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Post by coachcb on Oct 15, 2010 6:49:37 GMT -6
Over the years, I have worked with a lot of teams and kids. I know that every group is going to have a different chemistry about them. However, I have never coached a team anything like this year's group.
In all reality, the practice and pregame atmosphere has to be very, very relaxed with them; anything resembling a 'business-like' approach totally freezes them up. They still put in a lot of effort, but they become extremely nervous, especially during pre-game. I have tried to bring the intensity up before a game through rah-rah speeches; you can just feel the anxiety level rise. Saying anything about going out and getting a win as bad results.
Now, I'm not a yeller; I never have been. I'm a laid back coach but I do demand hard work and effort from the team. But, this year has just been off the wall for me. Part of our pregame routine (about two hours out) involves finding them a friggin playground and letting them run around on it like kindergartners. My assistant and I have to crack jokes and be very light hearted in order to keep the anxiety down. I had to toss out a friggin Helen Keller joke after the first quarter one game to get them out of a funk..
I was almost a little embarrassed last week; we let our SS (a very undersized and slow soph) act like an idiot before every snap last week (weird dummy calls and hand-gestures) but he walked away with 17 tackles; 5 of them solo in the open field.
It's been very strange for me; I initially felt that it was making us a little undisciplined, but we're getting great production with this approach. I like to think I have a good grasp on sports psychology, but this season has been flat out strange.
Has anyone else experienced this? I'm not angry, but still a little befuddled.
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jlt
Junior Member
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Post by jlt on Oct 15, 2010 8:01:24 GMT -6
Thats outrageous. But also awesome at the same time.
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Post by 42falcon on Oct 15, 2010 8:09:53 GMT -6
Coach awesome job not trying to change these kids. You have met them where they live in turn they are actually listening and learning.
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Post by coachcb on Oct 15, 2010 8:16:41 GMT -6
Thanks fellas, but, I'll tell you, it's been a strain.
For example, we were playing tough in a game three weeks back; down 14-7 in the first quarter.
We were dropped for a loss on a sweep and my assistant hollered out something about us "only being down by 7". That was the extent of the comment, but his tone was a little flustered. Not angry, but flustered. You could just see them tighten up on the field.. We were a totally different team for a quarter; we have up 2 scores and couldn't move the ball. I had to pull them aside and toss out a 'not-so-PC' joke to get them back.. We competed in the second half, but still lost.
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Post by mariner42 on Oct 16, 2010 19:13:00 GMT -6
I had to toss out a friggin Helen Keller joke after the first quarter one game to get them out of a funk.. To be fair, there's never an inappropriate time for a Hellen Keller joke... Honestly, don't question it, kids are friggin' weird... I'm sure the longer you're there and the better you get them playing, the more you'll be able to adopt your 'natural' style again. But for now? Just go with it is my advice. If things get REALLY desperate, bust out this guy: humorvault.tripod.com/genie.html
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2010 20:15:23 GMT -6
Was talking to opposing coach last night, and he said the same thing. One quote he used that was very appropriate for us, was that the "generation gap has never been wider". So true. Been doing this for 12 years now, and never seen kids like this before. You hate to use the old adage that the kids are changing, but in reality they are. Our kids never get fired up, even if the coaches do. You try and keep it light, they slack off, you try and go business-like, they tense up and panic. You need to have a sports psychologist on staff to understand these guys. Great kids from the standpoint that they are NEVER in trouble, have good grades, and are very fun to be around...until game night. Oh well...
Duece
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Post by tog on Oct 16, 2010 20:22:59 GMT -6
each group of kids is different being able to see that and then apply it in ways that allow them to produce is the key
same as in the classroom as on the field
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Post by gdn56 on Oct 16, 2010 21:04:34 GMT -6
This thread really reminds me of our guys...they are totally loose regardless of the situation in the game. It is easy to interpret it as a lack of focus, but sometimes I wish we could find a way to use this attitude. I don't know how to motivate this bunch because if anything I tend to be more tense and focused than anything else...not sure how to relate to kids who are truly just going at it trying to have a good time.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2010 6:18:36 GMT -6
Yeah, gdn56, ours are the same way. Almost as if winning is ok but playing is great. That's how I feel. I wasn't cut from that mold, so tough for me to relate I guess.
Duece
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Post by jpdaley25 on Oct 17, 2010 7:59:51 GMT -6
Our kids are similar. I tell a joke every Friday to loosen them up.
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Post by coachwaz on Oct 18, 2010 10:18:55 GMT -6
we were getting on the bus to leave for our game Friday when our starting TE and MIKE is fumbling with a bus window saying "please stay up, please stay up, please stay up" I chuckled to myself and mumbled "That's what she said" our starting WIll (who has been dealing with some very serious off field issues and was a total mess that day in school) heard it and almost pissed himself he was laughing so hard...He was loose from then on and had 11 tackles and 2 forced fumbles...maybe I needa do that each week..lol
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Post by coachcb on Oct 18, 2010 11:52:48 GMT -6
Man... It just keeps getting stranger with this group... We drive 6 hours for an away game on Saturday and come out ON FIRE. We went up 21-0 in the first quarter. We blew coverage once and they scored (21-7); the kids just FROZE. They didn't get lazy, they just got really quiet and started playing sloppy. I figured they'd be bouncing all over the place in that situation; up by two scores, playing tough on defense, scoring on offense.. It was the complete opposite. It was almost as if they looked at the scoreboard and thought to themselves "we're going to f- this up.."
The wheels on the bus just fell off the rest of the game; my assistant and I couldn't get them dialed back in. We lost 40-28. The worst thing is, they didn't get it back together again until we were down by two scores late in the fourth. The kids figured they were going to lose, they didn't have any pressure on them, so they relaxed.
I was basically speechless at the end of the game.
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Post by coachkaseysmith on Oct 18, 2010 13:00:45 GMT -6
Coaches, I feel your pain, I'm dealing with the same issues. I'm not that much older than my kids, I'm 26 and I coach the frosh-soph team, so I figured I would be able to relate a little better with my kids. My kids just seem like they're happy to be wearing a jersey. If they are better than their opponent, they let up. When I was playing, if I knew I was better than the guy lined up across from me, I made it a goal to abuse him all game. My boys are just happy to be there. If we get down, they throw the towel in mentally. If we're up, they're happy to be winning and stop playing aggressive. In our 4 wins, we've scored almost 100 points in the first half, but have only scored 24 in the second. 24 points in 8 quarters after half time. If the other team scores first, I can see each kid throw his hands up in his head and say "Gee, we gave it our best shot."
My previous coaching stops we had to dial our kids back during practice and pregame but here its like they just show up because they have to. It's a whole different world at my new school. I still haven't figured it out but I figure I'll just roll with the punches
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Post by coachcb on Oct 18, 2010 13:52:50 GMT -6
Thankfully, figuring this out about them has worked in my favor, more often than not.
They're just a strange bunch but it's understandable as the program has struggled for a long time. They want to win, but once they're in a competitive situation where THEY CAN WIN, bad things happen. The have never dealt with the thought that they could actually win a game.
Part of the problem is the fact that they're very, very good at basketball. They dominate people on the basketball court and have been getting rolled on the football field. So, it's polar; they're used to being way up or way down and haven't learned to play under pressure.
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Post by coachdennis on Oct 18, 2010 14:14:07 GMT -6
Two weeks ago at practice, out of the blue, I mimicked the voice of Mickey Mouse from a "South Park" episode of last year. (For SP fans, it was, "The Ring", the episode where they mock the Jonas Brothers, Disney, purity rings, etc.) My kids are 13-14, the kind who think Jackass 3D should win an Oscar, so they love South Park. The fact that their 45 year old Head Coach even knew what South Park was, let alone had watched an episode and could nail the voice of a character, sent them into hysterics. It is now the running joke on the club, and kept the kids loose prior to our quarterfinal game last week. (We won, 15-7).
Our kids are riding a seven game winning streak, and I firmly believe we are having success because we know when to go hard, and when to keep it light. Trust me, when we are driving sled tomorrow, they'll know it's back to business, but post practice, we will probably have some fun when handing out the weekly awards.
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