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Post by funkfriss on Feb 25, 2016 13:19:05 GMT -6
Seeking those wise owls out there who've been around the block.
I've been coaching for 12 years now (this past my first as HC), so maybe I'm still young and it's ok that I'm learning about a million things every year, but it feels like there are sooooo many good ideas floating around out there.
My question is, when do you finally decide enough is enough and settle into a groove with what you are doing? I'm not really talking schemes, but more the techniques, drills, equipment and "toys," culture building, etc.
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Post by fantom on Feb 25, 2016 13:36:20 GMT -6
Seeking those wise owls out there who've been around the block. I've been coaching for 12 years now (this past my first as HC), so maybe I'm still young and it's ok that I'm learning about a million things every year, but it feels like there are sooooo many good ideas floating around out there. My question is, when do you finally decide enough is enough and settle into a groove with what you are doing? I'm not really talking schemes, but more the techniques, drills, equipment and "toys," culture building, etc. Never. If you find something that you think will work better than what you do, you change. That's why, unlike many here, I love going to clinics. |
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Post by coachbdud on Feb 25, 2016 14:12:40 GMT -6
i think the successful guys never really settle, always tweaking little things here and there
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Post by spreadpowero on Feb 25, 2016 14:22:41 GMT -6
I am always looking for better ways to do things. There is nothing wrong with tweaking what you do. Going to clinics and talking to other coaches is something I really enjoy doing in the off season.
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Post by gibbs72 on Feb 25, 2016 14:26:13 GMT -6
I think it's OK to settle on a philosophy or a particular scheme. But, always look to find ways to teach a concept better.
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Post by CanyonCoach on Feb 25, 2016 14:42:42 GMT -6
I wish I could say we were a this team or a that team...I wish we could say that we really hang our hat on something (O or D side). the reality is that we had changes in our coaching staff, changes in our athletes (drastic..OL four years ago was 275 across the board and athletes this past year our interior line was 215 and our tackles thought getting 10 jump ropes in a row was a major athletic feat.) So you change to meet the strengths of your coaches and the strengths of the athletes.
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Post by agap on Feb 25, 2016 14:54:16 GMT -6
Nick Saban said they're always finding ways to get better.
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Post by funkfriss on Feb 25, 2016 14:55:17 GMT -6
Seeking those wise owls out there who've been around the block. I've been coaching for 12 years now (this past my first as HC), so maybe I'm still young and it's ok that I'm learning about a million things every year, but it feels like there are sooooo many good ideas floating around out there. My question is, when do you finally decide enough is enough and settle into a groove with what you are doing? I'm not really talking schemes, but more the techniques, drills, equipment and "toys," culture building, etc. Never. If you find something that you think will work better than what you do, you change. That's why, unlike many here, I love going to clinics. I guess maybe a better question would be, at your advanced stage how/when do you decide a change is needed as opposed to "we're good with what we're doing in this area"? For example (assuming you don' t already have these), when/why would you decide your program needs a sideline replay system? Or when/why would you decide your program needs a leadership council? Or Hawk tackling? They all sound great, but when is enough...enough. I guess I consider these things to be a little more than minor tweaks and was thinking more along these lines. |
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Post by fantom on Feb 25, 2016 15:07:23 GMT -6
Never. If you find something that you think will work better than what you do, you change. That's why, unlike many here, I love going to clinics. I guess maybe a better question would be, at your advanced stage how/when do you decide a change is needed as opposed to "we're good with what we're doing in this area"? For example (assuming you don' t already have these), when/why would you decide your program needs a sideline replay system? Or when/why would you decide your program needs a leadership council? Or Hawk tackling? They all sound great, but when is enough...enough. I guess I consider these things to be a little more than minor tweaks and was thinking more along these lines. The equipment question is easy. It depends on how much money we have and which salesman corners the boss at a clinic. As for the rest, an idea can come from anywhere. Maybe it's a clinic or on here, maybe you just think of it. Here's an example: I've coached DB's for a long time. Because we were a VT Robber/C.2 team we always started indy with backpedal drills. This year, though, we eliminated Robber and now we're a C.4/C.2 team. Our corners never have to backpedal so now in indy they do shuffle drills instead. |
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Post by tothehouse on Feb 25, 2016 15:17:30 GMT -6
I think it used to be that people were clamoring to find any nugget they could. Going to a clinic was huge. With the advent of the Internet and being able to go to a college and talk with coaches directly it has made gathering information easier. Therefore I think people can get information overload.
I think you find what works for you and keep tweaking it to what you think you need. Could be tweaked based on your personnel or a complete replacement of scheme, etc.
One thing I worry about...especially right now...is if I'm creating paralysis by analysis for myself. That scares me. Because if I'm out of whack...my players will be to.
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Post by coachwoodall on Feb 25, 2016 15:52:53 GMT -6
From an equipment stand point it comes down to 2 things: 1- what you can afford/fund raise 2- what the "Jones have" -- your competition
From a schematic stand point, I'm with phantom; you're always looking for the next thing that will slice bread better.
I think you need to look at in terms of what your core tenets, your fundamental beliefs are for the team. What are your non-negotiables. From there you should spend your energies in looking for better ways to implement you core tenets. IE you're a power o team - what can better help you pound the rock, you're an option team - what can better help you hid the rock, etc.....
If you're talking about things like leadership council then you're venturing into another area - social development.
Step back. Assess what do you want to accomplish with your program. Where do you want to spend your energies? What is your program philosophy? Then focus on those things that you consider important.
Otherwise you won't put in the effort into that project that you expect out of your kids.
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Post by coachwoodall on Feb 25, 2016 15:58:53 GMT -6
MANY moons ago, I would always read Bear Bryant's book before fall camp. Then, a couple of years into this gig I read an article that basically said if Bear Bryant was coaching today (now I'm dating myself because this was the cutting edge at the time) he would be using the Run and Shoot instead of the Wishbone.
That statement really struck me in terms of always educating myself.
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center
Junior Member
Posts: 485
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Post by center on Feb 25, 2016 18:44:22 GMT -6
Seeking those wise owls out there who've been around the block. I've been coaching for 12 years now (this past my first as HC), so maybe I'm still young and it's ok that I'm learning about a million things every year, but it feels like there are sooooo many good ideas floating around out there. My question is, when do you finally decide enough is enough and settle into a groove with what you are doing? I'm not really talking schemes, but more the techniques, drills, equipment and "toys," culture building, etc. . There are a ton of great ideas out there. And yes we are always looking for better ideas, etc. But what do you really believe in? What are you willing to bet your paycheck on? It's 4th and goal on the one yard line and playoffs are on the line. What are you going to call? That's the groove that you settle in to. And keep it mostly the same from year to year so your kids benefit from the consistency. Then your kids start to believe. |
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Post by 60zgo on Feb 25, 2016 21:18:43 GMT -6
I think a better way to look at it is to ask why? Why do we lift this way? Why do we signal the way we do? Why do we teach tackling this way? So when you encounter the new you are able to compare. If the new thing answers the why question better then it's time to upgrade.
I'm pretty new school in a lot of ways, but pretty ancient in some others because the old school way is still better.
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Post by carookie on Feb 25, 2016 21:40:39 GMT -6
A word of warning:
"You cannot have progress without change, but not all change is progress."
-John Wooden-
Never stop looking for better ways to do things, but we all fight the variables of time and our players ability to retain and effectively execute. As for me, my entire practice time is mapped out and filled- so if I were to add something new, then I would be doing less of something else (or getting rid of it completely). Whatever this 'new thing' is better clearly be better than what my old way is.
Otherwise, you are just changing for the sake of change.
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Post by groundchuck on Feb 25, 2016 22:38:03 GMT -6
Instead of seeking new plays and schemes we now seek better ways to teach and and tweak our "same old" plays.
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Post by mariner42 on Feb 25, 2016 23:12:22 GMT -6
Our HC is at or around 40 years of coaching, he's always trying to incorporate new stuff into how we train, how we lift, how we do what we do. I can send him a youtube link of a neat exercise on Tuesday and he'll throw it into the workout on Wednesday if he thinks it'll help.
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Post by jgordon1 on Feb 26, 2016 6:17:53 GMT -6
Mario Andretti (or someone like that) once said. If you don't feel a little out of control..You aren't driving fast enough
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Post by veerman on Feb 26, 2016 7:54:29 GMT -6
I agree that you always need to look how you can improve, but that can come as simple as 1 drill added that fits into your scheme that may improve something like a kids first step.
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Post by gibbs72 on Feb 26, 2016 8:03:52 GMT -6
Instead of seeking new plays and schemes we now seek better ways to teach and and tweak our "same old" plays. A thousand times. . . . yes! |
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Post by blb on Feb 26, 2016 8:28:05 GMT -6
First, you have to have a philosophy and a plan - here's what we believe in, what we're going to do, and why. In other words, this is how we're going to be successful.
That will keep you from jumping from one fad or trend to another, or changing just because you get bored, or because of what someone else is-isn't doing.
For example, are you a running coach with complimentary passes, or a passing coach with complimentary runs?
Secondly, you do have to be able to evolve or adapt (notice I didn't say "change") or you will be left behind.
The game forces you to. 30 years ago we didn't see the Bear or 4-4 Robber defenses. We didn't see Shotgun 2x2 or 3x1 much less Empty formations. We didn't see DTDW until 2001.
Bottom line, Be yourself. Coach as YOU know how. Incorporate innovations as YOU know them.
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Post by funkfriss on Feb 26, 2016 8:28:30 GMT -6
A word of warning: "You cannot have progress without change, but not all change is progress." -John Wooden- Never stop looking for better ways to do things, but we all fight the variables of time and our players ability to retain and effectively execute. As for me, my entire practice time is mapped out and filled- so if I were to add something new, then I would be doing less of something else (or getting rid of it completely). Whatever this 'new thing' is better clearly be better than what my old way is. Otherwise, you are just changing for the sake of change. That's kinda what I was getting at. Is there a good way to figure out whether you're changing for the better or just changing for change? I mean I could incorporate mariner's Animal Warm-ups, but is that making our team better, or is that just changing something. |
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Post by blb on Feb 26, 2016 8:33:34 GMT -6
...and of course the guys who REALLY screw up the game and force coaches to adjust are the rules makers.
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Post by coach2013 on Feb 27, 2016 3:59:29 GMT -6
Seeking those wise owls out there who've been around the block. I've been coaching for 12 years now (this past my first as HC), so maybe I'm still young and it's ok that I'm learning about a million things every year, but it feels like there are sooooo many good ideas floating around out there. My question is, when do you finally decide enough is enough and settle into a groove with what you are doing? I'm not really talking schemes, but more the techniques, drills, equipment and "toys," culture building, etc. Its cliché to think you have to go and learn a million new things every year. The honest truth is that once you have your identity, philosophies and methods chosen and you are going to hang your hat on these things for your career- well each year its not like you are going to do things exactly the same, you learn how to do things better, more efficiently and Ill bet you learn to simplify (which drives young eager assistant coaches nuts)- what I mean by learning to simplify is that when you first get hired to run a program, you maybe want to do all these wonderful exotic things- over time you learn- they really don't win football games for you and kids and their parents maybe really don't appreciate it- if its costing you money and time (fundraising) you soon see that maybe you could just cut that out of the program (simplify)
For me, by my 10th year, I was pretty simple in how I do things. Even now, when someone wants to overcomplicate things -- I just make sure that they are the ones putting forward the time and energy on whatever it is unless its going to help us win football games.
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Post by groundchuck on Feb 27, 2016 8:35:47 GMT -6
I had a former college coach tell me last night that the worst thing you can do is to try and do too much.
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Post by groundchuck on Feb 27, 2016 8:35:49 GMT -6
I had a former college coach tell me last night that the worst thing you can do is to try and do too much.
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