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Post by brophy on Apr 10, 2007 14:53:51 GMT -6
[glow=green,4,300]Is this possible?[/glow]
There are so many dynamics at work
(psychological, technique, athleticism, emotional, intelligence, character, etc)
If its possible, do you really have the time to invest in a player in a product you may-or-may-not reap?
Is it just easier to not expect much from players and if-it-happens,it-happens? Hoping you called the right play.
What would go into making a player a GO-TO when it matters most?
What would the process look like to take an average player and develop / train him into a Can't-Miss-Choice/Option?
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Post by coachweav88 on Apr 10, 2007 15:19:14 GMT -6
I don't know the whole process, but I would think that one ingredient in a clutch player would be confidence. Coaches can have either a positve or negative effect on an athlete's confidence. I think coaches can have a positive effect on confidence by 1. preparing players for that situation (good technique, practice those situations) 2. giving them Positive feedback 3. Teaching kids to visualize their success. I'm approaching it from more of a psychological standpoint because I'm into that stuff, but also it's something we have control over. I highly reccomend The New Toughness Training for Athletes by James Loehr It's an an excellent system of how to make your athletes mentally tough. |
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Post by jjkuenzel on Apr 10, 2007 15:27:58 GMT -6
I think part of having "clutch" players is about how many alpha dogs you have. When you need a play, give the ball to one of your alpha dogs and let him make a play. Just my oversimplified answer to a much more complex question.
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Post by coachveer on Apr 10, 2007 15:38:51 GMT -6
I think part of having "clutch" players is about how many alpha dogs you have. When you need a play, give the ball to one of your alpha dogs and let him make a play. Just my oversimplified answer to a much more complex question. Thats how we do it. We already have plays written down that get the ball to our "playmakers" based on down and distance. We try and game plan all of them during Sundays meetings. |
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Post by groundchuck on Apr 10, 2007 15:42:49 GMT -6
Good question. I think you look to put them in situations in practice and see who steps up. At least here you can see who wants the ball. Some guys don't want the ball in those situations. At my last school I would watch the basketball games and see which players I had in football would step up and nail that big 3 or FTs and think if he can be clutch in hoops (or baseball for that matter) he has the mental makeup to be a go-to guy at the end of the game on the gridiron too. Someguys want the ball, hopefully they are you best players too.
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Post by brophy on Apr 10, 2007 15:56:17 GMT -6
Can you make "Clutch" players (alpha dogs) without them knowing the Jedi Mind Trick you're attempting to pull on them?
If we leave it up to the kids to decide, the majority of them will take the easy way out (fear of failure / lazy)
....is there a way to sucker them into thinking (severe confidence boosters) they are play-makers
that can actually make plays (not just delusional...we've got enough of those 'DI' kids)?
**kind of like the 'magic shoes' analogy that many parable/stories are made of
Setting up scenarios where by repetition, we convince them they are a PLAY MAKER?
Besides preaching and talking about VISUALIZATION, does anyone have a decent program that they've used to get kids to focus on seeing perfect plays executed in their head?
The kid usually has to have a great moral makeup to DO WHAT IS RIGHT ( take charge / leader )
The kid usually has to have faith in his ability (self-confidence) and doesn't shy away from the spotlight.
The kid has to know the schemes and play to understand HOW he can contribute (intelligence)
The kid has to have proper execution to complete his assignment. This comes from actually TEACHING how to play football from a coach who corrects wasted movements (technique).
The kid has to be emotionally mature enough to recognize that the game consists of one-play-at-a-time, and that one bad play shouldn't CRIPPLE him (emotional).
He can have all these qualities but if he is a subpar athlete (Rudy) it won't mean a hill of beans anyway. (athleticism)
Easier said than done.....is there a systematic way to get the best of both worlds here, without creating Lord of the Flies in your weight room in the off-season?
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Post by coachbw on Apr 10, 2007 21:39:30 GMT -6
I think that if you want them to do it in a game, you need to have them do it in practice. We will have one situation period at the end of every practice where we try to simulate a do or die situation as much as possible. We will change the situation from day to day. Sometimes we go 2 point conversion, sometimes it is 1st & 10 when a first down ices the game, sometimes it is a 2 minute drill. The other thing that we do with this to add to the pressure is try to give the winning team something they want (less conditioning, the choice of food during film sessions, etc.) You can do it a number of ways, but I think the key is to make your practices competitive and put them in "clutch" situations so that when they do come up in a game . . . the kids are somewhat use to them.
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Post by splitricky5 on Apr 11, 2007 12:15:09 GMT -6
My big thing is demonstrate a cool demeanor. I am from the school of thought that you can't let your highs get too high or your lows get too low. Look at the great clutch players in various sports throughout history. They always have a cool demeanor. I think you have to demonstrate that to your players and they follow suit. a la Bill Belichick--Tom Brady, Bill Walsh--Joe Montana, Phil Jackson--Michael Jordan, etc.
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Post by spreadattack on Apr 11, 2007 13:54:46 GMT -6
I think coaches waste a lot of time trying to "make" clutch players out of kids. Kids certainly mature, and they respond to different stimulus, but this is different than trying to butt heads against your player.
I think "clutch" players is overused and of little helpful value as a term, but that said I just look for talented and confident players to be clutch. Look for those "alpha dogs," and especially the alpha dog who looks and acts like he wants to make a play. It's tough to take a confident non-alpha dog and expect him to "rise to the occasion,"and some alpha dogs are surprisingly reticent when it comes to clutch moments.
Basically talented guys who aren't afraid to fail. Unfortunately I can't teach talent, and I think it's difficult to teach confidence.
I think the simplest advice is try to get your entire team into a "not afraid to fail" mentality, and to build their confidence. Sometimes isolating a few guys (especially ones who do not learn their lessons quickly) can alienate others.
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Post by coachjim on Apr 13, 2007 0:02:09 GMT -6
There are a lot of comments about talent, confidence, and alphas making the best clutch players. While I would mostly agree, I'm suprised noone also included "Heart." The kids with the biggest hearts might not always be your best clutch players or have the most talent but they seem to try the hardest to do what is expected and are the most self-critical. I don't think you can teach this, though. It comes from being extremely competitive, having a great desire to win, and sometimes even how you've grown up. I suppose if I could learn how to train those attributes to a kid, i'd be halfway there.
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nexthc
Junior Member
"The Golden Rule"
Posts: 439
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Post by nexthc on Apr 13, 2007 8:01:31 GMT -6
I feel that "Clutch" players are not made, they are just "Clutch" players. Yes, you can practice situations, but if a player can not make the big play in the big game, then that player is not a "Clutch" player. I think that "Clutch" players are build from within. Either you are or are not a "Clutch" player.
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Post by FlexboneOne on Apr 13, 2007 10:12:31 GMT -6
TO rehash what a few people already alluded to: I believe that you can prepare kids to be clutch..but how clutch they are may be inherent in their God given ability. What I do is put the team (or the player) in a basically unwinnable position and see how they react mentally and physically. IN my mind, you want to take them out of their "comfort zone" in order to prepare them for the those "moments" in which clutch players are born. If it doesn't help with creating clutch players, it at least helps cut down on shell shock in tight situations.
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Post by phantom on Apr 13, 2007 19:59:08 GMT -6
[glow=green,4,300]Is this possible?[/glow]
There are so many dynamics at work
(psychological, technique, athleticism, emotional, intelligence, character, etc)
If its possible, do you really have the time to invest in a player in a product you may-or-may-not reap?
Is it just easier to not expect much from players and if-it-happens,it-happens? Hoping you called the right play.
What would go into making a player a GO-TO when it matters most?
What would the process look like to take an average player and develop / train him into a Can't-Miss-Choice/Option?
IMO, there are ways to help a player to become a clutch player: 1. Confidence/preparation. If the players feel that they're prepped well they'll perform in the clutch. Reps, reps, reps. Have a plan for unusual situations, teach it early, and rep it in practce. 2. Get them used to pressure. If the kids are used to competetive situations because they've been in them in the of-season, preseason, and in-season practice then they'll handle themselves well under fire. 3. Be a good clutch coach. Keep yourself under control. Have a plan. The kids feed off of you. Handle yourself well and they will. If you get bent out of shape, it'll convey to tha players and they'll press. |
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Post by splitricky5 on Apr 13, 2007 21:35:02 GMT -6
3. Be a good clutch coach. Keep yourself under control. Have a plan. The kids feed off of you. Handle yourself well and they will. If you get bent out of shape, it'll convey to tha players and they'll press. Phantom, Move this one to #1. I think that is the key point. You have to exude confidence to everyone around you. |
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