Helmet stickers to define starters?

By setting standards that anyone can achieve (not just starters) it gives confidence to players who might never be starters. They'll work harder knowing they can achieve the same goals as the starters. Sometimes you get a starter who just doesn't work as hard as everyone. There is something about having 11 glorified players and a bunch of un-recognized back-ups that doesn't seem right. I'd rather have everyone feel a sense of glory and recognition.

What are some ideas that promote competition at positions then? Our guys seem to think that it's ok to not work hard because numbers are low so they'll see the field anyways. I guess that I am trying to make everyone work harder and be more prepared.

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Absolutely right. The kids need to understand that they're trying to beat the other guys. What's the point of going out for football just to be a starter? The idea is to win and to do that you have to be better than the other guy. Those other guys are working to get better than you.

My coach is always mentioning how positions are up for grabs (we are a month out from season start) Last Sunday our Defensive Backs Captain pulled me aside and told me I had earned a starting spot but not to forget that I could still lose it before round one.

I'm only a 2nd year player, 1st year DB but my advice for what its worth is to keep on the point that at any time you can lose your spot. A rookie at training didnt fall to the right zone and was subbed straight off and he hasn't put a foot wrong since.

Keep the pressure on after those initial starting spots have been given which will not only help motivate the 2nd and 3rd string guys but also helps prevent the starter becoming complacent.

Our colors were black and gold. All defensive "starters", including the "leading backups", work black jerseys in practice. The corresponding offensive players wore gold practice jerseys. Everyone else wore white. Attending off-season weight room sessions and gaining a starting position on special teams helped toward getting a starter jersey.

Gotta agree with john here.

We believe in being Positive but Demanding - which is different than demeaning.

I understand. My point was that your program, and John's program are already somewhat successful. This program had had some success the years prior to my freshman year, but had fallen on hard times.

Keep in mind, the emphasis was not on "demeaning". It was on creating competition where there was non. I thought I was good. I was a 3 year two way starter. My backup SQUATED 165 as a senior. I wasn't smart enough to realize that just because I dominated him 4 days a week at practice--I needed to mentally and physically prepare for something DIFFERENT on Friday Nights. The team never had that mindset. We truly didn't understand that we were not good, we didn't work hard, we didn't deserve success. We just kept losing.

And keep in mind, If I had been coaching us, I wouldn't have used the verbiage in my examples. Info would have been conveyed in a 1-on 1- closed door meeting. It would have been more:

"Now John, I know you have been a two way starter, don't leave the field on specials for the past two seasons. But it is really important that we focus on our opponent. You have been very successful here at practice, but we don't get to play ourselves. Lets look at the tapes here. Look at yourself here. He is physically manhandling you. What can we do about that for next season??

The tape in the weight room..and any comments made would simply reinforce that conversation in an intense manner.

I didn't say that you have to tell him he isn't any good. They do need to understand what it takes to beat the people who they'll be playing against.

Especially in the Off-Season - get them to focus on being the best they can be, which is part of having a Positive Attitude.

Why remind them of past failures?

Who wants to hear from their coaches for months before season even starts how bad they are or have been?

Again - be POSITIVE but Demanding.

Too many coaches who are frustrated with losing take it out on their kids - which becomes self-defeating behavior on adults' part.

That is a Universal problem (especially at smaller schools with less numbers and thus less competion for positions-PT), but not solved by running them down January-August.

The challenge at hand, at this time of the year, is to improve individually.

There will be time enough in August to compete against each other and during the season against opponents.

Guess we just have different approaches to player development - mentally and physically.

I'm sure you realize (or should) that that is much different than what takes place at this time of the year.

Also - who coached them on assignments, reading keys, footwork?

Maybe you're being reminded of poor coaching as much as their failures.

So is bad spelling.

Okay, obviously not convincing fantom and 5085.

I'll stick with my approach, you stick with yours.

And, 5085 - FYI, took over a program last Fall that was 1-8 previous year, 6-22 previous three - we went 6-4, missed division championship by three points.

So program has only begun to be "somewhat successful." But JVs were 9-0, so there is hope. And our weight room numbers are up from last year at this time, too.