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Post by emptybackfield on May 23, 2012 14:06:25 GMT -6
What are some of the more common "mindless" coaching points/phrases you hear? You know, things that coaches repeat just because they might've heard them somewhere or because they don't know what else to say.
"Catch the ball", after a guy drops a pass, and "get on top of the ball" are ones that come to mind. Brilliant coaching points in those right there. How do you "get on top" of a football?
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Post by hback41 on May 23, 2012 14:21:25 GMT -6
In college, this one always got me, "What were you thinking?" I would respond, then "Don't make excuses." "I did not offer up the reason. You asked and I answered." The conversation never got better. Not responding or saying "I don't know" never worked either. It was a question that almost always led to 2 butt chewings rather than the one that I had coming.
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Post by coachcb on May 23, 2012 15:30:15 GMT -6
"If they can't angle block then they won't be able to zone block!"
So... They really can't block at all, then?
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Post by coachrobpsl on May 23, 2012 15:40:51 GMT -6
"Block somebody" is about the dumbest thing that can possibly come out of a coaches mouth. If you don't know who they should block then how will your players? "Get your head in the game". Like the players are thinking about ice cream or homework while they are being blown up by the guy across from them. And for those of you that don't know, giving any amount of effort more than 100% is impossible.
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Post by coachcb on May 23, 2012 15:47:39 GMT -6
"Block somebody" is about the dumbest thing that can possibly come out of a coaches mouth. If you don't know who they should block then how will your players? "Get your head in the game". Like the players are thinking about ice cream or homework while they are being blown up by the guy across from them. And for those of you that don't know, giving any amount of effort more than 100% is impossible. Both of my assistants got some serious a-- chewings in the office for hollering out "BLOCK SOMEONE!". It's the only time I've actually hollered at someone that coached for me. It sets me off.
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Post by outlawjoseywales on May 23, 2012 16:02:42 GMT -6
All these are great, I have a personal aversion to "somebody needs to step up." or "make sure you're ready to step up, when the time comes" etc. Just sick of hearing that, I've banned it from our staff, but occasionally someone will "slip up" with the "step up." Had a coach years ago that was always yelling out to the field that someone had messed up, he also liked that infamous "block somebody." I let him go for a while, then walked over and said, "coach, they know they messed up, why don't you tell them what they need to do instead of yelling that." Even though I'd covered this point numerous times in our staff meetings. "Don't yell at them, tell them what to do." This guy looked at me dumbfounded, he'd been coaching a long time and nobody had called him on it. Well, the reason he was "dumbfounded" was that he was just DUMB. He didn't last through the season. Oh well. Some guys can talk a good game but when it comes to gametime, they just lose their minds.
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Post by hback41 on May 23, 2012 16:13:57 GMT -6
CB: we had that conversation at our offensive meeting 2 weeks ago. If they can't block play/style X then what will we do? Get beat.
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Post by fantom on May 23, 2012 16:14:04 GMT -6
It's not a phrase but something that drives me nuts is a coach who acts bored while giving non-verbal directions during drills. During take-off, for example, I've seen guys who move their hand to start them looking as interested as a flag man at a construction site. We had a guy once who, during wave drill, pointed by holding his hand down in front of him and slightly moving one finger. Looked like he was playing with himself. If you're not interested how can you expect the kids to be?
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Post by fballcoachg on May 23, 2012 18:26:25 GMT -6
Be an athlete
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Post by rsmith627 on May 23, 2012 18:37:30 GMT -6
Be an athlete is a big one. My personal favorite is "Stop freelancing." The guy I coached with last year said it all the time. WTF does that even mean?
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Post by mrjvi on May 23, 2012 18:49:21 GMT -6
"When the time comes, he will step it up" "Don't worry, he's a gamer" I've got to see stuff in practice or he won't have the opportunity to be a "gamer". The other is a coach saying a kid will be alot better the next year through experience even though the kid did jack all off-season. Or this JV kid will excell at varsity( who did nothing off-season). I usually tell them that if he can excell at varsity being virtually the same kid as a JV, he would have been on varsity that year. Pet peeves.
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Post by davishfc on May 23, 2012 19:05:39 GMT -6
This is a personal favorite of mine. While this is a "famous" basketball movie, I have heard this out of football coaches at all levels. Usually more of fan thing but I've heard it from coaches. At least with "block somebody," those coaches are at least addressing a particular side of the ball. CLASSIC!
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Post by younggun10 on May 23, 2012 19:08:51 GMT -6
Coach, what is it about freelancing you don't like? I use this in the film room more than anything, and usually infrequently. I just think it describes a player doing his own thing, generally a selfish motive or a I have a better way of doing things type thing.
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Post by mattyg2787 on May 23, 2012 19:15:06 GMT -6
Best one I heard was my first year of playing. The QB coach came up and swearing at us about how terrible we were (this is the PG version). When one of us asked where there were guys coming through he just started his tyrade again. It's real simple for me, if you want me to do something, tell me very clearly what to do - Block X player or block first man through inside gap.
Other one was getting told to get a holding call by the same guy.
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Post by groundchuck on May 23, 2012 19:20:52 GMT -6
Hit somebody.
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Post by davishfc on May 23, 2012 19:21:51 GMT -6
And for those of you that don't know, giving any amount of effort more than 100% is impossible. I couldn't agree more. This one has always made me cringe. I've never been able to understand the concept of 110%. Why do we stop there? Why not 120...130...or 140%? All you can give is all you have to give...100%. Cheap talk about 110% is such a slap in the face to those people giving everything they have...100%...day in and day out in everything they do. Let's face it. Most people regularly operate at 80-90% of their actual potential, if that. As coaches, all we want from our players is all they have to give. Let's emphasize 100%.
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Post by powerfootball71 on May 23, 2012 20:16:22 GMT -6
Had a young coach last spring right out of college ( did not play) come to help out in camp to get ready for his own season. Whole time guy is yelling SPEED!!!SPEED! Move your feet! About kicked the guy out of drills to me nothing worse then a bad oline coach. Hear so many coaches just yell stuff to yell stuff. I got to the point during team dynamic stretch and agilitys I just go set up the oline drills for the day
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Post by Chris Clement on May 23, 2012 23:32:07 GMT -6
Instead of block somebody I've occasionally implored people to "block ANYBODY!"
This is a bit vague but I hate when coaches ask very open confirmation questions and expect a very specific answer. It turns into a guessing game where the player gives correct answers that don't match what the coach was specifically looking for.
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Post by rsmith627 on May 24, 2012 4:42:43 GMT -6
Coach, what is it about freelancing you don't like? I use this in the film room more than anything, and usually infrequently. I just think it describes a player doing his own thing, generally a selfish motive or a I have a better way of doing things type thing. My problem with it is with this particular coach, it was the only advice he ever gave. If you are addressing it during a film session and then teaching the players what needs to happen, then I have no problem with it as a phrase. I coached freshmen last year, and never once did this coach do anything to try to teach the kids anything, yet come game time he expected performance, but the only thing he did was yell stop freelancing.
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Post by John Knight on May 24, 2012 5:22:24 GMT -6
Watch the screen, watch the draw watch the pass!
3rd an 4, don't jump offsides!
Run!Go, Go! Run!
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Post by JVD on May 24, 2012 5:30:45 GMT -6
"DON'T JUMP!!"
That's just like telling a kid, "Don't strike out!"
All they hear is: "Jump"
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Post by warrior53 on May 24, 2012 6:19:24 GMT -6
Look like an athlete!
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Post by warrior53 on May 24, 2012 6:19:50 GMT -6
Look like an athlete!
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Post by coachbuck on May 24, 2012 7:18:23 GMT -6
I disagree a bit on scenarios. Third or fourth and short and a coach says watch the ball. I dont think that is mindless coaching at all. What if you have a team scouted really well and you know their tendancy to throw the screne is third and long/ or whatever, that isnt mindless coaching. Now if a coach is just yelling these things all the time then I agree. As far as catch the ball. I just did it in spring ball to a kid who dropped four deep balls in a row, but I went onto explain if he is not catching 90% of the balls thrown to him he will not catch them in the game.
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Post by fballcoachg on May 24, 2012 7:29:57 GMT -6
Watch the screen, watch the draw watch the pass! 3rd an 4, don't jump offsides! Run!Go, Go! Run! I've worked with people who were the "watch the ____" guys but would scream out 3 or 4 different things, then when one of those 4 things happened, "I told you to watch for it." Drives me nuts. But then again those are the same guys who think we should be able to run 50 different offensive packages or every coverage and stunt known to man so take it from the source.
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Post by wingtol on May 24, 2012 7:41:35 GMT -6
I have heard that at about 75% of clinics the last few years LOL "we just throw the ball out there and let them be athletes" I catch myself saying that a bit because I am not sure how to coach a kid to stick his foot in the ground, juke the first defender, spin off the second defender, cut back across the field, juke another 3 guys and score. LOL
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Post by emptybackfield on May 24, 2012 7:49:36 GMT -6
The whole "football is a game of emotion, all about kicking the guy across from you's a$$. If you beat the guy across from you, we will win this game" wears me out too. Well, what if we fumble the football 4 times and throw 3 interceptions, but we all "beat the guy across from us", we will still win?
If that is all football is, what the hell are we wasting all this time for when all our game is is an 11 man pissing contest?
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Post by coachbuck on May 24, 2012 7:53:32 GMT -6
The whole "football is a game of emotion, all about kicking the guy across from you's a$$" wears me out too. If that is all football is, what the hell are we wasting all this time for when all our game is is an 11 man pissing contest? agree, emotion lasts one play. Then its all about being prepared, good point.
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Post by John Knight on May 24, 2012 7:54:10 GMT -6
Watch the ball on 3rd and 4 is a big difference in don't jump! Kinda like the difference in don't fumble vs Ball security!
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Post by emptybackfield on May 24, 2012 7:58:54 GMT -6
The whole "football is a game of emotion, all about kicking the guy across from you's a$$" wears me out too. If that is all football is, what the hell are we wasting all this time for when all our game is is an 11 man pissing contest? agree, emotion lasts one play. Then its all about being prepared, good point. And last time I checked, "emotion" doesn't help a 210lb guard block a 280lb DT.
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