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Post by Defcord on Oct 12, 2015 20:04:35 GMT -6
Some posts I have read on here lately got me thinking about dumb things young coaches do. I coached my first year when I was 21 because I went to a small D3 school and ran out of money, blew out my knee, and met a found a blonde back home willing to do some things I like just about as much as playing football.
Anyway I was in my fifth year of coaching as a lay coach at a D3 school when I finally realized I didn't no dogshat. I was in a meeting giving some ideas on how to stop something our opponents were going to run. Our DC said draw it up and let me see. I grabbed the marker, puffed my chest, and let everyone know I was a darned fool. I drew everything up from an offensive perspective and they laughed at me. They may have called me a few names but iy made me realize it I had a lot to learn.
The other time i felt like this I was running kids for something and pur hc said run run them all you want after practice but until then its your job to coach them and make them better. That was a light bulb moment for me.
What instances have you guys had like this that the rest of us might be able to take from?
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Post by lions23 on Oct 12, 2015 20:47:36 GMT -6
I have a really talented OLB. He is a little different and doesn't quite understand how his behaviors impact others around him.
Told my Lber coach to start working on his behaviors and talking to him about team stuff. I see them talking all week and I am sure they are discussing his behaviors and working on technique.
Friday comes along and I lookout on the field. The stud olb isn't on the field I ask what is going on and the coach says I ran him all week and he never came around. I said out him in the game We later had to have a talk about how running a kid isn't necessarily working on behaviors. I told him we could fix an attitude but we can't trade a 6'1 210 pound dynamic pass rusher for a 5'10 165 pound chubby kid.
So we discussed that I would do any necessary running punishments and as the position coach it was his job to establish a relationship that would help usual understand each other better.
Now that the coach is doing that the kid is lighting up Qbs and slot receivers.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Oct 13, 2015 7:30:06 GMT -6
Others may have a different take, but in my experience, the young coaches I've had on my staff have made mistakes in the following areas:
1) Too much talking/Not enough listening (Enough said).
2) Too ambitious, too soon (wanting to be a BCS coach in year two of their career).
3) Second guessing the HC, either privately or openly (the guy who thinks he can do a better job without knowing everything that goes into the job).
4) Poor work ethic (Just because the DC - who's been coaching for 18 years - leaves almost immediately after practice is over, doesn't mean you should...be the first to show, last to go).
5) Inability to garner respect (Young coaches are sometimes 3-4 years removed in age for the players they are coaching. If the coach is weak in some area of the game, it can be difficult to gain the respect of the room. This is also compounded with trying to establish a rapport with players without being perceived as a "buddy").
6) Lack of humility (This is not only with young coaches. But stating what you don't know can sometimes be perceived as weakness of a lack of confidence. Depending on the nature of one's staff, declaring your short comings can often bring support from other sources, in and outside, of the current staff).
These are just a few from the top of my head. Good thread and I'm interested in what others see...
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Post by chi5hi on Oct 13, 2015 7:36:23 GMT -6
Kids respond better to an "...attaboy!" than they do to a loud, angry voice.
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Post by coachwilliams2 on Oct 13, 2015 7:53:25 GMT -6
Think a hyped up pregame speech is the cure for a bad team...
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Post by coachphillip on Oct 13, 2015 8:06:19 GMT -6
Don't know if it's dumb, because we all tend to do it when we're younger, but pretending to be coach instead of just being yourself and coaching. I tried like heck to be like my coaches from when I played. The kids saw right through that act. Year 3 I just started being myself and it worked way better. I was calling the kids "son" and I was only 18 lmao! Talking about when they played to kids like the kids actually give a dang. Sure, maybe once or twice a year a kid may ask you about something from when you played. But, that is the only time you should talk about your "glory days", if a kid asks. Forgetting that they were just as screwed up as kids as the kids they coach. So sick of coaches saying things like "We ALWAYS came to practice and ran all of our gassers at 110%!" NO, YOU DIDN'T! You dogged it every once in a while too. You took days off to go swimming with friends and girls too. You maybe tried alcohol or marijuana too. I'm not saying any of that is permissible, but remember that they're kids making mistakes like you once did. There's too much to write on this without my full mug of coffee. coachphillip.blogspot.com/2015/08/reflection-dumbest-thing-i-did-in-my.html |
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Post by fbs on Oct 13, 2015 9:05:56 GMT -6
good points by everyone so far, I'd say the same as most of you. some things I learned as I went along and now can point out that younger guys do:
1. speaking in meetings. ever.
2. yelling is NOT coaching. a lot of young guys will get out there with their hair slicked back with their sunglasses and scream just to scream and nobody listens.
3. just because _______________ and it worked on saturday doesn't mean it fits our scheme. shut up about it and let the adults talk.
4. being buddies with the kids.
5. thinking that everything is going to get fixed by having long drawn out speeches with kids, or having long heart to hearts with them after practice.
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Post by bigdog2003 on Oct 13, 2015 9:50:01 GMT -6
My first year coaching, the HC had a meeting with me after the season. He said I didn't yell enough, I told him that isn't who I am, I'm not a yeller. I said yelling is something you do when you need to make a point. If you yell to much, kids stop listening to it.
When I became Head Wrestling Coach at the school I just left, I had a former wrestler ask if he could help. I let him, he did a good job, but was only 1-2 years older than the kids, so he was still in buddy mode. I had to take him to the side and tell him it was time to put the friend stuff aside and coach.
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Post by joelee on Oct 13, 2015 9:59:17 GMT -6
I will add to some of the good ones already posted.
1. thinking "lets bring more blitzes" will fix a defense or cover poor technique or cover low talent.
2. thinking "lets throw more" will fix a lack of talent, or lack of fundamentals.
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Post by hunhdisciple on Oct 13, 2015 11:37:36 GMT -6
Dumb things they do? I did a lot and have now seen a lot.
1. Try to be the world's biggest hard@ss in an attempt to get the kids to fear them.
2. Always refer back to their playing days as a point of a good team, regardless of actual results.
3. Bring up "trendy" ideas in meetings.
4. Refuse to do the menial tasks. Everybody has probably had to sweep, mop, fill up water, stay well beyond the hours they want, come way earlier than they want. That's the job, everybody has done it.
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Post by olinedude on Oct 13, 2015 12:15:30 GMT -6
I agree with everything people have said. I definitely did a lot of those things, and still do stupid stuff everyday. I'll keep my list to the things no one has mentioned yet.
1. Being too quiet. Sometimes guys say too much, but the other side of the token is not ever saying anything. It doesn't really help a staff to just have a guy doing nothing but taking up oxygen.
2. Not taking charge when necessary. Some guys don't want to take charge and run things when given the green light, INDY drills etc. Be able to jump in and take charge when its appropriate.
3. Focusing more on X's & O's than Jimmys and Joes. That would be a great play call, except you just tossed a reverse to the slowest kid on the team.
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dbeck84
Sophomore Member
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Post by dbeck84 on Oct 13, 2015 12:31:23 GMT -6
Ok. I've tried to stay quiet in the interest of not hijacking this thread, but why are we singling out "young coaches"? I've seen 20 year veterans make many of the mistakes that are referenced here, and I've seen guys fresh out of college who do great things. What are we gaining by stereotyping young coaches? Could we have a similar thread about dumb stuff old coaches do?
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Post by shocktroop34 on Oct 13, 2015 12:35:20 GMT -6
Don't know if it's dumb, because we all tend to do it when we're younger, but pretending to be coach instead of just being yourself and coaching. I tried like heck to be like my coaches from when I played. The kids saw right through that act. Year 3 I just started being myself and it worked way better. I was calling the kids "son" and I was only 18 lmao! Talking about when they played to kids like the kids actually give a dang. Sure, maybe once or twice a year a kid may ask you about something from when you played. But, that is the only time you should talk about your "glory days", if a kid asks. Forgetting that they were just as screwed up as kids as the kids they coach. So sick of coaches saying things like "We ALWAYS came to practice and ran all of our gassers at 110%!" NO, YOU DIDN'T! You dogged it every once in a while too. You took days off to go swimming with friends and girls too. You maybe tried alcohol or marijuana too. I'm not saying any of that is permissible, but remember that they're kids making mistakes like you once did. There's too much to write on this without my full mug of coffee. coachphillip.blogspot.com/2015/08/reflection-dumbest-thing-i-did-in-my.htmlWe need an icon where we can give two thumbs up. |
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Post by shocktroop34 on Oct 13, 2015 12:45:35 GMT -6
Ok. I've tried to stay quiet in the interest of not hijacking this thread, but why are we singling out "young coaches"? I've seen 20 year veterans make many of the mistakes that are referenced here, and I've seen guys fresh out of college who do great things. What are we gaining by stereotyping young coaches? Could we have a similar thread about dumb stuff old coaches do? You are absolutely correct, that veteran coaches make similar mistakes, which are sometimes worse and more detrimental. But the OP asked about young coaching mistakes. I don't think it was anyone's intent to bash younger guys, but only to express what we've seen over the years. If I was a young guy, I think the comments written thus far would be very helpful as what not to do. Like you, I had to be careful not to hijack the thread and start talking about older coaches. I could talk about my various crap shows all day long. Albeit young or old, it's like the old saying goes, 'it's not the mistake that is a sin, it's not learning from the mistake that is the sin.' |
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Post by PSS on Oct 13, 2015 12:50:07 GMT -6
In general, show up late for meetings; find a way of getting out of work; going to the coaches office as soon as practice is over; habitually disappearing when work needs to be done; or asking questions that don't pertain to what is being discussed.
Find something to do. Don't wait to be told to do it. Take the initiative to do it. There is something that always needs to be set up, washed, put away, cleaned, or handed out. Doing these things will go a long way in making a cohesive coaching staff.
It might have been mentioned but Coach Every Rep. Correct, praise, there is always something that needs to be said.
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Post by coachphillip on Oct 13, 2015 12:54:12 GMT -6
Ok. I've tried to stay quiet in the interest of not hijacking this thread, but why are we singling out "young coaches"? I've seen 20 year veterans make many of the mistakes that are referenced here, and I've seen guys fresh out of college who do great things. What are we gaining by stereotyping young coaches? Could we have a similar thread about dumb stuff old coaches do? You are absolutely correct, that veteran coaches make similar mistakes, which are sometimes worse and more detrimental. But the OP asked about young coaching mistakes. I don't think it was anyone's intent to bash younger guys, but only to express what we've seen over the years. If I was a young guy, I think the comments written thus far would be very helpful as what not to do. Like you, I had to be careful not to hijack the thread and start talking about older coaches. I could talk about my various crap shows all day long. Albeit young or old, it's like the old saying goes, 'it's not the mistake that is a sin, it's not learning from the mistake that is the sin.' Right. I just felt like these were things I would've liked to know about before I started. My mistakes are ones that are corrected by experience. You're right in that there are a lot of dumb things old guys continue to do too. |
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Post by Defcord on Oct 13, 2015 12:56:32 GMT -6
Ok. I've tried to stay quiet in the interest of not hijacking this thread, but why are we singling out "young coaches"? I've seen 20 year veterans make many of the mistakes that are referenced here, and I've seen guys fresh out of college who do great things. What are we gaining by stereotyping young coaches? Could we have a similar thread about dumb stuff old coaches do? I singled out young coaches because as I was reading some other stuff I thought about some of things they were getting called out for and also of the dumb mistakes I made and wish I could have read about.
I do agree that there are veteran coaches that do dumb stuff, as well.
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Post by wolverine55 on Oct 13, 2015 13:04:03 GMT -6
I don't remember doing or saying anything specifically, although I am sure I did. I just wish I had done a better job of taking advantage of my first coaching job. I was on a great staff and didn't learn nearly as much as I should have and didn't seek out the learning opportunities nearly as much as I should have.
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Post by fbs on Oct 13, 2015 13:05:29 GMT -6
Ok. I've tried to stay quiet in the interest of not hijacking this thread, but why are we singling out "young coaches"? I've seen 20 year veterans make many of the mistakes that are referenced here, and I've seen guys fresh out of college who do great things. What are we gaining by stereotyping young coaches? Could we have a similar thread about dumb stuff old coaches do? I'll tell you why... because if even one young guy reads this and changes his ways, then we have helped him change for the better of his career and the kids he's trying to help. Young guys are typically trying their hardest but don't know the game like they think they do, and don't understand what it means to be a PROFESSIONAL educator and football coach. I listed the things I've seen in hopes that Johnny Harda$$ will take a break from spewing all his BS in a meeting that he shouldn't be talking in and learn from someone that's been there and made the mistakes too. The difference is that older guys still making those same mistakes are not real coaches, and at this point they never will be. They are cancers and are toxic to your program. What I've found is that those guys are just collecting a pay check and need to be run off. You don't run off the young guy, you take him under your wing and teach him about the game and how to get kids to buy into them as coaches. So while you sticking your foot in the ground and taking a stand for all the young bucks out there hollering to anyone that will listen (except the head coach) that "we would score 70 if we did what "WE DID IN HIGH SCHOOL" is cool and all, it's misplaced. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2015 13:08:21 GMT -6
Don't know if it's dumb, because we all tend to do it when we're younger, but pretending to be coach instead of just being yourself and coaching. I tried like heck to be like my coaches from when I played. The kids saw right through that act. Year 3 I just started being myself and it worked way better. I was calling the kids "son" and I was only 18 lmao! Talking about when they played to kids like the kids actually give a dang. Sure, maybe once or twice a year a kid may ask you about something from when you played. But, that is the only time you should talk about your "glory days", if a kid asks. Forgetting that they were just as screwed up as kids as the kids they coach. So sick of coaches saying things like "We ALWAYS came to practice and ran all of our gassers at 110%!" NO, YOU DIDN'T! You dogged it every once in a while too. You took days off to go swimming with friends and girls too. You maybe tried alcohol or marijuana too. I'm not saying any of that is permissible, but remember that they're kids making mistakes like you once did. There's too much to write on this without my full mug of coffee. coachphillip.blogspot.com/2015/08/reflection-dumbest-thing-i-did-in-my.htmlI was that kid. I was kid who only did enough to get yelled at. I was the coddled, couch potato teenager. |
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Post by fantom on Oct 13, 2015 13:09:03 GMT -6
Ok. I've tried to stay quiet in the interest of not hijacking this thread, but why are we singling out "young coaches"? I've seen 20 year veterans make many of the mistakes that are referenced here, and I've seen guys fresh out of college who do great things. What are we gaining by stereotyping young coaches? Could we have a similar thread about dumb stuff old coaches do? As I see it the point of this thread is to help young coaches avoid these mistakes. It's not venting or griping about young coaches. |
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Post by PSS on Oct 13, 2015 13:30:28 GMT -6
FBS, the problem is that if a coach is having to read this off of an internet site he is in serious trouble. The head coach and coordinators on his staff need to be doing this. He should had learned the first couple of years on how to work as a coach. Then by observing the varsity coaches he should have learned to coach.
Ultimately, it is up to the HC to train the coaches under him. Some will assign coaches to do this while others will do it directly. Many HC's look for work ethic because if you can work hard and you are a teacher there is no reason you can't coach.
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Post by fbs on Oct 13, 2015 13:41:18 GMT -6
FBS, the problem is that if a coach is having to read this off of an internet site he is in serious trouble. The head coach and coordinators on his staff need to be doing this. He should had learned the first couple of years on how to work as a coach. Then by observing the varsity coaches he should have learned to coach. Ultimately, it is up to the HC to train the coaches under him. Some will assign coaches to do this while others will do it directly. Many HC's look for work ethic because if you can work hard and you are a teacher there is no reason you can't coach. dead nuts, 100 percent correct. well said. there is certainly some responsibility on the HC in that he can't treat his young guys like they either don't deserve his time, or that they already know everything they're supposed to know. I've seen that mistake in multiple circumstances, and that's on the head man. the majority of the time, however, at least in my experience, is that the young guy doesn't think he needs to be taught anything, and that it's an insult for someone to try to teach them about something. I've had younger guys get offended when I tried to teach them about Oline play, and this was in a scenario where I'm the OC and Oline Coach and this little pi$$ant is fresh out of college and a JH coach. Know your stinkin role and shut your little mouth. |
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dbeck84
Sophomore Member
Posts: 170
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Post by dbeck84 on Oct 13, 2015 13:47:42 GMT -6
FBS, the problem is that if a coach is having to read this off of an internet site he is in serious trouble. The head coach and coordinators on his staff need to be doing this. He should had learned the first couple of years on how to work as a coach. Then by observing the varsity coaches he should have learned to coach. Ultimately, it is up to the HC to train the coaches under him. Some will assign coaches to do this while others will do it directly. Many HC's look for work ethic because if you can work hard and you are a teacher there is no reason you can't coach. dead nuts, 100 percent correct. well said. there is certainly some responsibility on the HC in that he can't treat his young guys like they either don't deserve his time, or that they already know everything they're supposed to know. I've seen that mistake in multiple circumstances, and that's on the head man. the majority of the time, however, at least in my experience, is that the young guy doesn't think he needs to be taught anything, and that it's an insult for someone to try to teach them about something. I've had younger guys get offended when I tried to teach them about Oline play, and this was in a scenario where I'm the OC and Oline Coach and this little pi$$ant is fresh out of college and a JH coach. Know your stinkin role and shut your little mouth. I can't imagine why someone would be hesitant to learn from you. |
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Post by IronmanFootball on Oct 13, 2015 17:00:22 GMT -6
I always draw everything from an offensive perspective. I played OL and have a hard time drawing the D on the bottom.
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Post by Defcord on Oct 13, 2015 17:03:45 GMT -6
I always draw everything from an offensive perspective. I played OL and have a hard time drawing the D on the bottom. I never even thought to draw it any other way, but i know it helps my guys on defense see things. |
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Post by 33coach on Oct 13, 2015 17:07:47 GMT -6
Some posts I have read on here lately got me thinking about dumb things young coaches do. I coached my first year when I was 21 because I went to a small D3 school and ran out of money, blew out my knee, and met a found a blonde back home willing to do some things I like just about as much as playing football. Anyway I was in my fifth year of coaching as a lay coach at a D3 school when I finally realized I didn't no dogshat. I was in a meeting giving some ideas on how to stop something our opponents were going to run. Our DC said draw it up and let me see. I grabbed the marker, puffed my chest, and let everyone know I was a darned fool. I drew everything up from an offensive perspective and they laughed at me. They may have called me a few names but iy made me realize it I had a lot to learn. The other time i felt like this I was running kids for something and pur hc said run run them all you want after practice but until then its your job to coach them and make them better. That was a light bulb moment for me. What instances have you guys had like this that the rest of us might be able to take from? some of the dumb things ive done: 1) expecting all players to be able to do the same thing i did as a player 2) assuming that i understood HOW to coach a scheme by reading a book (the 1 year we were in a 44...bad times) 3) assuming i knew more then the guy who had been coaching 10 years before i was playing 4) becoming "friends" with players - i was 20, they were 17... .... i could keep going on the mistakes ive made. but ill just leave it there. |
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Post by fantom on Oct 13, 2015 17:43:00 GMT -6
I always draw everything from an offensive perspective. I played OL and have a hard time drawing the D on the bottom. If you'e talking to the defense you should learn to draw it from the defensive perspective. It makes it easier to understand because, from the players perspective, the players are in the right spots: players on the defense's right are drawn on the right, left players are drawn on the left. |
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Post by rsmith627 on Oct 13, 2015 19:08:12 GMT -6
The one I am guilty of is not living in the moment. For a long time I was always thinking about the future, the next job, with the ultimate goal of being HC in mind. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. It has served me well. I have made it as far as being a varsity OC, but recently took a backward move (due to personal reasons and what is best for my 1 year old daughter) to JV OC.
I have learned to live in the moment, and just enjoy coaching this game that I love and being able to give something back to my community. I'm having more fun coaching JV than I have in years because I'm not looking ahead. I'm in a top notch program that contends for titles regularly. The promotions and better opportunities will come and I'll jump at the right one when it's there, but for now I'm content to be where I'm at doing what I'm doing coaching great kids, and with one of the best staffs that I have been a part of.
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Post by wolfden12 on Oct 13, 2015 19:22:57 GMT -6
As a first year volunteer assistant I was fortunate enough to get on a perennial large school powerhouse in the city. I came in the first day and was blown away by EVERYTHING! I had gone to a large classification school in high school 3 hours away and thought we did things pretty good, but this was an eye opener. As the summer began I did what was asked and didn't open my mouth. I set-up the field attended all jv and varsity games, sat in on al meetings and didn't contribute too much. I went to the offensive side (we had a split staff and this what I was comfortable with) and was overwhelmed with the knowledge and detail of the offensive coaches. I had NOTHING to contribute all year. As the year progressed I got more comfortable and tried to do what I could to build and develop our young men. During a week 9 practice, I ripped into a kid for loafing and went off and nobody stopped me. I instantly thought this is it. As practice concluded and I was cleaning off the field after everyone went in. As I came out of the equipment shed the DC said, "what took you so long to raise your voice?" I didn't have an answer. He said, "we could have used that fire on the defensive side." He explained that he was the only one who got after kids and that the other coaches kinda just did their thing. I realized that I chose being comfortable rather then uncomfortable in developing myself because it was safe. I realize now how many opportunities missed or avoided because of being safe as a coach early on. Didn't realize it until 10 years later.
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