|
Post by emptybackfield on Sept 13, 2016 13:01:59 GMT -6
Reading this, I noticed I have some similar issues (constantly thinking about work, not comfortable relaxing, sh!tty sleep, etc.) How do you take care of yourself, stay balanced, and keep some things in perspective? Here is the article if anyone is interesting in reading it: thelab.bleacherreport.com/i-m-not-the-lone-wolf/
|
|
|
Post by **** on Sept 13, 2016 13:45:21 GMT -6
Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse
|
|
|
Post by carookie on Sept 13, 2016 13:54:28 GMT -6
Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse That used to be my go to saying, then I didn't die young, can't really move fast anymore, and am not as good looking as I used to be. So now I coach football.
|
|
|
Post by carookie on Sept 13, 2016 14:16:02 GMT -6
Reading this, I noticed I have some similar issues (constantly thinking about work, not comfortable relaxing, sh!tty sleep, etc.) How do you take care of yourself, stay balanced, and keep some things in perspective? Here is the article if anyone is interesting in reading it: thelab.bleacherreport.com/i-m-not-the-lone-wolf/I constantly think about work and get bored relaxing. You know they say some sharks need to keep moving to stay alive, well thats me- but its fun for me and I don't let it stress me out or have trouble sleeping. I think there are a couple things that help me out: 1) I realize less is more in regards to on the field success. I know some guys who install a new O/D each week, so they work themselves to death coming up with it and installing it. Part of it is they think they need it to win, part of it is they need to stay busy and feel the need to implement their work immediately; so they go bonkers doing this stuff weekly and many of them have health issues. I don't buy into the ESPN hype of genius play callers schemes and coaches. Plays don't win games, players do; my teams win because we are sound in techniques work hard to make better athletes and DO WHAT WE DO. 2) Stay regimented: make lunch at this time, work out at this time, go to sleep at this time. Stay true to the schedule and you will keep healthier and worry less. 3) and this is the big one....remember its just HS football; even if you lose games the sun will still come up tomorrow. There was a post here a couple weeks back written by a middle school coach, in which a number of people wrote to the coach to relax 'its just MS football'; well how much more serious is it in HS? The truth is, its not much. My job is to utilize this wonderful game to make hard working, well adjusted, competitive, strong young men for the future; the primary mean is by having them compete for victories. Am I upset if I lose games, absolutely- but I understand I have a bigger task at hand, and I cant do that job if I am giving myself a heart attack.
|
|
|
Post by **** on Sept 13, 2016 17:05:28 GMT -6
Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse That used to be my go to saying, then I didn't die young, can't really move fast anymore, and am not as good looking as I used to be. So now I coach football. Lol, I'm on my way there.
|
|
|
Post by fantom on Sept 13, 2016 19:21:23 GMT -6
Reading this, I noticed I have some similar issues (constantly thinking about work, not comfortable relaxing, sh!tty sleep, etc.) How do you take care of yourself, stay balanced, and keep some things in perspective? Here is the article if anyone is interesting in reading it: thelab.bleacherreport.com/i-m-not-the-lone-wolf/Some of the things that allowed me to at last pass for sane over the years: 1. Learn the difference between worrying and thinking. If there's nothing that you can do about it or if you're afraid that something will happen even though you have no reason to believe that you will, that's worrying. 2. Don't be afraid of a sleep aid. Melatonin is good and so is ZZZQuil (They make a non-alcohol version if that is a problem). 3. Take time off on the weekend to just relax. Take a date night with your wife or girlfriend. Take the kids to the park. Hell, how many great ideas have sprung up on Saturday night? I'll bet that the ratio between good ideas vs. really stupid ideas isn't great. 4. Have fun. What are you doing it for, the money? If so you must be getting paid a lot more than I do.
|
|
|
Post by Coach Bennett on Sept 14, 2016 4:55:38 GMT -6
I try to get up at 5:00 at least four out of five weekday mornings and get a mountain bike ride or some other form of exercise in. By the time the kid is in bed and I've watched film, I'm ready to crash by 9:30.
This morning I didn't get a ride in and I already feel "blah" and wishing I had. It's important to get those feel good endorphins rolling.
|
|
|
Post by jtimmerman53 on Sept 14, 2016 6:29:41 GMT -6
I know my perspective might be different from many of the coaches on here because I am pretty young at 26 but honestly the kids keep me energized; I love being around our players because they are just a fun group of kids. We talk about all kinds of things outside of football and school like video games and movies and music which I suppose is just easier for them to relate to with me than some of our older coaches. Also I'm lucky enough to work with some great guys, some who I would not only consider my colleagues but my close friends. We hang out together outside of work which I think makes going to work that much more enjoyable and not as stressful as it is for some people. Of course I also acknowledge there aren't quite the same expectations of me as just an assistant OL coach as there are for you coordinators and head coaches which might have something to do with it lol.
|
|
|
Post by mnike23 on Sept 14, 2016 6:30:35 GMT -6
as much as I can agree with just about everything your saying,,,the part that sticks out is the "its just high school football". let me tell ya, its not just high school football. Where I am at, winning is not only a focus, if you dont win and produce on the field in 3 years, you wont make it to year 4. At any school here. Ive been let go at a couple places as the HC. 1 for having a coach follow a player to my school (7 months after the kid left). the school they both left from, we beat the snot out of them and the AD wanted to be a prick and turned us in for.....not filling out the proper form that would allow a coach to follow a kid to a program(kid acutally was deemed homeless family as they got kicked out of their house, which made everyone look stupid for turning us in). state violation, we had to forfiet our 3 wins, fine paid by me, county was upset because it was 3 violations by school(in other sports and football) in 3 years. I was scapegoat. oh, the wins thing. started 0-2 that year then won 3 straight, because of this kid(rolls eyes).... another school I was let go at, complete doormat---75 wins in 30 years!!!----2-8, 1-9, 0-10 3 years prior to me taking over, 2-8, 3-7, 1-9 and I was fired. won more games in 3 years than the school had done in close to 5, but it wasnt enough! its not just high school football for some admin, its college like thinking, if it aint working fire them and start over. have displaced my family several times for jobs its not just high school football, its life for some coaches. rant over. Reading this, I noticed I have some similar issues (constantly thinking about work, not comfortable relaxing, sh!tty sleep, etc.) How do you take care of yourself, stay balanced, and keep some things in perspective? Here is the article if anyone is interesting in reading it: thelab.bleacherreport.com/i-m-not-the-lone-wolf/I constantly think about work and get bored relaxing. You know they say some sharks need to keep moving to stay alive, well thats me- but its fun for me and I don't let it stress me out or have trouble sleeping. I think there are a couple things that help me out: 1) I realize less is more in regards to on the field success. I know some guys who install a new O/D each week, so they work themselves to death coming up with it and installing it. Part of it is they think they need it to win, part of it is they need to stay busy and feel the need to implement their work immediately; so they go bonkers doing this stuff weekly and many of them have health issues. I don't buy into the ESPN hype of genius play callers schemes and coaches. Plays don't win games, players do; my teams win because we are sound in techniques work hard to make better athletes and DO WHAT WE DO. 2) Stay regimented: make lunch at this time, work out at this time, go to sleep at this time. Stay true to the schedule and you will keep healthier and worry less. 3) and this is the big one....remember its just HS football; even if you lose games the sun will still come up tomorrow. There was a post here a couple weeks back written by a middle school coach, in which a number of people wrote to the coach to relax 'its just MS football'; well how much more serious is it in HS? The truth is, its not much. My job is to utilize this wonderful game to make hard working, well adjusted, competitive, strong young men for the future; the primary mean is by having them compete for victories. Am I upset if I lose games, absolutely- but I understand I have a bigger task at hand, and I cant do that job if I am giving myself a heart attack.
|
|
|
Post by natenator on Sept 14, 2016 6:54:56 GMT -6
as much as I can agree with just about everything your saying,,,the part that sticks out is the "its just high school football". let me tell ya, its not just high school football. Where I am at, winning is not only a focus, if you dont win and produce on the field in 3 years, you wont make it to year 4. At any school here. Ive been let go at a couple places as the HC. 1 for having a coach follow a player to my school (7 months after the kid left). the school they both left from, we beat the snot out of them and the AD wanted to be a prick and turned us in for.....not filling out the proper form that would allow a coach to follow a kid to a program(kid acutally was deemed homeless family as they got kicked out of their house, which made everyone look stupid for turning us in). state violation, we had to forfiet our 3 wins, fine paid by me, county was upset because it was 3 violations by school(in other sports and football) in 3 years. I was scapegoat. oh, the wins thing. started 0-2 that year then won 3 straight, because of this kid(rolls eyes).... another school I was let go at, complete doormat---75 wins in 30 years!!!----2-8, 1-9, 0-10 3 years prior to me taking over, 2-8, 3-7, 1-9 and I was fired. won more games in 3 years than the school had done in close to 5, but it wasnt enough! its not just high school football for some admin, its college like thinking, if it aint working fire them and start over. have displaced my family several times for jobs its not just high school football, its life for some coaches. rant over. I constantly think about work and get bored relaxing. You know they say some sharks need to keep moving to stay alive, well thats me- but its fun for me and I don't let it stress me out or have trouble sleeping. I think there are a couple things that help me out: 1) I realize less is more in regards to on the field success. I know some guys who install a new O/D each week, so they work themselves to death coming up with it and installing it. Part of it is they think they need it to win, part of it is they need to stay busy and feel the need to implement their work immediately; so they go bonkers doing this stuff weekly and many of them have health issues. I don't buy into the ESPN hype of genius play callers schemes and coaches. Plays don't win games, players do; my teams win because we are sound in techniques work hard to make better athletes and DO WHAT WE DO. 2) Stay regimented: make lunch at this time, work out at this time, go to sleep at this time. Stay true to the schedule and you will keep healthier and worry less. 3) and this is the big one....remember its just HS football; even if you lose games the sun will still come up tomorrow. There was a post here a couple weeks back written by a middle school coach, in which a number of people wrote to the coach to relax 'its just MS football'; well how much more serious is it in HS? The truth is, its not much. My job is to utilize this wonderful game to make hard working, well adjusted, competitive, strong young men for the future; the primary mean is by having them compete for victories. Am I upset if I lose games, absolutely- but I understand I have a bigger task at hand, and I cant do that job if I am giving myself a heart attack. I'm sorry but it IS just high school football. No one is getting rich off HS ball. No one is making life-altering bank off HS ball, in fact you could get a job at McDicks and make more there then the time put into just coaching. You're not likely getting fired from your real job if fired from your coaching job. It is just HS ball
|
|
|
Post by mnike23 on Sept 14, 2016 7:14:45 GMT -6
wrong again my friend. both of those jobs I lost as HC, lost my teaching job too. They are not tied together, but they are. here, 1 may be supplemental coaching per-say, but when you get hired to the big dog chair, that teaching job goes with it. besides that, NOBODY is getting rich off a coaches supplement. unless your in South carolina, some georgia and texas. where its not just HS football. not for 100k. you better win or your out!
a very well known fla coach went to valdosta ga for 3 seasons. made 100k plus, lived in a house for free, drove a local dealerships truck for free, etc, etc, went to finals in big boy class, lost. made semis and lost the next year, made semis next year and,,,,,was fired.... its not just high school football, maybe in some places.
|
|
|
Post by fantom on Sept 14, 2016 7:50:43 GMT -6
its not just high school football, maybe in some places. Most places.
|
|
|
Post by carookie on Sept 14, 2016 8:03:33 GMT -6
as much as I can agree with just about everything your saying,,,the part that sticks out is the "its just high school football". let me tell ya, its not just high school football. Where I am at, winning is not only a focus, if you dont win and produce on the field in 3 years, you wont make it to year 4. At any school here. Ive been let go at a couple places as the HC. 1 for having a coach follow a player to my school (7 months after the kid left). the school they both left from, we beat the snot out of them and the AD wanted to be a prick and turned us in for.....not filling out the proper form that would allow a coach to follow a kid to a program(kid acutally was deemed homeless family as they got kicked out of their house, which made everyone look stupid for turning us in). state violation, we had to forfiet our 3 wins, fine paid by me, county was upset because it was 3 violations by school(in other sports and football) in 3 years. I was scapegoat. oh, the wins thing. started 0-2 that year then won 3 straight, because of this kid(rolls eyes).... another school I was let go at, complete doormat---75 wins in 30 years!!!----2-8, 1-9, 0-10 3 years prior to me taking over, 2-8, 3-7, 1-9 and I was fired. won more games in 3 years than the school had done in close to 5, but it wasnt enough! its not just high school football for some admin, its college like thinking, if it aint working fire them and start over. have displaced my family several times for jobs its not just high school football, its life for some coaches. rant over. I constantly think about work and get bored relaxing. You know they say some sharks need to keep moving to stay alive, well thats me- but its fun for me and I don't let it stress me out or have trouble sleeping. I think there are a couple things that help me out: 1) I realize less is more in regards to on the field success. I know some guys who install a new O/D each week, so they work themselves to death coming up with it and installing it. Part of it is they think they need it to win, part of it is they need to stay busy and feel the need to implement their work immediately; so they go bonkers doing this stuff weekly and many of them have health issues. I don't buy into the ESPN hype of genius play callers schemes and coaches. Plays don't win games, players do; my teams win because we are sound in techniques work hard to make better athletes and DO WHAT WE DO. 2) Stay regimented: make lunch at this time, work out at this time, go to sleep at this time. Stay true to the schedule and you will keep healthier and worry less. 3) and this is the big one....remember its just HS football; even if you lose games the sun will still come up tomorrow. There was a post here a couple weeks back written by a middle school coach, in which a number of people wrote to the coach to relax 'its just MS football'; well how much more serious is it in HS? The truth is, its not much. My job is to utilize this wonderful game to make hard working, well adjusted, competitive, strong young men for the future; the primary mean is by having them compete for victories. Am I upset if I lose games, absolutely- but I understand I have a bigger task at hand, and I cant do that job if I am giving myself a heart attack. And I thought about that type of situation while writing, and I respect that. And for a lot of people their livelihoods are tied into their coaching job. But then let that reiterate points. One of the the best HCs I ever coached for, HC now at the #1 school in his state bringing in 6 figures at a private school, yadda yadda; does what he does and doesnt stress about it weekly and realizes that doesnt help. Don't buy into the hype of the over stressed HC (unfortunately its now becoming the best poacher of talent, but thats another story). But my point for #3 is not that it does not matter as it is our job; my point is, it is just our job. If I didn't coach another down my wife would still love me, my kids would still want to play with me, my friends would still want to have a beer with me, all those players I influenced already would still carry those lessons with them. Most people's livelihoods are tied into them being successful at what they do. But its not who they are, its what they do. We need to learn to separate the two. I'm not saying Ive got that figured out completely myself either.
|
|
|
Post by natenator on Sept 14, 2016 8:18:25 GMT -6
wrong again my friend. both of those jobs I lost as HC, lost my teaching job too. They are not tied together, but they are. here, 1 may be supplemental coaching per-say, but when you get hired to the big dog chair, that teaching job goes with it. besides that, NOBODY is getting rich off a coaches supplement. unless your in South carolina, some georgia and texas. where its not just HS football. not for 100k. you better win or your out! a very well known fla coach went to valdosta ga for 3 seasons. made 100k plus, lived in a house for free, drove a local dealerships truck for free, etc, etc, went to finals in big boy class, lost. made semis and lost the next year, made semis next year and,,,,,was fired.... its not just high school football, maybe in some places. I'd wager a decent sum to say there are only a couple handful of areas in the entire United States where it's more than just HS football. You are the exception to the rule, not the rule itself.
|
|
|
Post by mnike23 on Sept 14, 2016 8:20:02 GMT -6
its not just high school football, maybe in some places. Most places. ok so maybe its just high school football everywhere, except for where it means more than anything else in the state. lol fla, tex, calif(i think) ga and sc. fla doesnt pay squat, neither does cali not sure why its such a big deal there, other than the best athletes in the US are in fla and cali is so dang big they have more people than anyone else. texas has the best of everything with all the oil, they will get best facilities, pay the coaches more than anyone and its a big deal. everything is bigger in texas. ga and sc is what I dont get?? football is king in the south, but how and why do they pay their guys so well and do not have near the prospects as those other states? i know alot of coaches transition to living in those states, make some dough and live it up. SC has awesome weather and a great beach life. some great, real, southern folk in those states too.
|
|
|
Post by mnike23 on Sept 14, 2016 8:24:16 GMT -6
wrong again my friend. both of those jobs I lost as HC, lost my teaching job too. They are not tied together, but they are. here, 1 may be supplemental coaching per-say, but when you get hired to the big dog chair, that teaching job goes with it. besides that, NOBODY is getting rich off a coaches supplement. unless your in South carolina, some georgia and texas. where its not just HS football. not for 100k. you better win or your out! a very well known fla coach went to valdosta ga for 3 seasons. made 100k plus, lived in a house for free, drove a local dealerships truck for free, etc, etc, went to finals in big boy class, lost. made semis and lost the next year, made semis next year and,,,,,was fired.... its not just high school football, maybe in some places. I'd wager a decent sum to say there are only a couple handful of areas in the entire United States where it's more than just HS football. You are the exception to the rule, not the rule itself. maybe so, but who wants to live in $hit weather! i bet in the middle of idaho football isnt life, admin dont care much, go coach kids, create some great relationships with admin, dont steal money, dont have sex with the prom queen, dont look at porn on a school device, coach 3 sports and enjoy the fun times of it not being that big of a deal... wait??? what??? it does mean something in small town idaho??? huh??? www.kmvt.com/content/sports/Wendell-fires-high-school-football-coaching-staff-392825681.html
|
|
|
Post by PSS on Sept 14, 2016 8:38:52 GMT -6
As most of you know coaching and teaching are tied together in the state that I coach. It is my job to make our athletes better players on the field and in the classroom. If you don't produce wins on the field you will be fired. Yes, it is just HS football but here it's also about winning.
For 25 years my life has revolved around football. During the season, offseason and track, and Summers. I have to plan everything I do around football and athletics. Even summer vacations. In the Fall, you're guaranteed 10 games plus the 3 weeks of practice leading up to the season. In the Spring, I start track practice in January and start meets in February. We are guaranteed 8 meets and possibility of 10. Along with track I also have offseason football.
I don't get home until 8pm during football season, 7pm during track. The only break I get is the few weeks between FB and track, and the few weeks between track and Summer strength and conditioning.
I'm lucky to have an awesome wife that has supported me and would pick up and move when we had no choice. Luckily both of my sons were able to go to the same HS for all 4 years.
I would like to say that it's just a job but it isn't. I'm at the point in my career where I can see the light at the end of the tunnel but as long as I still love what I do I will keep on going.
|
|
|
Post by carookie on Sept 14, 2016 8:53:59 GMT -6
ok so maybe its just high school football everywhere, except for where it means more than anything else in the state. lol fla, tex, calif(i think) ga and sc. fla doesnt pay squat, neither does cali not sure why its such a big deal there, other than the best athletes in the US are in fla and cali is so dang big they have more people than anyone else. texas has the best of everything with all the oil, they will get best facilities, pay the coaches more than anyone and its a big deal. everything is bigger in texas. ga and sc is what I dont get?? football is king in the south, but how and why do they pay their guys so well and do not have near the prospects as those other states? i know alot of coaches transition to living in those states, make some dough and live it up. SC has awesome weather and a great beach life. some great, real, southern folk in those states too. You know its funny, I've spent most of my time coaching So Cal, and most of that on staffs where the HC is only hired as a football coach. I've been lucky enough to work with and against coaches who are running some of the top teams nationally and who have spent time coaching at the D1 and NFL level. For most of them, they have had enough success in coaching that they will never have to worry about not finding a job. Even if they sucked at what they did (which honestly some of them do) their resume will always open a door for them, at the very least at a lower level school somewhere. By the time they reach that point its less a worry about having a job to feed your kids, its more about is it the job and success level you want.
|
|
|
Post by fantom on Sept 14, 2016 9:05:23 GMT -6
As most of you know coaching and teaching are tied together in the state that I coach. It is my job to make our athletes better players on the field and in the classroom. If you don't produce wins on the field you will be fired. Yes, it is just HS football but here it's also about winning. For 25 years my life has revolved around football. During the season, offseason and track, and Summers. I have to plan everything I do around football and athletics. Even summer vacations. In the Fall, you're guaranteed 10 games plus the 3 weeks of practice leading up to the season. In the Spring, I start track practice in January and start meets in February. We are guaranteed 8 meets and possibility of 10. Along with track I also have offseason football. I don't get home until 8pm during football season, 7pm during track. The only break I get is the few weeks between FB and track, and the few weeks between track and Summer strength and conditioning. I'm lucky to have an awesome wife that has supported me and would pick up and move when we had no choice. Luckily both of my sons were able to go to the same HS for all 4 years. I would like to say that it's just a job but it isn't. I'm at the point in my career where I can see the light at the end of the tunnel but as long as I still love what I do I will keep on going. I'm not one who says, "It's just HS football" or suggest that we slack off on the job (Although I do think that the hours that some guys spend meeting as a staff on weekends are insane). What I think is that we need to do a better job of dealing with the free time that we do have. Maybe it means that you have to spend a couple of hours playing with the kids or taking your wife to dinner on Saturday instead of watching college football. We tell the players to live in the moment, focus on THIS play, not the next one or the last one. Maybe we should take our own advice in our own lives. And for God's sake, get some sleep.
|
|
|
Post by PSS on Sept 14, 2016 9:20:26 GMT -6
As most of you know coaching and teaching are tied together in the state that I coach. It is my job to make our athletes better players on the field and in the classroom. If you don't produce wins on the field you will be fired. Yes, it is just HS football but here it's also about winning. For 25 years my life has revolved around football. During the season, offseason and track, and Summers. I have to plan everything I do around football and athletics. Even summer vacations. In the Fall, you're guaranteed 10 games plus the 3 weeks of practice leading up to the season. In the Spring, I start track practice in January and start meets in February. We are guaranteed 8 meets and possibility of 10. Along with track I also have offseason football. I don't get home until 8pm during football season, 7pm during track. The only break I get is the few weeks between FB and track, and the few weeks between track and Summer strength and conditioning. I'm lucky to have an awesome wife that has supported me and would pick up and move when we had no choice. Luckily both of my sons were able to go to the same HS for all 4 years. I would like to say that it's just a job but it isn't. I'm at the point in my career where I can see the light at the end of the tunnel but as long as I still love what I do I will keep on going. I'm not one who says, "It's just HS football" or suggest that we slack off on the job (Although I do think that the hours that some guys spend meeting as a staff on weekends are insane). What I think is that we need to do a better job of dealing with the free time that we do have. Maybe it means that you have to spend a couple of hours playing with the kids or taking your wife to dinner on Saturday instead of watching college football. We tell the players to live in the moment, focus on THIS play, not the next one or the last one. Maybe we should take our own advice in our own lives. And for God's sake, get some sleep. We get wiser as we get older. I totally agree. I'm lucky to be on a staff now that values family time and includes the families in our staff get togethers. After home games all the families are welcomed into the coaches' office at the field house and we have some social time together with food. Little kids running and crawling around everywhere. Really a great atmosphere to relax and come down after a game. My Mother has Alzheimer's. She's in assisted living about 70 miles away. On Saturdays after home games I'll take my wife and son to go spend some time with her. This last year I starting jogging to relieve stress. I've had to cut back during the season but I still try to get in 10-12 miles a week. Amazing how that can clear your mind and help you sleep.
|
|
|
Post by funkfriss on Sept 14, 2016 9:22:30 GMT -6
wrong again my friend. both of those jobs I lost as HC, lost my teaching job too. They are not tied together, but they are. here, 1 may be supplemental coaching per-say, but when you get hired to the big dog chair, that teaching job goes with it. besides that, NOBODY is getting rich off a coaches supplement. unless your in South carolina, some georgia and texas. where its not just HS football. not for 100k. you better win or your out! a very well known fla coach went to valdosta ga for 3 seasons. made 100k plus, lived in a house for free, drove a local dealerships truck for free, etc, etc, went to finals in big boy class, lost. made semis and lost the next year, made semis next year and,,,,,was fired.... its not just high school football, maybe in some places. I'd wager a decent sum to say there are only a couple handful of areas in the entire United States where it's more than just HS football. You are the exception to the rule, not the rule itself. I couldn't disagree more with this comment. I'm not disagreeing with your personal stance, it SHOULD be just HS football, but in the world we're living in, that is getting farther from the truth. If you can get away with thinking it's just HS football then you must be fortunate to either be winning all the time, have the most supportive parents I've every heard of, or have parents and community members who don't care about the team. With so much "at stake" for kids trying to get scholarships for sports and parents reliving (or living for the first time) their glory days through their kids there is constant pressure to perform and win. Not winning enough games? Good chance your best players are outta here. Add to that the fact that with 24 hour coverage of football everybody is now suddenly a football expert and knows how to cure all. Heck, even one loss (or one play if you're Pete Carroll for example) turns people into a frenzy of "you gotta do this and that." It's all trickling down and I think HS coaches are feeling the heat WAY more than they have in the past. This is a slice of what I see and I am definitely nowhere near big time football in big time football states. And I understand the whole "can't listen to the noise" stuff, but as some others have pointed out the noise can start to cause more than just noise, ultimately leading to your termination. Last thought, I think the hard part about our profession is that the outcome isn't completely predicated on our own personal performance. As a coach, I could have been extremely prepared, had a dynamite game plan, and made the right adjustments, but if the players don't execute or if my OL coach did a bad job coaching fundamentals or if their players are just better than my players it ultimately leads to failure. And when you are taught that hard work brings success, yet you still fail, the only response is to come back and work harder. And down the rabbit hole you go...
|
|
|
Post by olinedude on Sept 14, 2016 9:29:13 GMT -6
It is "just a job" if you let it be, and it can be more than that if you let it. You can work hard and be good at your job while understanding it is just a job, and conversely; you can grind for tons of hours and still be bad at your job.
If you let this profession define you as a man, it will fail you.
|
|
|
Post by mnike23 on Sept 14, 2016 9:55:33 GMT -6
i was told years and years ago in college, by an old professor who coached just about every sport possible. when you get up and go to "work" it is just that, work. If you get up and go to "school" it is a passion and is enjoyable, it isnt work. up until this last coaching spot I had(got fired day before spring break by an AD 2 months on the job, I wasnt bowing down to him and his lousy coaching advice/career and a principal in his 1st yr) I went to school daily, stressed when it was necessary, busted my tail to make perception not reality, clean up the joint. now, i go to work. daily. looking for that next piece of pie and hoping its the 1 that lasts 25 years.
thats the dream job, do what my high school coach did. took over at my school in 1972, retired 1 yr before they consolidated the 2 high schools to 1 in 2013. 31 years in 1 spot, wins, losses, boys to men, men to fathers, those men he coached and their kids playing for him. to me thats the end all be all.
|
|
center
Junior Member
Posts: 485
|
Post by center on Sept 14, 2016 10:00:39 GMT -6
I think a lot has to do with how you respond, or choose not to respond, to "critics." There are more out there than ever before but do they really know what they are talking about? Do you have to respond to them? Do they have a legitimate, honest concern for your team?
Meyer, Saban, Belichick, Arians, all have critics and they are the best at what they do.
Last week at a local youth football game a parent was complaining to a coaches wife about playing time for her son. While she was complaining the son was in for three straight series of play and she did not even notice.
Worth getting worked up for?
|
|
|
Post by funkfriss on Sept 14, 2016 10:13:53 GMT -6
i was told years and years ago in college, by an old professor who coached just about every sport possible. when you get up and go to "work" it is just that, work. If you get up and go to "school" it is a passion and is enjoyable, it isnt work. up until this last coaching spot I had(got fired day before spring break by an AD 2 months on the job, I wasnt bowing down to him and his lousy coaching advice/career and a principal in his 1st yr) I went to school daily, stressed when it was necessary, busted my tail to make perception not reality, clean up the joint. now, i go to work. daily. looking for that next piece of pie and hoping its the 1 that lasts 25 years. thats the dream job, do what my high school coach did. took over at my school in 1972, retired 1 yr before they consolidated the 2 high schools to 1 in 2013. 31 years in 1 spot, wins, losses, boys to men, men to fathers, those men he coached and their kids playing for him. to me thats the end all be all. I think you are misinterpreting the emotion here. I don't equate "grind" to "work" anymore than I equated "lifting weights" to "work" as a player. I see the grind as a means to a better end. If that end is not achieved, than damnit I'm going to do even more to achieve it. That's the problem. It's never being satisfied. Or more, it's about being downright consumed by failure. And when you grind and grind and grind even harder and finally start reaping the fruits of your labor how do you scale back? You've put in all this work and grind to achieve your success that you'll be damned to let it get back to the way it was before. And you could say "it's just HS football," but it would be the same if I was a pianist, or whatever I chose to have a passion for, felt I was good at, and couldn't stand the idea of being a failure at.
|
|
|
Post by mnike23 on Sept 14, 2016 10:20:04 GMT -6
I think a lot has to do with how you respond, or choose not to respond, to "critics." There are more out there than ever before but do they really know what they are talking about? Do you have to respond to them? Do they have a legitimate, honest concern for your team? Meyer, Saban, Belichick, Arians, all have critics and they are the best at what they do. Last week at a local youth football game a parent was complaining to a coaches wife about playing time for her son. While she was complaining the son was in for three straight series of play and she did not even notice. Worth getting worked up for? agree and disagree. you just named 3 or 4 of the best in the biz. its not how you respond, its how does the boss respond. if momma A goes to principal and complains about billys PT. then friday night billy plays, gets 8 balls thrown his way, catches 1, throws a fit on the sideline on why he isnt playing more, after his latest drop you take him out, starts dropping F bombs, band parent writes a note to principal about her daughter hearing such language and what is the coach teaching the boys. thats the principal responding, not me as billys coach. the critics are normally daddy ball parents who are trying to tell coach that he should run a 4-3 defense, but doesnt understand why your running a 3-3. i told that dad, lol, we have 5 DL kids total. 2 of them are god awful, 2 others are ballers, the nose shouldnt be playing at all, but is 350lbs and can fall down and clog both gaps. repsond to that??? well dad says coach, all u need is 4 guys to play a 4-3. lmfao..... i tell parents at my parent meeting yearly, the door is always open, every saturday if you want to watch tape with me, come on. but be prepared to get a reality check.
|
|
|
Post by fcboiler87 on Sept 14, 2016 10:20:18 GMT -6
I agree with funkfriss I think we are seeing a trickle down effect. Not everywhere, but in some places. It's happening to me here. in a place with no football history. In an area that "doesn't care" about football (the north). The people think they should have Nick Saban and they won't settle for anything less. The pressure they are putting on the admin is crazy. We aren't very good this year, but we were last. That doesn't matter. It's about right now. Same thing is happening around us too. It's never enough. Treating kids right and holding them accountable are irrelevant to too many places. Get the W's or get out. Sorry, this isn't college and we can't recruit the guys to fit what we do, we have to work around them and do the best we can with what we have. If that isn't good enough, many of us can't help you.
|
|
|
Post by mnike23 on Sept 14, 2016 10:23:47 GMT -6
i was told years and years ago in college, by an old professor who coached just about every sport possible. when you get up and go to "work" it is just that, work. If you get up and go to "school" it is a passion and is enjoyable, it isnt work. up until this last coaching spot I had(got fired day before spring break by an AD 2 months on the job, I wasnt bowing down to him and his lousy coaching advice/career and a principal in his 1st yr) I went to school daily, stressed when it was necessary, busted my tail to make perception not reality, clean up the joint. now, i go to work. daily. looking for that next piece of pie and hoping its the 1 that lasts 25 years. thats the dream job, do what my high school coach did. took over at my school in 1972, retired 1 yr before they consolidated the 2 high schools to 1 in 2013. 31 years in 1 spot, wins, losses, boys to men, men to fathers, those men he coached and their kids playing for him. to me thats the end all be all. I think you are misinterpreting the emotion here. I don't equate "grind" to "work" anymore than I equated "lifting weights" to "work" as a player. I see the grind as a means to a better end. If that end is not achieved, than damnit I'm going to do even more to achieve it. That's the problem. It's never being satisfied. Or more, it's about being downright consumed by failure. And when you grind and grind and grind even harder and finally start reaping the fruits of your labor how do you scale back? You've put in all this work and grind to achieve your success that you'll be damned to let it get back to the way it was before. And you could say "it's just HS football," but it would be the same if I was a pianist, or whatever I chose to have a passion for, felt I was good at, and couldn't stand the idea of being a failure at. nope, i totally see the difference. not to continue arguing a point. but its not a job to me, its a passion(the emotion thing you spoke of). I grind daily. and right now I WORK at a school to pay the bills. but I grind and am passionate at another school, on the field with some boys who want to be coached. I hear you tho. never, ever, be satisfied.
|
|
|
Post by runitupthemiddle on Sept 14, 2016 10:33:04 GMT -6
as much as I can agree with just about everything your saying,,,the part that sticks out is the "its just high school football". let me tell ya, its not just high school football. Where I am at, winning is not only a focus, if you dont win and produce on the field in 3 years, you wont make it to year 4. At any school here. Ive been let go at a couple places as the HC. 1 for having a coach follow a player to my school (7 months after the kid left). the school they both left from, we beat the snot out of them and the AD wanted to be a prick and turned us in for.....not filling out the proper form that would allow a coach to follow a kid to a program(kid acutally was deemed homeless family as they got kicked out of their house, which made everyone look stupid for turning us in). state violation, we had to forfiet our 3 wins, fine paid by me, county was upset because it was 3 violations by school(in other sports and football) in 3 years. I was scapegoat. oh, the wins thing. started 0-2 that year then won 3 straight, because of this kid(rolls eyes).... another school I was let go at, complete doormat---75 wins in 30 years!!!----2-8, 1-9, 0-10 3 years prior to me taking over, 2-8, 3-7, 1-9 and I was fired. won more games in 3 years than the school had done in close to 5, but it wasnt enough! its not just high school football for some admin, its college like thinking, if it aint working fire them and start over. have displaced my family several times for jobs its not just high school football, its life for some coaches. rant over. I'm sorry but it IS just high school football. No one is getting rich off HS ball. No one is making life-altering bank off HS ball, in fact you could get a job at McDicks and make more there then the time put into just coaching. You're not likely getting fired from your real job if fired from your coaching job. It is just HS ball I just got a 12,000 dollar raise, to go from varsity in one state to junior high in another. Now i would have gotten a raise just off the teaching. But for me this made a difference and a chance to move back up , I was not going to advance where I was unless changes at the adm level were made. Then again our definitions of "good " money to coach might just be different.
|
|
|
Post by mnike23 on Sept 14, 2016 10:42:54 GMT -6
in 1994, midwest state, made 2600 to coach, asst coach for varsity. in 2004, southern state, made 2800 to coach, asst coach for varsity. in 2016, same southern most state in country, 3200 for asst coach for varsity head coach 2 different counties in this state and 1 made 4k, other made 3600. so 12000 raise, is worth moving. keep saying, I am going to texas. friends there, teach 3 periods, 1 weight class and football classes,a day, coach JV at 530am in the indoor, varsity at 130. inside or out, depends on what HC wants to do. 200+ kids in 9-12 program 200+ kids in 6-8 program assistant coaches make 10k for season, 5k for spring ball, summer weights anothe 2k. no state taxes. plus all the oil there his family has apple products to take home(both kids work off of Imacs at home, he has ipad and apple tv in classroom). cheaper to live, wtf am I doing???
|
|