|
Post by coachwoodall on Oct 11, 2023 7:08:59 GMT -6
When I was an assistant coach I was stupid dealing with refs. Easily yelled at them. As the HC I get to talk with them more. But I also get the feeling of people quickly. The ref Friday night gave me the "I think I'm the best ref in the world" vibe. Which scares me because they think they can do no wrong. Then when this happened they had egg on their face and had to show humility. Which they didn't. That's the part I don't like. In the end...nothing transpired, but man, it was scary. I'm not happy still, but I'd be livid if they got the down over and got points. I've not reffed at any level other than rec/intramurals, but one of the things impressed upon me during training was that officials should always 'support the call made'......
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Oct 11, 2023 7:01:02 GMT -6
I've thought about it after my son gets out of HS. I certainly can't be worse than the idiots they have out there. The state of reffing in Illinois, I might be working a state championship in 2 years. We had one Friday night on PI that 'happened' about midfield..... about a 15 yard go route on their sideline. The side judge was about 5 yards away. Ball incomplete, whistle blows, everybody slows down/stops; a full 3 seconds later the back judge crow hops and throws a flag towards that sideline about 25 yards in the air. He then jogs over and picks up the flag to toss it the additional 10 yards to mark the spot of the 'foul'. yeah, I'm a DB coach but it was not even close to a PI.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Oct 9, 2023 6:08:04 GMT -6
If you want an easy and affordable way to evaluate your program, specifically how your practices go do this.
Set a wide angle camera that can get the entire field and let it run.
You'll be amazed how much BS, walking around, non-involvement, chit-chatting, and lack of focus you have going on during your practices.
Then you can look at the film and and evaluate what your players are doing.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Sept 21, 2023 19:30:31 GMT -6
I input data. And I run reports for formation/plays and D and D. But I still do hit charts by hand and put it on the board. But that’s mostly because I am a visual learner. There is brain science (as much as it is....) that says that doing something written, and the same typing/inputting, and drawing it can actually stimulates different parts of the brain and helps you to better learn. I.E. I write it by hand. I type it on a keyboard. I draw it with figures..... are all different pathways in the brain, but they all build pathways to the same content, and therefore my brain can better access these related parcels of information.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Sept 20, 2023 9:47:18 GMT -6
Up down, and other types of quick punishment for quick reminders, then taking playing time for greater reinforcement are the two best methods.
Suspended the top 2 Fr RBs for skipping study hall, making them run 10 stadiums everyday.
WR is going to be suspended the first game back from injury b/c he didn't go to treatment. He is getting another for not wearing tie on profession dress day. His season might effectually be done.....
Yesterday the whole team ran stadiums for warm ups b.c nobody wanted to fess up on throwing a kid's shoe up on the AC duct.
I run the freshman team.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Sept 14, 2023 21:47:55 GMT -6
SC is going through a similar thing, but with charter schools. There have been a series of charter schools (which is allowed by the StDptoEd) that has created schools that are designed to be dual credit learning, and also limited to school student size. The limit is around 600, which would be out of 5 classification sizes, AA in SC.
AA in SC is mostly your larger rural schools. But in these charter schools, there is no band program, art classes, drama clubs, etc..... It is 600ish athletes in all the sports the school sponsors.
In Columbia, where one of these is located, all the small schools aligned in that region/conference are taking a forfeit for their region/conference game against said school. Those schools are assigned to play that school for play off seeding by region/conference standing.
For me, on one side I'm of the 'go play who you have to play' and quit complaining b/c the league admitted those schools and the didn't HAVE to....
Kind of the same argument I had when about 10 years ago the Coach's association started fussing about a couple of private schools that got really good and started winning (used to always be a whipping boy in football), but never worried about those privates winning 18+ straight volleyball rings...... You let them into the league, then don't beech when they stop being bad.
Then again, back home where I grew up in a rural area, one of the best AA teams has to deal with these programs in the playoffs..... They are a multiple state championship team, has been around forever..... has state championship titles in AAA, AA, & A.... one of the top all time winning teams.
They can compete, but will struggle when they have that 'down year'. This program will have the D1 type dude to compete every so often, or the 'whole bunch of HS type, hard hitting, fast running, drive blocking guys that make good HS teams go.
It's tough algebra to configure for sure
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Sept 10, 2023 22:13:04 GMT -6
One I did this year that got a chuckle from several coaches from a game on the road.....
I've stepped back and took the job of HC of the freshman, so to help the HC not have to deal with the headaches of stupid Frosh...
We're 'seamless' and rotate the ACs to work with the "B Group' (freshman and real JVs). So which ACs are with me each day change from day to and week to week except for a couple of young coaches.
So I have a variety of coaches on Thursday night game night.... I'm the guy in charge for the Frosh.
Had a game we were not ready for..... well coached WingedT program in an open spot on the schedule.
Kids are scrapping and trying hard and about middle of the 2rd quarter down by 3TDS, a little bitty OT pancakes their DE.... textbook drives him out and puts him on the back of his head.... and happens to grab his jersey as he plants the DE into the turf and gets called for holding. It happens right in front of our bench
Several coaches make a comment to the Ref, and one gets a flag.
I've been calling defense and in between filling up water bottles on a hot day. I see the flag and walk over and to the ref and then turn to the sideline and say, "Look, I'm the one that's paid to get the flag, so Y'all need to shut up".
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Sept 8, 2023 21:49:10 GMT -6
Here in Southern, California it's all out of whack. You have divisions that are decided at the END of the season based on computer rankings using a system called Calpreps. The purpose of this is competitive equity but the unintended consequence is that good, overachieving teams get punished by being placed in divisions too high and underachieving teams get placed too low. There are 14 divisions and the word MASSIVE doesn't even begin to describe the gap between 1 Equity is the theft of human potential. -----Thomas Sowell
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Sept 8, 2023 12:28:04 GMT -6
Our state divides the playoff brackets into Up State and Low state. Four teams from all regions/conferences qualify (kind of..... have a couple of really large regions/conferences that will have five from the different divisions).
In 2016 all four of our region/conference teams were playing each other in the quarterfinals of our side of the bracket.
Traditionally the teams that make up our region/conference are some of the best teams in our division.
I still think that we let too many teams in the playoffs.
By the way we lost in the Semis, the most frustrating game of my career.....
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Sept 5, 2023 19:20:48 GMT -6
Was at a D3 game on Saturday night. Back and forth, high-scoring contest. With about 3:30 left in regulation, the visiting team rips off a 70-yard TD run and takes the lead 41-35. However, they miss the extra point but still have 1 timeout remaining. Home team gets the ball back and drives down to the goal line. They have 1st and goal from the 1-yard line with all three timeouts. There is less than a minute left. They punch it in and kick the PAT to take the lead 42-41 with :48 left in regulation. Here's my question...would it have been crazy for the home team to have taken a knee on 1st down to bleed time off the clock or at least force the visiting team to use their final timeout? Considering the home team had all 3 timeouts remaining, they would still have 3 downs to get the ball in the endzone. If they take a knee on 1st down and then score on 2nd, 3rd, or 4th down and then kick the PAT, the visiting team would get the ball back but with very little time on the clock and no timeouts. My thinking is that the home team was not playing great defense and the visiting team only needed a FG to win the game. Any thoughts? There are only so many situations that you can force the opponent to burn a TO. The TO chart is pretty straight forward on defense.... If you take a knee when you can win the game, that's a plus for the Def. Everything with this and the supposed after is suspicion. In a back and forth game, you take what you can at the time.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Sept 5, 2023 19:07:04 GMT -6
Now that I've been retired for a few years I've had time to reflect about a lot of things. Recently, one topic that I've thought about is the value of the HS playoffs. I'm thinking that the season is just too damn long. Here in NC they've already played 3 regular season games before Labor Day. PA (Where I grew up) and VA (Where I coached) have played 2. All three states play their championship games in mid-December. Is this all really valuable and necessary? Your thoughts? Not sure about NC, but SC starts falll camp/practice the week of August that is mostly August..... 18 weeks before the 1st weekend in December -- State Championships weekend. To figure the season, take the 1st weekend in December and then count back 18 weeks. The HSL has allowed the 1st practices to start the Friday before that August week..... because we have a 'week zero' game week. Week zero is in the 3rd week(ish... see above for the early start dates), you lose a scrimmage/jamboree but that allows you to have a 'bye week' depending on how you schedule. Almost everyone has a 'week zero' game to manipulate the schedule to have a week of rest in the middle of the season....... Some of the also rans work their bye to the last week of the season to get done early. We take a week Zero game and are on our 4th game this week. We will have an open week 2 weeks before the playoffs start. Our seasons, and open off seasons, and playoffs getting into the next season, season overlap are a mess. I worked at a small school that shared almost every athlete used to have to cancel basketball scrimmages and even some games when we went deep into the playoffs for football. Is the season too long? IDK...... the kids play the game to play games. Are you asking are there too many teams making the playoffs..... almost always it will be YES. Are you asking if the time for participation that restricts the kids from doing other things.... almost always will be YES. Sometimes the biggest problems with our games is the coaches......
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Aug 29, 2023 18:58:54 GMT -6
Since there were no resources out there for the 10-1 Special Defense my fellow coach and I decided to write a book on the subject. You can order it on Amazon. The full title is Football’s 10-1 Special Attacking High Pressure Defense written by Bruce Hoffmann and Bobby Williams. You can also find videos of our teams running the defense on YouTube. We think this defense is a program changer. We have seen it turn high school teams around practically overnight. channel?
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Aug 29, 2023 6:55:43 GMT -6
It ain't MS, but this year I became the Frosh 'HC' to take some the load off the HC's plate. These kids aren't much different that one's I've dealt with in the past. You have to tell them the same thing a million times. The questions they are off the wall. They try hard and yes there are some that come off with that WTH look/comment/reply, but if you nip that in the bud early it is much less of a problem.
We are up front with them. We don't care how good they are, if they don't do right they run and don't play. Their grades aren't passing/have zeros for assignments they run and don't play. They get in trouble in class they run and don't play. The screw around in practice they run, and if it keeps up they don't play.
We aren't very good athletically other than a handful of kids. We picked a game this week (varsity opponent doesn't have freshman ball) vs Wing T program and we will get smoked.
I get enjoyment out of the little gains and thinking big picture/long term. I also like the problem solving of how to make things runs better and getting the kids in the best position for the program and themselves.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Aug 21, 2023 7:03:55 GMT -6
WR coaches have the WRs do things like high knee overs for 4 reps then run a check route and ball is thrown B skips then run a hitch and a ball is thrown etc... Das do their back pedal drills I'm a DA, was autocorrected from DBs
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Aug 21, 2023 6:01:00 GMT -6
WR coaches have the WRs do things like
high knee overs for 4 reps then run a check route and ball is thrown B skips then run a hitch and a ball is thrown etc...
Das do their back pedal drills
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Aug 21, 2023 5:59:25 GMT -6
If you have 15 minutes in the schedule and still want to statice stretch, I would suggest Pre-practice - 5 minutes of dynamic warm up Post practice - 10 minutes of static stretching. During this time you can simultaneously do your post practice debriefing. Thanks coach. What do you do for the dynamic stretching? A skip b skip High kicks high knee overs etc..... typical track type warm ups
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Aug 20, 2023 7:13:43 GMT -6
If you have 15 minutes in the schedule and still want to statice stretch, I would suggest
Pre-practice - 5 minutes of dynamic warm up
Post practice - 10 minutes of static stretching. During this time you can simultaneously do your post practice debriefing.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Aug 20, 2023 7:11:09 GMT -6
Trying to streamline pre-practice warm ups & stretching. I’m generally old-school, but have heard good things about teams going with only dynamic stretching & eliminating static stretches. Looking for some ideas. Would like to get it under 15 minutes. 5 minutes of dynamic warm up is plenty. That is all we allot for it. Usually we don't warm up at all b/c we are leaving the weight room and going straight out to practice. If you really want to do static stretches, then doing them after practice is actually more beneficial than pre-workout. There is also some evidence that doing some dynamic weight lifting (squat, clean, snatch, etc...) is good to fire the central nervous system to prep for performance. Our WR coaches have come up with a dynamic warmup that includes skills/route running to begin with.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Aug 18, 2023 4:39:38 GMT -6
hudl
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Aug 11, 2023 19:42:37 GMT -6
'Under pressure, you don't rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training. That's why we train so hard. ' is attributed to an anonymous Navy seal.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Aug 10, 2023 9:11:06 GMT -6
You can't take of others until you take care of yourself. Take the year off.
If you're peers don't understand, your at the wrong place.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Aug 4, 2023 13:34:24 GMT -6
QB and center are the only asked not to wear these. It is harder to hear their calls with those types of mouth pieces I have never before thought about the communication difficulties caused by the over the lips mouthguards. Thank you for my new learning of the day. We don't make limitations on mouth pieces, but we do expect all our players regardless of position communicate........ though we do also have hand signals.... again something to think about.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Jul 29, 2023 8:18:46 GMT -6
Just want to wish everyone still in the game (and I guess those who aren't) good luck this upcoming season.
We start next week, so I probably won't be on here as much... I'll try to not disappear for 8 years again though...
We start today best of luck to all
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Jul 20, 2023 1:07:48 GMT -6
If you are waiting until just before your first organized practice of the season to test the players you are way too late! You need to test right at the end of the school year to find out what you are dealing with, and to set goals for the kids to accomplish in the preseason. I always thought that a lot of times the testing led to disappointing results for me. You end up worrying about what you don't have. I guess I reached the point where, while I wanted the kids to improve and work at getting faster and stronger, come early August, I'd rather have kids who could learn assignments and play hard, and I didn't have to waste time worrying how they tested out. That kid who runs the 4.5 forty isn't as useful as the kid who runs the 4.9 forty if he is running in the wrong direction. Many moons ago, I was at a program where the HC tested kids at the end of the year/beginning of summer and then right before the season. One was the 40 yard dash. Beginning of summer marked off/painted a start and finish line that was 41 yards long. End of summer marked off/painted a start and finish line that was 39 yards long.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Jul 17, 2023 15:12:26 GMT -6
I.E. OL running mile time.... depends on your definition of an OL/type OL you have.
If your OL is 6'1"+, 220 lb-ish+ versus your OL is 5'10, 155 lb-ish; then you have very different metrics.
Personally, I'd never do a running test longer than a set of 110's with specific recovery times. Times vary based on the distance, but it'd be something like 4:1 to 6:1 (recovery to running time)
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Jun 23, 2023 8:26:50 GMT -6
that was sarcasm, by the way. next time please use the sarcasm font
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Jun 20, 2023 16:18:15 GMT -6
I marked different but worse, but not because of any particular game style/penalty changes or technique differences. My take has nothing to do with football.
Kids today don't (as a whole) know how to collision their bodies, or even fall down. They don't know how to fall off a bike, roller skates, or how to tumble. They aren't taught those things and when they even try to 'rough house' aren't allowed to do so.
We played tackle football everyday on the play ground. Full blown football without pads. We did it in the morning waiting for the 1st bell. During recess. During 'PE'. If we didn't have time to divide up teams, we played Kill the Man with the Ball.
We also played games like King of the Mountain/Dock. I had a pair of boxing gloves and we take an egg timer and box. We used to practice our favorite 'wrasslin' moves on each other.
When were actually were taught a skill or discipline in PE, it included things like tumbling and wrestling. In HS my freshman year we had a full 3 week unit in gymnastics; dive rolls, flips, etc...
I'm not trying to impress anyone with a back in the day story, but when is the last time 3rd graders were allowed to allowed to roughhouse at all on the playground?
Tackling involves a collision. Those are not natural, you have to learn how to brace the body and use certain points of impact.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Jun 17, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -6
How do you guys go about sharing a scouting report with players? Currently, I am using power point and convert it to a video and then upload to Hudl, but it burns a lot of time. I am considering creating an install every week as a scout report: type in personnel report, favorite formations, favorite plays, etc... then I can print the plays off from the scout report as scout cards for practice. Anyone else doing something similiar? Another way? Just trying to be more efficient. Thanks! The HC makes a Hudl cut ups of the daily script and shares with the team. Watch 5 minutes of film during lunch and you know what you will see today. Plus any film watched in position meetings before practice.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Jun 17, 2023 12:32:33 GMT -6
I did not want to the derail the other thread, but I have seen this comment many times on threads; so are football fundamentals really worse/getting worse, or do we all have a skewed vision of what football fundamentals were in the past?
I know I see kids doing things exponentially better than when I was in high school in the 1980's. Let me clarify, I see athletes doing things better. There are still NAFs just like when I played that can't get out of their own way. I know for a fact that I coach better than I did 30 years ago. I know we spend more time on in season correcting schematic mistakes than fundamental mistakes. We still HAVE to work fundamentals, because they can always be better.
When I see OL execution of zone double teams, WRs running routes and catching footballs, DB manipulating their hips on change of direction, down field blocking, DL working to beat double teams; I see better execution than what my brain can remember from the past. Now I am talking about at the HS level, b/c I haven't watched more than a couple of lunch periods worth of college/pro ball games on TV in a over a decade.
Also, I do think that fundamentals have changed over the years. I was in HS when the Fed changed the rule on how offensive players could block by extending the arms/hands (vs the ole 'flipper' blocking). Also QB throwing technique/mechanics have changed drastically in just the last decade or so. I didn't bookmark it, but we had a pretty epic DB thread on backpedal vs shuffle a few years ago.
So with the changes in rules, schemes, etc.... what effect does that have on our vision of the level of execution of football fundamentals?
Also the schematic part of the equation is drastically different than in the past. Things are so much more complex than in the past so the parts/periods of practice have evolved as well.
Now I have a different take/theory on tackling that I'll work up for another thread.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Jun 17, 2023 11:37:27 GMT -6
|
|