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Post by vicvinegar on Jan 25, 2016 21:22:49 GMT -6
I'm sure there is already a thread on this, but I couldn't find it, so sorry for the repeat. I've been looking at a job or two that are traditional losers. The plus about these jobs is that they obviously come with very low expectations from the outside. They are also in conferences/ sectionals that are also weak. Great for a first time coach in my opinion. While I have ideas, one of my concerns is getting numbers. One of the schools only had 20 kids (freshmen up). The average for their size school in our area is 40-50 kids sophomore up.
So how do you get the numbers up at a school that's never won and is use to a coaching change every 3-4 years? Obviously winning will bring kids out, but I need kids initially to do that.
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Post by agap on Jan 25, 2016 23:21:04 GMT -6
Besides winning, do you know why that school's numbers are down?
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tekart
Junior Member
Posts: 298
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Post by tekart on Jan 26, 2016 10:28:10 GMT -6
Get the kids that are out excited. If they are excited they may bring a few more on board. Interact with the kids in and out of the program. Recruit your feeder schools and Jr High get them excited and make sure the coaches at that level are on board and keep your numbers up. It is a process and will not happen over night.
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Post by chi5hi on Jan 26, 2016 11:59:29 GMT -6
Is there another sport on campus that is the major sport? Baseball, Basketball...Tennis?
The reason I ask is because, if there is no other big time sport at the school, the problem might be the school culture...nobody wants to play anything. Then again, if there is another sport that draws the kids and the crowds, talk to that team's coaches. Perhaps they can give some insight...maybe encourage the players to expand their horizons.
Here comes the tweak...many coaches don't want their players to engage in any sport other than the one they coach. IMO, I wouldn't want to work there.
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Post by coachg13 on Jan 26, 2016 12:08:49 GMT -6
I'm at a tiny tiny school. We have 37 boys in the high school. 4 of which have medical conditions - 1 epilepsy, 2 severe back issues, one special needs. That leaves 33 males. We had 30 on the squad this year. Next year will be a higher percentage with 3 of the above 4 mentioned graduating bc every 8th grade male participates except 1 who is our ball boy so I'll count him. You beating the bushes and recruiting the hallways will get a few more out if you are a new HC just bc that raises some interest and excited to start.
Our staff pounds home how special it is to be part of our group. The kids take pride in it. The "peer pressure" is what brings the participation up big time. It was my first year here, and there was a baseball stud that refused to play football. After 2 days of spring practice he came and begged to play. All his friends talking about how different it is and the pride they exhibit from being in the football program did that. Concentrate on the kids you do have. Get every one of them to buy in completely and take pride in what they're doing every day. A kid telling another kid he needs to be out on the football field goes a lot further than any coach saying the same thing would go.
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Post by coachwilliams2 on Jan 26, 2016 12:43:24 GMT -6
1. Have nice things and high expectations (make them see you value them and this job)
2. WIN (People want to be a part of winning)
3. Realize that increasing numbers is a 3-4 year goal. Like others have said, middle school, feeder teams etc. are the key to number in my opinion. Many quit before high school because they have bad experiences etc.
4. Be OK without some guys. Most times, if you have to beg to get a kid out, he won't be committed or trustworthy. I want guys who want to be there. Otherwise they hold the power.
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Post by brophy on Jan 26, 2016 14:44:29 GMT -6
Increase the likelihood for the kids to make a difference. The more kids that come out, the more parents / community support you'll generate. The more community that comes out, the more future classes will be influenced to be a part of your program. How do you increase the likelihood that kids will have an incentive to come out? Allow them to participate (not just practice). If I know that only the 8 studliest guys in the school are ever going to see the field, what incentive do I have to even try? If I haven't played before and I know the program fields a ton of kids every year, I will likely join. If my friends see me join, THEY will want to join. Sure winning cures everything. Everyone wants to win. That isn't necessarily why most people play the game, though. Most kids play because THEY WANT TO PLAY WITH THEIR FRIENDS. They want to identify themselves with something bigger than themselves. Provide them that outlet. Can you give the kids an environment where they will receive attention from coaches? A chance to contribute? An avenue they can participate with their peers? If you can, kids will come out. The biggest mistake programs make (IMO) is disregarding kids that come out that likely won't contribute on the field. Some of the best kids in your program can be 3rd stringers that are the glue/friends of some your starters or have families that are involved with supporting the team. tl;dr PLATOONhow do you get the numbers up at a school that's never won and is use to a coaching change every 3-4 years. |
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Post by veerman on Jan 26, 2016 14:57:46 GMT -6
Do your best to sell the program, like Brophy said, try and find as many ways to get different players on the field.
If your struggling that bad, I hate to say it but only sure way to raise interest level is to WIN. Everybody wants to be associated with a winner.
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Post by seabass on Jan 26, 2016 15:23:53 GMT -6
If everybody else in the conference has twice as many players as this school then they definitely have a culture issue. There may be other issues as well but bad culture is probably at the top of the list. The opportunity in that problem is that it can be impacted by good leadership. It's a process though...
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Post by coach2013 on Jan 27, 2016 9:39:03 GMT -6
If you can get a job in the building you can work the PE classes and the lunchroom and study halls to chat up the game.
Build relationships
Talk about winning from the beginning.
Talk about "core" from the beginning and explain what it means to be in the core.
You really don't need "numbers" as much as you need buy in.
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jelotts
Sophomore Member
Posts: 120
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Post by jelotts on Jan 27, 2016 11:09:10 GMT -6
Increase the likelihood for the kids to make a difference. The more kids that come out, the more parents / community support you'll generate. The more community that comes out, the more future classes will be influenced to be a part of your program. How do you increase the likelihood that kids will have an incentive to come out? Allow them to participate (not just practice). If I know that only the 8 studliest guys in the school are ever going to see the field, what incentive do I have to even try? If I haven't played before and I know the program fields a ton of kids every year, I will likely join. If my friends see me join, THEY will want to join. Sure winning cures everything. Everyone wants to win. That isn't necessarily why most people play the game, though. Most kids play because THEY WANT TO PLAY WITH THEIR FRIENDS. They want to identify themselves with something bigger than themselves. Provide them that outlet. Can you give the kids an environment where they will receive attention from coaches? A chance to contribute? An avenue they can participate with their peers? If you can, kids will come out. The biggest mistake programs make (IMO) is disregarding kids that come out that likely won't contribute on the field. Some of the best kids in your program can be 3rd stringers that are the glue/friends of some your starters or have families that are involved with supporting the team. tl;dr PLATOONhow do you get the numbers up at a school that's never won and is use to a coaching change every 3-4 years. Very good advice and very well said. Thank you! |
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Post by 60zgo on Jan 28, 2016 0:19:46 GMT -6
1. Is this fun? Yes winning helps but if they are losing AND getting beat down by the coaches they won't come out. It has to be a positive environment.
2. Also you need to examine academic retention. Often times places with low numbers have academic/social factors that keep kids out of sports.
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Post by funkfriss on Jan 28, 2016 12:16:34 GMT -6
Increase the likelihood for the kids to make a difference. The more kids that come out, the more parents / community support you'll generate. The more community that comes out, the more future classes will be influenced to be a part of your program. How do you increase the likelihood that kids will have an incentive to come out? Allow them to participate (not just practice). If I know that only the 8 studliest guys in the school are ever going to see the field, what incentive do I have to even try? If I haven't played before and I know the program fields a ton of kids every year, I will likely join. If my friends see me join, THEY will want to join. Sure winning cures everything. Everyone wants to win. That isn't necessarily why most people play the game, though. Most kids play because THEY WANT TO PLAY WITH THEIR FRIENDS. They want to identify themselves with something bigger than themselves. Provide them that outlet. Can you give the kids an environment where they will receive attention from coaches? A chance to contribute? An avenue they can participate with their peers? If you can, kids will come out. The biggest mistake programs make (IMO) is disregarding kids that come out that likely won't contribute on the field. Some of the best kids in your program can be 3rd stringers that are the glue/friends of some your starters or have families that are involved with supporting the team. tl;dr PLATOONhow do you get the numbers up at a school that's never won and is use to a coaching change every 3-4 years. I was scrolling and waiting for somebody to come with this one. I always hear winning brings numbers, but that has never been my experience at all. I've been coaching for quite a while now, been through successful seasons and unsuccessful seasons. Our numbers have stayed relatively the same throughout. Heck, our basketball team has had 1 winning season in the last 20 years and we have more numbers out this year than ever before. Kids will play if they think it is fun. How do kids define fun? 1. Their teammates make it fun. They make it enjoyable to be a teammate and part of their group. 2. Their coaches make it fun. They show respect, relate to kids well, and understand how to push and motivate kids to be better. 3. Their parents make it fun. They encourage and sign their kids up to play and are positive, not overbearing. Are numbers low throughout the system in every class (Youth - HS)? If so, it's probably a parent thing. Do numbers start to dwindle the higher they go? If so, it's probably a coaching thing. Do numbers vary by class (high numbers one year, low the next)? If so, it's probably a teammate thing. |
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Post by brophy on Jan 28, 2016 13:57:50 GMT -6
to piggyback on the platoon thing.......
Platooning isn't about 1 team, 1 season. The intent is to build a PROGRAM.
If your intent is to just have a lot of numbers for 2016, then just start handing out cash to kids.
If your intent is to have a ton of kids out to develop into starters, then you should get serious about Platooning. This means the head coach can't be focused on calling plays, he has to invest in his coaches to become coordinators, because HIS job is making sure the 8 - 12 PROGRAM is alive. This means all your coaches participate in the program, by being seen at lower level football, basketball, wrestling, track events. Have an active relationship with feeder program PE teachers.
The INVESTMENT has to be applied to your lower levels (8th, 9th, JV) and not neglected by throwing slappys to oversee them.
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Post by joelee on Jan 28, 2016 14:01:29 GMT -6
I'm at a tiny tiny school. We have 37 boys in the high school. 4 of which have medical conditions - 1 epilepsy, 2 severe back issues, one special needs. That leaves 33 males. We had 30 on the squad this year. Next year will be a higher percentage with 3 of the above 4 mentioned graduating bc every 8th grade male participates except 1 who is our ball boy so I'll count him. You beating the bushes and recruiting the hallways will get a few more out if you are a new HC just bc that raises some interest and excited to start. Our staff pounds home how special it is to be part of our group. The kids take pride in it. The "peer pressure" is what brings the participation up big time. It was my first year here, and there was a baseball stud that refused to play football. After 2 days of spring practice he came and begged to play. All his friends talking about how different it is and the pride they exhibit from being in the football program did that. Concentrate on the kids you do have. Get every one of them to buy in completely and take pride in what they're doing every day. A kid telling another kid he needs to be out on the football field goes a lot further than any coach saying the same thing would go. This answer is gold |
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Post by coachg13 on Jan 28, 2016 14:12:28 GMT -6
The INVESTMENT has to be applied to your lower levels (8th, 9th, JV) and not neglected by throwing slappys to oversee them. This answer is the real gold. I hired our JV staff I hired high energy guys that wanted to be there. Had to teach them exactly what I wanted them to do, but they were there with the understanding that we are trying to build a program. Same with the elementary program. We've got that luxury bc we are k-12. I plan on going back to public school at some point, and I don't think I'd ever take a HC job if I'm lucky enough to be offered without being able to have input from the youth level up. When I (first year HC) showed up at the first JV game, a person I'd never met before walked up to me shook my hand and said "You're the first HC I have seen at a JV game in 5 years"...and they wondered why they were a perfect example of mediocrity... Also as brophy said PE class is where it's at. Get them playing sports in PE. Balls skills/hand eye coordination or lack there of aren't accidents once they get to the HS level. |
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Post by veerman on Jan 28, 2016 14:45:23 GMT -6
Love it. Just to play devils advocate here. What about if you didn't hire the staff, do you give over full duties to the assistants. Maybe others have been in this situation before, low numbers and a staff that I didn't hire, how did it go giving up calling duties to someone you didn't bring in on your first year?
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Post by racehorse on Jan 28, 2016 17:56:03 GMT -6
Is there another sport on campus that is the major sport? Baseball, Basketball...Tennis? The reason I ask is because, if there is no other big time sport at the school, the problem might be the school culture...nobody wants to play anything. Then again, if there is another sport that draws the kids and the crowds, talk to that team's coaches. Perhaps they can give some insight...maybe encourage the players to expand their horizons. Here comes the tweak...many coaches don't want their players to engage in any sport other than the one they coach. IMO, I wouldn't want to work there. If there is a "primary" sport, and you are starting from scratch, maybe try to get one of those coaches to be an assistant for you. Create an instant bond between the teams. I did it with wrestling, track, and basketball. Had a coach from each as a football asst. Numbers were never a problem after that, and we (football) pushed the players to be in other sports. Competition is always a good thing. We had lifting in the morning, so they didn't miss out on that either. |
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