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Post by tothehouse on Feb 28, 2017 14:49:13 GMT -6
For various reasons our school is in a predicament. We're at the point where 15 years ago we had over 100 kids come out for freshman football...to now.
We are precariously close to cancelling the frosh season because our JV numbers are so low. We'd move the frosh up with the low JV numbers.
This post is about recruiting your own campus. My youngest son is a freshman. He could be one of the top JV players next year. I had him give me a list of players that should be playing football for us.
I have the list and I'm calling most of them into my class tomorrow at various times.
What are some keys to convincing the one sport...I'm really good at my one sport...playing athletes. And when I mean good...I mean...they think they are good...but they are pretty average.
I will run into...
1. they don't like lifting and the other coaches on campus aren't making them lift...so...I'm SOL. 2. my parents say I can't play. 3. ?
The 10 guys I am talking with make us an above .500 team if we had them all. If not...we're about 4-6 to 3-7.
And my problem...I'm not a beggar. I'm not going to spend a lot of time trying to convince a kid to love football...when they have never played before and have no desire to play.
Any help appreciated.
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Post by southidcoach on Feb 28, 2017 14:53:50 GMT -6
We're in a similar situation so I'm interested to see what you get back as well.
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Post by coachd5085 on Feb 28, 2017 14:55:24 GMT -6
For various reasons our school is in a predicament. We're at the point where 15 years ago we had over 100 kids come out for freshman football...to now. We are precariously close to cancelling the frosh season because our JV numbers are so low. We'd move the frosh up with the low JV numbers. This post is about recruiting your own campus. My youngest son is a freshman. He could be one of the top JV players next year. I had him give me a list of players that should be playing football for us. I have the list and I'm calling most of them into my class tomorrow at various times. What are some keys to convincing the one sport...I'm really good at my one sport...playing athletes. And when I mean good...I mean...they think they are good...but they are pretty average. I will run into... 1. they don't like lifting and the other coaches on campus aren't making them lift...so...I'm SOL. 2. my parents say I can't play. 3. ? The 10 guys I am talking with make us an above .500 team if we had them all. If not...we're about 4-6 to 3-7. And my problem...I'm not a beggar. I'm not going to spend a lot of time trying to convince a kid to love football...when they have never played before and have no desire to play. Any help appreciated. I highlighted what I believe to be the problem with your mindset. I realize that goes against what we coaches have believed for a long time, but I think that viewing your issue through a flawed mindset (that certain athletic kids "should" be playing football) in today's culture won't really help you much.
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Post by tothehouse on Feb 28, 2017 15:00:35 GMT -6
Listen 5085...I could actually give a crap if they play or not. I'm just saying we need guys. I am highlighting the guys that probably should. In reality...they all COULD play...and COULD help the school.
I understand it's not for everyone. And that is why the talks are going to be simple...not high pressure finger pointing.
If a kid doesn't play...I don't lose sleep. I just have to find others that might want to.
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fred
Freshmen Member
Posts: 34
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Post by fred on Feb 28, 2017 15:06:30 GMT -6
We just had a successful coach come onto our campus to talk with our staff about this very issue. We are restarting Frosh FB this year and that should help our numbers (Freshman year is when we were losing kids) His other advice 22 starters at every level JV and below clear down into the youth program. Make every kid feel like a big time part Special teams whatever. Sell the dream Tell kids that with them on your team you have a real chance to be a playoff team, state contender, state champion when they are seniors. I'm not saying beg but sell the program then if they chose not to play let them go and coach the daylights out of the ones who are there. Make them all feel special make it special to be a football player so that you keep them.
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Post by tothehouse on Feb 28, 2017 15:09:40 GMT -6
I also need to mention we're playing 2 classifications lower than we should...in one of the toughest public school leagues in California. We aren't winning a lot recently. Kids want to play on winning teams...I get that. If we don't have numbers...we're leading lambs to the slaughter. It seriously is going to be an injury problem.
In reality it's the HC and AD's issue...in regards to deciding what is best (keep low numbers or combine the two teams).
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Post by coachd5085 on Feb 28, 2017 15:12:41 GMT -6
Listen 5085...I could actually give a crap if they play or not. I'm just saying we need guys. I am highlighting the guys that probably should. In reality...they all COULD play...and COULD help the school. I understand it's not for everyone. And that is why the talks are going to be simple...not high pressure finger pointing. If a kid doesn't play...I don't lose sleep. I just have to find others that might want to. Again, why "should" they. That is my point. You are asking for help with a situation, but I believe part of the problem is that very entitled sense of "should" that coaches have. Not singling you out, just stating that starting out with the idea that certain athletes "should" play this sport or that sport because they have a little toughness and athleticism to them probably doesn't help the cause in the long run. Now, to your more immediate situation- I would simply ask the kids why they choose to play the sports they choose to play. Why haven't they chosen to play football. Have they ever thought about it? Based on those answers, explain what football has to offer, how it fits into those reasons and I would just leave it like that. I absolutely agree with you that begging kids to play is a recipe for disaster.
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Post by tothehouse on Feb 28, 2017 15:21:05 GMT -6
I get that 5085. I also think that the toughness instilled in them by demanding in the weight room etc. isn't happening in other sports on our campus. I think if there was a full circle demanding of that...kids might give football a try...because they are athletic. I think they have a fear of the unknown...like...what to do in the weight room. Football offers a kid who have never played before a lot of different opportunities to show off the skill they have. I'm not calling these kids soft...because I don't know what they are.
That's why this is tough...because it's like an onion when it comes to having them try. Lots of layers.
I tell my own kids that what I'd like to see from them leaving the school is that you tried things and went really hard and don't have regrets when it's over. I think there will be a lot of regret that some of these kid will have...because they weren't pushed very hard. Not there fault...I just wish they'd extend themselves a bit more. Whether they SHOULD or not...they don't know if they COULD.
Any way...I'm ramblin. Keep the good stuff coming. Helps me formulate my plan.
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Post by 3rdandlong on Feb 28, 2017 15:43:00 GMT -6
Why is JV more important than Frosh? I would bring the JV guys up to Varsity and keep the Frosh in tact. I think a strong freshmen program is more important than a JV program.
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Post by tothehouse on Feb 28, 2017 15:52:50 GMT -6
3rdandlong...we've gone around and around with that as well.
I think...a lot of freshman will play on the JV...they are going to have to. I think our incoming class will be around 30...mix them with the 16 JV players...and we'll have a good number.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2017 17:30:27 GMT -6
I get that 5085. I also think that the toughness instilled in them by demanding in the weight room etc. isn't happening in other sports on our campus. I think if there was a full circle demanding of that...kids might give football a try...because they are athletic. I think they have a fear of the unknown...like...what to do in the weight room. Football offers a kid who have never played before a lot of different opportunities to show off the skill they have. I'm not calling these kids soft...because I don't know what they are. That's why this is tough...because it's like an onion when it comes to having them try. Lots of layers. I tell my own kids that what I'd like to see from them leaving the school is that you tried things and went really hard and don't have regrets when it's over. I think there will be a lot of regret that some of these kid will have...because they weren't pushed very hard. Not there fault...I just wish they'd extend themselves a bit more. Whether they SHOULD or not...they don't know if they COULD. Any way...I'm ramblin. Keep the good stuff coming. Helps me formulate my plan. I totally get what both you and 5085 are saying. We practice 5 days a week during summer for 3 hours a day in afternoon heat that is tickling 100 degrees for a large part of the summer. On top of that, we're on a turf field so add another 20+ degrees. Other than the CIF mandated 3 week break they don't get any time off. Kids tell me they just don't want to sweat their balls off "wasting their summer" to play 10 games for a HC they "think is a prig". They think the reward is not worth it. They can join the basketball team and practice indoors 3 days a week and play in multiple tournaments all summer or they can join baseball, have morning workouts 3 days a week and play in multiple tournaments all summer - and then be even better for those sports when regular season rolls around. As a kid I loved football but I'm not sure I could have argued with that logic. We have a ton of kids that "should" be playing but they just don't want to. It's a different world. I anxiously await you more experienced guys to enlighten this stooge.
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Post by dytmook on Feb 28, 2017 17:51:32 GMT -6
3rdandlong...we've gone around and around with that as well. I think...a lot of freshman will play on the JV...they are going to have to. I think our incoming class will be around 30...mix them with the 16 JV players...and we'll have a good number. We didn't have a frosh team for several years and it helped in some ways and hurt in others. Those guys who played major JV minutes as a freshman were ready to step up quicker, but we likely hurt a few kids development not letting them get reps with kids their age. I think the plus outweighed the minus.
We have a weird situation where we've picked up kids who didn't play football as a frosh, but want to as a soph which is weird but whatever.
This year we finally had enough to have a freshmen team...then couldn't field a full schedule because other teams around here didn't have enough kids. So we played the freshmen games we could and hybrid the rest. Worked out okay other than we didn't have a true freshman QB
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Post by macdiiddy on Feb 28, 2017 18:00:56 GMT -6
We had to bring our Frosh up to JV a few years ago. Honestly, it worked out really well. It gave the JV enough depth, allowed the young kids to learn one position (two platoon), and allowed the Varsity coaches to work more with the freshman. So I would whole heatedly recommend bringing the Freshman up instead of bringing the JV up.
One sales pitch is try to get the top tier athletes (or at least those with the delusion that they are), that colleges prefer a multiple sport athlete over one who specializes. There are plenty of coaches who are on the record saying such a sentiment.
Outside of that, try to incentivize your players to do the recruiting. Not saying that you cant talk to them and give your pitch, but if you do helmet stickers award a sticker if they bring someone new out to practice even if they dont stick it out.
Lastly, we allow freshman to turn in their equipment once the playoffs start or stick around and continue to practice (they would get all the patches/trophies the team earn if we go on a run). And one of the more lack luster excuses we get when asked why they are turning their stuff in is "I am going to focus on my grades". While this is a great idea, many times these kids are jacking around after school waiting for a ride and doing nothing of the sort. I never really had a good answer for this except guilt them when we walk by to go to practice, but be prepared for this to be an excuse as well.
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Post by blb on Feb 28, 2017 18:04:49 GMT -6
I get that 5085. I also think that the toughness instilled in them by demanding in the weight room etc. isn't happening in other sports on our campus. I think if there was a full circle demanding of that...kids might give football a try...because they are athletic. I think they have a fear of the unknown...like...what to do in the weight room. Football offers a kid who have never played before a lot of different opportunities to show off the skill they have. I'm not calling these kids soft...because I don't know what they are. That's why this is tough...because it's like an onion when it comes to having them try. Lots of layers. I tell my own kids that what I'd like to see from them leaving the school is that you tried things and went really hard and don't have regrets when it's over. I think there will be a lot of regret that some of these kid will have...because they weren't pushed very hard. Not there fault...I just wish they'd extend themselves a bit more. Whether they SHOULD or not...they don't know if they COULD. Any way...I'm ramblin. Keep the good stuff coming. Helps me formulate my plan. I totally get what both you and 5085 are saying. We practice 5 days a week during summer for 3 hours a day in afternoon heat that is tickling 100 degrees for a large part of the summer. On top of that, we're on a turf field so add another 20+ degrees. Other than the CIF mandated 3 week break they don't get any time off. Kids tell me they just don't want to sweat their balls off "wasting their summer" to play 10 games for a HC they "think is a prig". They think the reward is not worth it. They can join the basketball team and practice indoors 3 days a week and play in multiple tournaments all summer or they can join baseball, have morning workouts 3 days a week and play in multiple tournaments all summer - and then be even better for those sports when regular season rolls around. As a kid I loved football but I'm not sure I could have argued with that logic. We have a ton of kids that "should" be playing but they just don't want to. It's a different world. I anxiously await you more experienced guys to enlighten this stooge.
If I had to practice "5 days a week during the summer for 3 hours a day in the afternoon heat.." I probably would have been looking for the Soccer field too (although we didn't have Soccer then).
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Post by bigmoot on Feb 28, 2017 18:05:39 GMT -6
There is a point where kids have to be allowed to be kids.
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Post by macdiiddy on Feb 28, 2017 18:11:09 GMT -6
I totally get what both you and 5085 are saying. We practice 5 days a week during summer for 3 hours a day in afternoon heat that is tickling 100 degrees for a large part of the summer. On top of that, we're on a turf field so add another 20+ degrees. Other than the CIF mandated 3 week break they don't get any time off. Kids tell me they just don't want to sweat their balls off "wasting their summer" to play 10 games for a HC they "think is a prig". They think the reward is not worth it. They can join the basketball team and practice indoors 3 days a week and play in multiple tournaments all summer or they can join baseball, have morning workouts 3 days a week and play in multiple tournaments all summer - and then be even better for those sports when regular season rolls around. As a kid I loved football but I'm not sure I could have argued with that logic. We have a ton of kids that "should" be playing but they just don't want to. It's a different world. I anxiously await you more experienced guys to enlighten this stooge.
If I had to practice "5 days a week during the summer for 3 hours a day in the afternoon heat.." I probably would have been looking for the Soccer field too (although we didn't have Soccer then).
I think this is also a good point. We went through a restructure of how we run our summer program about 5 years ago because we felt we were practicing too much and by the end of the season the team was burnt out. You are always going to lose some along the way, but look inward to your program. Are your freshman joining the team too small in numbers (ergo, look at your feeder programs) or are you losing too many along the way (look at your program).
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Post by eaglemountie on Feb 28, 2017 18:22:31 GMT -6
Football is hard...
In this day, things that are hard are considered punishment not challenging or fun...
I hope that changes...
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Post by 60zgo on Feb 28, 2017 18:48:54 GMT -6
Society has dramatically changed in the last few years and kids have more options and they have "better" options...
Depending on what part of the country you are in HS football has basically become a year round pain in the ass for kids AND coaches. You have coaches running around talking about the "grind" and all this other BS. Kids that are reasonably athletic and tough could be role players on the football field or they can be potential superstars in alt sports like bmx, motocross, skate boarding, or in the case of my own kids brazilian jiu jitsu. Kids are attracted to those activities because the individual is being rewarded for his hard work and creativity.(Something that only happens for a few kids on a football team) They can go play soccer or get on a club team where they can travel and actually play AND have fun.
The number one way to help numbers is to work on culture. I know it's cliche and it's the buzz thing the past year or two but I think it's true. You have to create an environment kids want to be around. It has to have a certain element of fun and excitement to it. You need the kids in the program now to become the recruiters. They need to get out there and convince their friends and classmates that football is cool and fun and worth their time and investment.
A close number two is play more players. Why should I come out and give up my other sporting options just to play JV football or be some rarely used back up? Find a way to get as many kids in the game as possible and not lose.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2017 19:08:53 GMT -6
I totally get what both you and 5085 are saying. We practice 5 days a week during summer for 3 hours a day in afternoon heat that is tickling 100 degrees for a large part of the summer. On top of that, we're on a turf field so add another 20+ degrees. Other than the CIF mandated 3 week break they don't get any time off. Kids tell me they just don't want to sweat their balls off "wasting their summer" to play 10 games for a HC they "think is a prig". They think the reward is not worth it. They can join the basketball team and practice indoors 3 days a week and play in multiple tournaments all summer or they can join baseball, have morning workouts 3 days a week and play in multiple tournaments all summer - and then be even better for those sports when regular season rolls around. As a kid I loved football but I'm not sure I could have argued with that logic. We have a ton of kids that "should" be playing but they just don't want to. It's a different world. I anxiously await you more experienced guys to enlighten this stooge.
If I had to practice "5 days a week during the summer for 3 hours a day in the afternoon heat.." I probably would have been looking for the Soccer field too (although we didn't have Soccer then).
I have tried to get our HC to go to practice 4 days per week and move it back 30-60 minutes later but he won't budge. I have had several kids tell me they'd come out for the team if they had a 3 day weekend every week and I just direct them to the HC who tells them, "I'm not doing that, we'll lose too much practice time." Our kids like to go to a relatively nearby lake to fish & waterski, having practice that starts every day at 3:30 doesn't really allow them to do it. We'd literally add a dozen players (maybe more) to our program if the summer wasn't such a "grind" (lordy, I hate that buzzword).
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Post by 19delta on Feb 28, 2017 19:44:36 GMT -6
We just had a successful coach come onto our campus to talk with our staff about this very issue. We are restarting Frosh FB this year and that should help our numbers (Freshman year is when we were losing kids) His other advice 22 starters at every level JV and below clear down into the youth program. Make every kid feel like a big time part Special teams whatever. Sell the dream Tell kids that with them on your team you have a real chance to be a playoff team, state contender, state champion when they are seniors. I'm not saying beg but sell the program then if they chose not to play let them go and coach the daylights out of the ones who are there. Make them all feel special make it special to be a football player so that you keep them. This is great stuff, coach. I coached youth ball for 7 years (5th and 6th grade). Every year, the vast majority of the teams we played only played their "best 11". Only the top 11-13 or so kids would get the majority of snaps on both offense and defense. If the other kids were lucky, they would maybe get in the last 4-5 minutes of the game when the outcome was already decided. In many cases, those kids wouldn't get in the game at all. And, as the years went by, those programs had fewer and fewer kids go out for football to the point that a couple of those programs aren't even fielding teams any more. We NEVER had that problem. We always had around 25-30 kids every year. That's because our rule was that everyone starts somewhere and everyone plays quality reps. Parents knew that if they signed up their kids to play with us, their kids were going to play a lot of football.
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Post by tothehouse on Feb 28, 2017 21:04:47 GMT -6
I honestly don't think it's so much the time commitment that we ask. Why? Because all of the specializers and pulled all over the world traveling to travel baseball and then hustling off to AAU basketball in the same weekend. I'm not buying that excuse anymore.
I'm saying...some of these guys don't want to put in the work to get battle tested mentally. Like...let's say...in the weight room. But they don't realize what benefits it will give them all over the other fields of play as well.
And that is where I'm not begging guys to do it. If you want to come down to the weight room and see what is happening and jump into that mentality...we'll welcome you. If you don't want to lift, you're 5'10, 146 lbs, and believing you're a scholarship basketball player...then keep doing that.
I want to hear from their mouths. They might have great excuses. But I don't think they have the will to try hard things. And that bothers me. Call me old school.
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Post by fantom on Feb 28, 2017 21:38:13 GMT -6
I honestly don't think it's so much the time commitment that we ask. Why? Because all of the specializers and pulled all over the world traveling to travel baseball and then hustling off to AAU basketball in the same weekend. I'm not buying that excuse anymore. I'm saying...some of these guys don't want to put in the work to get battle tested mentally. Like...let's say...in the weight room. But they don't realize what benefits it will give them all over the other fields of play as well. And that is where I'm not begging guys to do it. If you want to come down to the weight room and see what is happening and jump into that mentality...we'll welcome you. If you don't want to lift, you're 5'10, 146 lbs, and believing you're a scholarship basketball player...then keep doing that. I want to hear from their mouths. They might have great excuses. But I don't think they have the will to try hard things. And that bothers me. Call me old school. Basketball and baseball play games. We work.
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Post by lilbuck1103 on Feb 28, 2017 22:10:31 GMT -6
Focus on the kids that have made the commitment to do the things you've outlined as a program. Invest and pour into them. We spend too much time on the kids that are NOT there and not nearly enough time on the kids that ARE there. Make it the best experience of their high school career - that is WITHIN your control.
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Post by tothehouse on Feb 28, 2017 22:14:13 GMT -6
buck...totally get that. That is where I am. I'm really giving them one chance. I feel like kids want instant gratification...like..."I'll just wait and show up in the summer...or late summer". H3LL no! That might be like some other sports. It's just not the world I live in.
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Post by jlenwood on Feb 28, 2017 22:27:17 GMT -6
I think as coaches we really are missing the boat on the "low numbers" situation that is gaining traction at so many schools. This BS about kids not wanting to do things that are hard is crap in my opinion, the real issue is how is that you as a coach have not presented your program in such a light as to make the non-playing kid think "Man, I got to be a part of that".
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lmorris
Sophomore Member
Posts: 195
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Post by lmorris on Mar 1, 2017 1:29:05 GMT -6
of all the reasons I have heard from kids as to why they aren't playing the top 3
I don't like football My parents won't let me I don't know
You have to sell your program, that's not begging, but it is pointing out everything that is good about being and athlete who plays for your team.
You have to sell yourself as the person who wants to teach them the game that we all love, in a manner that they will also fall in love with this game.
You have to sell the parents which means don't just meet with the kids also meet with their parents, and let them see how their sons success is what is important to you. Don't be afraid to let them know every safety protocol you and your staff have, as well as how you work every year to make it better.
And take it personal when a kid doesn't play at the freshman level, because that is a kid that will likely never play at the Varsity level. Make it your mission to get every able body in 9th grade out there. Then your 500 season is average and numbers increase for your JV as well as Varsity level.
your 1 sport athletes, pull up a list of NBA players with football ties, they would be surprised
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Post by ccscoach on Mar 1, 2017 4:15:59 GMT -6
Society has dramatically changed in the last few years and kids have more options and they have "better" options... Depending on what part of the country you are in HS football has basically become a year round pain in the ass for kids AND coaches. You have coaches running around talking about the "grind" and all this other BS. Kids that are reasonably athletic and tough could be role players on the football field or they can be potential superstars in alt sports like bmx, motocross, skate boarding, or in the case of my own kids brazilian jiu jitsu. Kids are attracted to those activities because the individual is being rewarded for his hard work and creativity.(Something that only happens for a few kids on a football team) They can go play soccer or get on a club team where they can travel and actually play AND have fun. The number one way to help numbers is to work on culture. I know it's cliche and it's the buzz thing the past year or two but I think it's true. You have to create an environment kids want to be around. It has to have a certain element of fun and excitement to it. You need the kids in the program now to become the recruiters. They need to get out there and convince their friends and classmates that football is cool and fun and worth their time and investment. A close number two is play more players. Why should I come out and give up my other sporting options just to play JV football or be some rarely used back up? Find a way to get as many kids in the game as possible and not lose. I'm with you on the play more players part we play a ton of kids on Fridays rotate defensive linemen series to series and we have 2 or 3 personnel groupings on offense it takes a little more time in to have it organized but it helps us keep kids out.
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Post by 19delta on Mar 1, 2017 4:33:03 GMT -6
I think as coaches we really are missing the boat on the "low numbers" situation that is gaining traction at so many schools. This BS about kids not wanting to do things that are hard is crap in my opinion, the real issue is how is that you as a coach have not presented your program in such a light as to make the non-playing kid think "Man, I got to be a part of that". Yep! Frosty Westering: "Make the bigtime where you're at."
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karjaw
Freshmen Member
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Post by karjaw on Mar 1, 2017 4:39:42 GMT -6
of all the reasons I have heard from kids as to why they aren't playing the top 3 I don't like football My parents won't let me I don't know You have to sell your program, that's not begging, but it is pointing out everything that is good about being and athlete who plays for your team. You have to sell yourself as the person who wants to teach them the game that we all love, in a manner that they will also fall in love with this game. You have to sell the parents which means don't just meet with the kids also meet with their parents, and let them see how their sons success is what is important to you. Don't be afraid to let them know every safety protocol you and your staff have, as well as how you work every year to make it better. And take it personal when a kid doesn't play at the freshman level, because that is a kid that will likely never play at the Varsity level. Make it your mission to get every able body in 9th grade out there. Then your 500 season is average and numbers increase for your JV as well as Varsity level. your 1 sport athletes, pull up a list of NBA players with football ties, they would be surprised Coach In addition to the above: (I took over a program that barely would get 25 to 28 kids out for football in 2005. My first team I had 28 kids on it trying to play in the largest classification. To now where I am cutting down to 45 players. We currently have over 200 players 8-12) What was the change: 1. Embrace your youth programs and get them on the same page as you. Help them recruit. Easier to recruit the little guy then the big guy. -The past mentality was youth vs. School and now it is all about getting as many kids into football as possible no matter if it is school or youth. 2. Middle school. Get those coaches down there who love the game and can get the kids to love the game. -current mentality everyone plays because you never know who is going to be the starter for you and our only goal is too turn them onto the game. 3. Organize one Friday game as YOUTH NIGHT. -this is when you invite all of youth football into your locker rooms and on the field during warmups and let then play during the halftime of the game. Parents who do not have kids in the program who come to the game see it and this allows the youth to recruit those kids who are playing two hand touch on the sideline. 4. Have Mini-camps for all kids in the district where the varsity kids do skills stuff with kids from all over the district. 5. Punt...pass...kick...competitions. Now Varsity: 1. Establish a brotherhood. -once established then have players bring friends to the events. 2. Tell one sport athletes (almost always want to go to college) that college recruits do not want just one sport athletes. When a recruiter walks in and after the first question about GPA they want to know what other sports you play. If none they usually walk out. 3. Let them know about: I wish I had a dollar for every kid who ever graduated and came back to me and said "Boy I wish I would have played football when I was in school. It was one of my biggest regrets and now I cannot go back and change that. I have plenty of time in my life to: Bmx..skateboard...do...martial arts...and work but my window to say I played the greatest game on the earth is closed." And I do not want to see that happen to them. 4. Parents do not want me to: -then say if I call your parents and they say Yes he can you want to play then? Yes: then call the parents No: then that is not the reason. 5. Remind yourself...your players and these kids all together that football is a special sport that is unique to any other sport in the sense that: YOU PRACTICE MORE THAN YOU PLAY. It takes a special guy to come out and play football because: 1. To practice 5 days to play 1 is not like any other sport. They all play more than they practice. Only a special individual who is motivated inside can do that. 2. To come out in 100 degree heat during your summer vacation when all other could be home sleeping...watching cable TV and eating ring dings is a person who when adversity hits in life they will remember these moments and how they got through them and they will know that if they can get through all of that then they can get through anything. He says no after that then you do not want him anyway. 3. That football helps all other sports. A.Batters box will feel like nothing after football. B. Rebounding...boxing out and aggression needed for basketball will be a piece of cake after football. and the list goes on.... 4. You will become a part of our brotherhood that is like no other. You will play for something more than just yourself. You will represent all of those brothers who came before you and your community. We bring in alumni from our association to talk to our players, but also to these kids about the mentoring programs they offer and networking for jobs after college they offer and this usually gets both parent and kids. 5. Have your current players bring 2 friends with them to a off season event and if you got 30 players X 2 you now 60 individuals in a room. If you get 5 out of the group your making progress. 6. Parents: Let them know that football is great etc.. but end that talk with this: You know right now your kid is only being watched at school with only 1 set of eyes (Coach who does their sport), but if he plays football it will go to 6 sets of eyes (JV and varsity) watching him. Making sure he is making good decisions, getting to class on time etc... six sets is way better than 1 set. Good luck and hope it helps Coach Wright
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Post by silkyice on Mar 1, 2017 7:15:09 GMT -6
I totally get what both you and 5085 are saying. We practice 5 days a week during summer for 3 hours a day in afternoon heat that is tickling 100 degrees for a large part of the summer. On top of that, we're on a turf field so add another 20+ degrees. Other than the CIF mandated 3 week break they don't get any time off. Kids tell me they just don't want to sweat their balls off "wasting their summer" to play 10 games for a HC they "think is a prig". They think the reward is not worth it. They can join the basketball team and practice indoors 3 days a week and play in multiple tournaments all summer or they can join baseball, have morning workouts 3 days a week and play in multiple tournaments all summer - and then be even better for those sports when regular season rolls around. As a kid I loved football but I'm not sure I could have argued with that logic. We have a ton of kids that "should" be playing but they just don't want to. It's a different world. I anxiously await you more experienced guys to enlighten this stooge.
If I had to practice "5 days a week during the summer for 3 hours a day in the afternoon heat.." I probably would have been looking for the Soccer field too (although we didn't have Soccer then).
I would have liked to like this post but you said soccer. Can you please repost and say baseball or basketball? Heck, say lacrosse. Or say all of them, and I will like it. LOL Really actually have no hate for soccer. But I am AD and soccer parents and soccer attitude... probably shouldn't say more. Don't want to be all over twitter like dcohio.
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