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Post by tim914790 on Mar 31, 2020 8:15:14 GMT -6
We are scrambling to find an opponent for week 2 next year and might have to travel from MD to Ohio (280 miles). If you have done this before can you help me with the following questions:
1. It is roughly a 4.5 hour trip, did you do day of the game? Usually we play Friday nights.
2. When you came back after the game did you stay the night somewhere or just travel over night?
3. What came up as an obstacle that you did not see going in?
4. Would you do it again or would you have just taken a bye week?
Any other insight or experience is appreciated.
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ndoc
Sophomore Member
Posts: 211
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Post by ndoc on Mar 31, 2020 9:06:31 GMT -6
Coach,
1. A trip like that Id recommend staying over night on the night before the game if $ allows. Travel back after game. If it is a night game then the kids will sleep on bus going home anyway. Get em sandwiches & a gatorade for ride back. If it's a day game, then stop at a local restaurant where you played. Ask the opposing coach for recommendations so you know what type of place/$ costs/reservations? and call ahead so they know they will get 40-60 football guys coming in.
2. If you can swing it $ wise and the level of play is fair to both sides it is worthwhile.
good luck
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CoachR
Freshmen Member
Posts: 88 
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Post by CoachR on Mar 31, 2020 16:51:59 GMT -6
I think you would be fine driving that far and playing, although a hotel would be nice if your program/school could afford it. If you leave the day of the game I would suggest leaving early before lunch, stop somewhere in the middle and eat to break up the ride, and arrive about 45 minutes to an hour prior to the time you normally arrive at an away game. You don't want to be there too early because the kids will get restless, but you want to give them enough time to get their legs back under them. I would agree with feeding them sandwiches/gatorades for the ride home as well. I personally hate bye weeks, especially that early in the season, but it is definitely something that has to be planned well for.
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Post by wingtol on Mar 31, 2020 20:21:37 GMT -6
Years ago we were in a “league” where the games were 3-4 hours away. We would leave 11-12ish. Stop for a quick break and also lunch. Try and arrive about 5 and get everything going. Grab some food for the ride home and turn and burn. We would have the nice coach buses so that made it easier. Throw in some movies and relax. Kids like the ride there cause they could sleep and be well rested.
Staying over night sounds fun...but don’t. Go down and back same day if you can get nice buses. If you have to use school buses, take the bye.
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Post by macdiiddy on Mar 31, 2020 23:15:54 GMT -6
Had a team out of state travel and play us. It was nearly a 4 hour drive. I would suggest if you are showing up that day, to make sure game day is about the game. They took off that day of school, toured the division 1 college and made the most out of their trip. Come kick off they were not ready to go.
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Post by coachjm on Apr 1, 2020 4:19:24 GMT -6
We are scrambling to find an opponent for week 2 next year and might have to travel from MD to Ohio (280 miles). If you have done this before can you help me with the following questions: 1. It is roughly a 4.5 hour trip, did you do day of the game? Usually we play Friday nights. 2. When you came back after the game did you stay the night somewhere or just travel over night? 3. What came up as an obstacle that you did not see going in? 4. Would you do it again or would you have just taken a bye week? Any other insight or experience is appreciated. First.... This stinks IMO, I love HS Football to able to compete against our neighbor and kids knowing other kids. After a couple stints of Coaching small college football this is my #1 reason for preferring HS Football is I loathe the trips. It just seems silly to travel that far to play a game. I certainly understand you likely don't have another choice.... 1. At that distance I would absolutely go the day of the game, you could play either Friday or Saturday IMO with that amount of travel some of that may need to be dictated by your administration. 2. We would never stay after a game, when we did stay over night on trips it was always the night prior, driving late after a game is good everyone falls asleep (likely you as well) and your home before you know it. In general if you can avoid staying the night do it, the cost is significant but also with all the temptations that exist for teenage boys in our world today the responsibility of their overnight supervision is something I would prefer to leave with their parents in this day and age. 3. There were some minor rules differences that we didn't expect and interpertation and how games are called are certainly different. Also you will likely have every bounce and call go against you so expect this. 4. I believe we should try and give the kids an opportunity to play if we can so I would play vs. a bye week but that is a philosophical thing. If possible I would schedule a local goliath prior to a long out of state travel game. |
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Post by bleefb on Apr 1, 2020 19:12:21 GMT -6
Another thing to check is if your Association will count the game as a legal game, especially for playoff consideration.
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Post by coachwoodall on Apr 2, 2020 6:30:37 GMT -6
This was our general routine for a trip like this
- make it a day trip, get a coach bus if possible, with wifi AND plug ins for chargers
--- we wouldn't stay over night for a trip this short
- we try to get the game played a little earlier if possible. Normal game time for us is 7:30
- break up the ride by stopping at a rest area if possible, let the kids walk around a bit, eat lunch/snack
-- for this meal, we usually get the cafeteria to make sandwiches/chips/fruit and we supplement it
- have plenty of snacks, they're teenagers. They are hungry 20 minutes after an all you can eat buffet.
- especially since it's early the year, make sure they have plenty to drink on the way to the game (that's why a coach bus)
- if there is a reason to add something to the trip, then do it. Last year we didn't have a game that far away, but be made the trip that long b/c it was near Atlanta and we went and toured the college HOF. Stuff like that is what HS should be about b/c face it you've got kids that would never do something like that.
- get to the school a little earlier than you normally would for a road trip b/c you want to allow your kids to walk the around/move a little, plus it allows you some time to get the lay of the land
- we usually do our pregame meal in our cafeteria, so we would ask of we could use their cafeteria to make it as similar as normal routine as we could. Also would ask if we could do walk through in their gym too.
- make sure everyone has a towel and soap, and that there are showers available, hose them all down, they buddy up and split a pizza, everyone has gator water, load up the bus and hit the road.
- if you don't do it already, have someone with a truck/van that carries equipment, and let them get there before everyone else to scout out the place and have eyes on the ground so when the busses arrive, they can point to what gate to go in, where to drop off, turn around etc.... Plus if you need something, you have a vehicle that can be your runner - post game food, stuff you forgot, grab something at WallyWorld, etc..
- Plan your arrival to not be during normal school dismissal time
- There's plenty of threads here about expectations on bus trips, but again they're teenagers AND they are getting out of class for the day....
- You can try to make it a 'just another road trip' game, but it won't be. Even for your experienced upper classmen (and coaches...) this might be an away game, but it's going to be 'the big trip' game. Embrace it and and ENJOY it or all you're going to do is make everyone miserable.
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