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Post by natenator on Jul 17, 2014 10:05:30 GMT -6
Curious if other coaches try to teach the WHY behind a technique or element of the game instead of just HOW to do it?
I coach summer ball in Canada and get limited practice time with my team (4 hours) which is mainly due to lack of fields in our area as we compete with soccer clubs/teams. As such, I try to teach my kids why an offense (I coach defense) is trying to do certain things. For example, why a reach block, base block, double team, and scoop block. Why to YOU on certain plays and not to others, etc. I try to teach them how a QB is taught to read a defense and what they are looking for pre-snap and immediately post-snap. In other words, I try to elevate their football IQ in hoping that it elevates their level of play ability by knowing WHY something is being done they are in a better position to defend it over just telling them the HOW and nothing else.
I've tried to do this for a few years now and I am not sure it pays dividends at the 13-16 age range.
As always, I'm looking to be a coach and not just an instructor. Maybe it is paying dividends and I am just not noticing it or maybe I am trying to do too much in too little time and should just triage to what is needed the most: the how?
Always curious to hear what more experienced guys do or would do if you only had 30-45 mins (max and if very lucky) of indy time per week.
Thanks gents!
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Post by shocktroop34 on Jul 17, 2014 10:27:42 GMT -6
I think you are dead on...I've always felt as if the 'how' increased technique and the 'why' increased I.Q.
However, in many cases, it is not so much a matter of time. The 'why' can be taught in a matter of seconds if the 'how' is taught correctly.
Meaning: solid teachers can usually apply some type of scenario or example that will provide clarity to the technique at hand.
For years, I ignored the 'why.' It is so important to me now, that I truly feel it is one of the major differences between winning and losing.
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Post by coachphillip on Jul 17, 2014 10:42:17 GMT -6
When I coach my freshman, the why isn't as important to them as the how. I coach them as such. Start with pure fundamentals and touch on why as the summer progresses. By the time we get to mid season, they start to figure out the why and I'm able to expand on those questions.
When I get the sophomores, it's a lot of review and we go deeper into the why and expand the playbook (the how). This is usually when we start getting developed enough in our football IQ to identify issues and have coaches prescribe remedies. By the end of the season, they should be picking remedies to problems based on suggestions from coaches.
By junior/senior year, it's their team and their game. They know the how and the why. They identify, troubleshoot, and resolve their own issues. Coaches are there to supervise the situation. "Hey. That DT is crashing that double team. What are we doing?" "Yeah, coach. Billy can't get across so I can't go to backer. We're gonna fold it and have Billy just go to backer." "Sounds good."
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Post by blb on Jul 17, 2014 10:42:41 GMT -6
The more kids understand why you're doing something, the more confidence they'll have (even when things go wrong) which enables them to play faster, more aggressively.
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tbel57
Freshmen Member
Posts: 96
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Post by tbel57 on Jul 17, 2014 13:20:41 GMT -6
Part of my thought process is what good does it do if a players knows how to block somebody, but doesn't know who to block. As a team, it doesn't help us if he blocks the wrong guy with good technique.
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Post by coachdubyah on Jul 17, 2014 13:30:25 GMT -6
This has gotten me in trouble in the past. I tend to over explain and it blows their mind. Something I am currently working on as coach...Of Course Oline guys are typically wired like that.
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Post by natenator on Jul 17, 2014 13:42:22 GMT -6
This has gotten me in trouble in the past. I tend to over explain and it blows their mind. Something I am currently working on as coach...Of Course Oline guys are typically wired like that. Haha same here. Not with OL but definitely with D players. I have so much love for the game and want to share as much of that with the kids I coach bit sometimes I think I overload them. Have really stripped it back over the years so trying to teach the 'theory' as it specifically relates to the technique I'm coaching and not bring in other stuff. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2014 14:01:05 GMT -6
I always mention why we're doing each drill/skill and briefly explain how it applies to the field when I first teach it. It's a lot easier to get them to take those footwork drills seriously if they understand how it translates to what they're actually doing in a game. I avoid long sermons on it. Usually I'll bring a player up to walk through and demonstrate why it matters for a minute or so.
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Post by fantom on Jul 17, 2014 15:15:37 GMT -6
Curious if other coaches try to teach the WHY behind a technique or element of the game instead of just HOW to do it? I coach summer ball in Canada and get limited practice time with my team (4 hours) which is mainly due to lack of fields in our area as we compete with soccer clubs/teams. As such, I try to teach my kids why an offense (I coach defense) is trying to do certain things. For example, why a reach block, base block, double team, and scoop block. Why to YOU on certain plays and not to others, etc. I try to teach them how a QB is taught to read a defense and what they are looking for pre-snap and immediately post-snap. In other words, I try to elevate their football IQ in hoping that it elevates their level of play ability by knowing WHY something is being done they are in a better position to defend it over just telling them the HOW and nothing else. I've tried to do this for a few years now and I am not sure it pays dividends at the 13-16 age range. As always, I'm looking to be a coach and not just an instructor. Maybe it is paying dividends and I am just not noticing it or maybe I am trying to do too much in too little time and should just triage to what is needed the most: the how? Always curious to hear what more experienced guys do or would do if you only had 30-45 mins (max and if very lucky) of indy time per week. Thanks gents! I think that you have to teach them why they're supposed to do certain things if you want them to do it right and I think that that's particularly important on defense. Players who understand why they're reading a certain key and playing a certain technique are less likely to do it wrong because now they understand what part they play in the overall scheme. |
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Post by blb on Jul 17, 2014 15:28:50 GMT -6
This has gotten me in trouble in the past. I tend to over explain and it blows their mind. Something I am currently working on as coach...Of Course Oline guys are typically wired like that.
Don't put on a clinic on the field.
That's what position meetings are for.
They're not getting better while you're talking.
Explain once, demonstrate once, have them do it.
Then correct.
And have them do it 1,000 times.
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Post by coachdubyah on Jul 17, 2014 15:31:32 GMT -6
This has gotten me in trouble in the past. I tend to over explain and it blows their mind. Something I am currently working on as coach...Of Course Oline guys are typically wired like that.
Don't put on a clinic on the field.
That's what position meetings are for.
They're not getting better while you're talking.
Explain once, demonstrate once, have them do it.
Then correct.
And have them do it 1,000 times.
Yep! Coming from you that means a lot. |
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Post by carookie on Jul 17, 2014 17:52:34 GMT -6
I dont think you should teach why AS MUCH as how. I have coached for guys like that, who spend more time worrying about players ability to draw up what everyone does one a white board than the specific movements required. I've heard some say it really impresses recruiters and shows them that you are dedicated to learning.
For me though, once or twice on the "why" is fine for those who are capable of digesting it; but id rather repeat the how over and over.
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Post by macdiiddy on Jul 17, 2014 19:51:24 GMT -6
I think its important to explain the why you are doing certain individual drills. We are not running around big hoops on the ground because its something to do. It is to help you learn how to bend and lean around an offensive lineman in a pass rush and to dip that shoulder and rip past a blocker as you are disengaging from them; type of thing.
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Post by emptybackfield on Jul 17, 2014 20:08:52 GMT -6
As was alluded to, teaching the "why" increases buy-in, understanding and trust. Sometimes kids need affirmation that you have their best interests in mind and not just spouting something cause you heard it at the Atlanta Glazier Clinic or Coach Whistledick from your high school team coached it that way. Buy-in, understanding and trust are components of great players and teams.
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Post by tango on Jul 18, 2014 7:25:36 GMT -6
I need Forrest Gump.
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Post by coachphillip on Jul 18, 2014 8:43:42 GMT -6
I don't know how you can't coach the why nowadays. Most of the coaches I've met or worked with who have a poor rapport with the kids or who just don't have the kids' ears is due, in large part, to them NOT being ABLE to explain the why. I don't know how kids are where you guys are at, but my kids are constantly asking me why we do what we do. I make it a point to tell my defensive staff every year that you should never just brush that question off. You only ask why when you care. That kid cares enough to want to know the motive behind our stuff! If you don't answer, then the kid will either think you don't care or you don't know. Both of those are bad. I mean, honestly, it doesn't take long to say, "We're running the hoop to simulate leaning and bending to pass an OL." If you have the opportunity to give a drill/skill/scheme context, why wouldn't you?
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Post by blb on Jul 18, 2014 9:05:54 GMT -6
Whenever introducing a drill, I tell them the name of the drill (so in future it will take less time to set up-get started) and what its purpose is.
When we put in a play we tell them what it is designed to do or attack, how it fits in our offense.
When we put in a front, stunt, etc. we tell them what its for ("Crash" designed to stop off tackle play, for ex.) and also what its weakness is.
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Post by emptybackfield on Jul 18, 2014 11:31:10 GMT -6
Forgive me, but I don't get it |
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Post by tango on Jul 18, 2014 11:37:21 GMT -6
Just do what I tell you.
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Post by newt21 on Jul 18, 2014 15:17:31 GMT -6
I explain the "why" every time I teach something. I don't exactly turn it into a clinic on the field, but I do believe (and have seen) that the kids will do exactly as you say when they know why they're doing it and that it is beneficial.
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Post by blb on Jul 18, 2014 15:34:07 GMT -6
If you expect HS kids to have "Football IQ," you need to teach it to them.
And, again - it really helps not only in preparation but confidence, including YOU as a coach - if they know you'll have something to get them out of a problem other than "PLAY HARDER!" they'll respond better.
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