|
Post by coachwilliams2 on Apr 12, 2011 7:43:12 GMT -6
We are struggling with our seniors in the wieghtroom and morning workouts. They are not giving effort, not showing up, and frankly they do not seem to have any sense of urgency.
I know that falls on the coaches and we are addressing the issue.
But what do you do when your best players are not committed to the program or the team?
Has anyone ever just dismissed a group of kids who did not show the commitment needed to be good?
Or do you take the point of view that off season stuff is not mandatory and the best players play no matter what?
|
|
|
Post by coachsticks on Apr 12, 2011 8:05:45 GMT -6
The school I'm at is a different beast. We don't have enough players for it to be mandatory. If we ran off kids for not participating, we would be in big trouble.
IMHO, this is one of the toughest things about high school football. Do you want to run off kids for not coming to workouts knowing that you might get destroyed come Friday night? We have to walk a fine line. As it is, we aren't really that talented as a whole. We run the veer and use it as our talent equilizer. If we run kids off for not coming to workouts we could easily go from an 8-2/7-3 team to 1-10.
If I were in your shoes, I would start to create a depth chart throughout the year. Post it all over the football facility. Kids care about stuff like that. If they aren't giving effort or coming, bury them on the depth chart and make them take the hit emotionally and once August rolls around.
|
|
coachy
Sophomore Member
Posts: 219
|
Post by coachy on Apr 12, 2011 8:11:18 GMT -6
A coaching buddy had a good idea....he made a 80% requirement...if they didn't reach that # he didn't nominate them for any post-season honors... such as all-state...all-star games and such...he let the kids know up front his rules and what he was or wasn't going to do...
|
|
|
Post by lucassean2 on Apr 12, 2011 11:16:03 GMT -6
100% off-season attendance= at least one play in every game in the upcoming season.
Hang your hat on the kids that want to be there.
I do have to admit I am not a HC though so I have not put this into practice when my butt is on the line for wins and losses. I do intend to someday though.
|
|
|
Post by Chris Clement on Apr 12, 2011 11:50:59 GMT -6
^ I'da killed for a policy like that... sigh...
|
|
|
Post by bluedevil4 on Apr 12, 2011 16:13:42 GMT -6
^ I'da killed for a policy like that... sigh... I second that. Hoped to get bonus time for being first to every off season workout lol
|
|
|
Post by mitch on Apr 13, 2011 6:30:15 GMT -6
I'm with dc here (as usual). Nobody is completely worthless-the least they can do is serve as an example of what not to do.
I don't think you kick them off for not showing to off-season (in-season practice I would). Just realize you are going to have to sit them, or you lose all credibility with the rest of the team. It will get worse before it gets better.
|
|
|
Post by spos21ram on Apr 13, 2011 6:50:30 GMT -6
Here where I am we can't make off season workouts mandatory, but we do stress the importance of them and try to make the players understand they kind of are mandatory, we just can't throw any one off the team for not showing up.
They need to find motivation to be there. Some may respond well to coaches motovating them some will not and if they arn't self-motivated it's going to be hard to change their ways.
|
|
|
Post by gunrun on Apr 13, 2011 11:03:16 GMT -6
DC, congrats on the HC job. Playing time is the biggest weapon we have in trying to mold the attitude and work ethic of a team. If you let these kids play without putting in any work, you won't be able to win the war. One way or another your juniors and seniors will be an example--of what to do or what not to do. Either way, their playing time or lack of playing time will be able to influence your younger players to do the right thing.
|
|
|
Post by coachgeorge31 on Apr 13, 2011 12:21:48 GMT -6
It's really tough when you have seniors that don't want to put the effort into the weight room. We all know that's where you win championships. Unfortunately, not all of the kids understand that. What you need to do is find a couple guys that really do want to be the best. We had three seniors last year (two that had never played before) so it was up to the younger guys to take over. My guys know that every position is up for grabs at all times (no exceptions). If a guy wants a spot, he knows that he has to outwork the guy in front of him. We don't make offseason workouts mandatory, but all the guys have gotten sick of being the underdog and are starting to get it (it took going 1-19 in two years for them to get it). So like someone already said, "It will get worse before it gets better." Good luck.
|
|
|
Post by gdn56 on Apr 13, 2011 12:55:58 GMT -6
I really like the idea of having a "Winner's Club". The kids who make a certain number of workouts get a t-shirt, take a special picture on picture day that is highlighted in the program and are the first in line for equipment, gear, pre-game meals, really make it a reward for all of their work. I also like the idea of posting a depth chart that buries those uncommitted cats....even if you are scared to death of the thought of playing without them, don't let them know that. Also maybe create a team incentive, where if a certain number of guys make a certain number of workouts we get our names on the back of the jerseys or something like that.
|
|
celtic
Freshmen Member
Posts: 86
|
Post by celtic on Apr 13, 2011 13:57:37 GMT -6
Coach, We had the same problem last year and struggled mightily in the fall because of it. Both in W's & L's and senior leadership. We created a pretty good incentive program based on a lot of ideas that were gathered from this site. This offseason has been much much better so far. PM me and I could get you some of the stuff we use if you're interested.
|
|
|
Post by holmesbend on Apr 16, 2011 12:05:20 GMT -6
Offseason is tough, very tough. For one, it's a long time from January-End of May (and, technically even up until the end of June before our mandatory, state wide dead period.
I love the ideas of the winners club and we do some of that where I am, but I heard a saying one time that I use; "Offseason weights are optional, but so is your playing time." And then, let them interpret that as they may.
We are a county school of about 720 kids, we'll dress 45-55 every year 9-12, and over half of those are involved with other sports throughout the year, 10 or so are 3 sport guys (and, I can honestly say I encourage them to play other sports)..
|
|
|
Post by buck42 on Apr 17, 2011 13:24:51 GMT -6
We keep track of who attends every workout session in the off-season. It is easy to see those that ate attending and working hard are getting MUCH stronger than those that do not attend. I cell phone #s of my players, I am always texting them about the weight room, I find them at lunch, I continue to voice my expectation.
In the end, I will do my depth chart with the kids that have been there and I place the knuckleheads that don't show up at the bottom. I also TRY to throw in some extra conditioning if I can get away with it, since we can not make wt room attendance mandatory either.
No matter what and how good, they will NOT start n our scrimmages and will not start in the first game...they will not be captians and I will also adopt the I will not nominate them for all conference, all-area, etc...it doesn't take but a couple kids to mess up and YOU standing firm to make believers out of them.
I love this quote...The harder you work the harder it is to surrender
|
|
|
Post by sportsleader on Apr 17, 2011 18:02:39 GMT -6
Definitely love the Winners Club idea and the 100% attendance = playing in every game. I would recommend having a sit down talk with as many players as possible but at the very least every Senior. Find out more about what makes him tick, what problems does he have, how does he like to be motivated ... the more you know about each kid the better you can motivate and inspire him. sportsleaderusa.blogspot.com/
|
|
coach16
Sophomore Member
Posts: 126
|
Post by coach16 on Apr 19, 2011 18:16:30 GMT -6
Make swift and tough!!!
burpees
updowns
crabbing
|
|