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Post by coachcb on Sept 23, 2006 18:06:41 GMT -6
Got my first win since 2004 today- great to get that weight off of my back. Had a really rough year last year as a freshman coach- we lost every game and had a lot of problems. The entire staff was basically canned or asked to resign and I had a hard time finding a coaching job this season. I've got a great group of 5th and 6th graders in a neighboring community and I couldn't be happier.
After last season I really questioned myself as a coach. Everytime I turned around last year the staff and I were being chastized for something.I was criticized as a coach repeatedly and I really started to wonder if coaching was for me. But today, my staff and I proved that we can put togther a good competitive team while getting everybody playing. The parents are very excited as are the kids. The team played their hearts out and I couldn't be prouder of them. We only got in 5.5 hours of practice before the game, but we came out swinging- the kids really took to the 30 minutes of shedding and tackling we do everyday. We scored on the very last play of the game to win it- so I know my kids can play under some pressure.
I'd be just as proud of my kids if we had lost- they played a good hard nosed game. We're going to be a tough unit once we polish up our offensive attack this week.
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Post by los on Sept 23, 2006 18:33:00 GMT -6
Shoot, that sounds like my job at the "corporate" auto repair place where I work! lol. We're all not working long enough or hard enough, nobodys making them enough money, were all over paid, too old, too young or something bad. Almost made me question my ability as a mechanic  Naaaa, just kiddin, we just tell them where they can put their "helpful" suggestions lol. Good job in the perseverence department cb, and keep up the good work! los |
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Post by shocktroop34 on Sept 23, 2006 20:30:11 GMT -6
Coachcb...congratulations!...it was a blessing for me to read your message. I too, like many others I'm sure, have questioned whether this coaching thing is for me. I haven't been coaching very long, but I once heard a man say that coaching is a "suffering profession". In a sense, you have been suffering for a long while, but something in you kept coming back. I don't know you or your coaching style, but to go through what you've been through, I hope this win has rejuvenated your spirits.
We are all a part of a fraternity that suffers losses, injuries, ridicule, lack of support, etc. etc. But knowing that I'm not the only one going through such a fight helps me to battle yet another day. As I said earlier, I don't know you, but as your football frat brother, I'm proud of you.
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Post by midlineqb on Sept 23, 2006 22:04:12 GMT -6
All of this (criticisism, etc) goes with the territory. We've got to be thick-skinned and not let it bother us. You've got to believe that what you are doing is right, no matter what other people say. I have coached for 36 years and had second thoughts just once and that was after about 20 years, then I was fortunate to win a State Title in Oklahoma and it rejuvinated me in the coaching profession. Just hang in there guys, you can do. Think positive and coach your own personalities and you'll go far.
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Post by coachcalande on Sept 24, 2006 3:15:32 GMT -6
I have a quote in my office from Bill Parcells....something like this
"My first year they were looking to replace me before the season was 4 games old" or something like that...I put it there because I took alot of heat my first year at the helm. Massive success is the best revenge. All you have is time and preparation, those are your only friends. Take care of your friends.
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Post by coachcb on Sept 24, 2006 10:51:56 GMT -6
Thanks for the replies guys-,this site has been a life saver for me. Its already been and will continue to be a great year, I'm very stoked. It was great to come out on such a high note- especially given the fact that we played very physical football.
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Post by coachcalande on Sept 24, 2006 13:36:29 GMT -6
physical football is the best thing to build upon in my opinion..... teams that have long losing traditions most often find success in double teams, traps, angles, numbers and smashmouth football with crazy attacking defense. typically they also need a healthy dose of organized discipline. learning HOW to win sometimes takes time.
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Post by coachcb on Sept 24, 2006 14:37:47 GMT -6
I never really had a hard time teaching a unit to be physical- lots of loud motivation and lots of contact during practice. Every once in a while (as in last year) I just get a group of kids that don't want to hit. It was like they viewed football as something to keep in shape for basketball and baseball. This group loves contact- and it shows in the way they tackle (very good form) They gang-tackle as well or better than any group I have ever coached. Even some of our more timid kids (mom and dad are trying to get them out of the house) were flying up and getting in on tackles.There's nothing quite like a 65 pound 10 year old with huge wire rimmed glasses and a lisp laying hits on people.
I was really impressed by our depth yesterday. Several of our youngers kids have never played a down of football, but they were coming up and making good form hits. We really worked hard to get all the kids a ton of playing time- left our 3-4 studs in and rotated around them.. It looks as if we're not going to have to hide some of the kids quite as much.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Sept 24, 2006 19:58:35 GMT -6
Coach Calande hit it on the head. Learning HOW to win in greatly under emphasized in coaching. Here's a suggestion that has worked for me on various levels that I have coached. Put your kids in as many competitive situations in practice as you can think of. Make everything a race, a challenge, or a competition. One person or group against another. It will help build team morale, but more importantly they will being to understand the importance of small victories in the quest of the larger victory of a team win. Your working with youth kids so here is an example: If you line up your offense on the three yard line and tell them 'if you score on this next play the defense has to do 5 push ups. And you turn to tell the D that if they stop them, the offense has to do push ups.' You'll see a new level of energy in practices that will hopefully translate to the game. Don't take too much time from your practice with push ups or running and definitely don't make it a punishment. Show them the value to being a good teammate, and a person that can be counted on. Keep it up!
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Naaaa, just kiddin, we just tell them where they can put their "helpful" suggestions lol. Good job in the perseverence department cb, and keep up the good work! los
