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Post by whitneymr1 on Oct 29, 2012 6:22:11 GMT -6
So we managed to make the playoffs despite a very up and down post season. Our reward is getting a first round match-up against the favorite to win the state title. Any advice for how to prepare and what to tell the team in our two weeks (we still have 1 week of the regular season) leading up to the game?
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Post by John Knight on Oct 29, 2012 7:21:52 GMT -6
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Post by wingtol on Oct 29, 2012 10:23:19 GMT -6
Who do you guys have? St. Joe's, McDevitt, Aliquippa, or Clariton? I can help you out with the west teams, not sure about the east teams if you need anything.
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Post by mariettablue on Oct 29, 2012 15:00:14 GMT -6
I would start working on and pushing the words "Execution, Execution, Execution". If you can get the team to play in control and milk that clock for all it's worth. I would snap the ball when the ref has his hands on the flag. If you have film or some coaches that can provide you some info, I would figure out their best few plays and gear up to stop those few plays and maybe ...just maybe you can force them to make the mistakes......It's worth a try.
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Post by fantom on Oct 29, 2012 15:12:13 GMT -6
If Goliath had worn that helmet he wouldn't have gotten whacked in the head with a rock. Nobody would have heard of David. |
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Post by huskerhoyahawk on Oct 29, 2012 16:26:26 GMT -6
We were in a similar situation last year. We preached to our kids that all the pressure is on them to win, we have no pressure, we just have to go out and play.
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Post by carookie on Oct 29, 2012 18:43:12 GMT -6
Me personally, I hated when coaches would tell us we were David v. Goliath. I guess I just took it as insulting- you're my coach and even you think Im an underdog. I never tell my players stuff like that; they all know reputations and rankings and can read the websites.
If anything I'd go the opposite, really harp on the positive: how good they are, the good things you all do well (there has to be enough of them as you made the playoffs). The kids probably won't get a big head about it because they know the opponent, but at least this way you reinforce the good things you want them to do as well as your confidence in them
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Post by joboo59 on Oct 29, 2012 18:49:46 GMT -6
From previous experience, the worst part is the intimidation factor. You just gotta do what you do. Don't over hype them, show your team how they will have the advantages and prep for a victory,
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Post by olcoach53 on Oct 30, 2012 7:32:27 GMT -6
You cant underhype them either. We had that situation this past week playing a 9-0 at 5-4. We underhyped the team because quite honestly they arent very good. Our kids took this as OVER confidence though and borderline cockiness and we got punched in the teeth. I think you have to show the kids they have talent but also that they are beatable. Good luck this weekend.
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Post by newhope on Oct 31, 2012 11:30:25 GMT -6
We went in last year as the 15 seed in a 16 team pod. We beat the #2 seed. We prepared them with the mindset that we weren't just happy to be there, weren't getting on the bus to take a ride, but that we were going to go out and execute and play to the best of our abilities and survive and advance. We showed them on film where we would attack them successfully and coached them up on how we would stop them defensively. No David and Goliath....just two football teams. The next week we knocked off another higher seeded team and the following week led in the fourth quarter against another one before finally falling in the last minutes on a fluke play. The kids believed the whole time they were the equal of the other teams. The playoffs are a new season and a second chance.
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Post by reevekyle on Oct 31, 2012 11:58:49 GMT -6
We had to play against the #1 team in the state first round who is currently on a 35+ game winning streak and has destroyed us every year. I took shared the story of David and Goliath but not in the traditional sense. I stole the story of David and Goliath that Coach Dungy shared with his guys before the finally beat the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. Here is the gist of what he told them....
Our guys really ran with it. I would like to say it propelled us to a win but it didn't, still though, we were ready to go.
Coach Tony Dungy
Taken from his book Quiet Strength
“David and Goliath. I thought about that Bible story as I prepared for Wednesday’s team meeting before our game against New England.
Even though we had beaten the Patriots during the season, I anticipated that we would hear all the reasons we couldn’t do it in the playoffs: that was the regular season, but this was the postseason, where they play so well and we struggle; Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have never lost a conference championship game; they’ve got so many trophies and playoff wins; an on and on. Again, I reached back and drew on my mother’s teachings with an apropos word picture for the team. Most of the Colts had heard the story of David and Goliath before. I wanted the players to remember three things that week.
First, the past had prepared us for what was to come. Although he was only a boy, David tended sheep and protected them from lions and bears. Unlike the Israelite soldiers, he didn’t worry about Goliath’s size or reputation. He saw the giant as just another adversary. He knew never to be intimidated by reputation. No fear.
Second, King Saul tried to outfit David with armor, a helmet and sword. But David wasn’t comfortable. “I don’t know how to use these; I know how to use my slingshot.” Similarly, we weren’t going to do anything differently to beat the Patriots. We were going to play our same defense and run our same offense. Do what we do.
Third, once he hit Goliath in the head with the stone, knocking him to the ground, David didn’t take any chances. He took Goliath’s sword and cut the giant’s head off. Although this analogy isn’t politically correct in this day and age, I wanted to make sure that when we got to that critical point in the game, our guys would finish the job. I told them to get their swords ready.”
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Post by dubber on Oct 31, 2012 16:40:38 GMT -6
When you've got nothing to lose, you are dangerous.
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