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Post by contrariancoach on Dec 30, 2012 20:49:20 GMT -6
Coaches,
Concerning your program's uniforms, do you prefer each team (e.g. middle school, 9th grade, JV, varsity) to have the same uniform design and combinations, or you prefer each team to have its own uniform design and combinations?
Personally, I prefer every team in the program to have the same design and combinations. I have two reasons for this:
1. Cost: If each team has a separate design and combinations, then when I have players who play on more than 1 team (e.g. a player who plays on JV and varsity), I now have to buy 4 separate uniforms for them. And that's if JV and varsity each have only 1 home and 1 away combination. If you have more than 2 combinations, it could get even more expensive. If your program is well-funded, and you want to have a wide variety of designs and combinations in your program, then I guess cost will not be an issue for you.
2. Uniformity: I like for all the teams in my program to have an identity. When someone sees a uniform, I want them to think "That's a ________ uniform", not "that's a ________ varsity uniform".
I know most of this is personal preference, so other than the cost, I don't think there is a right or wrong answer.
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Post by fantom on Dec 30, 2012 21:02:06 GMT -6
The JVs are going to have the same basic design because they'll be pretty mus=ch the same unis. The don't get their own unis. They get the varsity's hand-me-downs.
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Post by Coach Huey on Dec 30, 2012 21:10:07 GMT -6
We pass uniforms down. Varsity gets new. JV then wears previous varsity uniforms. FR then get JV previous. .. which at one point in past were also varsity uniforms.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using proboards
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Post by cqmiller on Dec 30, 2012 21:17:04 GMT -6
We only have uniforms for Varsity Football... Badge of Honor to dress varsity...
All levels below Varsity wear practice jerseys for games and their practice pants as well. We treat it as a competitive scrimmage every week the day before a varsity game. Two full sets of practice jerseys are WAY cheaper to upkeep than one set of game jerseys.
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Post by contrariancoach on Dec 30, 2012 21:39:58 GMT -6
We only have uniforms for Varsity Football... Badge of Honor to dress varsity... All levels below Varsity wear practice jerseys for games and their practice pants as well. We treat it as a competitive scrimmage every week the day before a varsity game. Two full sets of practice jerseys are WAY cheaper to upkeep than one set of game jerseys. Coach, I like the idea of using practice jerseys for lower levels. I don't really agree with your philosophy of treating the lower levels with less respect than the varsity (that may not have been what you meant and I just misunderstood you). I am not attacking your philosophy, I am just saying I think it is best for every member of the program to feel like they are important. Note: I am not talking about "Everyone gets a trophy", just that everyone has a role to play in the program. Obviously, if I use the practice uniforms for lower levels, that is still sending the message that they they are less important than varsity, but I think there are other ways that you can show them that they are important to the program. For example, I would not treat lower-level games as competitive scrimmages, and I would not say that the varsity uniform is a badge of honor. That's just my preference though. |
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Post by contrariancoach on Dec 30, 2012 21:51:39 GMT -6
We pass uniforms down. Varsity gets new. JV then wears previous varsity uniforms. FR then get JV previous. .. which at one point in past were also varsity uniforms. Sent from my SCH-I535 using proboards Coach, do you change the design every year, or do you keep the design consistent, similar to Alabama, Texas, and Georgia? |
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Post by btex0127 on Dec 30, 2012 21:55:21 GMT -6
I think what he is saying is he makes the chance to wear a varsity uniform special. This is not disrespecting the younger ones, it is showing them hard work gets the reward
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Post by Coach Huey on Dec 30, 2012 22:33:42 GMT -6
We pass uniforms down. Varsity gets new. JV then wears previous varsity uniforms. FR then get JV previous. .. which at one point in past were also varsity uniforms. Sent from my SCH-I535 using proboards Coach, do you change the design every year, or do you keep the design consistent, similar to Alabama, Texas, and Georgia? We keep it pretty much the same. I mean, red helmets, white pants. red for home jersey, white for away. but, you're pretty much at the mercy of the uniform company. they may not make the same model every year. i.e. if we purchase the "attack" jersey in 2012, they may phase it out by 2015 and we would then go with the "avenger" model or whatever... which may be subtly different but, in essence, the same look but, i'll be honest, we don't really have a "philosophy" other than we only wear black pants for the playoffs. if weather is normal or playing on turf, wear white. if muddy conditions exist - wear read pants. what determines if we go with red? mud and don't want to 'ruin' the white ones. simple philosophy. black pants is our 'special thing' for the playoffs. |
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Post by hsrose on Dec 30, 2012 23:04:26 GMT -6
We go with new varsity jerseys every 2 years and they get handed down. This year we would buy new varsity jerseys which would be for for this season and then next season. Last year's varsity jerseys go to the JV, and the JV go to the Frosh. Frosh jerseys become Frosh practice jerseys.
Varsity has dark pants and white pants - 4 combinations that way. JV and Frosh have dark pants.
Whole program has black practice pants, bulk order. Varsity has dark/black jerseys, JV have white, and frosh have old game jerseys. Its a big deal to change jerseys. Players don't play in more than 1 game each week, each team is separate, so no issues with multiple uniforms for a single player. JV play before the varsity and have the same schedule as the varsity. Frosh play the same league schedule but can have a different pre-league schedule.
The risk with uniforms is that if you buy the custom's, which are very sharp, there is a good probability that they won't be there in 2-4 years. We tend to go with the non-customs/standards but change something with each new purchase, there are lots of non-custom styles that work.
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Post by mariner42 on Dec 31, 2012 11:46:52 GMT -6
We've always followed the hand-me-down model, except in situations where one lower level teams jerseys are just too lousy to be able to look them in the face and say, "be proud to wear this". Then they get new, cheap jerseys.
We also only let the varsity have the full helmet decal. These days we do the 'Wings' look ala Michigan or Delaware, but in the past varsity had a midline stripe and decals on the sides, jvs had the stripe, and frosh went plain.
Separate topic, but somewhat related:
About 20 years back, my alma mater needed new home and away jerseys but could only afford one set. The HC made a compromise of sorts: grey jerseys that could be used for both home and away. Could you get away with this today? I dunno about what rule changes, etc have happened between then and now, but I was just wondering about this, sparked by Huey's "playoffs only" pants notion.
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Post by wingtol on Dec 31, 2012 12:15:52 GMT -6
Ours is pretty simple being a small school program...everyone gets the same uniform since everyone 9-12 dresses for Varsity games. JV wear the opposite jersey for their game since they are usually played opposite of the Varsity site. Every other team in our region is the same.
When I was at a big school we did the hand me down thing. Like others have stated.
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Post by cqmiller on Dec 31, 2012 14:32:28 GMT -6
We only have uniforms for Varsity Football... Badge of Honor to dress varsity... All levels below Varsity wear practice jerseys for games and their practice pants as well. We treat it as a competitive scrimmage every week the day before a varsity game. Two full sets of practice jerseys are WAY cheaper to upkeep than one set of game jerseys. Coach, I like the idea of using practice jerseys for lower levels. I don't really agree with your philosophy of treating the lower levels with less respect than the varsity (that may not have been what you meant and I just misunderstood you). I am not attacking your philosophy, I am just saying I think it is best for every member of the program to feel like they are important. Note: I am not talking about "Everyone gets a trophy", just that everyone has a role to play in the program. Obviously, if I use the practice uniforms for lower levels, that is still sending the message that they they are less important than varsity, but I think there are other ways that you can show them that they are important to the program. For example, I would not treat lower-level games as competitive scrimmages, and I would not say that the varsity uniform is a badge of honor. That's just my preference though. We have so many kids who think that JV football is a "demotion", we try to build it up to just be something that all non 2-way starters on varsity do to prepare for Friday night. I already fight parents and players with the amount of fundraising required in today's high school athletics, I can't afford to worry about game jerseys for lower levels as well. We treat Soph Football and JV Football as a key aspect of our program. We make sure that the MVP's of those games the day before (we play both at 3:30 PM on Thu here) get 1st half reps in the varsity game, and we make sure to note when we play a kid on Friday night based on his performance on Thursday. |
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Post by coachplaa on Dec 31, 2012 15:20:03 GMT -6
We have a very basic and simple set for our Frosh team and our JV team (sophomores). They wear the same jersey, and sophomores wear the uniform they received their frosh year. We make sure as freshmen, if a kid is a borderline size fit, we go with the bigger size. Those jerseys that they wear their freshmen and sophomore year, will become their practice jerseys for their Varsity years.
Our Varsity team gets either a new home set, or a new white set, every year. They switch off. We build the cost into the amount we ask each kid to fundraise, usually we try to budget for about $75 per kid. At the end of the season, we collect and store only one set, and the team keeps the other set. So if a kid plays his Junior and Senior year, he will have one keepsake jersey from each season.
It keeps our "look" new and lets the kids have some ownership in the design of the varsity jersey.
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Post by amthd45 on Dec 31, 2012 22:16:26 GMT -6
I believe in the hand-me-downs for sure.
But I also like the signifigance of one item being different for each level (middle,JV, Varsity). The middle school has plain helmets with no decals.
THe JV has a plain helmet with a strip down the middle.
And the Varsity has the stripe and Logo on the side of the helmet.
It gives the kids a right to "earn" that Varsity decal on the side of the helmet and it is a sacred tradition where I come from. Maybe I am a little old school, but I think the youth leagues with all the fancy unis and playing on turf grass, kinda spoils the kids and they have nothing to look forward to when getting to the Varsity level!
I do NOT advocate that anybody feel inferior by any means and we want Every kid to have a great experience in playing football no matter the level. But i just think some things in life, you gotta earn your rank/stripes to show you have moved up. You dont just start taking karate and get a black belt. And you dont just enlist in the military and have 4 stars on your collar either.
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Post by contrariancoach on Jan 3, 2013 2:16:47 GMT -6
I believe in the hand-me-downs for sure. But I also like the signifigance of one item being different for each level (middle,JV, Varsity). The middle school has plain helmets with no decals. THe JV has a plain helmet with a strip down the middle. And the Varsity has the stripe and Logo on the side of the helmet. It gives the kids a right to "earn" that Varsity decal on the side of the helmet and it is a sacred tradition where I come from. Maybe I am a little old school, but I think the youth leagues with all the fancy unis and playing on turf grass, kinda spoils the kids and they have nothing to look forward to when getting to the Varsity level! I do NOT advocate that anybody feel inferior by any means and we want Every kid to have a great experience in playing football no matter the level. But i just think some things in life, you gotta earn your rank/stripes to show you have moved up. You dont just start taking karate and get a black belt. And you dont just enlist in the military and have 4 stars on your collar either. Thanks everyone for your replies! Coach amthd, I see where you are coming from concerning rank/stripes. That makes sense when you put it that way. I just think it is important for everyone in the program, from the lowest level on up to varsity, to understand that they have a role to play. While the 9th or 10th grade player who is able to play varsity is rare, and especially the 9th grade player, there are some 9th and 10th graders who are able to play varsity, so I don't think they should have to "wait their turn" just because someone has been in the program longer. In other words, if my 2nd best RB is a 10th grader, why should less competent players receive priority just because they have been in the program longer? To be fair, maybe that's not what you do? What if your best RB is a 10th grader? Do you still play your 11th and 12th grade RBs even though they are less competent than the 10th grade RB? If you don't, *IMHO* that undermines the whole idea of earning your stripes. We had that situation my junior and senior years in HS. In my junior year, we had a 10th grade RB who missed 5 games and still rushed for over 1,000 yards. In my senior year, we had a 9th grade RB score 10+ touchdowns. Both RBs went on to play college football. This is America...We are supposed to assign jobs based on merit. I know that probably flies in the face of what many coaches on here believe, especially when it comes to coaching. I understand seniority is important in coaching, mainly because of experience, but when it comes to actually playing, there are certain positions, for example RB, where it is easier to excel early on in one's career based on talent and/or hard work despite a lack of experience. Coaching football is almost exclusively a mental job. Therefore, experience plays a much more important role in how successful one is as opposed to playing football. Just so it is clear, I am not saying experience is not important in playing football. What I am saying is that it is not as important as it is in coaching football. It will only be a matter of time before coachd shows up and says something such as "And you base that off of what experience?" Anyways, thanks again to everyone for your replies! |
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Post by whitneymr1 on Jan 3, 2013 8:47:00 GMT -6
What about t-shirts/hoodies/sweat pants/etc..? What is the philosophy on the uniforms for walk throughs, passing scrimmages, game days?
Our head coach doesn't dictate this at all, and kids where a variety of things. I am interested to hear what other people do, as I lean more toward more uniformity in dress.
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Post by casec11 on Jan 3, 2013 9:11:12 GMT -6
Coach, I like the idea of using practice jerseys for lower levels. I don't really agree with your philosophy of treating the lower levels with less respect than the varsity (that may not have been what you meant and I just misunderstood you). I am not attacking your philosophy, I am just saying I think it is best for every member of the program to feel like they are important. Note: I am not talking about "Everyone gets a trophy", just that everyone has a role to play in the program. Obviously, if I use the practice uniforms for lower levels, that is still sending the message that they they are less important than varsity, but I think there are other ways that you can show them that they are important to the program. For example, I would not treat lower-level games as competitive scrimmages, and I would not say that the varsity uniform is a badge of honor. That's just my preference though. We have so many kids who think that JV football is a "demotion", we try to build it up to just be something that all non 2-way starters on varsity do to prepare for Friday night. I already fight parents and players with the amount of fundraising required in today's high school athletics, I can't afford to worry about game jerseys for lower levels as well. We treat Soph Football and JV Football as a key aspect of our program. We make sure that the MVP's of those games the day before (we play both at 3:30 PM on Thu here) get 1st half reps in the varsity game, and we make sure to note when we play a kid on Friday night based on his performance on Thursday. I know this is off topic: CQ, is JV different in Utah, you stated sophmore team ect... does the JV team play other schools? |
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Post by cqmiller on Jan 3, 2013 14:12:51 GMT -6
Only game on Friday night is Varsity at 7:00 PM
Sophs and JV play on Thursdays at 3:30 vs. the same team the varsity plays friday night. The Soph game is at the same school as the varsity game, and the JV game is at the opposite location. All non 2-way starters on varsity play JV or Soph for us (Jr & Sr on JV, So & Fr on Soph) on Thursday afternoon and then play Friday night as well.
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Post by sdfbcoach on Jan 5, 2013 20:54:38 GMT -6
We do the hand me down model as well. I think we get new jerseys about every 2-3 years.
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Post by coachd5085 on Jan 5, 2013 21:36:47 GMT -6
I believe in the hand-me-downs for sure. But I also like the signifigance of one item being different for each level (middle,JV, Varsity). The middle school has plain helmets with no decals. THe JV has a plain helmet with a strip down the middle. And the Varsity has the stripe and Logo on the side of the helmet. It gives the kids a right to "earn" that Varsity decal on the side of the helmet and it is a sacred tradition where I come from. Maybe I am a little old school, but I think the youth leagues with all the fancy unis and playing on turf grass, kinda spoils the kids and they have nothing to look forward to when getting to the Varsity level! I do NOT advocate that anybody feel inferior by any means and we want Every kid to have a great experience in playing football no matter the level. But i just think some things in life, you gotta earn your rank/stripes to show you have moved up. You dont just start taking karate and get a black belt. And you dont just enlist in the military and have 4 stars on your collar either. Thanks everyone for your replies! Coach amthd, I see where you are coming from concerning rank/stripes. That makes sense when you put it that way. I just think it is important for everyone in the program, from the lowest level on up to varsity, to understand that they have a role to play. While the 9th or 10th grade player who is able to play varsity is rare, and especially the 9th grade player, there are some 9th and 10th graders who are able to play varsity, so I don't think they should have to "wait their turn" just because someone has been in the program longer. In other words, if my 2nd best RB is a 10th grader, why should less competent players receive priority just because they have been in the program longer? To be fair, maybe that's not what you do? What if your best RB is a 10th grader? Do you still play your 11th and 12th grade RBs even though they are less competent than the 10th grade RB? If you don't, *IMHO* that undermines the whole idea of earning your stripes. We had that situation my junior and senior years in HS. In my junior year, we had a 10th grade RB who missed 5 games and still rushed for over 1,000 yards. In my senior year, we had a 9th grade RB score 10+ touchdowns. Both RBs went on to play college football. This is America...We are supposed to assign jobs based on merit. I know that probably flies in the face of what many coaches on here believe, especially when it comes to coaching. I understand seniority is important in coaching, mainly because of experience, but when it comes to actually playing, there are certain positions, for example RB, where it is easier to excel early on in one's career based on talent and/or hard work despite a lack of experience. Coaching football is almost exclusively a mental job. Therefore, experience plays a much more important role in how successful one is as opposed to playing football. Just so it is clear, I am not saying experience is not important in playing football. What I am saying is that it is not as important as it is in coaching football. It will only be a matter of time before coachd shows up and says something such as "And you base that off of what experience?" Anyways, thanks again to everyone for your replies! No, won't comment on that at all. I am just not sure how your post regarding talented frosh and soph players and seniority applies to his post which discusses the concept of differentiating Varsity players. I hate to make you feel LESS contrarian-- but your comments pretty much echo what EVERYONE here has said regarding younger players.... "best players play" |
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coachmitts
Sophomore Member
Always compete
Posts: 186 
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Post by coachmitts on Jan 6, 2013 1:39:36 GMT -6
We also do the hand me down model. Our varsity just got new jerseys this year so the trickle down effect took place. We have green/white jerseys. Our pants are white, green and good. Also the three colors in belts. Combinations are picked by the senior captains each week.
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Post by dubber on Jan 6, 2013 15:05:33 GMT -6
Someday, I want Mossy Oak uniforms
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Post by contrariancoach on Jan 10, 2013 17:57:13 GMT -6
I am just not sure how your post regarding talented frosh and soph players and seniority applies to his post which discusses the concept of differentiating Varsity players. But i just think some things in life, you gotta earn your rank/stripes to show you have moved up. You dont just start taking karate and get a black belt. And you dont just enlist in the military and have 4 stars on your collar either. He was clearly also talking about earning your rank. I hate to make you feel LESS contrarian-- but your comments pretty much echo what EVERYONE here has said regarding younger players.... "best players play" I agree that best players play, that is my philosophy exactly. That's why I don't believe in holding up varsity uniforms as something you have to "earn". Why sit there and say you have to "earn" it...unless you are a future college running back? That is like having a two-strikes substance abuse policy, but then making an exception for a talented player. It's called inconsistency... If we lived in a world where your juniors and seniors were always your best players, then I agree with the varsity uniform being something you have to earn. But we don't live in such a world. A freshman or sophomore has not "earned their stripes". Therefore, it does not make sense for you to say you have to earn that uniform when you have freshmen and sophomores playing on varsity. |
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Post by coachd5085 on Jan 10, 2013 19:58:05 GMT -6
He was clearly also talking about earning your rank. I hate to make you feel LESS contrarian-- but your comments pretty much echo what EVERYONE here has said regarding younger players.... "best players play" I agree that best players play, that is my philosophy exactly. That's why I don't believe in holding up varsity uniforms as something you have to "earn". Why sit there and say you have to "earn" it...unless you are a future college running back? That is like having a two-strikes substance abuse policy, but then making an exception for a talented player. It's called inconsistency... If we lived in a world where your juniors and seniors were always your best players, then I agree with the varsity uniform being something you have to earn. But we don't live in such a world. A freshman or sophomore has not "earned their stripes". Therefore, it does not make sense for you to say you have to earn that uniform when you have freshmen and sophomores playing on varsity. Being good enough to dress varsity... IS earning your way onto the varsity. |
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Post by contrariancoach on Jan 10, 2013 20:54:30 GMT -6
He was clearly also talking about earning your rank. I agree that best players play, that is my philosophy exactly. That's why I don't believe in holding up varsity uniforms as something you have to "earn". Why sit there and say you have to "earn" it...unless you are a future college running back? That is like having a two-strikes substance abuse policy, but then making an exception for a talented player. It's called inconsistency... If we lived in a world where your juniors and seniors were always your best players, then I agree with the varsity uniform being something you have to earn. But we don't live in such a world. A freshman or sophomore has not "earned their stripes". Therefore, it does not make sense for you to say you have to earn that uniform when you have freshmen and sophomores playing on varsity. Being good enough to dress varsity... IS earning your way onto the varsity. So, experience does not play a role in "earning your stripes" then, is that correct? Or do you not buy into the concept of "earning your rank" that other coaches in this thread have promoted? If so, that's great. |
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Post by coachd5085 on Jan 10, 2013 21:41:17 GMT -6
Being good enough to dress varsity... IS earning your way onto the varsity. So, experience does not play a role in "earning your stripes" then, is that correct? What these coach's are saying is that in order to build "program strength" one potential technique is to create an aura of importance on being a varsity player. Some places have this built in (have you read "Friday Night Lights") In other places, you may have to create this desire. Some places have guys who want to walk around and say "I'm a football player"...other places have FOOTBALL PLAYERS. The "earn your rank" is about creating an atmosphere where being on the varsity is something special...meaning the 5'11" 165lb TE FR might work his tail off to make the Varsity as a Soph, as opposed to just being content. |
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Post by k on Jan 11, 2013 12:44:49 GMT -6
Everyone 9-12 wears the EXACT same uniforms. Old game stuff becomes practice stuff.
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