Making Players More Physical

We have found that kids become more physical when they have confidence in their ability to do their job. They'll play faster and harder when they know where they're going, what they're doing and experience success. It's pretty tough for a kid to be physical if they've missed umpteen many tackles/blocks and don't have that basic intrinsic motivation.

If a puppy doesn't bite, it never will.

We do tackling and blocking drills every day for this very reason. We do so in fast paced, high energy drills where we strongly emphasize technique but we will make kids go back through it if a) they're technique is poor or b) they're not smacking someone. We'll even give a little bit on the technique side if they really stick someone. We do these drills every single day during camp and for the first few weeks of the season. We back off on them to once-twice a week after that but obviously still drill blocking and tackling during INDY time.

The kids aren't going to be physical in a game if they're not given the opportunity to be physical in practice.

I didn't bite until 9th grade after getting cut in the 8th grade.

Don't think I fully tore flesh with the bite until 11th grade lol.

I wouldn't let it get to you, this was a singular example of a player from your c-team. Believe it or not, there are quite a few boys who come out for football (usually their freshman year) who don't really want to play football. Of that group, there is a small percentage who will not hit, and are deathly afraid of contact. I had a kid one year whose parents made him come out for the team and was deathly afraid to tackle; he'd sit out scout team corner, back pedal 20 yards on run plays and intentionally miss getting close to the play; if an win the play came to him he'd run out of bounds. Now we worked with him in individual drills, coached him up on the proper techniques, showed him how safe he was, heck we had times where we would explain exactly what was going to happen down to the smallest movement (so he had nothing to fear) but he was still afraid.

Now, I'm sure many will tell you a lot of good things about coaching them up and giving them confidence, and in 99% of cases this is correct, but you have to understand their are some outliers. There are some kids out there whose brains are fried from drug use, the best teacher utilizing the best lesson couldn't get them to learn. There are some kids out there who have physical limitations and disabilities, and regardless of the strength program and diet will never squat 225. Ditto with contact.

The point is, if it is just this one kid then I wouldn't let it get to you. Coach him up the best you can, give him everything you would everyone else; but understand he may be an outlier in this regards and don't let it detour you from doing a good job with everyone else.

How old is this kid? I have no idea what a C team is. 

Must be why I have a bunch of pricks on defense. 

And douches at ILB.... Right nfcbeast  ? 

It's not getting to me.  We are a very physical defense on varsity, but the irony in this case was humorous to me.

It happens with first-time players. Some will figure out that a sore finger isn't a big deal. Some will decide that football isn't for them. 

Yesterday my RG looked at a backup tackle and asked him what it felt like to be weak. I was like dang Ive turned him into me. 

Ok, so I just "liked" all the ahole posts....guess that tells me something.

In my experience, physicality is a manifestation of confidence.

While knowing assignment and technique helps, I have found no better cultivator of physicality/confidence than the weight room.

You need a coupla guys that are jail material, there's no doubt. A couple of wild men types. But you can't have 25/50 like that or you'll be Urban Meyer, oh wait, that doesn't sound so bad.

I think safe and well practiced technique, easy reads, confidence in yourself and your coaches and teammates creates someone that can "hit" you don't have to kill guys, just make fluid sure tackles.