Post by Coach JR on Jul 9, 2011 9:02:13 GMT -6
Coached one year at this youth league, after 2 years at a MS. Job moved me too far to stay there.
Last year our practices started out with static stretching, ended with sprints. In between was usually an hour or more of scrimmage. When the HC got a whim to really "spice up a practice" we might have done 30 minutes of head banging, full speed, angle tackling. He told me we were going to be "Double Wing". I read up on all I could find...watched vids...etc. He decided the second day we didn't have 2 OL that could pull, despite the fact we hadn't coached pulling in indy, or group work, and didn't want the QB blocking as he likes a "traditional QB". So we ran DW power with one pulling G, or rather we ran standard power off tackle while lined up in the DW would be the better way to say it. We also ran Power (No pull) out of the wishbone formation. Added a FB dive too. And what he calls "flat pass" which is installed one scrimmage on the fly by telling the Wing or the TE to "run a flat pattern". Having never practiced in with landmarks in indy work, and not knowing what "the flat" is...this resulted in frustration from the HC when the route runner's "pattern" varied from an 8 yard out, a speed out, a go, and finally he yells at the kids "the flat...by the numbers".
I asked about running a sweep...he says 'kids want to run to the sideline if you let them...I don't run sweep unless we have a kid that can turn the corner quick". One day this kid that was out punter/kicker runs the power, and bounces it outside, and streaks past everyone! I hardly knew the kid existed, except he could boom punts and kicks. I said "Coach, he's plenty fast, we can run the sweep with him". He replies "He runs too upright, he'll get killed", and that was that, That kid never got involved with the offense until the playoff game were he finally decided to install a power sweep, direct snap, just for him. He scored on two runs of 50 plus yards. We lost because that's all we had. Actually the kid could also throw and catch, but HC said he didn't come to practice consistently or on time. I don't know, I was watching my OL...the kid was always there for special teams when he punted and kicked. Special athlete, wasted because the HC won't coach kids how to run the ball.
At one point I suggested adding a trap play. He says "I've never been able to run a trap play...it's too congested in the middle". I thought to myself "That's because your dumbass always tried to install it in the middle of a scrimmage without having ever taught the indy or group techniques.
At one point last season, in the middle of a scrimmage he installs "the spread". Says "this will flip other coaches out when we come out in this. He gets confused on how to block "power" out of this 2x2 set. Finally decides to just say to the OL "if it's going right, you block left, if it's going left you block right" with the BSG pulling and kicking out the DE. Sort of TKO or SAB I guess. We never worked it in group. Was actually a good little play if the DEF stayed in Cov 3 and walked out guys from the Def. front to cover the WRs. One catch...we'd never worked on a shot gun snap...until now where he has the QB and C work on it while we sort out blocking. C was actually pretty good at it naturally...QB scared shitless of getting hit because he's used to having so many blockers, and feels naked in the shotgun spread...he wouldn't watch the ball, and fumbled perfect snaps half the time. This never got much better either, and the HC, who coached the QBs never coached him beyond yelling "catch the ball". I tried to coach him a little bit by telling him to get his hands out front at the ready and look at the ball over the tops of his fingers, and look the ball in to his hands...it didn't do much good. I held my breath every time we ran it in a game.
So, our offense was power off tackle with and without a pull out of DW, Wishbone, and Spread. FB dive, and "Flat Pass" where ONE receiver goes out. We added more "beef" by using tackle over in the WB set. We ran the WB version as about 75% of our offense in games. He'll puff his chest out and tell people "I'm a Double Wing guy", but we didn't run one single DW play last year. He's fascinated with "formation". And not for the sake of gaining an advantage, but so that people will think he runs a "multiple offense" he lines up in the base formation of DW, WB, the spread, The I, and runs the same damn play over and over. Then tells me you have to have an answer in this league because other teams will figure out what you're doing and adjust. I think to myself WTF, you run one damn play 75% of the time our of one damn formation?
We didn't have a "no play" or "freeze play"...but the HC would occasionally spring an "on two" at them in the huddle in scrimmage...resulting in yelling when the OL jumped. We never worked on cadences...just spring it on them and remind them not to jump. We were getting whipped in the playoff game...he calls a time out on offense where it's 3rd and 4 going in on their 35. He tells them what play to run, and says "oh yeah...ON TWO...don't jump and we get a free first down". We're running 3rd and 9 now after the false start penalty. In the 4th Q, after our stud got us back in the game with the 2 long runs I mentioned above, almost same scenario...we're moving for a tying score inside their 40. It's 3rd and something, and he calls a TO. Same thing...gives them the play, and says "ON TWO" and this time wags his finger at all of them telling them not to jump. I lost my cool at this point. I yelled "Don't do that crap!" I was in the wrong, but I was so damned frustrated with this moron. (He's a nice and decent guy, but a youth coach moron)
On defense last year we based out of a 53 look. No reads, just "shoot the gaps and find the football, DE's box". I actually have no problem with that really. What I had a problem with was no teaching of any defensive techniques to DL or LBs, not any beyond tackling. The DEs were never taught what depth to box, how to take on blocks, how to keep their outside arm free and force the play inside. Just everybody get in the backfield and find the ball. Oh, we never did pursuit drills but maybe one practice. But the HC, in his love for "formations" told the kids one day "We base out of a 5-3, but we're going to run a WT6, a 4-4, and maybe even a Gap 8". He thinks "lining up in" means "run".
At our end of the season party last year, he says he wants to change things up on Offense, and wants my input. I thought this was a great opportunity. He mentions going full spread with zone blocking. I thought, you're f***n' nuts, not with how you practice...we'll be a cluster f***. He later tells me he'd like to look as something like DW with split ends. I study up on Wing T stuff, and DW stuff to try to incorporate a few things out of the two that make sense. I latch on to basing out of Jet/Rocket, with some Belly and Power, and Counter, and a couple of PAPs.
What I really studied up on, more than schemes, was practice planning, organization, indy and group drills focused on blocking and tackling, taking on blocks, shedding blocks, LB play (trying to learn more about Def), and how to coach basic passing game techniques. I wanted to run a more effective practice.
Then I see Dave Cisar is coming to town, and let the HC know. We went, I learned a lot, and was glad Dave touched on all the common mistakes. I pick up the SW Implementation DVD, and bought the "Effective Practice" DVD later.
So, a couple of weeks ago, the HC sends me an email about a camp we're doing..actually right now as I write this. I ask him about what we're going to do on offense. He says lets meet and I'll show you. He shows up, and now has added his version of the UBSW to his "I love base formations offense". UBSW, DW, WB, and Spread. Says we'll run power, and Wedge. BTW, we tried that last year, and he gave up on wedge on about the 3rd day. It was the only thing we tried to install vs air...and he said the OL wouldn't stay together, and the RB wouldn't be patient. Said our FB was just a slow learner and couldn't handle it. So after less than an hour of "coaching it" he ditched it.
I try to sell Cisars UBSW. I explained it had a power play as a base which he loves, and that we should commit to the wedge too. He said that we would. He said he likes to spread the ball around though. I said the Sainted 6 gets the ball to all 4 backs, and has passing. Plus we can add Jet later. He reminds me about kids running east and west, but says he does like Rocket which is a different play...it gets downhill he says. I thought to myself "not if you don't coach them to it doesn't". I said, we have been to the clinic, we've got the offense DVD and practice plans...and I bought his book too so we can add to the offense and do the things you like, PLUS we have online support by email.
So, we have our league coaches meeting last week. Turns out the HC had purchased pretty much ALL of Daves stuff a couple of years ago. Offense, Defense, OL, Practice Org., his book... Everything! He had that stuff on hand last year, and we still practiced haphazardly like we did.
Well, I knew this was coming at some point, and I got an email yesterday from him. Long one...stating how Cisar is really good at youth stuff, and he likes it, but he also notes that he thinks it all just DW repackaged. Tunnel, he says, is an old DW trick. Says Cisar runs Jet, not Rocket, he just calls it Rocket, and he doesn't like Jet because it goes sideways. This part of the email blew my mind: "And I want to coach a traditional QB, because I'm good at it". I thought, well WTF, did you just decide to NOT coach QBs last year, because I saw ZERO coaching of the QBs. But he says we'll base out of SW, but I want to keep some of "my stuff too". "Oh, and I want to teach hands blocking...we're the only ones not doing that and we're behind the times." "Oh, and I've been using wristbands too...nothing new there". Yeah, you gave one to the QB, signaled in the play with your fingers, which the QB called in the huddle. Big F***N deal. This guy has no clue!
He goes on to note, and this is where it's tricky...that "our 11/12 year olds have been 42-5 the last 5 years, and 3 of those losses were last year. This league always has talent, but he'll tell you we're average. That way, it makes him the genius coach. I saw what the HS has that these kids go to last year...several D1 and D2 prospects...size and speed. I saw what we had last year compared to other teams. Only one had more talent, and that was by virtue of more numbers and a STUD that probably could have played HS last year as a 12 year old. They won it all.
After a long email that basically said on one hand now good Cisars stuff was, but how it really wasn't so special either, and how great he himself was a a coach...he asked me for my thoughts.
I replied: "I think I'll sit this year out, or coach elsewhere".
I got the expected: "Good Luck".
I don't have a kid playing. I'll never get to be a HC because of that. I wouldn't really care about that, except all these daddy coaches are the same. They usually coach til their kid is gone, and have a relationship with head of the league to be given the HC job, or they're like my HC, a guy who was a daddy coach, but took over running the league so he could choose which team he would be the HC of each season, and have his own personal live version of XBox to play with each fall.
I want to coach, but I'm not going to sit and watch scrimmages 3-4 days a week while the HC gets his rocks off thinking he's such an offensive guru when our 1st team Off. beats up our scout Def.
I've spent the last 3 off seasons, buying books, DVDs, going to clinics, talking to coaches here, and on other sites, and meeting with them personally, all in an effort to get better at the art of coaching, and the daddy coach or "Xbox coach" will prevent me from ever really using any of it.
I got less than a month to find a gig, or not coach this season. This sux.
Rant off!
Last year our practices started out with static stretching, ended with sprints. In between was usually an hour or more of scrimmage. When the HC got a whim to really "spice up a practice" we might have done 30 minutes of head banging, full speed, angle tackling. He told me we were going to be "Double Wing". I read up on all I could find...watched vids...etc. He decided the second day we didn't have 2 OL that could pull, despite the fact we hadn't coached pulling in indy, or group work, and didn't want the QB blocking as he likes a "traditional QB". So we ran DW power with one pulling G, or rather we ran standard power off tackle while lined up in the DW would be the better way to say it. We also ran Power (No pull) out of the wishbone formation. Added a FB dive too. And what he calls "flat pass" which is installed one scrimmage on the fly by telling the Wing or the TE to "run a flat pattern". Having never practiced in with landmarks in indy work, and not knowing what "the flat" is...this resulted in frustration from the HC when the route runner's "pattern" varied from an 8 yard out, a speed out, a go, and finally he yells at the kids "the flat...by the numbers".
I asked about running a sweep...he says 'kids want to run to the sideline if you let them...I don't run sweep unless we have a kid that can turn the corner quick". One day this kid that was out punter/kicker runs the power, and bounces it outside, and streaks past everyone! I hardly knew the kid existed, except he could boom punts and kicks. I said "Coach, he's plenty fast, we can run the sweep with him". He replies "He runs too upright, he'll get killed", and that was that, That kid never got involved with the offense until the playoff game were he finally decided to install a power sweep, direct snap, just for him. He scored on two runs of 50 plus yards. We lost because that's all we had. Actually the kid could also throw and catch, but HC said he didn't come to practice consistently or on time. I don't know, I was watching my OL...the kid was always there for special teams when he punted and kicked. Special athlete, wasted because the HC won't coach kids how to run the ball.
At one point I suggested adding a trap play. He says "I've never been able to run a trap play...it's too congested in the middle". I thought to myself "That's because your dumbass always tried to install it in the middle of a scrimmage without having ever taught the indy or group techniques.
At one point last season, in the middle of a scrimmage he installs "the spread". Says "this will flip other coaches out when we come out in this. He gets confused on how to block "power" out of this 2x2 set. Finally decides to just say to the OL "if it's going right, you block left, if it's going left you block right" with the BSG pulling and kicking out the DE. Sort of TKO or SAB I guess. We never worked it in group. Was actually a good little play if the DEF stayed in Cov 3 and walked out guys from the Def. front to cover the WRs. One catch...we'd never worked on a shot gun snap...until now where he has the QB and C work on it while we sort out blocking. C was actually pretty good at it naturally...QB scared shitless of getting hit because he's used to having so many blockers, and feels naked in the shotgun spread...he wouldn't watch the ball, and fumbled perfect snaps half the time. This never got much better either, and the HC, who coached the QBs never coached him beyond yelling "catch the ball". I tried to coach him a little bit by telling him to get his hands out front at the ready and look at the ball over the tops of his fingers, and look the ball in to his hands...it didn't do much good. I held my breath every time we ran it in a game.
So, our offense was power off tackle with and without a pull out of DW, Wishbone, and Spread. FB dive, and "Flat Pass" where ONE receiver goes out. We added more "beef" by using tackle over in the WB set. We ran the WB version as about 75% of our offense in games. He'll puff his chest out and tell people "I'm a Double Wing guy", but we didn't run one single DW play last year. He's fascinated with "formation". And not for the sake of gaining an advantage, but so that people will think he runs a "multiple offense" he lines up in the base formation of DW, WB, the spread, The I, and runs the same damn play over and over. Then tells me you have to have an answer in this league because other teams will figure out what you're doing and adjust. I think to myself WTF, you run one damn play 75% of the time our of one damn formation?
We didn't have a "no play" or "freeze play"...but the HC would occasionally spring an "on two" at them in the huddle in scrimmage...resulting in yelling when the OL jumped. We never worked on cadences...just spring it on them and remind them not to jump. We were getting whipped in the playoff game...he calls a time out on offense where it's 3rd and 4 going in on their 35. He tells them what play to run, and says "oh yeah...ON TWO...don't jump and we get a free first down". We're running 3rd and 9 now after the false start penalty. In the 4th Q, after our stud got us back in the game with the 2 long runs I mentioned above, almost same scenario...we're moving for a tying score inside their 40. It's 3rd and something, and he calls a TO. Same thing...gives them the play, and says "ON TWO" and this time wags his finger at all of them telling them not to jump. I lost my cool at this point. I yelled "Don't do that crap!" I was in the wrong, but I was so damned frustrated with this moron. (He's a nice and decent guy, but a youth coach moron)
On defense last year we based out of a 53 look. No reads, just "shoot the gaps and find the football, DE's box". I actually have no problem with that really. What I had a problem with was no teaching of any defensive techniques to DL or LBs, not any beyond tackling. The DEs were never taught what depth to box, how to take on blocks, how to keep their outside arm free and force the play inside. Just everybody get in the backfield and find the ball. Oh, we never did pursuit drills but maybe one practice. But the HC, in his love for "formations" told the kids one day "We base out of a 5-3, but we're going to run a WT6, a 4-4, and maybe even a Gap 8". He thinks "lining up in" means "run".
At our end of the season party last year, he says he wants to change things up on Offense, and wants my input. I thought this was a great opportunity. He mentions going full spread with zone blocking. I thought, you're f***n' nuts, not with how you practice...we'll be a cluster f***. He later tells me he'd like to look as something like DW with split ends. I study up on Wing T stuff, and DW stuff to try to incorporate a few things out of the two that make sense. I latch on to basing out of Jet/Rocket, with some Belly and Power, and Counter, and a couple of PAPs.
What I really studied up on, more than schemes, was practice planning, organization, indy and group drills focused on blocking and tackling, taking on blocks, shedding blocks, LB play (trying to learn more about Def), and how to coach basic passing game techniques. I wanted to run a more effective practice.
Then I see Dave Cisar is coming to town, and let the HC know. We went, I learned a lot, and was glad Dave touched on all the common mistakes. I pick up the SW Implementation DVD, and bought the "Effective Practice" DVD later.
So, a couple of weeks ago, the HC sends me an email about a camp we're doing..actually right now as I write this. I ask him about what we're going to do on offense. He says lets meet and I'll show you. He shows up, and now has added his version of the UBSW to his "I love base formations offense". UBSW, DW, WB, and Spread. Says we'll run power, and Wedge. BTW, we tried that last year, and he gave up on wedge on about the 3rd day. It was the only thing we tried to install vs air...and he said the OL wouldn't stay together, and the RB wouldn't be patient. Said our FB was just a slow learner and couldn't handle it. So after less than an hour of "coaching it" he ditched it.
I try to sell Cisars UBSW. I explained it had a power play as a base which he loves, and that we should commit to the wedge too. He said that we would. He said he likes to spread the ball around though. I said the Sainted 6 gets the ball to all 4 backs, and has passing. Plus we can add Jet later. He reminds me about kids running east and west, but says he does like Rocket which is a different play...it gets downhill he says. I thought to myself "not if you don't coach them to it doesn't". I said, we have been to the clinic, we've got the offense DVD and practice plans...and I bought his book too so we can add to the offense and do the things you like, PLUS we have online support by email.
So, we have our league coaches meeting last week. Turns out the HC had purchased pretty much ALL of Daves stuff a couple of years ago. Offense, Defense, OL, Practice Org., his book... Everything! He had that stuff on hand last year, and we still practiced haphazardly like we did.
Well, I knew this was coming at some point, and I got an email yesterday from him. Long one...stating how Cisar is really good at youth stuff, and he likes it, but he also notes that he thinks it all just DW repackaged. Tunnel, he says, is an old DW trick. Says Cisar runs Jet, not Rocket, he just calls it Rocket, and he doesn't like Jet because it goes sideways. This part of the email blew my mind: "And I want to coach a traditional QB, because I'm good at it". I thought, well WTF, did you just decide to NOT coach QBs last year, because I saw ZERO coaching of the QBs. But he says we'll base out of SW, but I want to keep some of "my stuff too". "Oh, and I want to teach hands blocking...we're the only ones not doing that and we're behind the times." "Oh, and I've been using wristbands too...nothing new there". Yeah, you gave one to the QB, signaled in the play with your fingers, which the QB called in the huddle. Big F***N deal. This guy has no clue!
He goes on to note, and this is where it's tricky...that "our 11/12 year olds have been 42-5 the last 5 years, and 3 of those losses were last year. This league always has talent, but he'll tell you we're average. That way, it makes him the genius coach. I saw what the HS has that these kids go to last year...several D1 and D2 prospects...size and speed. I saw what we had last year compared to other teams. Only one had more talent, and that was by virtue of more numbers and a STUD that probably could have played HS last year as a 12 year old. They won it all.
After a long email that basically said on one hand now good Cisars stuff was, but how it really wasn't so special either, and how great he himself was a a coach...he asked me for my thoughts.
I replied: "I think I'll sit this year out, or coach elsewhere".
I got the expected: "Good Luck".
I don't have a kid playing. I'll never get to be a HC because of that. I wouldn't really care about that, except all these daddy coaches are the same. They usually coach til their kid is gone, and have a relationship with head of the league to be given the HC job, or they're like my HC, a guy who was a daddy coach, but took over running the league so he could choose which team he would be the HC of each season, and have his own personal live version of XBox to play with each fall.
I want to coach, but I'm not going to sit and watch scrimmages 3-4 days a week while the HC gets his rocks off thinking he's such an offensive guru when our 1st team Off. beats up our scout Def.
I've spent the last 3 off seasons, buying books, DVDs, going to clinics, talking to coaches here, and on other sites, and meeting with them personally, all in an effort to get better at the art of coaching, and the daddy coach or "Xbox coach" will prevent me from ever really using any of it.
I got less than a month to find a gig, or not coach this season. This sux.
Rant off!
