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Post by hustleandheart on Nov 4, 2015 10:40:38 GMT -6
Hi guys,
Here's the situation; we started off with a little more than 85 kids on our Varsity/JV program. We had more than 20 kids quit and now with injuries, we barely have enough to run our practice the way we have the last 5 years (Not a lot of 2 way guys, so O and D practice at the same time and we have a full scout team for each). I know this has been a luxury most schools don't have but now here's the dilemma. We have 3 games remaining before the playoffs and we're currently 7-0. The JV season is done because the next 2 opponents don't have the numbers and our Thanksgiving Day game vs our Rival never has a JV game.
To keep more kids from quitting, improving their effort, and just having fun, what on earth can we do?
Last week, I made "scout team players of the week" and they were the JV captains. They got to cut the line for pregame meal too. But just the general vibe is a lot of negativity and it's getting cold so they don't want to be here. I'm trying to bring energy and positivity but it's been overwhelming. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
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Post by coachirish on Nov 4, 2015 10:46:22 GMT -6
We do the scout team player of the week as well and constantly preach how important scout team is and how that it is an honor for a young guy to get chosen to be on it. Also at the beginning of each day we do a team activity (team boards, team Oklahoma, etc) and do a JV group and varsity group. The last 5 minutes we stop the varsity portion of it and do just jv reps. All of the varsity guys gather around and get hyped up and loud. The JV kids love it because the older guys are getting to see them get after it. It has helped a lot of those young guys learn how to raise their intensity level and morale.
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Post by olinedude on Nov 4, 2015 10:54:34 GMT -6
Couple questions/ideas
1) can you not find your JV team games? Are there no other teams in your same situation needing games near you? I don't know how things work in your area, but we are constantly picking up jv and freshman games when the other team doesn't have enough teams to play us.
2) Can you suit up the JV for fridays? Maybe even have your jv scout team player of the week on one of your special teams?
3) Could you do an intersquad scrimmage with the JV? Get the chains out, invite parents, maybe get refs, and try to give them a game like environment.
In my opinion the whole special teams player of the week stuff doesn't really get the kids into it. About the only thing does is having their position coach coaching them up like it isn't scout team. Usually you have a DL coach jumping an OL kid for effort, but if the actual OL coach is standing there watching and coaching him you probably get better effort.
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Post by hustleandheart on Nov 4, 2015 11:10:33 GMT -6
Coach Itrish, I like that idea. I'll bring it up to the coach today.
OLdude, we have been trying to do another game and last year for our rival game, we had a draft and played JV vs JV but this year we won't have enough guys. They always dress on Fridays too.
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Post by olinedude on Nov 4, 2015 12:13:45 GMT -6
Yeah, I thought about your lack of numbers right after I said that. I still really like the idea to put your special teams player of the week on a special team, and wish I would have thought of that a couple years ago. Have your best lineman on scout be on PAT, Defensive scout team player on kickoff or punt, and offensive skill scout player of the week on kickoff return. At least theoretically it could work, and may just motivate them to compete if they know they'd get Friday night playing time. Then again, if there is a huge talent gap that could be problematic
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Post by cqmiller on Nov 4, 2015 12:16:50 GMT -6
We feed our scout kids donuts and chocolate milk the next morning in our powerlifting class if they have a good day vs. our #1's, we let them eat team dinner first, we always point out at least 1 scout kid in our post-practice huddle at midfield who stood out to the coaches...
Just give them some love and let the #1's know that you are just as interested in the scout kids as you are your starting QB, and it usually takes care of itself. You are never gonna get the kids who think they should be #1 and are selfish to not quit... they are gonna be pissed even if you tell them they had a good day on scout, but those kids that you know are gonna be special teams kids at best their 11th & 12th grade year... find a way for them to get some love each day and they will stick around.
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Post by hunhdisciple on Nov 4, 2015 12:27:16 GMT -6
We gave our guys fast food gift cards one year. We also try to give the constant scout guys some really good treatment.
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Post by hustleandheart on Nov 4, 2015 12:30:54 GMT -6
We feed our scout kids donuts and chocolate milk the next morning in our powerlifting class if they have a good day vs. our #1's, we let them eat team dinner first, we always point out at least 1 scout kid in our post-practice huddle at midfield who stood out to the coaches... Just give them some love and let the #1's know that you are just as interested in the scout kids as you are your starting QB, and it usually takes care of itself. You are never gonna get the kids who think they should be #1 and are selfish to not quit... they are gonna be pissed even if you tell them they had a good day on scout, but those kids that you know are gonna be special teams kids at best their 11th & 12th grade year... find a way for them to get some love each day and they will stick around. Okay that sounds good. I'm varsity LBs coach and JV head coach and I run the scout defense so trying to get these guys to fire out / fly to the ball every play has been a losing battle. I think a few years ago we had our scout and varsity team do the 'breakdown' together instead of two separate huddles. Maybe I'll try that again/ |
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Post by 3rdandlong on Nov 4, 2015 12:33:16 GMT -6
Are you able to suit them up for these Varsity games? Mom and dad will love taking pictures of them warming up
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Post by hustleandheart on Nov 4, 2015 12:33:26 GMT -6
Yeah, I thought about your lack of numbers right after I said that. I still really like the idea to put your special teams player of the week on a special team, and wish I would have thought of that a couple years ago. Have your best lineman on scout be on PAT, Defensive scout team player on kickoff or punt, and offensive skill scout player of the week on kickoff return. At least theoretically it could work, and may just motivate them to compete if they know they'd get Friday night playing time. Then again, if there is a huge talent gap that could be problematic Actually, that kind've happened last week. Someone got hurt on KOC and I said that this one kid always flew down in scout and JV games and now he's starting on Kickoff. I should point that out today. |
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Post by hustleandheart on Nov 4, 2015 12:33:53 GMT -6
Are you able to suit them up for these Varsity games? Mom and dad will love taking pictures of them warming up Yes, they're always suited up in varsity games. Thanks for the idea though. |
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Post by bluboy on Nov 4, 2015 18:52:13 GMT -6
We name a scout team player of the week for both scout offense and defense every week. The players who earn this award receive a special t-shirt and get to go first when we eat pizza on Thursday (day before game). At the end of the season, we award a scout team player of the year to the player who has earned this award most frequently during the season. Our kids love the shirts we give them and love getting chow first. It's a big deal to our kids and shows them that their contribution is both noticed and important.
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Post by coachtua on Nov 4, 2015 23:14:44 GMT -6
When I was running the scout defense I gave the incentive of points for a burrito. 7 points = a burrito of your choice. 1 point for a strip/caused fumble, .5 point per INT on Wednesday (pass heavy practice) (1 point for the fatboys if they could get an INT). POints were cumulative and reset when you got your burrito. At the end of the year we award a scout team player of the year (Kodak Award).
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Post by fantom on Nov 5, 2015 6:49:49 GMT -6
Hi guys,
Here's the situation; we started off with a little more than 85 kids on our Varsity/JV program. We had more than 20 kids quit and now with injuries, we barely have enough to run our practice the way we have the last 5 years (Not a lot of 2 way guys, so O and D practice at the same time and we have a full scout team for each). I know this has been a luxury most schools don't have but now here's the dilemma. We have 3 games remaining before the playoffs and we're currently 7-0. The JV season is done because the next 2 opponents don't have the numbers and our Thanksgiving Day game vs our Rival never has a JV game.
To keep more kids from quitting, improving their effort, and just having fun, what on earth can we do?
Last week, I made "scout team players of the week" and they were the JV captains. They got to cut the line for pregame meal too. But just the general vibe is a lot of negativity and it's getting cold so they don't want to be here. I'm trying to bring energy and positivity but it's been overwhelming. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you Donuts and burritos and recognition are NOT the issue. The issue is why you've had 20 kids quit. |
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Post by hustleandheart on Nov 5, 2015 6:59:54 GMT -6
We name a scout team player of the week for both scout offense and defense every week. The players who earn this award receive a special t-shirt and get to go first when we eat pizza on Thursday (day before game). At the end of the season, we award a scout team player of the year to the player who has earned this award most frequently during the season. Our kids love the shirts we give them and love getting chow first. It's a big deal to our kids and shows them that their contribution is both noticed and important. We do the end of the season award too. I guess the majority just don't care this season. |
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Post by hustleandheart on Nov 5, 2015 7:00:19 GMT -6
When I was running the scout defense I gave the incentive of points for a burrito. 7 points = a burrito of your choice. 1 point for a strip/caused fumble, .5 point per INT on Wednesday (pass heavy practice) (1 point for the fatboys if they could get an INT). POints were cumulative and reset when you got your burrito. At the end of the year we award a scout team player of the year (Kodak Award). I actually really like the idea of doing statistics... Kids love to know their stats. Maybe I can do that for full team periods. Thank you! |
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Post by hustleandheart on Nov 5, 2015 7:04:14 GMT -6
Hi guys,
Here's the situation; we started off with a little more than 85 kids on our Varsity/JV program. We had more than 20 kids quit and now with injuries, we barely have enough to run our practice the way we have the last 5 years (Not a lot of 2 way guys, so O and D practice at the same time and we have a full scout team for each). I know this has been a luxury most schools don't have but now here's the dilemma. We have 3 games remaining before the playoffs and we're currently 7-0. The JV season is done because the next 2 opponents don't have the numbers and our Thanksgiving Day game vs our Rival never has a JV game.
To keep more kids from quitting, improving their effort, and just having fun, what on earth can we do?
Last week, I made "scout team players of the week" and they were the JV captains. They got to cut the line for pregame meal too. But just the general vibe is a lot of negativity and it's getting cold so they don't want to be here. I'm trying to bring energy and positivity but it's been overwhelming. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you Donuts and burritos and recognition are NOT the issue. The issue is why you've had 20 kids quit. We had 30 seniors, 10 of which had roles on Special teams but they didn't feel like the time commitment and work they had to put in were worth it the 5-10 snaps a Friday. The other 10-15 (mostly defensive guys) got zero friday night time and didn't feel like it was worth it. The said they want to try next year but that's a separate issue. We've won the state championship the last 2 years and these kids usually put in the time and hang on for the ride to atleast get a ring but this year it's different. |
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Post by fantom on Nov 5, 2015 7:06:03 GMT -6
Donuts and burritos and recognition are NOT the issue. The issue is why you've had 20 kids quit. We had 30 seniors, 10 of which had roles on Special teams but they didn't feel like the time commitment and work they had to put in were worth it the 5-10 snaps a Friday. The other 10-15 (mostly defensive guys) got zero friday night time and didn't feel like it was worth it. The said they want to try next year but that's a separate issue. We've won the state championship the last 2 years and these kids usually put in the time and hang on for the ride to atleast get a ring but this year it's different. OK. I get it. |
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Post by mattharris75 on Nov 6, 2015 11:04:32 GMT -6
Sounds like a rich man's problem...
And I say that not to minimize the fact that you do have a legitimate issue you'd like help with. But how many of us are heading into the playoffs right now looking to defend our back to back state championships?... Good luck to you!
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