts last wednesday I walked through our locker room the night before our JV game and found 5 shoulder pads, 3 girdles full of pads, 3 pairs of cleats, and 4 helmets laying out of lockers in a lockerroomthat is accessible to the student body at large! Also a pet peeve I have with my players is talking during team meetings, wearing hats or sunglasses during chalk talks or film sessions, or having iPod ear buds in during meetings. Twice last week I had to tell players to take off their headphones or earbuds, one of the guys ended up saying but it's not on and didnt take them out till he got chewed out by our DC! Also, two other young coaches and I had to break our players habits of calling us dude or talking back.
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Post by brophy on Oct 11, 2009 18:18:13 GMT -6
It just looks tacky, lazy, and undisciplined when guys are on the sideline during a game and most of them have their helmets off. To me, only a "loser" would do that (which is how I've presented it to the players). That kind of body language (imo) is counter productive.
And as noted, it may not be a big deal (doesn't seem to bother anyone else on varsity or fr staff.....so it may just be a regional thing).
Along with that, it drives me up the wall when our pregame team sessions and the non-participants are scattered along the 35 yard line (without helmets) in an disorganized fashion. Like I said, the first 6 months I rode everyone hard, but being the only one concerned about it, I've since stopped caring about it.
Another issue is sitting on a bench during the game. I didn't allow anyone NOT injured to be seated during a game, and would get after guys that did....now, I don't even bother with it, anymore. I'll just worry about what I can control (getting information to the coordinators).
The other issue is the guys (pre game) who are not specialists just wanting to hang out / half dressed before they go out for warmups. Now, I control this and force them to stay in the locker room before we 'officially' go out, but I do not understand how they think it is okay to just loiter on the field/outside the dressing room before the game (same as the helmet issue). Yes, I've gone over it with these guys before, but it never fails that every week, someone is trying to come out of the locker room (assuming just to be 'seen' by peers that they are in uniform).
My point is, this is Varsity football, and I am puzzled at how this kind of stuff is thought to be acceptable. We are looking like a bunch of Kansas City fa*gots half the time.
You'd think I'd have an issue with single-digit numbers, too, for as much belly aching I've done over this.
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Post by phantom on Oct 11, 2009 18:42:20 GMT -6
We have a helmet rule, too. I do think you have to have some common sense with it. When it's hot during 2-a-days I have no problem with taking them off for a brief period while they get a drink and cool off. The alternative maay be to have some administrator come out and tell us that it's too hot to practice. If a kid comes out of a game and takes his helmet off while he gets a drink, fine. Put it on again, though.
Helmets, chinstraps, etc., we do all of them and all believe it and enforce it. We normally keep it low-key, though, because it's normally just something that a kid does because he's a kid and forgot. They're normally not being defiant so a quick reminder works. If it is defiance that's a different story.
I can understand how frustrating it is when you have rules and your coworkers won't enforce them.
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Post by los on Oct 11, 2009 18:59:08 GMT -6
This is a friggin hilarious thread Brophy.....I'm visualizing scenes from the movie "Patton", with the music score and all, lol.....it is a tough decision though, playing in the deep south = take my helmet off on the sideline and get aggravated by the gnats?.....or.....leave it on and cook my brains well done?....hmmm? .....Sit on the bench when you're tired?....or....Stand on the sidelines and pretend you're not tired?.....then in my youth it was = "don't ask for or drink any water or you'll look like a wimp"..... hmmm?....uhhh.....OK, I've decided = I'm all for taking helmets off, sitting on the bench and drinking water, (maybe even gatorade), lol......I'm having fun with this Brophy, so don't take offense.....but its not that big of a deal.....there's a fine line between being a stickler for important details and being a "curmudgeon".....(just learned that word on here and am trying to use it more, lol)
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Post by coachd5085 on Oct 11, 2009 19:04:10 GMT -6
My point is, this is Varsity football, and I am puzzled at how this kind of stuff is thought to be acceptable. We are looking like a bunch of Kansas City fa*gots half the time. Or an NFL team..... I have to ask, what is the HC's expectation on these types of behaviors? If he has not said anything,and these things are not official team policy, but rather an asst's personal preference, then I would say it really isn't your role as an asst. to say anything. The reason I say this is because one of the parent volunteers helping out on the jr. high team I am helping my friend coach absolutely KILLS me sometimes by disciplining kids for things that have never been announced as policy infractions.
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Post by k on Oct 11, 2009 19:08:34 GMT -6
I played in programs where you put on the helmet at the start of practice and didn't take it off for any reason until you were dismissed or done for the day in the game and thus took off your shoulder pads too. Being on the sidelines but not in a helmet meant that you were either a coach or a starter during a game we were blowing someone out.
When I first started coaching I still thought that way.
HC took me aside and asked how important it was to me that they had their helmets on. That he didn't think it was important but if I wanted it to be a big deal he would make it so. I thought on it and decided that wasn't a hill to die on with the kids.
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Post by phantom on Oct 11, 2009 19:11:50 GMT -6
This is a friggin hilarious thread Brophy.....I'm visualizing scenes from the movie "Patton", with the music score and all, lol.....it is a tough decision though, playing in the deep south = take my helmet off on the sideline and get aggravated by the gnats?.....or.....leave it on and cook my brains well done?....hmmm? .....Sit on the bench when you're tired?....or....Stand on the sidelines and pretend you're not tired?.....then in my youth it was = "don't ask for or drink any water or you'll look like a wimp"..... hmmm?....uhhh.....OK, I've decided = I'm all for taking helmets off, sitting on the bench and drinking water, (maybe even gatorade), lol......I'm having fun with this Brophy, so don't take offense.....but its not that big of a deal.....there's a fine line between being a stickler for important details and being a "curmudgeon".....(just learned that word on here and am trying to use it more, lol) And if you don't and you don't have a helmet policy, fine. If you have a policy you have to enforce it, though. I agree with CoachD. It has to be the HCs policy not an assistant's preference, although an assistant can certainly enforce that policy during his periods within his position group.
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Post by los on Oct 11, 2009 20:00:10 GMT -6
Sure Phantom, thats a given....if something is team policy = great, enforce it.....if it isn't = why make it your business, to go out of your way, to make others do things your way or what you perceive, as the "right" way? I definitely agree with "using common sense", when it comes to making team rules. My personal helmet policy was = put in on before you go on the field and don't take it off, till you get off the field.
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Post by bobgoodman on Oct 12, 2009 17:40:54 GMT -6
Another issue is sitting on a bench during the game. I didn't allow anyone NOT injured to be seated during a game, The way I look at it, they're less likely to cause trouble sitting than standing & walking around, plus you know where they are. But they do have to have it explained to them why they should never sit on their helmet, in practice or at home. Their intuition would be that if this device is supposed to protect from impact, how could they hurt it with their own weight? But not realizing that the helmet's not made to resist sustained pressure.
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Post by jgordon1 on Oct 12, 2009 17:56:46 GMT -6
You know one of the biggest reasons I like the helmet on the head is because during breaks they end up on the ground..a kid steps on it and they are done for a while...
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Post by dubber on Oct 12, 2009 19:18:00 GMT -6
When I first got to college, we were in line for a DL drill.
The guys who weren't in were taking off their helmets and snapping them back on before it was their turn again.
I was literally freaking out, thinking any moment our position coach would notice and lower the boom.
It was culture shock.
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Post by coachrji on Oct 12, 2009 20:11:34 GMT -6
Had a player taken out of a scrimmage this year because he was getting his a$$ kicked. A few playes later the HC calls for him to come back in. I look over and he has his helemt off. I yell over to him "Lets go!! Get your helmet on and get in the game or go home!" He yells back "I'm going home!" We haven't seen him since.
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Post by formrbcbuc on Oct 13, 2009 1:01:40 GMT -6
Kids being inelligible is another major gripe. One player on my team was inelligible in history because on a world map quiz he was unable to find the UK, Russia, China, AUSTRALIA, the USA, CANADA, and Mexico and failed to turn in 3 two page papers! We had 3 other guys with 10% or less for their grades. Also, while I love that parents are interested and involved in our program and their kids I hatedealing with the parent that overestimates their kid's talent. I had one Dad that got upset because he drives 260 mi. to every game and he doesn't understand why his son doesn't play. Well his son cannot hit anyone, our lady trainers shoves are harder than his hits and he comes u with excuses for poor performance. We Also have another Dad whose son is a freshman who wanted his son to play on the varsity or he would lose his chance to "shine" and get noticed by Big Ten, SEC, and Big 12 schools. While the kid is a good back and D-End @ Frosh level I have 4 backs and 3 DEs on the JV better than him at the moment. Oh well
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Post by touchdownmaker on Oct 13, 2009 2:54:03 GMT -6
You guys are crying about players taking helmets off?
I got all of you beat. I have one kid who has left his helmet in the locker room at away games...TWICE!!!!
too funny, my assistant is on the war path with this kid and his gear.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Oct 13, 2009 5:33:24 GMT -6
The mouth piece issue is a biggie for us too, I will go back to my former policy DO NOT CLIP MOUTH PIECES, they must be attached...or else.
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Post by brophy on Oct 13, 2009 7:23:55 GMT -6
mouthpieces? Holy #$!#@!@##!$$!!@#!@#@#%##JKLH&GI*DGIFOSDFGSD !!!! We started Spring with a full box of mouthpieces after everyone had been issued one (we only have 33 players) That box is near empty. We began CHARGING for mouthpieces ($1 - $3) about 3 weeks ago...EVERY game day, without fail (in fact, nearly every day) a kid comes in asking for another mouthpiece. Last week, we had a starter lose his mouthpiece during the game and we had none to replace them with. Primarily because the equipment (tackle) box, which housed our emergency spares, that was left in the game locker room was raided by the players.....(not because they NEEDED one, but because they just wanted a NEW one) The starter never returned to the game (it wasn't much of a loss, he is not very good anyway)....but the point is I do not know what is so darn appealling about mouthpieces, and why a new one is so precious. I just don't get it. When I played, you either had to purchase your own or you were given one (and molded it) and it lasted all season. The kids chew on them or just want NEW ones (!?!?) **Yes, I know all about the "enforce/encourage" argument....we obviously encourage/enable a lot.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Oct 13, 2009 7:34:59 GMT -6
broph- out of curiosity, whats the special ed component of your team?
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Post by julien on Oct 13, 2009 7:46:17 GMT -6
You guys are crying about players taking helmets off? I got all of you beat. I have one kid who has left his helmet in the locker room at away games...TWICE!!!! too funny, my assistant is on the war path with this kid and his gear. I got you beat TDmaker... It's unfair I know, I'm French and here players own their gear and keep it with everytime... Away game. 4 or 5 years ago. One of our WR, a starter, came to me n the locker room and said: "Coach, I don't have my gear!" Me: "How could this be possible?" WR: "I did not bring it"
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Post by phantom on Oct 13, 2009 9:22:46 GMT -6
mouthpieces? Holy #$!#@!@##!$$!!@#!@#@#%##JKLH&GI*DGIFOSDFGSD !!!! We started Spring with a full box of mouthpieces after everyone had been issued one (we only have 33 players) That box is near empty. We began CHARGING for mouthpieces ($1 - $3) about 3 weeks ago...EVERY game day, without fail (in fact, nearly every day) a kid comes in asking for another mouthpiece. Last week, we had a starter lose his mouthpiece during the game and we had none to replace them with. Primarily because the equipment (tackle) box, which housed our emergency spares, that was left in the game locker room was raided by the players.....(not because they NEEDED one, but because they just wanted a NEW one) The starter never returned to the game (it wasn't much of a loss, he is not very good anyway)....but the point is I do not know what is so darn appealling about mouthpieces, and why a new one is so precious. I just don't get it. When I played, you either had to purchase your own or you were given one (and molded it) and it lasted all season. The kids chew on them or just want NEW ones (!?!?) **Yes, I know all about the "enforce/encourage" argument....we obviously encourage/enable a lot.We're in precisely the same boat. It drives you nuts but what are you going to do?
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Post by brophy on Oct 13, 2009 9:32:57 GMT -6
We're in precisely the same boat. It drives you nuts but what are you going to do? issue salt tablets and withhold water? I just hate that I am becoming "that guy" (that doesn't adjust to today's players or whatever). I hate to be so stubborn (having a mentality that alienates from the players)
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Post by blb on Oct 13, 2009 9:39:30 GMT -6
We give each kid a mouth piece at beginning of practice, tell 'em the first one's free, every one after that'll cost 'em $1. Very few repeat customers.
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