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Post by throwahitch on Jun 25, 2018 19:58:08 GMT -6
I have been thinking about this awhile. I graduated high school when the Grind season was beginning to start catching attention. It seems coaches have fallen into this as well. If you dont spend 18 hours a week in the summer at the field house, than you are not a committed coach.
I have seen numerous threads talking about various things i'll mention in this thread.
First, there was a thread months maybe years back talking about the declining numbers in football. I am currently coaching at a school where the numbers are in the lower 20s, and in the 80s and 90s they would be in the upper 30s to lower 40s.
I am about to say something that either everybody wants to say, or nobody wants to hear.
Most Summer workouts and Summer activities are killing off the classic football roster.
Used to, kids would be able to show up for fall camp two weeks before school and be able to play.
Kids would be able to be recruited to play during the first days of school.
Kids played because it was something to do. Kids played because it was fun.
Now, it has turned into a summer job for players.
How many kids on your teams work the traditional summer jobs? Construction, Farms, etc.
Talked to a coach today at a large school who said only 20% of their players even have part time jobs.
The reason the numbers are declining is the kids who would play for fun are now being kicked off or bad mouthed by coaching staff.
Today, if a kid chooses not to make football his life for four years, he's wasting his potential, or he is lazy. These are the players who do not play anymore. The number one thing I hear from a quitting football player is "I just want to focus on *insert sport here*". They say this because they were playing football out of boredom. Something to do in the fall. But since you want to spend 2-4 hours a day everyday in the summer, it is no longer worth it to those type of players to play. Thus, killing the large roster size, and the "every boy in the school plays football" era.
Long story short, if a Kid is unwilling to make football his summer job, he doesnt play football anymore.
I understand everyone is doing it, which makes you have to out work them or keep up with them to be successful, but at some point, you have to remind yourself that we are turning a generation from football.
I think we have gone to far, and long for the time where kids were able to be kids, and football at this level was a sport and not a year round job.
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Post by fantom on Jun 25, 2018 20:13:41 GMT -6
I have been thinking about this awhile. I graduated high school when the Grind season was beginning to start catching attention. It seems coaches have fallen into this as well. If you dont spend 18 hours a week in the summer at the field house, than you are not a committed coach. I have seen numerous threads talking about various things i'll mention in this thread. First, there was a thread months maybe years back talking about the declining numbers in football. I am currently coaching at a school where the numbers are in the lower 20s, and in the 80s and 90s they would be in the upper 30s to lower 40s. I am about to say something that either everybody wants to say, or nobody wants to hear. Most Summer workouts and Summer activities are killing off the classic football roster. Used to, kids would be able to show up for fall camp two weeks before school and be able to play. Kids would be able to be recruited to play during the first days of school. Kids played because it was something to do. Kids played because it was fun. Now, it has turned into a summer job for players. How many kids on your teams work the traditional summer jobs? Construction, Farms, etc. Talked to a coach today at a large school who said only 20% of their players even have part time jobs. The reason the numbers are declining is the kids who would play for fun are now being kicked off or bad mouthed by coaching staff. Today, if a kid chooses not to make football his life for four years, he's wasting his potential, or he is lazy. These are the players who do not play anymore. The number one thing I hear from a quitting football player is "I just want to focus on *insert sport here*". They say this because they were playing football out of boredom. Something to do in the fall. But since you want to spend 2-4 hours a day everyday in the summer, it is no longer worth it to those type of players to play. Thus, killing the large roster size, and the "every boy in the school plays football" era. Long story short, if a Kid is unwilling to make football his summer job, he doesnt play football anymore. I understand everyone is doing it, which makes you have to out work them or keep up with them to be successful, but at some point, you have to remind yourself that we are turning a generation from football. I think we have gone to far, and long for the time where kids were able to be kids, and football at this level was a sport and not a year round job. Back in the day a kid who had a part time job was considered enterprising. It was a good thing. Now, a lot of coaches consider it selfish. |
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Post by throwahitch on Jun 25, 2018 20:14:26 GMT -6
I have been thinking about this awhile. I graduated high school when the Grind season was beginning to start catching attention. It seems coaches have fallen into this as well. If you dont spend 18 hours a week in the summer at the field house, than you are not a committed coach. I have seen numerous threads talking about various things i'll mention in this thread. First, there was a thread months maybe years back talking about the declining numbers in football. I am currently coaching at a school where the numbers are in the lower 20s, and in the 80s and 90s they would be in the upper 30s to lower 40s. I am about to say something that either everybody wants to say, or nobody wants to hear. Most Summer workouts and Summer activities are killing off the classic football roster. Used to, kids would be able to show up for fall camp two weeks before school and be able to play. Kids would be able to be recruited to play during the first days of school. Kids played because it was something to do. Kids played because it was fun. Now, it has turned into a summer job for players. How many kids on your teams work the traditional summer jobs? Construction, Farms, etc. Talked to a coach today at a large school who said only 20% of their players even have part time jobs. The reason the numbers are declining is the kids who would play for fun are now being kicked off or bad mouthed by coaching staff. Today, if a kid chooses not to make football his life for four years, he's wasting his potential, or he is lazy. These are the players who do not play anymore. The number one thing I hear from a quitting football player is "I just want to focus on *insert sport here*". They say this because they were playing football out of boredom. Something to do in the fall. But since you want to spend 2-4 hours a day everyday in the summer, it is no longer worth it to those type of players to play. Thus, killing the large roster size, and the "every boy in the school plays football" era. Long story short, if a Kid is unwilling to make football his summer job, he doesnt play football anymore. I understand everyone is doing it, which makes you have to out work them or keep up with them to be successful, but at some point, you have to remind yourself that we are turning a generation from football. I think we have gone to far, and long for the time where kids were able to be kids, and football at this level was a sport and not a year round job. Back in the day a kid who had a part time job was considered enterprising. It was a good thing. Now, a lot of coaches consider it selfish. “You have your whole life to work!!” |
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Post by okiepadokie on Jun 25, 2018 20:23:48 GMT -6
Is #GrindSeason killing basketball or baseball too? I think numbers are declining because football is difficult and it isn't easy to be successful. Football is dependent on strength speed and getting 11 players to do it right. When a program is down there is no one stud player that can change the whole season.
Basketball and baseball can count on a small number of players and be successful. A football team can't have one star. Football teams can't win by scoring 1 run. A "game winner" in football needs either a successful series of plays, pass protection a good throw, a good catch, or some collection of events to work. A "game winner" in basketball could merely need an inbound and a quick flick of the wrist.
I am not downgrading other sports, but summer basketball and baseball do just as much or more than a one or two hour work out 3 or 4 days a week.
I don't work kids to death, but the kids that roll up in August and haven't done anything or tried to be a part of the team can just stay away. I am not #GrindSeason, but I am about kids who care. August guys don't give a rat's ass. Go have fun shooting the ball while we build around a group of dependable young men who have a goal of committing and being successful.
No disrespect to your post, but weight lifting is important to being good at football and preventing injuries. It isn't unjust to ask kids to better themselves and their team.
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Post by 53 on Jun 25, 2018 20:28:15 GMT -6
I think most of it is to feed the coaches ego.
I’ll never forget my high school coach running off a 6’6” 300 pound guy. This kid was a genetic freak, but he came from a family that had a logging business.
He’d still come to the summer workouts but sorta half assessed the running and conditioning, which I would too after working all damn day pulling cable up and down mountains hooking up chokers on logs.
Our high school coach though couldn’t have that and kept chewing his ass till the ole boy told him where he could go.
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Post by throwahitch on Jun 25, 2018 20:30:56 GMT -6
Is #GrindSeason killing basketball or baseball too? I think numbers are declining because football is difficult and it isn't easy to be successful. Football is dependent on strength speed and getting 11 players to do it right. When a program is down there is no one stud player that can change the whole season. Basketball and baseball can count on a small number of players and be successful. A football team can't have one star. Football teams can't win by scoring 1 run. A "game winner" in football needs either a successful series of plays, pass protection a good throw, a good catch, or some collection of events to work. A "game winner" in basketball could merely need an inbound and a quick flick of the wrist. I am not downgrading other sports, but summer basketball and baseball do just as much or more than a one or two hour work out 3 or 4 days a week. I don't work kids to death, but the kids that roll up in August and haven't done anything or tried to be a part of the team can just stay away. I am not #GrindSeason, but I am about kids who care. August guys don't give a rat's ass. Go have fun shooting the ball while we build around a group of dependable young men who have a goal of committing and being successful. No disrespect to your post, but weight lifting is important to being good at football and preventing injuries. It isn't unjust to ask kids to better themselves and their team. Kids play basketball and baseball all summer. My post was saying the kids who you are missing are the ones that traditionally did it for fun. If you want to successfully play football this day and age, it’s a year round sport, that you play no less than 10 games in. Football is difficult yes. Weights and conditioning make you better yes. But the most difficult part of football to the kids is all the time spent when a game is so far away. To prove my point to you. If your first day of football was the first day of school. Would you have more players on your team? |
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Post by throwahitch on Jun 25, 2018 20:32:50 GMT -6
I think most of it is to feed the coaches ego. I’ll never forget my high school coach running off a 6’6” 300 pound guy. This kid was a genetic freak, but he came from a family that had a logging business. He’d still come to the summer workouts but sorta half assessed the running and conditioning, which I would too after working all damn day pulling cable up and down mountains hooking up chokers on logs. Our high school coach though couldn’t have that and kept chewing his ass till the ole boy told him where he could go. I currently coach in a community that seems to be 30 years in the past and we have a kid like this who isn’t at summer workouts because he is literally welding in Houston 12 hours a day. Like. What do you want me to say to that? Kids making more than I am. |
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Post by okiepadokie on Jun 25, 2018 20:34:14 GMT -6
I think if guys ran the kind of camps and conditioning programs of the days of yore, numbers would be declining even more. Some of the kids I have coached would not make the boot camp conditioning days where every able body played football. I have worked with a lot of older coaches and their war stories of their playing days were awful.
A lot of kids just have a hard time sticking with things that are hard.
I get what you are saying. It is all about getting kids to want to be there and to buy in to the benefits and the team concept of lifting. I don't degrade or call kids out who don't show up, I just move on and coach the guys who are there because they care. There has to be a balance between the demand and expectation and time commitment. We open the weight room all day. I give kids every opportunity to get a lift in around their schedule.
Kids rise to the expectation level of coaches they love and trust. Kids hide from the expectation level of coaches they loathe and distrust.
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Post by 53 on Jun 25, 2018 20:37:20 GMT -6
I wouldn’t say anything about that and would tell the kid how much I admire his work ethic.
Also if he was one of my best 11. He’s playing even if he couldn’t make it to my workouts.
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Post by throwahitch on Jun 25, 2018 20:40:18 GMT -6
I wouldn’t say anything about that and would tell the kid how much I admire his work ethic. Also if he was one of my best 11. He’s playing even if he couldn’t make it to my workouts. I agree. Just know so many coaches who would be like your old coach and would just move on. |
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Post by carookie on Jun 25, 2018 20:48:05 GMT -6
Is #GrindSeason killing basketball or baseball too? I think numbers are declining because football is difficult and it isn't easy to be successful. Football is dependent on strength speed and getting 11 players to do it right. When a program is down there is no one stud player that can change the whole season. Basketball and baseball can count on a small number of players and be successful. A football team can't have one star. Football teams can't win by scoring 1 run. A "game winner" in football needs either a successful series of plays, pass protection a good throw, a good catch, or some collection of events to work. A "game winner" in basketball could merely need an inbound and a quick flick of the wrist. I am not downgrading other sports, but summer basketball and baseball do just as much or more than a one or two hour work out 3 or 4 days a week. I don't work kids to death, but the kids that roll up in August and haven't done anything or tried to be a part of the team can just stay away. I am not #GrindSeason, but I am about kids who care. August guys don't give a rat's ass. Go have fun shooting the ball while we build around a group of dependable young men who have a goal of committing and being successful. No disrespect to your post, but weight lifting is important to being good at football and preventing injuries. It isn't unjust to ask kids to better themselves and their team. I don't think his post was referring to those who are just asking kids to come in and lift weights and condition throughout the summer, rather those who are over 20 hours a week throughout the summer. He specifically referenced 18 hours, which is very common and somewhat middle of the road around where I am at. Thats more than 3 hours a day 5 days a week, most likely more than just weight lifting. I imagine we all agree there has to be a line somewhere in regards to how many hours we ask our players to put forth in the summer. Otherwise a coach could justify asking 40 hours a week of his kids to better themselves and their team. |
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Post by jlenwood on Jun 25, 2018 21:00:47 GMT -6
Who's gonna be the first to implement this "new fangled" way of thinking? Who's gonna be seen as a guy who let another coach "out work" him? I have coached teams in the past who could show up and put a couple of weeks of hard work in and be ready to go come that first scrimmage. I have also coached teams where we could have practiced 12 hours a day for months and they still wouldn't be able to get out of their own way.
I agree, the arms race is killing the sport. Not only driving kids away, but I am sure every one knows that one or two coaches in your building who just say they don't want to do it anymore. Not only football, but other sports as well. It just seems that football is the worst offender.
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Post by carookie on Jun 25, 2018 21:09:49 GMT -6
Who's gonna be the first to implement this "new fangled" way of thinking? Who's gonna be seen as a guy who let another coach "out work" him? I have coached teams in the past who could show up and put a couple of weeks of hard work in and be ready to go come that first scrimmage. I have also coached teams where we could have practiced 12 hours a day for months and they still wouldn't be able to get out of their own way. I agree, the arms race is killing the sport. Not only driving kids away, but I am sure every one knows that one or two coaches in your building who just say they don't want to do it anymore. Not only football, but other sports as well. It just seems that football is the worst offender. A good buddy of mine built two different schools into top 10 in their respective states. One of the first things he did at each was establish a limited summer schedule (Max 12 hours a week until just before school starts). I get that some coaches can sell the 'football dads' on the grind and steal a kid here and there, but I feel most do it just to keep up with the Joneses and don't really benefit. |
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Post by throwahitch on Jun 25, 2018 21:18:17 GMT -6
Who's gonna be the first to implement this "new fangled" way of thinking? Who's gonna be seen as a guy who let another coach "out work" him? I have coached teams in the past who could show up and put a couple of weeks of hard work in and be ready to go come that first scrimmage. I have also coached teams where we could have practiced 12 hours a day for months and they still wouldn't be able to get out of their own way. I agree, the arms race is killing the sport. Not only driving kids away, but I am sure every one knows that one or two coaches in your building who just say they don't want to do it anymore. Not only football, but other sports as well. It just seems that football is the worst offender. And I’m not saying I’m going to stop summer workouts because you have to keep up with your competition. Just see schools locally doing so much. We used to do an hour 4 days a week and we were in great shape. 21 110s under time. Those who disagree and think that you could go for 12 hours a day 5 days a week and the kids you want on your team would do it. That’s fine, but I do feel like a large portion of the coaches who go over 10 hours a week are just stroking their egos |
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Post by silkyice on Jun 25, 2018 21:31:51 GMT -6
Who's gonna be the first to implement this "new fangled" way of thinking? Who's gonna be seen as a guy who let another coach "out work" him? I have coached teams in the past who could show up and put a couple of weeks of hard work in and be ready to go come that first scrimmage. I have also coached teams where we could have practiced 12 hours a day for months and they still wouldn't be able to get out of their own way. I agree, the arms race is killing the sport. Not only driving kids away, but I am sure every one knows that one or two coaches in your building who just say they don't want to do it anymore. Not only football, but other sports as well. It just seems that football is the worst offender. I’ll step up and do it. We workout on Tue and Thu during the summer. 930-12. Strength/speed/jump/agility training and then some football stuff. That is 5 hours total a week. If you are out of town (whatever the reason), you are excused as long as you told me beforehand. Workout is online so you can do it if you miss. Try and makeup lifting if you miss. Haven’t done a 7 on 7 in 8 years. Don’t start conditioning running until after July 4th week. |
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Post by fantom on Jun 25, 2018 22:10:56 GMT -6
Who's gonna be the first to implement this "new fangled" way of thinking? Who's gonna be seen as a guy who let another coach "out work" him? I have coached teams in the past who could show up and put a couple of weeks of hard work in and be ready to go come that first scrimmage. I have also coached teams where we could have practiced 12 hours a day for months and they still wouldn't be able to get out of their own way. I agree, the arms race is killing the sport. Not only driving kids away, but I am sure every one knows that one or two coaches in your building who just say they don't want to do it anymore. Not only football, but other sports as well. It just seems that football is the worst offender. It's exactly why I'm a retired coach now. |
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Post by 50slantstrong on Jun 26, 2018 0:02:56 GMT -6
A few other things are just as guilty as well
-7 vs 7 tournaments
-Concussion hysteria
-Insane parents
-Cell phone/social media controlling lives
It’s all kind of a perfect storm and as a result you’re seeing declining numbers. Fortunately, football is the best team sport EVER invented and those that reap its benefits are bound to pay their experience forward, at least that’s why I became a coach. Eventually this cycle of BS will blow over and it’ll become as popular as it once was. The game is too resilient to die. Us as coaches just need to coach it smart and make sure we don’t allow politicians like the loons here in California to compromise it.
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Post by throwahitch on Jun 26, 2018 7:25:45 GMT -6
A few other things are just as guilty as well -7 vs 7 tournaments -Concussion hysteria -Insane parents -Cell phone/social media controlling lives It’s all kind of a perfect storm and as a result you’re seeing declining numbers. Fortunately, football is the best team sport EVER invented and those that reap its benefits are bound to pay their experience forward, at least that’s why I became a coach. Eventually this cycle of BS will blow over and it’ll become as popular as it once was. The game is too resilient to die. Us as coaches just need to coach it smart and make sure we don’t allow politicians like the loons here in California to compromise it. I agree the game is not lost, nor are we in danger of losing it. I guess my point is. At what point is this going to rebound and how? |
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Post by huddlehut on Jun 26, 2018 7:33:04 GMT -6
Who's gonna be the first to implement this "new fangled" way of thinking? Who's gonna be seen as a guy who let another coach "out work" him? I have coached teams in the past who could show up and put a couple of weeks of hard work in and be ready to go come that first scrimmage. I have also coached teams where we could have practiced 12 hours a day for months and they still wouldn't be able to get out of their own way. I agree, the arms race is killing the sport. Not only driving kids away, but I am sure every one knows that one or two coaches in your building who just say they don't want to do it anymore. Not only football, but other sports as well. It just seems that football is the worst offender. It's exactly why I'm a retired coach now. Agreed. Also retired...and not missing "the grind." |
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Post by funkfriss on Jun 26, 2018 7:54:19 GMT -6
I think a small amount of the decline in numbers may be attributed to the #grind, but I would put the majority of the blame on society and parenting. I could go on a long rant explaining myself, but I won't. Let's just say it includes words like coddling, excusing, enabling, and parent-friends.
Let me offer you this. I took over as HC four years ago with a team that just went 0-9 and had every reason to think, "F this, why work hard for maybe a couple wins?" Those guys that were out for football my first year were some of the toughest, hardest working kids I've coached, they just had no talent. Our summer attendance was great. Our weekly schedule was lifting 4 days for 1 hour, 1 practice for 2 hours, and 7on7 for 2 hours, but only for 4 weeks. So we were going 6-8 hours per week, lifting in the AM, practice at night or on weekends so kids could still work, do club sports, play video games, hell whatever they wanted.
Fast forward to this summer. We're coming off a 6-4 season in which we made the playoffs for the first time in 5 years, beat the #1 team in the state, and have a core group of those players back with other promising players coming up. Success breeds success right?? This is by far the worst attendance we've had at this school for summer stuff since I've been here (not just football, basketball and wrestling coaches can't believe the low attendance they are getting either). Heck, we've cut down on our summer hours because we don't need the extra practices. We now lift 3 days for 1 hour and 2 hours 7on7 for 4 weeks. We're not even getting half of our athletes in the weight room.
Long story short, #grind might be your problem, but it's not ours. Ours is more deeply rooted in bad character that is learned through poor parenting and societal norms. Had one of our starters tell me the other day he has trouble making AM lifting because he was hooked on a show on Netflix and couldn't get to bed early enough. Wow!! Where you at parents?
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Post by fantom on Jun 26, 2018 8:25:58 GMT -6
It's exactly why I'm a retired coach now. Agreed. Also retired...and not missing "the grind." Finally asked myself, "For two thousand phukin dollars a year? I know I'm not on drugs so I must be crazy.". |
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Post by HitTheJets on Jun 26, 2018 8:46:55 GMT -6
Who's gonna be the first to implement this "new fangled" way of thinking? Who's gonna be seen as a guy who let another coach "out work" him? I have coached teams in the past who could show up and put a couple of weeks of hard work in and be ready to go come that first scrimmage. I have also coached teams where we could have practiced 12 hours a day for months and they still wouldn't be able to get out of their own way. I agree, the arms race is killing the sport. Not only driving kids away, but I am sure every one knows that one or two coaches in your building who just say they don't want to do it anymore. Not only football, but other sports as well. It just seems that football is the worst offender. I’ll step up and do it. We workout on Tue and Thu during the summer. 930-12. Strength/speed/jump/agility training and then some football stuff. That is 5 hours total a week. If you are out of town (whatever the reason), you are excused as long as you told me beforehand. Workout is online so you can do it if you miss. Try and makeup lifting if you miss. Haven’t done a 7 on 7 in 8 years. Don’t start conditioning running until after July 4th week. Very similar here. We do speed & strength 3x/week during the summer, for maybe 1.5-2 hours. I prioritize rest too, I want a full 100% effort each rep. Next year I probably will go to only 2 days per week in the summer. Zero 7 on 7, I can't stand it. We've really bought into the idea of "minimum effective dose" with our guys and are selling it everyday. I make a comment at least 2-3x per day about how we'll be fast & fresh on gameday while our opponents will be slow & tired because they were "grinding" all week. Our guys are fired up about it and love it. The only problem we're having is some of the lineman wanting to do more weight lifting, which I suppose is not a bad problem to have. I do think a lot of old school guys would rather lose than be outworked. |
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Post by blb on Jun 26, 2018 9:28:46 GMT -6
My summer program consisted of workouts 3x a week, a few noncompetitive 7-on-7s with nearby schools, and a three-day camp at end of July. That was it. Did it with success at a school of ~400 kids and one of ~1700. My last job (the small school) we won the first district championship in school history and their first conference championship in 35 years. However, like funkfriss , we then had a class come through who as Seniors had less than 40% attendance at workouts. We had more of them not come to any than those who made over half. The results were predictable and was the final factor in my decision to retire. If the kids don't care enough to do the bare minimum to compete, why should I keep hauling my fat azz out there in the summer for nothing? |
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Post by CS on Jun 26, 2018 9:43:33 GMT -6
We just passed a new rule that only allows us to do 8 competitions a summer which equals out to 1 a week and I think it was a great move.
Old coaches were pi$$ed. Some of these guys would do 3 7on7s a week on top of weights and practice. It was too much man. I just feel like the kids need to be kids and we as the adults need to provide them with the time to do it.
There was one program that had 3 7on7s and a team camp in the same week. That is nothing but over kill IMO
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Post by coachjdjones on Jun 26, 2018 9:46:41 GMT -6
I want the kids to be kids in the summer, and our kids stay so busy during the year (3-4 sports, Ag, FFA, etc, etc, etc) that their family finally has some time to be a family. I don't mind them not being here every day during the summer, I really don't. We still open the weight room twice a day Monday-Thursday through the summer, and we still have several show up religiously to lift. I wish they would run a little more, but that's for their own benefit (I'll get them in shape in August....so it will hurt a lot, or it will hurt less...their choice). Our kids show up in August and are ready to work! And we have had a lot of success (31-8 in my three years here).
I also want the coaching staff to be refreshed in August, so we take turns opening the weight room. It's not a grind here, at least I don't think so.
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Post by dubber on Jun 26, 2018 9:58:28 GMT -6
Here’s the thing, either you are efficient with your time, or you will only win those games where you are more talented than your opponent.
Some guys set a tempo and can teach.....they end up as successful coaches.
Really, efficiency is what separates, not time spent grinding.
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Post by coachjsmith0330 on Jun 26, 2018 10:18:59 GMT -6
We always tried to provide workouts early in the morning 7-9 am three days a week. And a workout from 6-7 pm two days a week. If kids needed to come in earlier then we would work it around. We asked kids to attend three days a week if they could. Bottom line is the kids that could make came and those that couldn't didn't. The best football player played on Friday night no matter weight room attendance. However, statistics should that weightroom attendance drastically reduced the amount of time missed due to injury for our players.
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Post by larrymoe on Jun 26, 2018 10:20:00 GMT -6
Who's gonna be the first to implement this "new fangled" way of thinking? Who's gonna be seen as a guy who let another coach "out work" him? I have coached teams in the past who could show up and put a couple of weeks of hard work in and be ready to go come that first scrimmage. I have also coached teams where we could have practiced 12 hours a day for months and they still wouldn't be able to get out of their own way. I agree, the arms race is killing the sport. Not only driving kids away, but I am sure every one knows that one or two coaches in your building who just say they don't want to do it anymore. Not only football, but other sports as well. It just seems that football is the worst offender. It's exactly why I'm a retired coach now. I have frequently pondered getting out because of the time commitment. Last year we did about an hour and change 3 days a week and went 0-9. There were grumblings that our "effort" was why. Well, no. It was because our team was made up of 29 fr/soph out of 40 total kids, but that doesn't stop the whispers and perception. I guess it doesn't matter that we went 11-1 at a different school doing the same exact thing, if not a little less time wise. This year I'm an assistant and spending about 7 hours a day, starting at 4am, three to four days a week in the summer on football. It's borderline insanity (some of it is currently because I haven't moved yet and am driving over an hour). I enjoy not having the extra worry, but like you said, for 3k, is it worth it? I like the job, it's just the days without it seem so much better. In Illinois we've had 98 HC openings from Thanksgiving 2017 until now. I would bet my house the #Grind is a big reason why. |
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Post by coacht65 on Jun 26, 2018 10:25:49 GMT -6
I think most of it is to feed the coaches ego. I’ll never forget my high school coach running off a 6’6” 300 pound guy. This kid was a genetic freak, but he came from a family that had a logging business. He’d still come to the summer workouts but sorta half assessed the running and conditioning, which I would too after working all damn day pulling cable up and down mountains hooking up chokers on logs. Our high school coach though couldn’t have that and kept chewing his ass till the ole boy told him where he could go. That coach deserves the dumbass of the decade award. |
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Post by carookie on Jun 26, 2018 11:09:20 GMT -6
It's exactly why I'm a retired coach now. I have frequently pondered getting out because of the time commitment. Last year we did about an hour and change 3 days a week and went 0-9. There were grumblings that our "effort" was why. Well, no. It was because our team was made up of 29 fr/soph out of 40 total kids, but that doesn't stop the whispers and perception. I guess it doesn't matter that we went 11-1 at a different school doing the same exact thing, if not a little less time wise. This year I'm an assistant and spending about 7 hours a day, starting at 4am, three to four days a week in the summer on football. It's borderline insanity (some of it is currently because I haven't moved yet and am driving over an hour). I enjoy not having the extra worry, but like you said, for 3k, is it worth it? I like the job, it's just the days without it seem so much better. In Illinois we've had 98 HC openings from Thanksgiving 2017 until now. I would bet my house the #Grind is a big reason why. And thats the big thing, if you work less and lose then others, or the expected norm, you will be deemed 'lazy'; and in a position where we value hard work, and are expected to teach that value to teenagers, its not a good thing. Even though as you noted your lack of success was not related to the amount of hours put forth. So, many go overboard in the opposite direction to cover their own rear ends; so when they do fail it won't be decried for a lack of effort. However, if a team were to fail because the team overworked and the players fizzled out then we'd blame the players for 'not being tough enough', and lament for the good old days. |
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