|
Post by brophy on Mar 14, 2013 15:16:56 GMT -6
"well, if they are doing it, then we must do it." I wonder what a football program would look like if we had no restrictions and/or were not concerned about what our competitors were doing. What would we esteem as being important? In Iowa, we didn't have Spring ball and you ' technically' couldn't have "Football practices", but we made TEAMS in the months of January - June. Give me a dedicated group of guys working out 3 times a week, doing speed work in the morning, with a fraction of them doing leadership training, with monthly strongman competitions and I'll take that over spring ball and 7-on-7
|
|
|
Post by 353coach on Mar 15, 2013 16:02:05 GMT -6
"well, if they are doing it, then we must do it." I wonder what a football program would look like if we had no restrictions and/or were not concerned about what our competitors were doing. What would we esteem as being important? In Iowa, we didn't have Spring ball and you ' technically' couldn't have "Football practices", but we made TEAMS in the months of January - June. Give me a dedicated group of guys working out 3 times a week, doing speed work in the morning, with a fraction of them doing leadership training, with monthly strongman competitions and I'll take that over spring ball and 7-on-7 I hate 7 on 7 so much...useless. Maybe not so much in practice...I'm talking competitive...tournaments...etc. Just junk routes and unrealistic coverages. We do them for conditioning, but I hate them...oh look...five guys in routes...the back running through where the line would be, no pressure on the QB or line to throw over...so realistic!!!! (sarcasm). What do you guys do for leadership training?
|
|
|
Post by gators1422 on Mar 16, 2013 5:47:18 GMT -6
It's a good time to evaluate or run off all the new kids that want to play. Wouldn't want to waste reps in the fall. We are real physical in the spring so we can take the temperature of the new kids pretty quick. In Fla we start may 1 and end around the end of May.
|
|
|
Post by huthuthut on Mar 16, 2013 8:27:43 GMT -6
Also a good time to experiment with personnel. We've had some nice surprises through the years doing this when there's no pressure from an upcoming game. Moved a smaller lb to safety one year. Did not look good until the end if the spring. Ended up being a district MVP and D2 scholly. Probably never would have made near the player at ILB. Also moved a DE to ILB. Ended up being a DI linebacker. Would've never been a college DE because of size.
|
|
|
Post by IronmanFootball on Mar 16, 2013 8:45:07 GMT -6
Being a new school and young squad (1 senior last fall) spring is time to teach fundy, get cherries their first contact and get kids a taste of football. So far we've doubled our squad from 15 to 30 so I'd love to see all these first time 10th graders and how they'll convert wt room to the field.
OFF: Install 2-3 formations, 4 runs, 1 PA, 3-4 pass combos, 1-2 protections. DEF: 2 coverages, 2 fronts, 2 stunts
|
|
|
Post by coachdawhip on Mar 22, 2013 18:56:44 GMT -6
I wonder what a football program would look like if we had no restrictions and/or were not concerned about what our competitors were doing. What would we esteem as being important? In Iowa, we didn't have Spring ball and you ' technically' couldn't have "Football practices", but we made TEAMS in the months of January - June. Give me a dedicated group of guys working out 3 times a week, doing speed work in the morning, with a fraction of them doing leadership training, with monthly strongman competitions and I'll take that over spring ball and 7-on-7 I hate 7 on 7 so much...useless. Maybe not so much in practice...I'm talking competitive...tournaments...etc. Just junk routes and unrealistic coverages. We do them for conditioning, but I hate them...oh look...five guys in routes...the back running through where the line would be, no pressure on the QB or line to throw over...so realistic!!!! (sarcasm). What do you guys do for leadership training? I have to disagree with you. Timing basic skills a chance for teams to compete its only worthless for the teams that play with fake routes and coverages we do US! So we get a ton out of it an get my boys a chance to work!
|
|
next
Freshmen Member
Posts: 74
|
Post by next on Mar 22, 2013 19:24:38 GMT -6
We have year around practice here in Virginia if we want it (with the exception of 2 weeks). It's mostly just 7 on 7 which usually starts in March and lasts through summer. The kids play all the sports and play 7 on 7 when they can although a few coaches try to make the kids focus on 1 sport. A popular spring "camp" are big man camps for OL/DL.
|
|
okie
Sophomore Member
Posts: 219
|
Post by okie on Mar 23, 2013 7:53:01 GMT -6
personally, I find spring ball overrated. Yeah, I said it. Spring ball in Louisiana is 10 days (down from 15). I've been at places where it was "install everything and win now!" and "just get the kids out and interested". Spring ball can be more of a distraction and logistical problem (now you have to issue gear, collect gear, get all the kids together to follow routine, etc) with little return. Every place I've been at with spring ball told me jack squat about what fall would be like because we always had academic issues and the spring stud(s) never panned out/stayed eligible. I don't / can't recall any situation in Sept - Nov where I could ever say "Gosh, it sure was nice we did ____ in April because it paid off in this game!". I like spring ball because it lets you see and interact with the kids on the field in some great weather (and who isn't itching to run some drills at that time?).....but I don't see the value in it When I was up north (iowa/illinois), there was no spring ball, but I recall getting MORE DONE without it (off-season conditioning). How can you say 10 opportunities to work on fundamentals isn't beneficial? Do you not have open positions that you would like to see kids compete for to give you some idea for the fall? Issue gear, collect gear?? Reply that's a hinder on you? Guess I'm an idiot but I believe spring ball is very beneficial to work with our kids in a setting that were not getting ready for a game. I do have my entire team minus four all winter in the weight room so we are not feeling slighted missing a little conditioning.
|
|
|
Post by 353coach on Mar 23, 2013 11:50:04 GMT -6
I hate 7 on 7 so much...useless. Maybe not so much in practice...I'm talking competitive...tournaments...etc. Just junk routes and unrealistic coverages. We do them for conditioning, but I hate them...oh look...five guys in routes...the back running through where the line would be, no pressure on the QB or line to throw over...so realistic!!!! (sarcasm). What do you guys do for leadership training? I have to disagree with you. Timing basic skills a chance for teams to compete its only worthless for the teams that play with fake routes and coverages we do US! So we get a ton out of it an get my boys a chance to work! haha...I agree with some of that....but our passing game is play-action, waggles, some smash...If they'd let us run power in the dang things I'd love em!!
|
|
|
Post by 42falcon on Mar 23, 2013 12:45:44 GMT -6
In the league we play in in Calgary Alberta Canada we get 1 week (5 days) 2.5 hours a day including meeting time.
The point of it for us is: -work on skill over and over again -lots of competition & teaching drills -very little install maybe 1 or 2 plays (we host a scrimmage on Friday night we call it our Blue & Gold game all kids play it is intersquad) If we did not do that scrimmage we would not even do any install. The kids like the scrimmage it gets them out for the whole week.
We just try to have fun and see what we have. For most of it all of the kids play everything in a rotation (this is our plan for this season).
Spring football is fun because it is football. Is there a point to it? NO. Nothing we do in Spring in terms of team or install will help us in the Fall as we have a blackout period over the summer no contact with players.
|
|
|
Post by 42falcon on Mar 23, 2013 12:51:45 GMT -6
personally, I find spring ball overrated. Yeah, I said it. Spring ball in Louisiana is 10 days (down from 15). I've been at places where it was "install everything and win now!" and "just get the kids out and interested". Spring ball can be more of a distraction and logistical problem (now you have to issue gear, collect gear, get all the kids together to follow routine, etc) with little return. Every place I've been at with spring ball told me jack squat about what fall would be like because we always had academic issues and the spring stud(s) never panned out/stayed eligible. I don't / can't recall any situation in Sept - Nov where I could ever say "Gosh, it sure was nice we did ____ in April because it paid off in this game!". I like spring ball because it lets you see and interact with the kids on the field in some great weather (and who isn't itching to run some drills at that time?).....but I don't see the value in it When I was up north (iowa/illinois), there was no spring ball, but I recall getting MORE DONE without it (off-season conditioning). How can you say 10 opportunities to work on fundamentals isn't beneficial? Do you not have open positions that you would like to see kids compete for to give you some idea for the fall? Issue gear, collect gear?? Reply that's a hinder on you? Guess I'm an idiot but I believe spring ball is very beneficial to work with our kids in a setting that were not getting ready for a game. I do have my entire team minus four all winter in the weight room so we are not feeling slighted missing a little conditioning. Not to speak for Brophy but let's get real you can install the most simple thing in the spring no way on earth some Madden laden, attention span of a gnat kid is going remember any of that crap come fall. It does us some good as coaches to think / fell that yeah we put the offence in... Think about the last time as a teacher you saw a kid who improved his academic ability in a subject because he did a week of home work over the summer... The other piece about getting an idea for the fall, these kids can grow or shrink over the summer or even heaven forbid lose interest in football... Over the summer CC and I had a great chat on here and I was bragging about my 2 stud REC these tall superfreak bbal kids. Neither of them come out in the Fall after the spring "didn't want to get hurt for bbal".. The logistics of it all are great: -we hand out gear collect fees and forms all well in advance so then when the fall hits we just practice.
|
|
|
Post by dytmook on Mar 23, 2013 14:32:33 GMT -6
In Ohio we get no spring practice. In the summer from June to two a days we get 10 camp days that can be done with helmets.
|
|
|
Post by dytmook on Mar 23, 2013 14:32:48 GMT -6
In Ohio we get no spring practice. In the summer from June to two a days we get 10 camp days that can be done with helmets.
|
|
okie
Sophomore Member
Posts: 219
|
Post by okie on Mar 23, 2013 19:55:14 GMT -6
Everyone entitled to there own opinion. Please give me your email address and ill email you with openings on my schedule! If you don't see carryover in skills from spring you need to re evaluate your coaching. In my first year at a school that went previous 1-9 and getting blown out in 8 games we went 3-0 to start out next fall only because of our evaluation during previous spring. Was able to teach many skills that carried over and get kids in correct positions.
|
|
|
Post by 42falcon on Mar 23, 2013 20:10:50 GMT -6
Everyone entitled to there own opinion. Please give me your email address and ill email you with openings on my schedule! If you don't see carryover in skills from spring you need to re evaluate your coaching. In my first year at a school that went previous 1-9 and getting blown out in 8 games we went 3-0 to start out next fall only because of our evaluation during previous spring. Was able to teach many skills that carried over and get kids in correct positions. There is no way 1 week or 10 days of practice made the difference in a whole season, my guess is you were running the facemelter offence as well right? Let's get real with the invite for games this isn't a dick measuring contest. The school went 1-9 before you got that had nothing to do with you. The change in record / on field success was not because of the spring camp but it was because of the WHAT & HOW you approached practice as a whole not just in those 10 days. Sure was the 10 days a step in the right direction: teaching base skills and positioning. But my guess is you carried that over into the fall and kept working on those things all year long. That's not rocket science it's called good coaching.
|
|
|
Post by coachdawhip on Mar 23, 2013 20:16:32 GMT -6
The biggest thing, I like about Spring is an introducing to who we are and competition drills. We have to scrimmage ourselves so we focus on little things about our program.
|
|
okie
Sophomore Member
Posts: 219
|
Post by okie on Mar 24, 2013 8:15:54 GMT -6
Everyone entitled to there own opinion. Please give me your email address and ill email you with openings on my schedule! If you don't see carryover in skills from spring you need to re evaluate your coaching. In my first year at a school that went previous 1-9 and getting blown out in 8 games we went 3-0 to start out next fall only because of our evaluation during previous spring. Was able to teach many skills that carried over and get kids in correct positions. There is no way 1 week or 10 days of practice made the difference in a whole season, my guess is you were running the facemelter offence as well right? Let's get real with the invite for games this isn't a thingy measuring contest. The school went 1-9 before you got that had nothing to do with you. The change in record / on field success was not because of the spring camp but it was because of the WHAT & HOW you approached practice as a whole not just in those 10 days. Sure was the 10 days a step in the right direction: teaching base skills and positioning. But my guess is you carried that over into the fall and kept working on those things all year long. That's not rocket science it's called good coaching. Correct we did carry all those things over from spring into the fall. Wouldn't that mean spring is very beneficial? Wouldn't that mean we were 10 days ahead of where we would have been without spring?
|
|
|
Post by kwright52 on Mar 24, 2013 8:44:16 GMT -6
We get 10 days in OKlahoma, it's a great chance to implement the season expectations and get back to the fundamentals of Football. Can't wait!
|
|
|
Post by keysersoze on Mar 24, 2013 11:05:07 GMT -6
Right around the corner... How many days do you get? What are your goals? Do you think its beneficial? Do you work any special teams? How do you make it fun? We can do whatever we want after Memorial Day through the last week in July. However, we are limited to ten consecutive days once protective equipment (helmets and shoulder pads) are used and you have to go three days of half rack before going full pads. This pretty much means spring practices are without helmets and shoulder pads. Goals are: 1.We want to teach the basics of the offense and defensive schemes; 2. we want to teach the fundamental drills we will be using during the summer and preseason; 3. we want to get all of the kids together to start to see what we have for a team and to communicate what we are going to do during the summer 4. Fundraising. We do think it's beneficial for what we try to do. No special teams. We keep it short--5 practices and a make-shift scrimmage.
|
|
|
Post by syfbcoach on Mar 24, 2013 13:53:22 GMT -6
We get a maximum of 15 days of spring ball beginning May 1. However, the spring sport season can go past that date so those kids lose some days. In addition, kids miss a lot because they are worried about grades and spend time studying because we get out the 1st week of June. We also have a lot of distractions during that time - yearbooks coming out, prom, etc. We cannot use any protective padding. We get a lot of kids out that really don't have a clue. They think it's like playing in the park with their "homies", so a lot of time is wasted on guys like that. Once they see that it takes hard work and skill, they disappear.
|
|
tgun25
Freshmen Member
[F4:464798950222428]
Posts: 33
|
Post by tgun25 on Mar 24, 2013 20:00:39 GMT -6
No spring ball in Minnesota, but I sure wouldn't mind having some time with players during that time. It'd be nice to introduce some concepts and then build on them throughout the summer, to the point where we come into two-a-days, we'd hopefully have a strong base of knowledge to work off of.
|
|
|
Post by hsrose on Mar 24, 2013 21:53:06 GMT -6
In the section I am currently coaching in NorCal we get 10 days of practice. Some leagues require helmets, others don't, because of some injuries have happened. I saw a broken cheekbone that required a metal plate was the one that I saw right in front of me. Just an accident, two guys bumped and one went down.
No pads, no scrimmages, can use everything except pads. We would normally have an offensive day and a defensive day. Started the last few weeks of May and sometimes went over 3 weeks. Fought the usual stuff with players in playoffs and such, and others who just decided they were too tired from spring sports to come out for the full time.
We always get really excited about it, players and coaches, but I don't really think it does much for us. I always run a combine - 10, 20, 40, corner, line-to-line, height, weight, take an image (against a 20x30 foamcore board mounted on the wall with the heights in 1" increments so I get a standard image of the player and KNOW his height), and collect any other data. This year I'm going to try and incorporate a core strength - bench, clean, squat - measurement as that is what the Ironman levels are based on.
So from a preparation angle, I think it works. From an offensive/defensive install, I'm not so sure. We have so many personnel changes that who we teach now ain't always who's there in the fall. It makes us feel good though.
Now, in the summer, the section office shuts down so there is no reporting and no enforcement. So we can, and do, practice in full gear with access to all equipment 4 days per week. We could go full-on scrimmages/summer full-contact league if we wanted to do that. It's a deal of there's no rule against it so everyone goes that way.
The school that my daughter attends is in a different section. They get something 1.5 hours per day, up to 4 hours on Saturday, 8 hours total per week, from May 1 to May 31. Sleds and bags and such, but no pads or helmets. I haven't talked with those coaches about the value of what they do.
|
|
|
Post by coachbleu on Mar 25, 2013 0:59:08 GMT -6
In the Mississippi Private league, we get 20 days in full pads. We can also have multiple scrimmages. At least half our team is involved in some sort of spring sport, so we push the start date as far back as possible. We begin practice with whoever we have and pick up players as their sports end. I coach the OLine and spring training is paramount to what we do. Every year I have a pivotal player that I have to develop during that time. Usually, I am breaking in a new center and need that time to get him reps with all the live contact he can handle. We are not allowed to wear shoulder pads during the summer, so spring is a very physical time for us. We don't do any conditioning and we don't punish kids during that time either. It's a little loose to say the least, but that's when we mold our team for the fall. It's truly a critical time for us.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Mar 25, 2013 9:55:54 GMT -6
For the time being, in SC we have the first 21 days of May to get your practices. We also have the summer 7-7 circuit to work the passing game, at least route concepts and coverages. There is a push to end spring ball, but I doubt that will happen, though there might be some modifications.
The big thing I think that can be gained out of spring ball is contact. With the growing push towards limited in-season contact to reduce injuries, it gives you a little leeway to bang on each other without worry that one of your studs will be dinged up come game time. Obviously catastrophic injuries would carry over into the season, but the tweaked ankles and deep muscle bruises will be long healed up by August.
Plus there is the added component that youngsters replacing graduating seniors can get opportunities to get reps that they missed the previous year.
There are pros and cons of spring ball, just as with anything. One thing I personally like is that it keeps your kids busy and focused for several weeks at a time of the year when the 'sap starts to rise' in the boys.
|
|
|
Post by tigerpride on Mar 26, 2013 8:08:09 GMT -6
I would think you could run off kids with an intense off season program. If i had to state my top reasons to conduct spring ball, that would not be one of them. Getting physical scares me a bit to be honest. We lost an athlete to an ACL season ending injury in Spring. This needs to be a time to develop athletes, not hurt them.
I have spring ball and I am convincing myself the more and more not to do it.
|
|
|
Post by coachbdud on Mar 26, 2013 10:02:41 GMT -6
Last year we used a 3 day install plan and had the base offense in after 3 days
We are out earlier from school than ever and will have a month of practice time before our team camp ... I don't think we need to get things installed so quickly
I am seriously considering ONLY installing a minimized base package
1 run 2 passes 1 bootleg 1 sprint out
And just getting really good at those durin our 10 spring ball days
|
|
|
Post by runitupthemiddle on Mar 31, 2013 19:50:31 GMT -6
In Oklahoma , we get 10 days of 2 hour practices. The time ticker starts when u hit the field so you could stretch in the lockeroom chalk talk whatever and it doesn;t count against your 2 hours.
We can;t start until the last spring state championship in the sport our school participate in is played. no some say this means when your team is beat out, but it is not, and you have until June 1st to get your 10 days in.
Summer you can go to 2 team camps that at least 5 teams must be at and they can't be in back to back weeks and must be held before July 15. You can host or have your players go to as many individual camps as you want, you just must charge them.
All 7 on 7 must be done before July 15 , as well, unless its for 5th grade and down.
|
|
|
Post by runitupthemiddle on Mar 31, 2013 19:51:19 GMT -6
In Oklahoma , we get 10 days of 2 hour practices. The time ticker starts when u hit the field so you could stretch in the lockeroom chalk talk whatever and it doesn;t count against your 2 hours.
We can;t start until the last spring state championship in the sport our school participate in is played. no some say this means when your team is beat out, but it is not, and you have until June 1st to get your 10 days in.
Summer you can go to 2 team camps that at least 5 teams must be at and they can't be in back to back weeks and must be held before July 15. You can host or have your players go to as many individual camps as you want, you just must charge them.
All 7 on 7 must be done before July 15 , as well, unless its for 5th grade and down.
|
|
|
Post by runitupthemiddle on Mar 31, 2013 20:02:13 GMT -6
sorry about the double post.
And I have to disagree about kids not remembering. If you are running the same offense they will. We are going into our 4th year here. And Our upcoming freshman (8th grade currently) knew more offense and defense then our hs team did our first season this past year, actually almost as much as our hs team did our second season.
we only have 5 run block schemes, toss, trap, iso, ot, lead o, and speed option, and we have playaction off all these. 4 pass, slide, gap slide (abc, 123) bob, and sprint out,
Now this being said, we do not have a legitimate tb (durable) or fb, so we will more then likely be more option oriented this year, our qb can scoot a bit.
|
|
|
Post by coachbb on Apr 6, 2013 19:49:49 GMT -6
Here in Texas, only the two largest classifications can have spring ball.
The main benefits of spring ball:
1. You actually get more practices in 2. Practicing in 80 degree weather instead of 100 degree weather 3. Allows you to install schemes than can be repped over the summer during 7 on 7 4. Allows you to evaluate players over the summer
Main problems 1. You have testing/baseball/track 2. Less time for installation in the summer (big deal if you have a lot of move-ins) 3. Players can lose interest quickly with no games in sight 4. Have to get the logistical stuff done (equipment, big hassle towards the end of the year)
|
|