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Post by dazzleox on Jul 19, 2010 7:38:21 GMT -6
Coaches, sorry if this was already posted, but it wasn't an easy thing to search for.
What is your approach to how you deal with the balance of needing players to be focused on gameday but not come out "tight"?
I lean towards a keep em' loose approach more than other people I've seen. I think part if it is I'm a coaches son and my dad is a laid back guy, and part of it is I noticed some coaches like Pete Carroll that have a lot of success in big games were known for keeping a fun atmosphere on Friday/Saturday and having players coming out loose and not nervous. Arguably a downside is not being focused enough against lesser opponents then blowing a game you shouldn't?
And maybe my tune would be different if there were more discipline problems on the team or other angles I'm not thinking of.
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Post by coachdennis on Jul 19, 2010 12:13:47 GMT -6
An important thing to keep in mind is that most of us are still coaching kids. Even at 16 and 17, they are still boys at heart. As a result, for every kid you manage to inspire with the big speech, long warm up and weird rituals, I'll guarantee there are two or three others who are either frightened or bored. Some kids just don't go in for that stuff, but coaches mistake their lack of enthusiasm for chanting for a lack of enthusiasm for playing. There's a difference...
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Post by fballcoachg on Jul 19, 2010 12:54:30 GMT -6
in all honesty I've never seen someone play poorly because they were "too loose" but have definitely seen someone play poorly as a result of being "too tight." Now don't mistake this for letting the kids hang from the rafters but when/if I land an HC job I would ideally have two places for kids pregame...one where they can have solitude and quite and one where they can be more social so that kids can prep themselves in the best way. I myself and much more loose before games as it keeps the nerves out whereas some that I work with get very quite and intense.
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Post by gdn56 on Jul 19, 2010 16:29:26 GMT -6
My biggest issue with being laid back with them on gameday is that they are kids and there is a tendency toward horseplay. If you try to have them focus and be about their business, alot of that will be eliminated. I am not however, the kind of coach who expects silence in the locker room before the game, but I don't expect the kids to be running around and singing or jumping around 2 hours before a game either. It has to be managed
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Post by patrick24espor on Jul 19, 2010 17:57:46 GMT -6
My biggest issue with being laid back with them on gameday is that they are kids and there is a tendency toward horseplay. If you try to have them focus and be about their business, alot of that will be eliminated. I am not however, the kind of coach who expects silence in the locker room before the game, but I don't expect the kids to be running around and singing or jumping around 2 hours before a game either. It has to be managed How close up to game time do you review film with your team? |
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Post by lochness on Jul 19, 2010 19:10:38 GMT -6
If I had it my way, it would be about neither. It would be about building confidence and going about things is a focused manner. So, I guess we'd "keep it business" but not get all wound up or act like we are going to a funeral. I want our kids to feel like the prep time and work they put in during the week prepared them for all contingencies, and that now they just have to go out and get it done.
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Post by wingt74 on Jul 20, 2010 19:33:51 GMT -6
VEry one sided on this one. No screwing around. Game time. Focused. Quiet, listening, getting ready.
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hoosier
Sophomore Member
Posts: 176
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Post by hoosier on Jul 20, 2010 22:55:40 GMT -6
Now don't mistake this for letting the kids hang from the rafters but when/if I land an HC job I would ideally have two places for kids pregame...one where they can have solitude and quite and one where they can be more social so that kids can prep themselves in the best way. i think thats an excellent idea. everyone is a bit different and takes the game on in a slightly different way. |
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Post by dazzleox on Jul 21, 2010 13:17:08 GMT -6
VEry one sided on this one. No screwing around. Game time. Focused. Quiet, listening, getting ready. Not trying to be a jerk, but you don't think this messes with the psyche of any of the players? Mabye I'm totally wrong I've seen many players, especially if you're talking teenagers, who could really use a laugh before they puke and run onto the field all nervous Also, I really like the two pregame areas thing; obviously you'll bring everyone together later, but it allows different players to approach the pregame differently. Everyone can still be different without it undermining the concept of team IMHO. |
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Post by Luther Van Dam on Jul 21, 2010 15:59:29 GMT -6
We are focused. Coaches do not go around barking at everyone to be quiet, luckily we have reached a point in our program where the kids understand how we do things. We are quiet at the first team meeting, we are quiet in the pregame meal, we are quiet for devotional and pregame motivational video, we are quiet on the bus, we are quiet in the locker room. We unleash hell on the field. We win. We celebrate.
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Post by rpetrie on Jul 21, 2010 19:48:35 GMT -6
We go through the whole cycle...most games are on Saturdays at 1:30 or 2:00PM.
Breakfast in AM - loose, relaxed...includes helmet awards which is fun for them (most times)
Film time - focused but not over the top drill-sargent like. Brief with coaches in room,
Individual time - we let them watch some video (previous game or motivational football) on their own or hang in locker room listening to music what ever they prefer
Walk-throughs - focused...about 45 minutes before specialists go out
It's a whole production as breakfast starts around 9:30AM
On away games we cut out the individual time as they get that on the bus (music/ipods)
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begreat
Junior Member
I don't have a bunch of hobbies, football is my hobby. They just pay me to do it. ---Mike Tomiln
Posts: 293
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Post by begreat on Jul 21, 2010 21:46:36 GMT -6
Last school I was at we would have kids playing loud music in the locker room from the minute school was out untill game time.... It was very interesting.
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Post by dirtybird13 on Jul 22, 2010 10:54:28 GMT -6
The school I am at has had a little bit of both. Initially our procedure was silence from the moment you loaded the bus for an away game until gametime/warmups. You might ask a Coach a question after getting off the bus, or speak with the trainer briefly, but there was no non game related interaction. Home games were a bit more loose, the guys were supposed to be silent during team meals, and the first year or so they bucked this. Then they were cutting up and being relaxed a bit more from there to the locker room.
Incidentally, we had a 5-0 record on the road, and were 0-5 at home during that regular season. During the offseason we discussed making the home games more like the road games, ie quiet, focused, letting the intensity build. It seemed to translate well. Now we're not insane about it, but the idea is to be quiet and focused on what you have to do. Letting your intensity build... somewhat like water coming to boil. Don't do it too soon, but let it slowly build until the kickoff... and when that foot first meets the ball... Unleash Hell.
I'm a big fan of how we do it, and I imagine that when my time comes I will maintain a similar routine... we have seen our successes multilply as our guys have bought into this style of pregame.
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Post by alneufeld on Jul 27, 2010 12:34:43 GMT -6
VEry one sided on this one. No screwing around. Game time. Focused. Quiet, listening, getting ready. Not trying to be a jerk, but you don't think this messes with the psyche of any of the players? Mabye I'm totally wrong I've seen many players, especially if you're talking teenagers, who could really use a laugh before they puke and run onto the field all nervous Also, I really like the two pregame areas thing; obviously you'll bring everyone together later, but it allows different players to approach the pregame differently. Everyone can still be different without it undermining the concept of team IMHO. I can relate to this idea of a team's psyche. 2 years ago, the team we had was very focused and needed "business" time prior to a game. Yet last year, this team was a bunch of jokesters that needed to be loose to play well. I have always been an intense coach, so I had to temper my approach a lot to accommodate the players. It will be interesting to see what type of team I get this year. |
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Post by mattyg2787 on Jul 27, 2010 17:05:19 GMT -6
Whatever the players want. They are the ones that have to bring their A game. If players want to jump around giving high fives and butt slaps then so be it (as long as it isn't offensive to other players). If they want to sit on their own or relax listening to music, so be it.
All i ever want from my guys is 100% effort as soon as they step on the field.
I'm a big believer in the end justifies the means
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Post by dubber on Jul 27, 2010 20:23:56 GMT -6
No horseplay, but we let them go in pregame.
Really, ever since we started scripting, we have no problem starting well.......
Then, it's all just playing from there........
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cls
Junior Member
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Post by cls on Jul 28, 2010 6:23:12 GMT -6
This is the essence of coaching. The reality is that there is a time for focus and there is a time to just 'let it go' and getting the kids to know the difference is key. Coaching is knowing when to foster and encourage the 'loose' time and the 'focus' time.
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Post by coachd5085 on Jul 28, 2010 7:50:52 GMT -6
I think the BIGGEST thing that hasn't been mentioned in this thread is the behavior of the "non" player players. I believe THOSE are the ones that you need to worry about. I would be that any Grabass behavior that really becomes a problem generally comes from players who will not see the field.
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Post by carookie on Jul 28, 2010 23:50:54 GMT -6
I don't need my kids adrenaline dumping on the way out to the field, I think that can happen if you force them to stew in their juices too much before a game.
The funny thing is, I think for the most part we are on the same page here: nobody wants their players running around the locker room wrestling before the game. Conversely, we don't want our kids so fired up they are worn out before they hit the field.
The difference seems to be what we consider ourselves to be.
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Post by tango on Jul 29, 2010 8:55:12 GMT -6
We go eat and dead silence. Then we normally watch a movie and lay around in the locker room. Loose but nothing loud or moving around. Last year we even had some guys reading books and playing cards. Once we hand out pants and they get dress the lights go off and loud music and you can see our guys change.
Road trips they can talk quiet until I tell them to shut it down. Normally as we are reaching the school. We seem to get the same results. It seems that everyone has an Ipod.
The only problem we have are parents and cell phones. Why want he answer his cell phone I need to give him a message. I hate cell phones.
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Post by Coach Bennett on Jul 29, 2010 9:13:22 GMT -6
I don't need my kids adrenaline dumping on the way out to the field, I think that can happen if you force them to stew in their juices too much before a game. The funny thing is, I think for the most part we are on the same page here: nobody wants their players running around the locker room wrestling before the game. Conversely, we don't want our kids so fired up they are worn out before they hit the field. The difference seems to be what we consider ourselves to be. carookie, I think you hit the proverbial nail on the head. The most important approach to the game, or even practices during the week for that matter, is to be who you are. If you're a laid-back guy who says we'll have fun but when it's time to work, it's time to work, do that. If you're a structure guy who is successful because of your intense focus, do that. The list goes on. In truth, it seems that the team you lead both consciously and subconsciously will take their cues from you. If you are disingenuine, the kids will know it right away. |
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Post by shocktroop34 on Jul 30, 2010 19:39:14 GMT -6
Coach, be careful of what you listen to on this particular post.
My suggestion is to listen to YOUR kids. Listen to them without asking them anything. Ask yourself what kind of kids are they? Also, ask yourself if you know them well enough to know what they will respond to best. Be honest with yourself. If you know them, you will know how to guide them better than any suggestions you read on here. If you don't know them, then you've still got time to get in their lives and let them in yours.
Once you've accomplished that, you won't need to ask anyone else of what you need to do with YOUR team...you will just know. Good luck brother.
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