Talented kids that cause cancer

you cannot separate philosophy and winning. How you handle those two senior is either win or loss for you as the coach and them as players and everybody who watching to see what you do. Meeting those two challenges with strength, your bite bigger than your bark, will never hurt you. You might hurt some feeling, have some be upset with you, But those who are willing to challenge will decrease very quickly. Winning on the field starts off the field.
If they don't go hard all the time in practice, why would you think they would go hard all the time in games, It is a direct challenge to your authority, whether you know it or not.

You can with talented players but you can lose with them too if they have poor attitudes.

You must be willing to lose in order to have discipline, and you will most certainly lose if you don't have it.

The best TEAMS win, not the best individuals. And the best teams are disciplined.

How can you "change the program" if you allow kids to practice with "no effort at all" at times?

Effort is one facet of Football we-they can control. In our program, Effort is NOT optional.

Before going overboard and kicking them off, sit them down, explain what you're trying to do. Tell them the program needs them, but not at 50%. That they can be the ones to turn the program around and that they need to set an example for the younger kids.

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My answer is at some point you need to replace cancers.

But when you are turning a program around, there are more important things.

The first thing, in my opinion, is to get as many bodies on the team as possible.

That's basically the first year of a turnaround.



"Hell, we're Marshall......we'll take anybody....."

You keep it basic, you run your stuff, you hold them accountable, and you generate BUY IN.

Without BUY IN, your coach Billy Badarse act will end up with you starting a thread on Coach Huey's about how your kids just don't get it.

Then, you use the currency of marginal success to start the off season conditioning program........where the real answers to leadership and attitude issues get resolved.

my 2 cents.

If a player shows up everyday, but doesn't give 100% effort, can you really just kick them off? I know here we couldn't do that. Heck, to be honest how many of your players really give 100% effort the entire practice, everyday? I would bet it's less than 20%. Now I understand the kids the OP is talking about can be spotted a mile away dogging practice, but I still stand by my post from earlier is the best way to handle it.

You need to focus on effort and intensity at your practice. Make everyone accountable for every snap and every rep. Call them out. If you are dogging it at practice then you lose your starting spot. Hopefully that motivates them to finish the season strong.

I played for a coach that asked for a players best everyday. If he didnt like the effort on the rep he would make the kid give 10 push ups at the back of the line. If you kept bringing crap you watched the drill. On the flip side, if you were grinding at practice he was the biggest, loudest cheer leader. As a player, I learned the first week in the program that I wanted the coaches to see me as a hard worker. I didnt want the negative attention.

You can talk all day....boys especially require a litt oomph....especially teenagers. I am not saying you need to kick them off ...But talking is just barking...and at this point that bark has to have a bite. Sometimes kids like that have an edge that you can only hope to find.

I'm a year removed from the worst year of my coaching life. About 95% of that revolved around a 5 star football player and his buddy, both who are currently committed to SEC schools.

It's not worth it!!!!!

I heard Saban say a few months ago that the staff had identified 5 guys that would get them beat. I think it's worth it to find out those guys on your team and either give them a short leash or make it extremely hard on them to be part of your team.

The 5 star kid was a wonderful kid to be around when he was 14 and 15 years old and had no idea how good he was. Then people in the community and the recruiting process got a hold on him.

About 70% of our kids come from a one parent home. I will always try to save a kid from his circumstance, especially the ones he can't control. That being said, when it starts to effect your team, they will cost you you happiness, wins, and ultimately your job.

It doesn't matter how good the kid is, you are doing your team and ultimately that a kid a favor by getting rid of him.

I think that the term "Cancer" is overused. They're only a cancer if their attitude is spreading. If it is, you have to get rid of them soonest. If not, what's the hurry?:

1. Talk to them. Maybe they don't understand that it's important for the best players to set an example by working hard. If that doesn't work:

2. Replace them. Put somebody in for them at practice and start them in the game if they don't get the hint.

3. Bench them. Give all of the playing time to players who do it the way that you want.

4. Cut them as a last resort but don't hesitate to do so if it comes to that.

I agree with fantom on this one. Talk to them, replace them, bench them, cut them. I also agree with brophy on exposing them to other talent. I had a kid who was the biggest baddest meanest fish in his tiny puddle of a world. He was so big headed that I personally wanted to humble him in an attempt to show him how much better he could be. I took him to a De La Salle summer workout. He didn't realize that there were guys out there who wouldn't just beat him on a play, they would terrorize him. He came back to our school and was the most motivated guy there. He understood the standard we were trying to set and that excellence wasn't being the best at the school, it was being the best you possibly could. He just needed to see the standard.

Keep in mind that if these kids have been losing forever they may not have any idea how to practice and why it's important to practice hard every day. 

so how are you going to get more out of those players?

broph,
MOST OF THE KIDS RESPOND when they realize I am serious. Mom complains about little Richard being a problem at home, his reps cut as does his playing time. Problem solved. Let little john get a D in math... I have no problem at the HS making kid dress out and not get one rep i.e zero playing time.