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Post by 29sonski on Oct 1, 2012 4:18:24 GMT -6
I'm a first-year assistant coach in a youth league, coaching OL. Our team lost its second game of the season yesterday, to a team whom we should have defeated. Like our first loss, the other team scored first ... early in the game. All the fight went out of our boys (11-12 year olds) with the opponent's TD.
We played well below our level for the remainder of the game (especially the OL!) and never showed any fight despite being in the game to the end (12-0 final).
All I heard were excuses about how the other team was stunting ... or holding ... or playing dirty ... or number so-and-so did this to me.
This is the same way we lost our first game of the season. As soon as the other team scored, our team acted as if it was defeated.
Please offer tips, suggestions for refocusing a team with this mindset. Thanks.
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Post by John Knight on Oct 1, 2012 8:29:14 GMT -6
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Post by John Knight on Oct 1, 2012 8:32:34 GMT -6
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flingt
Junior Member
"We don't care how big or strong our opponents are as long as they're human.?
Posts: 311
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Post by flingt on Oct 1, 2012 8:32:58 GMT -6
They will only do what you let them do. Chances are the other team is actually stunting so get to what they are doing and have a solution. If they are holding, there are solutions to that too, YOU should say something to the officials, same if they are playing "dirty".
In practice I would put them into situations where they are down by a TD or two, and see how they react. Let them know that they need to score and build that into their mental fortitude.
Hope that helps.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Oct 1, 2012 8:51:23 GMT -6
Make sure coaches are are staying very positive after a score. I have watched coaches get down on teams after being scored upon and the kids shut down. You may have a kid or 2 that is spreading this attitude which can be very infectious. Talk them up after scores and let them know the offense will score so it's no big deal. Find the bad seeds and get them shut up and refocused. As far as the holding, I bet you are teaching them how to beat a hold but reinforce it. Stunting is something they should be prepared for, especially if you have scouted. What is your blocking scheme? Playing dirty is part of football. Shouldn't be but it is a reality.
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kyle
Sophomore Member
Posts: 200
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Post by kyle on Oct 1, 2012 10:01:20 GMT -6
I'm a first-year assistant coach in a youth league, coaching OL. Our team lost its second game of the season yesterday, to a team whom we should have defeated. Like our first loss, the other team scored first ... early in the game. All the fight went out of our boys (11-12 year olds) with the opponent's TD. We played well below our level for the remainder of the game (especially the OL!) and never showed any fight despite being in the game to the end (12-0 final). All I heard were excuses about how the other team was stunting ... or holding ... or playing dirty ... or number so-and-so did this to me. This is the same way we lost our first game of the season. As soon as the other team scored, our team acted as if it was defeated. Please offer tips, suggestions for refocusing a team with this mindset. Thanks. What was the coaches' reactions on the sidelines to the TD? Are kids making those same excuses in practice? My favorite reaction to that is: Well I'm not calling it, am I? So don't stop. That happens a lot in practice for me, usually in the beginning of the season, where the kids will complain about other players, but they will do it during a live drill, and they will just stop mid-drill and start to complain. If you stop the drill to correct the kid who is doing it wrong, you will be enabling the shut down behavior that you're experiencing. They need to learn that it doesn't matter what the other team does, they need to play their game.
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Post by 29sonski on Oct 1, 2012 10:28:49 GMT -6
Thanks Coach. You nailed it -- on both replies!
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Post by 29sonski on Oct 1, 2012 10:46:43 GMT -6
They will only do what you let them do. Chances are the other team is actually stunting so get to what they are doing and have a solution. If they are holding, there are solutions to that too, YOU should say something to the officials, same if they are playing "dirty". In practice I would put them into situations where they are down by a TD or two, and see how they react. Let them know that they need to score and build that into their mental fortitude. Hope that helps. Thanks Coach. The opponent/game situation was really not a factor. Their complaints were just meant to respond to our challenges that their heads and hearts were not in the game. Have you tried the game situation idea for practices? I'll try it but am not sure how to replicate the emotion.
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Post by 29sonski on Oct 1, 2012 10:58:13 GMT -6
I'm a first-year assistant coach in a youth league, coaching OL. Our team lost its second game of the season yesterday, to a team whom we should have defeated. Like our first loss, the other team scored first ... early in the game. All the fight went out of our boys (11-12 year olds) with the opponent's TD. We played well below our level for the remainder of the game (especially the OL!) and never showed any fight despite being in the game to the end (12-0 final). All I heard were excuses about how the other team was stunting ... or holding ... or playing dirty ... or number so-and-so did this to me. This is the same way we lost our first game of the season. As soon as the other team scored, our team acted as if it was defeated. Please offer tips, suggestions for refocusing a team with this mindset. Thanks. What was the coaches' reactions on the sidelines to the TD? Are kids making those same excuses in practice? My favorite reaction to that is: Well I'm not calling it, am I? So don't stop. That happens a lot in practice for me, usually in the beginning of the season, where the kids will complain about other players, but they will do it during a live drill, and they will just stop mid-drill and start to complain. If you stop the drill to correct the kid who is doing it wrong, you will be enabling the shut down behavior that you're experiencing. They need to learn that it doesn't matter what the other team does, they need to play their game. I may not be the most objective source of information, but I don't think the coaches' reactions contributed to the let down. While no one immediately said "OK, let's get it back," the disposition of the coaches was positive and reassuring. The HC built them up before the game and at halftime. As to practices, I'm not sure how to compare it in the past but will be more alert to it going forward. Thanks.
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flingt
Junior Member
"We don't care how big or strong our opponents are as long as they're human.?
Posts: 311
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Post by flingt on Oct 1, 2012 11:10:38 GMT -6
They will only do what you let them do. Chances are the other team is actually stunting so get to what they are doing and have a solution. If they are holding, there are solutions to that too, YOU should say something to the officials, same if they are playing "dirty". In practice I would put them into situations where they are down by a TD or two, and see how they react. Let them know that they need to score and build that into their mental fortitude. Hope that helps. Thanks Coach. The opponent/game situation was really not a factor. Their complaints were just meant to respond to our challenges that their heads and hearts were not in the game. Have you tried the game situation idea for practices? I'll try it but am not sure how to replicate the emotion. I coach high school and have done situational periods but have never done something this specific. The closest would be 2-minute drill where we obviously need to score quick. We always use the phrase "with a sense of urgency" in this situation so the players understand the importance of focus and outcome.
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kyle
Sophomore Member
Posts: 200
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Post by kyle on Oct 1, 2012 11:12:27 GMT -6
I may not be the most objective source of information, but I don't think the coaches' reactions contributed to the let down. While no one immediately said "OK, let's get it back," the disposition of the coaches was positive and reassuring. The HC built them up before the game and at halftime. Well some advice I've gotten on the subjects: The harder you work for something, the less likely you are to give up.
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Post by cqmiller on Oct 1, 2012 11:25:56 GMT -6
That is the mentality of a team that loses... that is the culture of the program I took over 2 years ago. Working toward fixing it is a process.
Last year we end up 3-7, have the league champs (9-1 regular season, lost in state semifinals) in a 21-14 game with 6 minutes left and lose 35-14. Excuses about refs, playcalling, pulling seniors when the score was 28-14 with one minute left and the opponent puts in JV, etc...
This last Friday, we are up on the league champs from this year 35-21 at start of the 4th quarter. All we need is 3 first downs (6 minutes off clock minimum) and they can't come back. We stall on offense and they score with 29 seconds left to win 42-35. Only thing I heard this year was, "Coach, this one hurts more than all the other loses put together..." and "If we were just a little more in shape..." or "If I had lined up right on ____ play we would have won..."
Kids appear to be taking responsibility and not passing it off as much. We still have some of it going on, but I was as happy as you can be after surrendering a 14 pt. 4th qtr lead to a really good team. Hopefully we can build on it and the kids can learn HOW to win.
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Post by mariettablue on Oct 1, 2012 12:08:35 GMT -6
Like it was mentioned above you might have just one or two kids that are influencing the masses but reinforce your teachings on how to break a hold and let them know that they have to do your job. You have to coach them up from every aspect even from the hold. For instance my CB lost contain because he was held but he was held because he went inside his man and actually gave up contain. yes I'll talk to the ref but I let him know it was his fault that the runner got to the outside anyway. I dealt with the giving up but you have to keep encouraging them.
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Post by chi5hi on Oct 1, 2012 12:17:59 GMT -6
That happened once a few years back. I told the team on Monday that the day's practice would be in street clothes. We sat them down on the 50 YL and told them that today all we're going to do is practice our excuses, and who wanted to start. A few minutes went by then to a man the went in and suited up.
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Post by 29sonski on Oct 1, 2012 21:02:55 GMT -6
That is the mentality of a team that loses... that is the culture of the program I took over 2 years ago. Working toward fixing it is a process. I definitely understand that changing a culture or mindset is not a slow process. I hope the disposition w/my team is not too deeply rooted, but I definitely want to change it one way or another. I met w/my fellow coaches tonight to compare thoughts and observations. A little shake-up is going to occur at tomorrow's practice....
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