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Post by coach31 on Aug 19, 2006 16:03:14 GMT -6
Guys,
I am at a school that is new to football. (year 5 no real success). We are a soccer power (kinda like being the best student at summer school), and there is a lot of community sentiment that football is a waste of funding, and an embarrassment to the school. This makes it very hard to get kids out for football. Does anyone have a good way to get the community behind a new program?
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Post by los on Aug 19, 2006 18:23:10 GMT -6
Its tough if they're not willing to give it a chance! I'm not very familiar with soccer season in high school(we don't really play it here) but does it go on during the same time of the year as football? If so, that could be an issue? I've coached on some really good teams and some really awful ones too but all we ever wanted to see was steady improvement. All teams start at different levels and I think most coaches, players and parents will support a sports program, as long as they can see the kids trying hard and slowly improving every week! Naturally, everyone wants to be a winner "all" the time, but heck, life and sports isn't like that. To me its the "trying" thats important, then the rest will come along! If the coaches and players are enthusiastic and excited about it, they can drag the community right along with them!
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Post by coachcalande on Aug 20, 2006 16:08:32 GMT -6
Guys, I am at a school that is new to football. (year 5 no real success). We are a soccer power (kinda like being the best student at summer school), and there is a lot of community sentiment that football is a waste of funding, and an embarrassment to the school. This makes it very hard to get kids out for football. Does anyone have a good way to get the community behind a new program? I have been in a situation like that. the baseball and soccer programs (and girls volleyball) were all pretty daggone good. football was a disgrace. I think the best thing to do is get the kids attention. stand in the hallway, hand EVERY SINGLE BOY and any brutish looking girl a football flier and highlight dvd of whatever offense/defense you plan to run. make sure it has a great sound track. I think you would do well to get a few of the more popular teachers involved with the program as well. often kids dont play football because too many coaches are the typical jackarse coaches that give the game a bad name. kids dont want to be treated like crap. Be as friendly and personable and funny and smart and enthusiastic as humanly possible, show the kids that you care about them in every way and they will want to play for you. get guys just like that on your staff...teachers of the game, not yellers or maniacs. I have the art teacher workign with me and it was a great move because hes also a well liked basketball coach...now i have those kids on my team. do everything you can to sell the program and the game. see if you can show "NFLs greatest hits" or "NFL films presents" footage during a club or activity period, have a free pizza party to get the kids there...have fliers and practice schedule and spirit wear packets there to get their attention...to put it simply, make it attractive in every possible way. one thing i always tell the kids "chicks dig football players" (middle school kids) and they eat that up. heres the thing, football is fun, kids like to have fun, kids like football. NO ONE WANTS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A LOSER. so, you have to win. you have to teach the community how to win. id be sure that the winning was happenign at the youth level, the ms level, the jr high level too. winning breeds winning. want numbers go way up? win. pick a system that gives the kids a chance to compete now, not 3 or 4 years from now...but now. ie, i think of my buddy larry Harrison at this tiny lil Nathaniel Green Academy in Georgia, he got the job as the new hs coach (was a youth coach) because he said " we are going to win now, we cant wait for a wt program to make a difference"...and win they did. he took em to the state finals and finished as runners up. the man is positive and enthusiastic and can sell his system to his players and thats what is important. if this school has a soccer tradition you will obviously have to compete for athletes, but those big kids that play soccer can probably be swayed to play football if you make it attractive to them. |
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Post by los on Aug 21, 2006 7:01:20 GMT -6
On a positive note though, you oughta have a great kicking game at a good soccer school?
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Post by coach31 on Aug 21, 2006 18:00:51 GMT -6
I wish, the soccer coaches won't let them kick for us. They play under the lights and we play saturday afternoons, too many weekend tourneys.
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