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Post by coachfowler on Mar 9, 2012 13:35:29 GMT -6
Have any of you out there taught on class on the history of football. This would be a elective for our middle school not a HS team class but for anybody that wanted to sign up for it. My though is to start with the early years and then proceed to today. We would discuss the "top" offensives and defenses of the time, over there strengths and weaknesses. Look at coverages and also what offenses do against these coverages. Talk about basic blocking schemes and blitz schemes then discuss special teams. Anything else? If you have taught something like this what did you do?
For the end of the term project I am thinking about bringing in xbox and having the kids use what they have learned and play the sim method where they just call the plays and crown a class champ.
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Post by bluedevil4 on Mar 9, 2012 14:19:46 GMT -6
Can I go to school at your district?  I've honestly never heard of this. How did this elective emerge/start? |
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Post by reevekyle on Mar 9, 2012 14:29:49 GMT -6
I taught a football class as an elective in my middle school for a few years. We did some of the history stuff but the majority of it was like a PE class dedicated towards. Some of the kids (football players included) couldn't care less about the history and the Xs & Os. Others were very interested. Sounds like you have a fun class and I'm sure there are a ton of resources out there.
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Post by kcbazooka on Mar 9, 2012 15:57:05 GMT -6
wow, how fun could that be!
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Post by coachfd on Mar 9, 2012 15:58:54 GMT -6
Coach, you should look into the DVD box-set called "The Rites of Autumn." It's a 10-part series on the history of the game, its coaches, its traditions, and its rivalries. There's a different theme for each DVD (10 total, about 1 hour long each). It goes all the way back to the Yale days of Walter Camp, Amos Alonzo Stagg, etc.
Also, I'd look for Youtube clips / video clips on the game's great coaches: Eddie Robinson has several good ones about him. The ESPN SportsCentury documentaries are also great: you can show 45-minute biographies of people like Vince Lombardi, Jerry Rice, Mike Ditka, Walter Payton, Joe Montana, Jim Thorpe, Jim Brown, etc.
I would also look into some of the social-issues and important cultural aspects involved with the history of the game. HBO has a few original documentaries on DVD... There is the "3rd-and-Long" documentary about the history of African American quarterbacks in the NFL. There is also a great documentary on Sam "Bam" Cunningham and the USC team that beat Bear Bryant's all-white team in Alabama. (Don't remember the name of it off the top of my head; but there is a book that is based upon it as well.)
ESPN also did a documentary called: "Say It Loud," (which you can find in a few segments on Youtube).
It is about the history of African Americans in college football. Great piece.
There are a few good books, that are profiles of the great coaches of college football. Something like that you could pick up, and have each student choose a coach and do a paper or presentation on him.
Keep us posted on what you do, and on what resources you use, Coach. It sounds like an awesome class you've got the opportunity to teach!
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Post by coachfd on Mar 9, 2012 16:00:57 GMT -6
As far as the X's and O's go... I would do a profile on the West Coast Offense, its philosophy, its specific plays (timing routes, concepts, cover 2 beaters, sprint-option / "the catch," etc.). You could also delve into the leadership principles of Bill Walsh and discuss the 49er Way blueprint for organizational success.
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Post by coachfowler on Mar 9, 2012 21:08:00 GMT -6
Thank you guys for some more ideas. The concept started because we have used the period it hopefully will be taught for reading and math strengthening. The kids were told that for the last quarter there would be some "fun" classes offered. I didn't even think about social issues, kinda wrapped my mind around the x's and o's piece.
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Post by wingt74 on Mar 11, 2012 19:00:19 GMT -6
Thinking a chapter on the evolution of the cheerleader uniform is needed.
Seriously, football and chess go hand in hand. I like this idea. Good for the sport too. (says the coach who joked about cheerleader uniforms)
I'd talk about the strategy. How to beat a cover-2. How a cover-2 defense makes up for it's weaknesses.Why a blitz to disrupt and offense, and how an offense can beat the blitz...just to show to game within the game.
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