flingt
Junior Member
"We don't care how big or strong our opponents are as long as they're human.?
Posts: 311
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Post by flingt on Sept 28, 2010 11:05:01 GMT -6
I've been at a place for a number of years and am the last of the "inherited" coaches on the staff. This is my third head coach and we've basically run the same offense for my tenure here with very little success. We've won no more than 3 games per year in the last 10 years. I have grown tired of what we run because I have been hearing how "it will eventually work", "we are going in the right direction", etc., but I just don't see it. I've been coaching for close to 20 years and really don't see much improvement other than the players attitudes. I don't know, maybe they've just grown more accostumed to losing so they don't cause any trouble.
With the economy it's tough to go somewhere else even though I have had opportunities but have been unable to sell the house.
At what point do YOU say enough's enough?
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Post by cnunley on Sept 28, 2010 11:24:04 GMT -6
I think it's when your hearts not into it anymore and it becomes more of a burden than a reward.
This is my 4th year coaching. 3rd year at my current school. Since I've been here we have gone 2-8, 1-9, and are currently 0-4 and looking like another 1-9/2-8 year. Our main problem has been changing the culture of our kids and community and teaching them the little things it takes to win. Showing up on Friday's doesnt cut it.
Mentally, this season has been incredibly hard for me. I've said to myself a few times that I'm done after this year....but I see some of the younger kids coming up that make it about impossible for me to hang it up. Seeing the younger kids working hard and WANTING to win makes me want to stay for a long time.
I will hang it up when no one in the program wants to work to be successful. If I can look down the pipeline and unmotivated kids that only want a jersey on friday's, that's probably when I will walk away.
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Post by gdn56 on Sept 28, 2010 11:55:39 GMT -6
I totally echo that cnunley. When the attitudes and culture are so bad that winning is basically impossible, I will hang it up or move on. As far as leaving because you think the scheme is bad, that makes no sense to me personally. As far as I am concerned, as an assistant coach with no play calling duties, my primary job is to make sure that the players are good at whatever it is that we do. I understand that can be frustrating, might not be what's best for them, etc.. but, I firmly believe that its not about what you do, but instead how you do it. When all else fails, be loyal and go to work teaching the fundamentals of the game that you know will make the kids successful. Blocking is blocking whether its from the I or from the spread and tacking is tackling and defense is effort. Teach the kids to compete. If you cannot find a purpose to go to work everyday to teach them to compete, then it is time to move on.
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Post by coachwoodall on Sept 28, 2010 12:59:36 GMT -6
its not what we do, it's how intensely we do it
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flingt
Junior Member
"We don't care how big or strong our opponents are as long as they're human.?
Posts: 311
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Post by flingt on Sept 28, 2010 13:04:27 GMT -6
its not what we do, it's how intensely we do it Believe me, you get tired of being intense when it does not pay off other than stress. I don't know if the culture of the school can change. Again, we've tried just about everything, other than X's and O's, to become successful and it has not worked. I don't know if this school can ever be successful and I am just plain tired of losing, so yes, a lot of my intensity has gone and now I coach on just plain old experience. |
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Post by dsqa on Sept 28, 2010 15:40:46 GMT -6
Well if you're planning on leaving anyway, you might as well shake things up a bit. What's the worst that could happen, you have to leave?...
Don't know what kind of stick you have with the coach, or the kids, but you ARE CURRENTLY A COACH ON A TEAM. Not a good team mind you, but YOU ARE CURRENTLY A COACH ON A TEAM. Now, if you left and got the head job elsewhere, YOU WOULD BE A COACH ON ANOTHER TEAM. Either way, YOU ARE COACHING AND YOU ALONE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR COACHING.
Now, either you are in a position of no influence in a losing program, and you are tired of having no say...Or, you have been retained for the third time because you are a pretty doggone good coach and what you say matters to the staff, and this team.
If its the first one, that's tough, might want to look around. However, if it's the second one, it seems to me that you gotta decide that winning the hearts of these kids 1 by 1 is worth more than anything you do everyday, and let the record be what it is. In other words, you have to dig deeper into your reason for coaching and be what it is they seem to be lacking in this program.
Now, it may get you fired if you have to speak your mind to the HC (behind closed doors, please), or to the staff, or to the players, but don't remind them of what they aren't good at - they already know that. Start remembering how fun it is to coach by telling everyone, including the staff, what you like about what they bring to the table - what ARE they good at, even if it isn't much. Move the chains in their mindset, by being a continual reminder of why they are valuable to this program. Doing this will immediately change your heart, and probably impact the program in some positive way, if not on the scoreboard.
God knows when you're losing, nobody feels good about anything they do. You just decide to be the thermostat of encouragement that raises the temperature in the hearts.
It takes no skill to find what is wrong here, and everyone knows what needs to be done to fix it - these kids and coaches are scrambling to try and do better, what is always missing from the losing equation is that "perspective spark" (coach or player) from someone who believes in spite of everyone who doubts...this is a great assistant role in the midst of great discouragement.
What have you got to lose - everything is already a mess.
Good Luck.
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Post by cqmiller on Sept 28, 2010 16:14:26 GMT -6
Just remember that it isn't the X's and O's, it's the Jimmies and Joes. Every offense and every defense has won championships. No offense is designed to lose. No defense is designed to give up points. Try to find a way to make the Jimmies and Joes better at executing and it will work. Keep plugging away.
As long as you still have a desire to help kids, don't give up coaching. Don't let the other coaches around you deter that want to help kids. Eventually the ones who aren't there for that reason will be gone anyway. The kids always remember the ones who love them and care for them, not the one that was in charge.
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Post by coachorr on Sept 29, 2010 9:49:08 GMT -6
Last year we were 0-8, this year we are 4-1. Did I just get a whole lot smarter as a coach? No, we got kids who actually put the time in the off season and who want to win, so usually they practice hard. And when they step on the field they expect to win, because in the end, they are the ones who play the game, not me.
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Post by coachorr on Sept 29, 2010 10:02:47 GMT -6
All I can do is show up every day and coach to the best of my abilities.
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Post by coachwoodall on Sept 29, 2010 10:06:57 GMT -6
its not what we do, it's how intensely we do it Believe me, you get tired of being intense when it does not pay off other than stress. I don't know if the culture of the school can change. Again, we've tried just about everything, other than X's and O's, to become successful and it has not worked. I don't know if this school can ever be successful and I am just plain tired of losing, so yes, a lot of my intensity has gone and now I coach on just plain old experience. I wasn't commenting on your intensity. My comment was directed at the Xs and Os. I would stack our weight room guy and his program up against anybody. Our big rival has a S&S guy who beleives in giving the kids Fridays off. The past couple of years we have been trading punches back and forth on the field. Obviously what both of us do works... to each his own. The same is true with our offensive philosophy, as well as our defensive focus. It isn't a matter of which is better/superior. It comes down to HOW INTENSELY WE DO WHAT WE DO. |
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Post by phantom on Sept 29, 2010 10:21:50 GMT -6
its not what we do, it's how intensely we do it Believe me, you get tired of being intense when it does not pay off other than stress. I don't know if the culture of the school can change. Again, we've tried just about everything, other than X's and O's, to become successful and it has not worked. I don't know if this school can ever be successful and I am just plain tired of losing, so yes, a lot of my intensity has gone and now I coach on just plain old experience. Then it's time to go. |
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Post by tothehouse on Sept 29, 2010 11:44:47 GMT -6
I have a weird deal coming down the pike. I am really feeling like school administration is not helping our program. Since the early 80's we have won 80% of our games (I came aboard in 1999). I am one of only two on campus coaches (the HC is the other) in the whole program. There are many factors involved here. I honestly might get out real soon...but have a dilemma.
I have two young boys of my own. They are 10 and 8. If they end up playing football I want them to experience it the way it's been around here. Problem is....I see the program potentially declining because of the lack of administrative support in hiring teachers that coach football. We have good off campus guys....but that well is getting dry.
I have a couple ideas on the possibilities....but I'm discouraged by the schools lack of caring about one of the few extracurriculars on campus that wins.
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Post by cqmiller on Sept 29, 2010 12:13:51 GMT -6
I have a weird deal coming down the pike. I am really feeling like school administration is not helping our program. Since the early 80's we have won 80% of our games (I came aboard in 1999). I am one of only two on campus coaches (the HC is the other) in the whole program. There are many factors involved here. I honestly might get out real soon...but have a dilemma. I have two young boys of my own. They are 10 and 8. If they end up playing football I want them to experience it the way it's been around here. Problem is....I see the program potentially declining because of the lack of administrative support in hiring teachers that coach football. We have good off campus guys....but that well is getting dry. I have a couple ideas on the possibilities....but I'm discouraged by the schools lack of caring about one of the few extracurriculars on campus that wins. That's too bad to hear coach... I know you guys got hosed last year on not making a bowl game, and you guys are sending kids D1 constantly. We are in the same boat, except without any winning tradition and without D1 players. Down to 2 coaches on staff, and they keep making life miserable for both of us. Just keep plugging away and I'm sure an opportunity will present itself. |
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Post by coachcb on Sept 29, 2010 13:54:37 GMT -6
1. I went back to school to get my math endorsement to help ensure that I wouldn't really have to worry about ever finding a teaching job. So, that's not an issue with me; I have a lot of control over my teaching career.
2. I don't think I would ever get completely out of coaching. I had a rough year in the first program I coached in; I resigned from my assistant position and coached youth football for a year. It wasn't the same, but I was still involved and coaching. I came back to the H.S. level the next year and have been there ever since.
3. I'll only coach at the H.S. level in the following situations:
..a) I was the HC under an administration that supported football. No way around that one.
..b) I was the assistant in a good, established H.S. program with a professional staff.
If I did get out of coaching completely, it would be because I was burned out on the 'people-politics' within a staff. If I'm on a staff that works well together, communicates professionally, and treats the kids right, everything is kosher.
..a) I have a
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Post by dubber on Sept 29, 2010 19:25:10 GMT -6
I think you should leave........
Blaming this on the X's and O's just screams time to go.
WHY isn't the scheme working? Is there conflict being created? Is this a weightroom issue? Do you have an OL coach?
The fact you said, "we have tried everything but changing the X's and O's" means to me you are ready to move on........coach em' up the best you can (for the kids), and then for all parties involved, GO.......
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flingt
Junior Member
"We don't care how big or strong our opponents are as long as they're human.?
Posts: 311
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Post by flingt on Sept 30, 2010 6:48:50 GMT -6
Believe me, you get tired of being intense when it does not pay off other than stress. I don't know if the culture of the school can change. Again, we've tried just about everything, other than X's and O's, to become successful and it has not worked. I don't know if this school can ever be successful and I am just plain tired of losing, so yes, a lot of my intensity has gone and now I coach on just plain old experience. I've got to say I think that's a cop out. Tired of being intense? What?? What does payoff have to do with intensity? You are either intense or your not. If you're tired of being intense, then you've been faking intensity. Intensity is not something you do, it's HOW you do whatever you do. IMO, you've already checked out. My coaching intensity is still somewhat there. Once I'm out on the field I always coach them to the best of my ability and my players do respond and perform to what I ask of them. It's not my desire to coach it's my belief that where I am will ever be successful. The responses of "time to go" is not that simple. I feel like I am in a no win situation because of the direction the program has been in the last decade, with three HC's in my time here. I am not sure if the current coach will be retained after this year so if I'm here next year then we start all over again. |
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Post by coachcb on Sept 30, 2010 7:06:27 GMT -6
I've got to say I think that's a cop out. Tired of being intense? What?? What does payoff have to do with intensity? You are either intense or your not. If you're tired of being intense, then you've been faking intensity. Intensity is not something you do, it's HOW you do whatever you do. IMO, you've already checked out. My coaching intensity is still somewhat there. Once I'm out on the field I always coach them to the best of my ability and my players do respond and perform to what I ask of them. It's not my desire to coach it's my belief that where I am will ever be successful. The responses of "time to go" is not that simple. I feel like I am in a no win situation because of the direction the program has been in the last decade, with three HC's in my time here. I am not sure if the current coach will be retained after this year so if I'm here next year then we start all over again. Honestly coach, I'd think about taking a year (or two) off from coaching HS football. Pick up a gig at the MS or youth level and recharge your batteries a little bit. I don't know that I'd still be coaching if I hadn't done that. I coached with a guy for five years, in two different programs, who started to feel the same way you're feeling right now. He wasn't happy with the schemes or the way the offense was being called. The program was (and still is) competitive, but his distaste for it wore him down. He stuck with it for a few years and it burned him out; bad. He quit coaching and has been out of it for awhile. IMO, he would have been better served by coaching at the lower levels for awhile. |
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flingt
Junior Member
"We don't care how big or strong our opponents are as long as they're human.?
Posts: 311
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Post by flingt on Sept 30, 2010 8:05:22 GMT -6
I think you should leave........ Blaming this on the X's and O's just screams time to go. WHY isn't the scheme working? Is there conflict being created? Is this a weightroom issue? Do you have an OL coach? The fact you said, "we have tried everything but changing the X's and O's" means to me you are ready to move on........coach em' up the best you can (for the kids), and then for all parties involved, GO....... I don't know if it's exactly the offense we run but I know that we play "not to lose" instead of to win. The OL coach is good but there is some conflict among the staff in what we do during practice during the week. Not much contact. Weight room? The kids bust it from January through August. We've got a great strength training and speed and agility program. |
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Post by coachcb on Sept 30, 2010 9:33:33 GMT -6
I think you should leave........ Blaming this on the X's and O's just screams time to go. WHY isn't the scheme working? Is there conflict being created? Is this a weightroom issue? Do you have an OL coach? The fact you said, "we have tried everything but changing the X's and O's" means to me you are ready to move on........coach em' up the best you can (for the kids), and then for all parties involved, GO....... I don't know if it's exactly the offense we run but I know that we play "not to lose" instead of to win. The OL coach is good but there is some conflict among the staff in what we do during practice during the week. Not much contact. Weight room? The kids bust it from January through August. We've got a great strength training and speed and agility program. It sounds to me like there's 'staff drama' going on. This is something that I have a very, very hard time with, so I can understand where you're coming from. Working with people is difficult, in and of itself, and that gets compounded when you're dealing with the competitive nature of coaching. But, again, if it's wearing on you, take a a season off and go coach some lil guys. When you start getting burned out, everything will start to drive you nuts; from serious issues to the little petty crap. That is what happened during the season that almost drove me out of coaching. The staff drama, the parents, and the losing magnified the little stuff like you wouldn't believe. I knew I needed to take a break when I almost went ballistic on a coach because the water wasn't turned on before practice and he had the key. Pretty irrational.. So, like I said, it can all add up and put you in a pretty bad place. |
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Post by coachbdud on Sept 30, 2010 9:43:59 GMT -6
when it starts becoming a job instead of a passion
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Post by Coach Huey on Sept 30, 2010 10:45:25 GMT -6
when it starts becoming a job instead of a passion it is a job ... if i didn't need a job to support my family then i wouldn't have a job.... and, thus, i wouldn't be coaching/teaching. now, since i need to work to support my family, i chose a job (career) i'm passionate about. something i enjoy doing. but, if i won the lottery tonight, i ain't coaching tomorrow.... ;D |
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Post by phantom on Sept 30, 2010 11:07:40 GMT -6
when it starts becoming a job instead of a passion it is a job ... if i didn't need a job to support my family then i wouldn't have a job.... and, thus, i wouldn't be coaching/teaching. now, since i need to work to support my family, i chose a job (career) i'm passionate about. something i enjoy doing. but, if i won the lottery tonight, i ain't coaching tomorrow.... ;D Huey, remember that the whole country isn't like Texas. Not every coach's coaching is intertwined with teaching. I've been retired from teaching since 2008 but have no plans to quit coaching soon. When I was teaching my teaching job was not tied to my coaching job. That's true for probably the majority of HS coaches across the country. |
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Post by tothehouse on Sept 30, 2010 22:32:48 GMT -6
I think I'm with Huey...on this. The lottery deal...yep...I think I'd be out of both (teaching and coaching). Heck I might have won it...forgot to check yesterdays numbers...but anyway. I don't know what I'd do per se, but I do know one thing...when I get out...I will have made a difference. And until I get out...I figure I might as well teach/coach my ass off. And to hell with the admin who could care less. I know who cares...and I'll deal with them.
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Post by coachbdud on Oct 1, 2010 0:09:53 GMT -6
if your coaching for the money then please let me be apart of your staff so i can get some of that action...
Coaching isnt a job to me... teaching would be a career/job that allows you to coach.
If i won the lotto today, i would finish up school, get my degree, and then just kick back and coach.
I will coach no matter what
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Post by luvtocoach on Oct 1, 2010 6:21:54 GMT -6
Long time viewer, first time poster. I am on a staff where this sounds familiar. My question is what to do with the coach who seems to just "earn a check" (albeit not much!) and has never been happy whatever he is doing. I would just like advice from the other end of the spectrum. My opinion is if you aren't happy where you are in life - change something - and it may be you that needs changing.
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Post by coachcb on Oct 1, 2010 6:50:48 GMT -6
If I won the a huge lottery, I wouldn't just be looking to coach. I'd try to buy an NFL franchise so I could micro-manage the best football coaches in the world. Because, ya know, it's MY TEAM after all.  |
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Post by Coach Huey on Oct 1, 2010 7:02:24 GMT -6
if your coaching for the money then please let me be apart of your staff so i can get some of that action... Coaching isnt a job to me... teaching would be a career/job that allows you to coach. If i won the lotto today, i would finish up school, get my degree, and then just kick back and coach. I will coach no matter what well let me applaud you. but, if i'm financially set - and i mean set where i don't have to worry about work/paycheck ever again ... then i'm putting all my time/energy into my family. travel, fish, golf, daughter's activities, etc. I'm not concerning myself with the stress, time, committment of a coaching career. why tax my family anymore than i have to? why? to conclude that someone like me (that would get out if had good money in bank) is "in it for the money" is flat out bs and i'm offended. should i be as committed as someone that gets panties ruffled over a freakin' jv game? is that committed? is that any more passionate than what someone in my shoes is doing and has done? i'll always be passionate about football and about coaching it... but that doesn't mean i'm gonna do it forever. if i had the opportunity to do something else with my family (because i don't need to work anymore) then i'm going to do that. why? because i'm passionate about my family, too. |
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Post by wingt74 on Oct 1, 2010 7:10:15 GMT -6
I'm quitting this year for one reason. Because I now have a 4 yr old and a 1 yr old. To me, it's impossible to coach football with kids. I figure I'm now on a 17yr retirement (so, i'll coach OLine at 51...dear God).
MAYBE my son will want to play football...and I'll get to coach him. But who knows. Not sure that is a good idea either.
It's a sad day though when you stop coaching. I will feel pain every August...
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Post by John Knight on Oct 1, 2010 9:07:17 GMT -6
I have raised two wonderful children and one is my center. My children would not have wanted me to stop coaching football and the three years I was out they begged me to go back. When they were little they lived for Friday nights. Do not quit coaching football for your kids. They will go with you and grow with football. Just put them first the rest of the year.
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Post by coachorr on Oct 1, 2010 9:44:54 GMT -6
Johnknight, that is a great post and really good insight. I am where you were several years ago. Three kids, a boy who just turned 8, and two daughters 6 and 14. And, I have been wondering if I am taking something away from them by coaching.
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