|
Post by craines10 on May 17, 2018 10:17:33 GMT -6
I want to present a scenario. I am not a HC, and I figure my first opportunity will be a rebuilding project. With that being said...What would the steps you would take to turn a "team" into a "program"?
Scenario:
Offered HC job of team who is 4-36 last 4 seasons
6A school (2500+ students), 37 returning football players (10-12 grade)
Football finances below average
Last winning season 2008
What are your first moves as HC?
|
|
|
Post by 19delta on May 17, 2018 11:10:29 GMT -6
Establish a strength and conditioning program.
The most efficient way to do this is to start with what you have now. So, take inventory of your current weight room...what equipment/facilities/space do you have available? Based on that, how many kids can you efficiently train at once?
For example, your weight room has 4 squat racks with weights, a barbell and an adjustable bench. The maximum number of kids I would put at a squat rack at one time is 4. So 4 squat racks x 4 kids = 16 kids working in the squat racks. Then, you will have to figure out what the other 21 kids can do (based on 37 kids returning).
I've seen too many guys fail in the weight room because they bring in a program they want to do but they don't take into account how many kids they need to train or what equipment they have available. The result is a poor experience for the kids in the weight room. You will have kids standing around waiting on equipment. Horribly inefficient and makes you look disorganized.
Everything starts with what you are going to do in the weight room. That will set the tone for the rest of your program.
|
|
|
Post by silkyice on May 17, 2018 11:16:13 GMT -6
WEIGHTROOM
Quality assistants. I would rather have three that I can depend on even on the 6A level, than 10-12 flunkies.
Solid, simple offense, defense, special teams.
Best way to win in my opinion: Get kids bigger, faster, stronger. Get kids in shape. Kids knowing what to do and how to do it.
|
|
|
Post by coachpappy on May 17, 2018 11:29:13 GMT -6
I actually lived a very similar situation. Took over a program that in 2011 that was 12-30 in previous 4 seasons. Was 2-18 in prior 2 seasons. Last winning season was 2008. Town has multiple high schools in it and a lot of players were choosing to go to other high schools instead of attending their home school. Program had $300 in the bank but did have good fundraising set up. Prior year the team had 22 players on Varsity and 20 players on JV. Freshman team had 50+. Lots more to the story but I will keep this short.
Things I did after getting the job 1) Thanked God and gave the program to him. Asked him to bring the kids and coaches to me that he wanted me to work with and teach. 2.) Assembled Coaches while meeting players in the program. Coaches were good guys, but not lifetime coaches. Coaching was their hobby, not their passion. Always (and still do) looked for passionate professional coaches. 3.) Built the program around FUN. Making sure the kids had fun while in the program. Trips, events.. just genuine fun 4.) Came into job with more questions than answers. Talked to a lot of people about what was working and wasn't working in the football program. Did not act like I was a football GURU.. 5.) Made sure other sports and other student activities knew I was going to share athletes, wanted them to do the same. 6.) Kept all sophomores down on JV the first season. Did not want the older kids who may not be the hardest workers teach the younger kids about poor work ethic. (this did not work, some sophomores we were able to push.. most were already set in their ways. 7.) Trusted and on campus teacher who was a weight room guy to handle the weight room while I worked on agility and speed (this also did not work, weight room guy was not as motivated to change culture as I was. I took over entire weight program my third year and the change worked wonders)
Team has now been the most dominant team in the city in the last 4 seasons with 33 wins. 22 of those wins have been in the last 2 seasons.
|
|
|
Post by larrymoe on May 17, 2018 12:19:16 GMT -6
Establish a strength and conditioning program. The most efficient way to do this is to start with what you have now. So, take inventory of your current weight room...what equipment/facilities/space do you have available? Based on that, how many kids can you efficiently train at once? For example, your weight room has 4 squat racks with weights, a barbell and an adjustable bench. The maximum number of kids I would put at a squat rack at one time is 4. So 4 squat racks x 4 kids = 16 kids working in the squat racks. Then, you will have to figure out what the other 21 kids can do (based on 37 kids returning). I've seen too many guys fail in the weight room because they bring in a program they want to do but they don't take into account how many kids they need to train or what equipment they have available. The result is a poor experience for the kids in the weight room. You will have kids standing around waiting on equipment. Horribly inefficient and makes you look disorganized. Everything starts with what you are going to do in the weight room. That will set the tone for the rest of your program. The correct answer, no matter the state of the program is always weight room first.
|
|
|
Post by realdawg on May 17, 2018 12:40:04 GMT -6
Echo what everyone else has said. Weight room. Must get kids stronger. And gives you a chance to change you culture and form relationships with your players, which is very important IMO. Be in the hallways and get to know and form relationships with school staff. They will help you tremendously if you do and help your kids. If you don’t they won’t be as much of a help. There is a whole list of things to do. But these pop off the top of my head.
|
|
|
Post by craines10 on May 17, 2018 13:46:18 GMT -6
I like all these answers. My current problem as an assistant is my lack of enthusiasm in the weight room. Even as a player I would get bored in the weight room lol..I think I would have to hire a strength coach!
|
|
|
Post by seabass on May 17, 2018 13:52:58 GMT -6
I like all these answers. My current problem as an assistant is my lack of enthusiasm in the weight room. Even as a player I would get bored in the weight room lol..I think I would have to hire a strength coach! Change that...get enthusiastic about it. If you don't care, neither will they.
|
|
|
Post by craines10 on May 17, 2018 13:55:28 GMT -6
I am definitely working on it...Max days and things like that I bring game day type energy...every other day I struggle...still a work in progress
|
|
|
Post by seabass on May 17, 2018 14:03:58 GMT -6
I am definitely working on it...Max days and things like that I bring game day type energy...every other day I struggle...still a work in progress I don't think you have to be game day intense for every lift....I actually think that's a bad idea. To me, it sounded like you might not be making training a priority. Maybe that's not the case. Not everybody has to be a gym rat to make progress BUT everybody needs to make gym time a priority and be consistent.
|
|
|
Post by agap on May 17, 2018 14:06:10 GMT -6
Finding talent. Nothing else really matters without talent.
|
|
|
Post by silkyice on May 17, 2018 14:37:42 GMT -6
Finding talent. Nothing else really matters without talent. While there is certainly some truth in this statement, not sure how it helps anyone high school unless you can recruit anyone you want from anywhere.
|
|
|
Post by fantom on May 17, 2018 15:34:45 GMT -6
I like all these answers. My current problem as an assistant is my lack of enthusiasm in the weight room. Even as a player I would get bored in the weight room lol..I think I would have to hire a strength coach! Change that...get enthusiastic about it. If you don't care, neither will they. I never enjoyed the weight room but the players never knew it.
|
|
|
Post by nhsehs on May 17, 2018 18:21:21 GMT -6
Quality assistants. I would rather have three that I can depend on even on the 6A level, than 10-12 flunkies. Heard a good take about this on a podcast regarding quantity/quality of staff. “Better to have a hole than an a**hole...”
|
|
|
Post by Coach Vint on May 17, 2018 21:41:04 GMT -6
Weight room, hiring a staff, fundraising, and recruiting the hallways. Most losing programs have kids in the halls who want to play but don't want to lose. We took over a program several years ago that had lost 27 in a row. They hadn't had a winning season ever in school history, and the school opened when FDR was president. The equipment was old. The weight room was embarrassing. There were athletes walking the halls that said they didn't want to be losers.
We made strength and conditioning the foundation of our program. We used it to build excitement and accountability. Guys got bigger, faster, and stronger, and started to believe we could win. We raised a bunch of money to buy weight equipment and cool stuff for them to wear. We bought new uniforms, t-shirts, shorts, hoodies, and cleats. We got some of those kids who weren't playing to come to the weight room. We ended up going 6-4 the first year and all of a sudden everyone wanted to play. We also spent a lot of time building relationships with our players. That first senior class was vital to our success. They bought in to us as coaches, and we bought into them as players.
You have to change the attitude. You have to get them to believe they can be successful. The weight room is where that foundation is built. When a kid busted through his max we celebrated like it was the biggest deal ever. We blew a whistle when someone tried a new max and everyone came over to the rack and got hype. That builds confidence in players. If they can win in the weight room they can win on the field. We sold them on being the strongest and fastest. We changed everything they had ever done also. We didn't want anything carrying over from the losing in our program.
|
|
|
Post by craines10 on May 18, 2018 6:50:14 GMT -6
I am definitely working on it...Max days and things like that I bring game day type energy...every other day I struggle...still a work in progress I don't think you have to be game day intense for every lift....I actually think that's a bad idea. To me, it sounded like you might not be making training a priority. Maybe that's not the case. Not everybody has to be a gym rat to make progress BUT everybody needs to make gym time a priority and be consistent. No, I go...I am saying my energy is not the same as it is on the practice field, and game day
|
|
coachrj
Freshmen Member
Read a lot, say a little
Posts: 36
|
Post by coachrj on May 18, 2018 7:08:43 GMT -6
I like all these answers. My current problem as an assistant is my lack of enthusiasm in the weight room. Even as a player I would get bored in the weight room lol..I think I would have to hire a strength coach! I felt the same way as a player. Just started faking it till I actually started to enjoy it as a coach. Best thing we do is we have a core group of coaches (including the HC, and no most of us are not young) that will hop in there and workout with the kids. Years ago I thought it was kind of a DB move for coaches to be in there lifting, but the kids absolutely love seeing us sweating right along side them. They feel like we are all in this together and it really makes the weight room fun with a little trash talk with certain "old men" who can still outlift the kids! (Just don't ask us to run)
|
|
|
Post by groundchuck on May 18, 2018 7:22:16 GMT -6
Weight room. Staff. Mine talent. Develop talent. Change attitudes along the way.
|
|
|
Post by funkfriss on May 18, 2018 7:40:38 GMT -6
Three things you see in every successful program: 1. Players who are talented and committed 2. A good weight program - I have never seen a quality football program at a school that is awful at every other sport. Never. You need players. 3. Quality coaches
Right now, my biggest focus is on our youth. Touching our JH players, going to their practices and games, getting to know their names and faces, and getting them into the weight room now so it becomes a habit. That is how I think we are going to make the next step as a program.
Something else that I think is important to remember is that there are many places that can't be turned around. You might be able to get a group of kids to buy in and coach the h3ll out of em and get some wins, but to sustain it year in and year out might be impossible b/c of factors that are completely out of your control. It's important to do your homework and determine the reasons a school is failing and then find out if the solutions are possible.
The gold mines are the schools that are successful in other sports and/or have a weight program established. I remember a school nearby that was great at wrestling and baseball, but was phukin terrible at football. I told everybody I could that this school was going to pop once they got the right dude in there. They've been a perennial playoff team for the last 10+ years once they finally did.
|
|
|
Post by craines10 on May 18, 2018 7:49:11 GMT -6
Three things you see in every successful program: 1. Players who are talented and committed 2. A good weight program - I have never seen a quality football program at a school that is awful at every other sport. Never. You need players. 3. Quality coaches Right now, my biggest focus is on our youth. Touching our JH players, going to their practices and games, getting to know their names and faces, and getting them into the weight room now so it becomes a habit. That is how I think we are going to make the next step as a program. Something else that I think is important to remember is that there are many places that can't be turned around. You might be able to get a group of kids to buy in and coach the h3ll out of em and get some wins, but to sustain it year in and year out might be impossible b/c of factors that are completely out of your control. It's important to do your homework and determine the reasons a school is failing and then find out if the solutions are possible. The gold mines are the schools that are successful in other sports and/or have a weight program established. I remember a school nearby that was great at wrestling and baseball, but was phukin terrible at football. I told everybody I could that this school was going to pop once they got the right dude in there. They've been a perennial playoff team for the last 10+ years once they finally did. Never thought about the performance/success of the other male sports playing a huge part...
|
|
JoshC
Freshmen Member
Posts: 68
|
Post by JoshC on May 18, 2018 7:56:51 GMT -6
Weight room, hiring a staff, fundraising, and recruiting the hallways. Most losing programs have kids in the halls who want to play but don't want to lose. We took over a program several years ago that had lost 27 in a row. They hadn't had a winning season ever in school history, and the school opened when FDR was president. The equipment was old. The weight room was embarrassing. There were athletes walking the halls that said they didn't want to be losers. We made strength and conditioning the foundation of our program. We used it to build excitement and accountability. Guys got bigger, faster, and stronger, and started to believe we could win. We raised a bunch of money to buy weight equipment and cool stuff for them to wear. We bought new uniforms, t-shirts, shorts, hoodies, and cleats. We got some of those kids who weren't playing to come to the weight room. We ended up going 6-4 the first year and all of a sudden everyone wanted to play. We also spent a lot of time building relationships with our players. That first senior class was vital to our success. They bought in to us as coaches, and we bought into them as players. You have to change the attitude. You have to get them to believe they can be successful. The weight room is where that foundation is built. When a kid busted through his max we celebrated like it was the biggest deal ever. We blew a whistle when someone tried a new max and everyone came over to the rack and got hype. That builds confidence in players. If they can win in the weight room they can win on the field. We sold them on being the strongest and fastest. We changed everything they had ever done also. We didn't want anything carrying over from the losing in our program. This is almost exactly how we modeled our rebuild last year. We took over a team that was 3-27 over 3 years. Following this model, we went 7-3 in year 1 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2002. But like everyone else is saying.. change the culture in the weight room and you'll start to see the culture on the field change as well.
|
|
|
Post by cwaltsmith on May 18, 2018 7:58:54 GMT -6
To me , you definitely need quality loyal staff, you have to get to work in weight room for sure, all the stuff mentioned. But you better find a way to get those kids excited about playing and more importantly, excited about playing for you. If you can do this, all the other stuff will be easier.
|
|
JoshC
Freshmen Member
Posts: 68
|
Post by JoshC on May 18, 2018 7:59:37 GMT -6
Three things you see in every successful program: 1. Players who are talented and committed 2. A good weight program - I have never seen a quality football program at a school that is awful at every other sport. Never. You need players. 3. Quality coaches Right now, my biggest focus is on our youth. Touching our JH players, going to their practices and games, getting to know their names and faces, and getting them into the weight room now so it becomes a habit. That is how I think we are going to make the next step as a program. Something else that I think is important to remember is that there are many places that can't be turned around. You might be able to get a group of kids to buy in and coach the h3ll out of em and get some wins, but to sustain it year in and year out might be impossible b/c of factors that are completely out of your control. It's important to do your homework and determine the reasons a school is failing and then find out if the solutions are possible. The gold mines are the schools that are successful in other sports and/or have a weight program established. I remember a school nearby that was great at wrestling and baseball, but was phukin terrible at football. I told everybody I could that this school was going to pop once they got the right dude in there. They've been a perennial playoff team for the last 10+ years once they finally did. Never thought about the performance/success of the other male sports playing a huge part... For us it was Lacrosse and Basketball that are perennial Final Four teams. We got those kids to play football and brought the winning mindset to the football field. They immediately became leaders because they knew how to get the job done when the game is on the line. They also knew what it takes in practice to become better players.
|
|
|
Post by groundchuck on May 18, 2018 13:54:41 GMT -6
Another thing is you can't have coaches on your staff or school administrators cutting your legs out from under you.
|
|
|
Post by CS on May 19, 2018 4:16:38 GMT -6
Another thing is you can't have coaches on your staff or school administrators cutting your legs out from under you. First thing I thought when someone posted about other sports being successful. My first school was/is a basketball powerhouse. We could never get those kids to buy in to weights because the basketball coach didn’t think it was necessary. And before anyone says they would just show them the door understand we couldn’t field a team without them. If we would have went toe to toe with the basketball team we would have lost. So that is something to consider as well
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 19, 2018 4:38:42 GMT -6
Another thing is you can't have coaches on your staff or school administrators cutting your legs out from under you. First thing I thought when someone posted about other sports being successful. My first school was/is a basketball powerhouse. We could never get those kids to buy in to weights because the basketball coach didn’t think it was necessary. And before anyone says they would just show them the door understand we couldn’t field a team without them. If we would have went toe to toe with the basketball team we would have lost. So that is something to consider as well Never a more true statement has been spoken Happened at a school here in Philly , it was so bad that the HFC had to try to raise funds directly through the program because money was coming in wound up going to the basketball team, once he discovered it the school announced he "resigned" to spend more time with his family. If the admin is not 100% behind the football program you have a snowballs chance in hell usually
|
|
|
Post by utchuckd on May 19, 2018 6:36:54 GMT -6
Check out 'Good to Great' by Jim Collins.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on May 19, 2018 7:00:31 GMT -6
Build the Herd, find all the kids who have interest get to know them first and what makes them tick.
Slowly build the weight room, get fundamentals of lifting taught and the importance of the correct weight and rep routine.
Hire a staff of good loyal men who have the ability to teach, you don't need a ton of guys just good people.
Teach your staff simple and sound schemes in all three phases you will be implementing focusing on fundamentals and common language that will be used.
Keep kids playing at the levels they physically should be at even if that means taking some lumps at the varsity level, getting beat up isn't good for anyone.
Be patient!
|
|
|
Post by coachd5085 on May 20, 2018 9:40:52 GMT -6
I like all these answers. My current problem as an assistant is my lack of enthusiasm in the weight room. Even as a player I would get bored in the weight room lol..I think I would have to hire a strength coach! You need to recognize that a successful Strength and Conditioning program is the #1 ingredient in success. It trumps scheme by a mile, and I would say it even trumps coaching in terms of importance. You won't win championships without good "coaching" (instruction, organization, logistics etc) or scheme, but you won't win GAMES if you are slow and weak with the best technique, highest football IQ and meticulous game plans. I have often said that at the HS level, you can probably go .500 or just a bit better simply by committing to the weightroom in ways that your opponents do not. Saying "lack of enthusiasm in the weight room" is akin to saying "lack of enthusiasm for defense" (or offense). You won't be successful. That said, the #1 first move is to identify why the team has been 4-36? More often than not, at the HS level, a main reason will be weightroom related. But if it isn't, figure out what the issue is and take steps to reverse.
|
|
|
Post by coachd5085 on May 20, 2018 9:50:53 GMT -6
Three things you see in every successful program: 1. Players who are talented and committed 2. A good weight program - I have never seen a quality football program at a school that is awful at every other sport. Never. You need players. 3. Quality coaches Right now, my biggest focus is on our youth. Touching our JH players, going to their practices and games, getting to know their names and faces, and getting them into the weight room now so it becomes a habit. That is how I think we are going to make the next step as a program. Something else that I think is important to remember is that there are many places that can't be turned around. You might be able to get a group of kids to buy in and coach the h3ll out of em and get some wins, but to sustain it year in and year out might be impossible b/c of factors that are completely out of your control. It's important to do your homework and determine the reasons a school is failing and then find out if the solutions are possible. The gold mines are the schools that are successful in other sports and/or have a weight program established. I remember a school nearby that was great at wrestling and baseball, but was phukin terrible at football. I told everybody I could that this school was going to pop once they got the right dude in there. They've been a perennial playoff team for the last 10+ years once they finally did. I wouldn't recommend touching younger players. Or even older ones for that I think it is great that you used the phrase "next step" when talking about focus on the youth. When you take over a program, you need to perform a little triage. Find out what is wrong...and while youth involvement is big, it is a step to be taken after you clean up the immediate issues first. I also think you are spot on that some places just have so many external factors pointing to failure that you can't fully turn it around. As you mentioned, you can have some flashes of brilliance, but it just isn't possible to get a true program humming.
|
|