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Post by coachjuice on Oct 18, 2017 19:46:26 GMT -6
I took over this program at 29 and we have turned it around from being a doormat to one of the better programs in our area. This has taken a lot of work, in 11 years we have suffered a lot of losses and enjoyed a lot of successes. We are currently 1-5, it is the worst recored we have had since or second year. We have lost 5 games by a total of 13 points. The school culture has changed a lot over the last 2 years. We are inner city and we are headed in to level 4, we have as a faculty been put under the microscope and instead of tightening the belt we have really relaxed our approach. They took away the attendance policy, changed the schedule and have made it almost impossible for our students to fail. IMO, by doing this we are failing them. My issue (amongst others) is that this negative culture of low standards and no expectations is seeping it's way in to my football program. We fold in the 4th quarter, we are always looking for the easy way out and I try to tell the boys there is no time and a half to win a game. We have had some major player issues, a starting MLB took off and was missing for 2 weeks, a young girl who is related to a few player was murdered in a drive by shooting by one of their friends. Another player had to miss 2 games as his uncle was murdered. What do I do? We have tried every motivational speech, every trick in the book. These kids are survivors not fighters, I will not ever give up on them and I will love and treat them as my own. My standards remain high and I still coach as hard today as I did all those years ago. Any thoughts or any ideas, this cancer is eating away at this thing we built. How can high standards survive low expectations? If they are not being held accountable in school how can they expect to win a football game?
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Post by larrymoe on Oct 19, 2017 7:51:04 GMT -6
Coach, that sucks that this is happening to you. I’m sure many more will echo this statement, but if you don’t have support at the levels above you- admins, super, board, etc- I don’t think you can swim upstream indefinitely. Just got done fighting a similar fight- albeit on afar smaller scale- and for my personal sanity I had to get out. My new football situation is an absolute train wreck right now- 0-9, running clock every game but one- but there is hope because it is a sound school with good support.
I know this may not be super helpful, but sometimes you just can’t swim against the current forever.
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Post by fshamrock on Oct 19, 2017 8:05:51 GMT -6
There is no step by step process for your situation
a football coach can't overcome a community that is withering away, but maybe things aren't as bad as you think. Sometimes when things aren't going out way we start to envision how everything is falling apart around us and forces beyond our control are swirling us into the abyss
try and look objectively about how bad it really is. You say you've lost 5 games by 13 points, so hypothetically, if 5 plays break your way then you are sitting on an undefeated record. Your entire outlook is probably completely different then, administration seems supportive, the kids are fighting hard through some personal adversity, The school culture is just fine!
Losing just makes everything seem worse than it is..in the same way that winning will cover up a lot of scars
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Post by silkyice on Oct 19, 2017 9:22:08 GMT -6
I took over this program at 29 and we have turned it around from being a doormat to one of the better programs in our area. This has taken a lot of work, in 11 years we have suffered a lot of losses and enjoyed a lot of successes. We are currently 1-5, it is the worst recored we have had since or second year. We have lost 5 games by a total of 13 points. The school culture has changed a lot over the last 2 years. We are inner city and we are headed in to level 4, we have as a faculty been put under the microscope and instead of tightening the belt we have really relaxed our approach. They took away the attendance policy, changed the schedule and have made it almost impossible for our students to fail. IMO, by doing this we are failing them. My issue (amongst others) is that this negative culture of low standards and no expectations is seeping it's way in to my football program. We fold in the 4th quarter, we are always looking for the easy way out and I try to tell the boys there is no time and a half to win a game. We have had some major player issues, a starting MLB took off and was missing for 2 weeks, a young girl who is related to a few player was murdered in a drive by shooting by one of their friends. Another player had to miss 2 games as his uncle was murdered. What do I do? We have tried every motivational speech, every trick in the book. These kids are survivors not fighters, I will not ever give up on them and I will love and treat them as my own. My standards remain high and I still coach as hard today as I did all those years ago. Any thoughts or any ideas, this cancer is eating away at this thing we built. How can high standards survive low expectations? If they are not being held accountable in school how can they expect to win a football game? First, hats off to you. You are making a huge difference in their lives. Do not lower your expectations. You are the one that shows them that someone believes in the them and holds them accountable and loves them. Losing sucks. Never give in. But winning isn't everything. Trying to win is. I like fshamrock 's perspective. This is one season. If this continues with no end in sight, there are other jobs. All you can do is your best and re-evaluate when the season is over. I have had horrible seasons and championship seasons. Last year, we were 3-6 and literally wasn't sure if we would have a team this year. This year we are 6-1 and playing for a region championship tonight with a legit chance at a state title. I don't even know how it happened. It is truly a God thing. But I do know that I never gave up or gave in or quit doing my best even when I was looking for other jobs in the off-season! Glad the other jobs didn't work out. LOL. |
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Post by **** on Oct 19, 2017 9:48:50 GMT -6
Can't win with {censored} admins.
Find a new job.
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Post by wingtol on Oct 19, 2017 9:55:40 GMT -6
There are more important things than W and L's. I don't coach in the inner-city but teach there. School I coach at is right on the border of our city and is starting to see the effects of our city going in the wrong direction. We pulled out our roster the other day and figure out that of 43 kids on the team 2 have both biological parents living at home. Some of them have some pretty crazy situations at home. Parents who can't make adult decisions themselves let alone be a stable force in their kids lives. It was a reminder to us that teaching character and being positive male role models to these guys is more important than the scores of games.
I know it's hard working in situations like you described it's frustrating and stressful and burns you out. Sometimes you have to walk away. But remember in many cases you are the most stable adult(s) those kids interact with on a daily basis. It's hard to look past the game sometimes but hopefully down the road you have made an impact on your players and helped them become better men.
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Post by StraightFlexin on Oct 19, 2017 10:04:12 GMT -6
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Post by ogre5530 on Oct 19, 2017 10:31:18 GMT -6
There are more important things than W and L's. I don't coach in the inner-city but teach there. School I coach at is right on the border of our city and is starting to see the effects of our city going in the wrong direction. We pulled out our roster the other day and figure out that of 43 kids on the team 2 have both biological parents living at home. Some of them have some pretty crazy situations at home. Parents who can't make adult decisions themselves let alone be a stable force in their kids lives. It was a reminder to us that teaching character and being positive male role models to these guys is more important than the scores of games. I know it's hard working in situations like you described it's frustrating and stressful and burns you out. Sometimes you have to walk away. But remember in many cases you are the most stable adult(s) those kids interact with on a daily basis. It's hard to look past the game sometimes but hopefully down the road you have made an impact on your players and helped them become better men. The OP situation seems eerily similar to the one I'm in. It's not nearly as bad, but inner city with little administration and district support. Sadly, I've done what you have wingtol and thought about whom has two parents at home. I believe I counted 5-7 on a Varsity team that started with 38. It's challenging no doubt especially when your kids do not have the proper support from home and then come into an environment that is not holding kids accountable very well in school. It makes life more challenging when the kids are basically allowed to do whatever they want because the school hides behind antiquated policies that don't work. I'd say to the OP that it might be time to find something else. I've been at it 11 years at the same inner city type school and have reached the point where I feel like I can't do much more to help the situation that our program is in and our kids are in. It's taxing on me and my family. |
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Post by brophy on Oct 19, 2017 10:33:13 GMT -6
if I'm way off, just ignore, but isn't this exactly what was attempting to be addressed in the "kneeling" thread? Except in that one, we were all for enabling kids to make excuses and side-step accountability, because emotions are what are important coachhuey.com/thread/78663/handle?page=5And I'm Not talking about the actual "topic" of that thread, but the precedent for lack of standards it set. |
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Post by **** on Oct 19, 2017 10:40:19 GMT -6
if I'm way off, just ignore, but isn't this exactly what was attempting to be addressed in the "kneeling" thread? Except in that one, we were all for enabling kids to make excuses and side-step accountability, because emotions are what are important coachhuey.com/thread/78663/handle?page=5And I'm Not talking about the actual "topic" of that thread, but the precedent for lack of standards it set. I love what you said in that thread |
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Post by brophy on Oct 19, 2017 10:51:17 GMT -6
what side of the argument in that thread is irrelevant, I'm just confused as a coach, we're advocating positive excellence, a drive for performance, move past your limitations..... then, in the same breath, we're supposed to embrace excuses for not performing, look for reasons why we can't achieve. Doesn't jibe That mentality is toxic and should be avoided at all costs |
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Post by **** on Oct 19, 2017 10:58:51 GMT -6
what side of the argument in that thread is irrelevant, I'm just confused as a coach, we're advocating positive excellence, a drive for performance, move past your limitations..... then, in the same breath, we're supposed to embrace excuses for not performing, look for reasons why we can't achieve. Doesn't jibe That mentality is toxic and should be avoided at all costs Me and you are on the same wavelength. |
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Post by chi5hi on Oct 19, 2017 11:13:37 GMT -6
One person can't change a culture, but one person called "coach"... and who keeps trying to make people do their best, is a solid place to start.
We're part of a great profession. Sometimes YOU are the only Rock of Gibraltar those kids ever see. Sometimes...maybe...just being there sets an example.
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Post by ogre5530 on Oct 20, 2017 12:40:20 GMT -6
Well sadly the school that I mentioned above had 8-10 fights break out today. City, County, Swat, K-9, armored trucks all called in. They ended up letting kids go home after the issues were squashed. Worst I've ever seen as an educator. Trying to get kids focused on football tonight when relatives or maybe themselves are involved with stuff on the street will be extremely challenging!! UGH!
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