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Post by nltdiego on Nov 11, 2013 18:26:28 GMT -6
Coaches,
I just finished my first year at a school with no winning tradition, finished 4-6 after three straight years of 2-8. I keep being told that I will not win here because of our demographics. We are 40% Asian and only had 35 athletes at a school over over 2500. We play teams with a roster of over 50 kids.
Do you agree with this assessment? What does it take to create a winning program at a school with predominantly no athletes?
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Post by CoachCP on Nov 11, 2013 18:46:17 GMT -6
Have you made an effort to get to know the families of prospective students?
Do everything you can to get to know them. Find out their interests and concerns, and relate the sport to them.
For certain families, football is seen in a certain light. You as a coach might be seen in a certain light. It's your job to show them otherwise and show them how valuable the game - and you as a mentor - can be.
You should approach the families early. Go to other events and schmooze when their in junior high, or find coaches that have an interest in those things too and let them work their magic.
Because time is a concern and you can't get to know every family, run events like dodge ball tournaments and things like that at the junior high so you can identify prospective athletes and see if you find out more about them. Once you get 3-4 good athletes you normally wouldn't, hopefully you'll have some extra playmakers that can lead to a few more W's down the line.
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Post by dubber on Nov 11, 2013 19:15:17 GMT -6
Coaches, I just finished my first year at a school with no winning tradition, finished 4-6 after three straight years of 2-8. I keep being told that I will not win here because of our demographics. We are 40% Asian and only had 35 athletes at a school over over 2500. We play teams with a roster of over 50 kids. Do you agree with this assessment? What does it take to create a winning program at a school with predominantly no athletes? The green part does not matter. The red part does. Fix the red part, and you win. "What does it take to create a winning program at a school with predominantly no athletes?"
1.) Realize that statement is a self-fulfilling prophecy.....which is hippie speak for BS 2.) Recruit the athletes 3.) Train the athletes |
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Post by shocktroop34 on Nov 11, 2013 20:05:29 GMT -6
Your situation is difficult to ascertain because football has so many different variables in regard to overall success. Demographics are going to weigh differently from place to place. I have taken 38 kids and beat teams with 70. I agree with dubber. I would focus on getting the numbers up and then see where you stand.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Nov 11, 2013 20:15:08 GMT -6
Coaches, I just finished my first year at a school with no winning tradition, finished 4-6 after three straight years of 2-8. I keep being told that I will not win here because of our demographics. We are 40% Asian and only had 35 athletes at a school over over 2500. We play teams with a roster of over 50 kids. Do you agree with this assessment? What does it take to create a winning program at a school with predominantly no athletes? Furthermore, I'm not a math guy, but from my calculations, up 4-6 from 2-8 is already a 100% increase in success. You are already disproving the negative cultural theories in your area. My friend, buy some ear plugs and go coach those kids up. |
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Post by 19delta on Nov 11, 2013 20:57:07 GMT -6
I would try to get a job as an assistant coach on the math team...
Seriously, it sounds like you have things going in the right direction. Biggest difference maker (IMO) between programs with no winning tradition and programs with a winning tradition is a commitment to the weight room in the off season. That is where you build your foundation.
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Post by 42falcon on Nov 11, 2013 21:03:35 GMT -6
Honestly, I apologize before I post.. But none of the demographics matter. I may still be a little raw from our loss on the weekend but we played in the City Final in our division VS a team that protested a move up to a higher classification because: "our program is in the NE of the City and our kids (mostly lower socioeconomic, racially diverse, lots of middle eastern students)are not into football / footbal is not part of our famailies culture".
They were excellent, wonderfully coached, teriffic athletes.
Black, white, purple, rich, poor none of that matters. Recruit the halls, make football something that people want to be a part of and you will turn the 35 people on your roster into 50 in no time. After that work on getting the right 50 on the team and you will improve your chances of improving your record.
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Post by Coach Huey on Nov 12, 2013 7:12:14 GMT -6
35 varsity football players or 35 TOTAL football players (9-12)?
We have around 280 boys in our school and 121 of them play football. (520 total students)
We play teams with 700-900 total students but have been fairly successful, for the most part, because their programs may not have any more football players than ours. (we've had upwards of 140 some years). Get as many players out as you can. Find ways to get them involved - this is why we like playing 1 side of the ball because it gets more people involved & gives ownership to the program.
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Post by 42falcon on Nov 12, 2013 7:52:50 GMT -6
To also add to this it makes your job as a coach harder when you have more kids. We played extra games this year so that we could get those other students playing. Without those games we would never get them playing and be back down to 30 or so each week.
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Post by coach2013 on Nov 13, 2013 11:22:43 GMT -6
The Asian comment I don't get. We have several Asian and foreign exchange kids that play football and contribute.
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Post by windigo on Nov 15, 2013 14:49:23 GMT -6
We were told the same crap.
Two state championships later...
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Post by huskerhoyahawk on Nov 15, 2013 16:00:55 GMT -6
35 varsity football players or 35 TOTAL football players (9-12)? We have around 280 boys in our school and 121 of them play football. (520 total students) We play teams with 700-900 total students but have been fairly successful, for the most part, because their programs may not have any more football players than ours. (we've had upwards of 140 some years). Get as many players out as you can. Find ways to get them involved - this is why we like playing 1 side of the ball because it gets more people involved & gives ownership to the program. What's the breakdown on that 120? How many on each team? |
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