Best thing I did as a MS HC:
Since the mommas and poppas picked the kids up at 5 and usually they parked in the lot over looking the field; at about 4:45 I took all the scrubeanies and put them in to run plays vs. the other scrubeanies.
Whether they looked like all americans or looked like rooster poop, the mommas and poppas got to see their little babies getting some reps.
If you are affiliated with the HS, get the HC to come by at some point and give the ole "Play one for the Gipper" speech.
Since you have been there a while you probably already know this but:
-Game management. Make sure you not only have a plan for ST, injuries, over time, back up kicker, who deals with equipment problems, etc.... You also have to
---Have a plan for when you're trying to get all the rooster poops in and little Johnny starts crying b/c he doesn't WANT to go into the game
---Have about 5 mouth pieces in your pocket at all times.
---Have a roped off area of some kind to keep the kids IN, and parents OUT
---Make sure the bathroom is open, b/c somebody will need to go in the middle of the 2nd Qtr
-So far as mouth pieces, don't let them cut the string that attaches the mouth guard to the face mask. Works wonders for the 'I lost my mouth piece' excuse.
-Special teams. Instead of having a punt team, KO team, etc... have a blue, black, white, purple, etc... team and then get some colored electrical tape and wrap it around the player's face mask for each of those teams. Now when it is time to punt, instead of yelling 'PUNT TEAM!!! PUNT TEAM!!!' and then tracking down the 3 kids who forgot they were on punt team, all you have to do is yell "PURPLE TEAM!!!" and the kids just look at their face mask to check which color they see.
-If you have a locker room, put somebody in charge of clearing it out when it is time to practice and LOCK it. I mean they go look in every stall, locker, and nook and cranny. It is hard to explain to momma why Johnny was absent from practice but was there for pick up. Seems Johnny hid in the toilet stall and skipped practice.
-Go ahead and make a schedule for every practice and get together now. If you are going to practice on Labor Day, school work day/student holiday, the parents better know yesterday (and the kids) that they were expected to be there.
-If you are affiliated with the HS, set up a time for the kids to get in a game free if they wear their jersey, or better yet see if you can have a half time JR. HS Recognition Night and let them parade onto the field. Let them stand on the sidelines during warm ups and form the tunnel as the varsity runs onto the field. ALSO if you can work it out, let your MVPs for each game be honorary captains for the varsity Friday night game and get to be on the sideline during the varsity game. BUT you will have to be there too.
-Get some coupons for free drinks/hamburgers/ice cream for you kids to hand out each week. Kids love that stuff and the local businesses budget to give this stuff away to the first people that come by and ask. It can be for game MVPs, Atta Boys, what ever. Or just buy some candy bars or gum.
-Get a parents group together and tell them specifically what you want them to do, such as having a Gator water and a pack of crackers for the kids before/after the game. Those kids don't know anything about 'fueling the tank'.
-Make sure you have SEVERAL phone numbers for each kid, b/c some kid's ride won't show, they will get hurt, etc...
just a couple off the top of my head
