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Post by holmesbend on Feb 24, 2016 11:38:00 GMT -6
I love this site. Been a member since 2009. I don't really comment much, but I do my share of reading, note taking and messaging some of you on here behind the scenes.
VERY thankful for this. Huge fan.
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Post by holmesbend on Feb 19, 2016 12:41:04 GMT -6
I know people say grinder/grind/grinding but I don't really view it that way. It is fun. It is nerve wracking, but man is it fun, and addictive, and I guess I really enjoy it. I'm trying to figure out what this actually means to me.... From August-December. It's a drug. I LOVE everything about the grind...outside of my wife and little girls, it's my everything. Everything you said above? Spot on truth for me. January-March.....after that 4-6 week break, the off season gives me something to do. Weights, film, self scouts, breaking down next year opponents with the film you can get late at night or during down times of the day at school? Love it. Come April, I'm also a Turkey Hunting ADDICT. May, close out the school year= Spring Practice. Let's get after it. June and July, though? As much enjoyment and the DRUG that it is those other months? When I say it is absolutely the last thing I want to do...it's just that. Of my Top 10 things to do during those months? The thought of football might be #37.
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Post by holmesbend on Feb 3, 2016 15:25:25 GMT -6
I still teach in the district where I was the HC, 11 miles/15 minutes from my house (country roads).
School I coach at in another counth is 26 miles from my school and 23 miles from my house..about an hour round trip everyday.
Probably not going to do it next year. Great group of coaches, top 30 program in our state, but drive and $$$ just isn't worth it.
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Post by holmesbend on Feb 3, 2016 9:01:05 GMT -6
That and just the overall, general use of "Coach" "Coach." "Coach!" "Hey coach." "Hey Coach!" "Cooooooach" "Say coach, them boys buying in coach?" I use "Coach" when I don't know somebody's name (who doesn't), but the over use of "Coach" amongst those that know one another? Wears. Me. The. Eff. Out If we are out on the practice field, games, weightroom around the kids? Sure, obviously. Just us? Hell no. Do not. When I hear somebody at a clinic or anywhere overusing "Coach", I think I'm going to turn around and see the throwback guy. You know the ones: -Trucker/Mesh Hat -Bike shorts that are so tight and pulled up so high that they are splitting his sack -Knee high socks -Spot Bilt shoes -A chew so big in is mouth that he can't shut his mouth if he tried I've got buddies of mine who will TRY and do that when talking to me in person & I'm like, "WTF?!". You've known me long before I was "Coach", so don't start that crap. TRUTH!! I tell my kids to call me Mr instead of Coach during class but it winds up being just Coach for most of them. I have given up now but I have told some kids before that I ACTUALLY have a name rather than just Coach. You don't call your other teachers Mister or Miss now do you? It's not like I just call my students "Hey kid/student/gym rat/etc" instead of their name. Not to mention that whenever they say coach, at least 5 of us turn around in PE class. However, I've gotten soft I guess and now don't care what they call me as long as it's not profanity. lol. Great points. I'm good with just about anything except for those ones that TRY to just call you by your last name ....usually a one time occurance and they learn to put the Mr. or Coach in front. I'd rather a kid try to call me by my first name than just saying my last name
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Post by holmesbend on Feb 3, 2016 8:59:03 GMT -6
That and just the overall, general use of "Coach" "Coach." "Coach!" "Hey coach." "Hey Coach!" "Cooooooach" "Say coach, them boys buying in coach?" I use "Coach" when I don't know somebody's name (who doesn't), but the over use of "Coach" amongst those that know one another? Wears. Me. The. Eff. Out If we are out on the practice field, games, weightroom around the kids? Sure, obviously. Just us? Hell no. Do not. When I hear somebody at a clinic or anywhere overusing "Coach", I think I'm going to turn around and see the throwback guy. You know the ones: -Trucker/Mesh Hat -Bike shorts that are so tight and pulled up so high that they are splitting his sack -Knee high socks -Spot Bilt shoes -A chew so big in is mouth that he can't shut his mouth if he tried I've got buddies of mine who will TRY and do that when talking to me in person & I'm like, "WTF?!". You've known me long before I was "Coach", so don't start that crap. We as a staff do not take ourselves very seriously so every clinic we go to the one guy on staff who is our go to comedian likes to see how many heads whip around when he yells "Hey coach! It's coach!" Or open the window of the room and scream "Hey coach it's coach! Coach said grab coach and come have some beers in the room with coach and coach!" It's amazing how many heads turn and think you are talking to them. I think some guys get pi$$ed like it's an insult, so every year we try and do it more than before. Never gets old... Hilarious.
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Post by holmesbend on Feb 2, 2016 21:09:54 GMT -6
That and just the overall, general use of "Coach"
"Coach." "Coach!" "Hey coach." "Hey Coach!" "Cooooooach" "Say coach, them boys buying in coach?"
I use "Coach" when I don't know somebody's name (who doesn't), but the over use of "Coach" amongst those that know one another? Wears. Me. The. Eff. Out
If we are out on the practice field, games, weightroom around the kids? Sure, obviously. Just us? Hell no. Do not.
When I hear somebody at a clinic or anywhere overusing "Coach", I think I'm going to turn around and see the throwback guy. You know the ones: -Trucker/Mesh Hat -Bike shorts that are so tight and pulled up so high that they are splitting his sack -Knee high socks -Spot Bilt shoes -A chew so big in is mouth that he can't shut his mouth if he tried
I've got buddies of mine who will TRY and do that when talking to me in person & I'm like, "WTF?!". You've known me long before I was "Coach", so don't start that crap.
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Post by holmesbend on Nov 6, 2015 8:54:57 GMT -6
I don't know that I've missed a Friday night being at a game since I got out of college 11 years ago, and in high school once we got beaten out (made it to the finals once), my dad and I'd go to games...especially State-Semi games the day after Thanksgiving. Here in Kentucky, the state finals are BIG DEAL for coaches. It's like our state wide get away. The finals are played in Bowling Green @ Western Kentucky University and almost every staff from a across the state is there. I'd say 75% of the staffs across the state are there. WKU has a new club house seating area and most of us coaches buy those tickets up. Everybody gets down there on Thursday (some on Wednesday night like myself haha). There are a handful of sports bars that are literally SLAMMED all day Thursday with guys coming in and then Friday and Saturday nights after the finals games. It's a great time. Look forward to it every year, I just assumed every state also had a similar deal. Same here, but I think we might be in a league of our own for for hsfb at least when it comes to this! Haha
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Post by holmesbend on Nov 5, 2015 23:27:54 GMT -6
I don't know that I've missed a Friday night being at a game since I got out of college 11 years ago, and in high school once we got beaten out (made it to the finals once), my dad and I'd go to games...especially State-Semi games the day after Thanksgiving. Here in Kentucky, the state finals are BIG DEAL for coaches. It's like our state wide get away. The finals are played in Bowling Green @ Western Kentucky University and almost every staff from a across the state is there. I'd say 75% of the staffs across the state are there. WKU has a new club house seating area and most of us coaches buy those tickets up. Everybody gets down there on Thursday (some on Wednesday night like myself haha). There are a handful of sports bars that are literally SLAMMED all day Thursday with guys coming in and then Friday and Saturday nights after the finals games. It's a great time. I remember when it was at the old Louisville stadium before papa John s The good ole' days. They saved the best for last in 2002. The last final game ever played there was the 4A game between Trinity and Male. Future All-Americans at Louisville and Pro's Brian Brohm (QB for UL) along with Michael Bush (QB for Male, turned RB for UL) played in what most consider the best our state has ever seen....a back and forth game that Trinity won in the 50's. It went to Papa Johns through the 08 season and has since been at WKU. Both have their perks. WKU is a great atmosphere.
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Post by holmesbend on Nov 5, 2015 8:14:06 GMT -6
I don't know that I've missed a Friday night being at a game since I got out of college 11 years ago, and in high school once we got beaten out (made it to the finals once), my dad and I'd go to games...especially State-Semi games the day after Thanksgiving.
Here in Kentucky, the state finals are BIG DEAL for coaches. It's like our state wide get away. The finals are played in Bowling Green @ Western Kentucky University and almost every staff from a across the state is there. I'd say 75% of the staffs across the state are there. WKU has a new club house seating area and most of us coaches buy those tickets up. Everybody gets down there on Thursday (some on Wednesday night like myself haha). There are a handful of sports bars that are literally SLAMMED all day Thursday with guys coming in and then Friday and Saturday nights after the finals games.
It's a great time.
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Post by holmesbend on Aug 18, 2015 10:34:43 GMT -6
*pretend.
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Post by holmesbend on Aug 18, 2015 10:34:20 GMT -6
What about a kid who also plays soccer, and I don't mean that he is a kicker, either?
Others have said it. Tough situation.
Great kid? Grades? Behavior? Attitude and effort off the charts? Playmaker?
If all of those are checked off, rock and roll. I know we all like to pretentious that all rules apply to everyone, but the fact is..they don't. In football or society.
If he HAS to work. As in he and his family are dependent on that, and he is also a difference maker on the field along with being top shelf in those other categories...I say roll with it; especially if it's just one side of the ball.
Had a kid 3 years back on a good team of ours. Played soccer. He was also our nose guard. He missed on M/TH for games. Practiced T/W. He was he11 on wheels, all 5'8 165 of him (wrestler also & leading scorer on the soccer team). Playing a 50, he made us go, obviously.
Kids were fine with it. Very likeable kid. I had some older assistants who didn't like it. But, as I told them...it wasn't like he was missing practice due to skipping; going home and eating cheetos.
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Post by holmesbend on Aug 8, 2015 21:50:13 GMT -6
I was part of a program that met on Saturdays for nine years. We have not done it in quite a while. I see absolutely no difference in our preparation or performance. In fact, I believe our kids and our coaches are much fresher having a full day on Saturday off No doubt. To hell with that nonsense.
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Post by holmesbend on Aug 4, 2015 21:39:21 GMT -6
Nope, my time is spent opening the weight room 3-5 times a week to lift and work O and D install as well as making practice plans for both O and D. Now I'm a young single HC and I love it 99% of the time but I was very jealous when I spoke to one of the winningest coaches in our area a few week ago. He said that his school pays 2 people to open the weight room morning and evening 5 times a week in the summer. He vacations with his family and just stops in time to time in the weight room. ...there is a reason these guys have not only been able to do so long, but do it well. My grandfather was the winningest coach in Kentucky from 1998- up until another passed him up about 10 years ago. Still in the top 10. He was a HC for 33 years & won 298 games, 5 state titles at 2 different schools that hadn't won a title before him, and haven't since he left. I say that because what he was best at...was Golf. He's 75 and will shoot at or below his age to this day...even won the KY Senior Amateur some 12-13 years ago. Up until his last few years of coaching before all of the intense summer/7v7 fad really cranked up, it was the following on the last day of school ... "See ya the last Monday of July, boys." As he has told and does tell me...."They needed a break from me, and I needed a break from them. If I couldn't have gotten that, played golf and spent my summers with the family, there is noway I'd have done it as long as I did."
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Post by holmesbend on Aug 4, 2015 21:28:35 GMT -6
I do, in between football 3 evenings a week in June, practice cranking up bt July 10th-13th every year & the 36 extended days I have with my teaching job in the summer Love and need it. We have a 2 week mandated "Dead Period" in KY for all Sports (always June 25th-July 9th every year).
Wife and I bought a boat 8 years ago before we were married, now with 2 little girls and we wear it out on the weekends. Out back in the pool during the week before workouts/practice, and zoo, aquarium, hop in the golf cart to hit around on the course in the evenings....different day trips on the off nights in June.
10 months out of the year, it's #1 on what I enjoy...but, 2 months out of the year (June/July), it might not crack my Top 20.
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Post by holmesbend on Aug 4, 2015 13:09:22 GMT -6
*ultimately
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Post by holmesbend on Aug 4, 2015 13:08:31 GMT -6
...I think there is always a lot to be said for hard work, I also think there is just as much to be said for having those that can't and those that can & for you/your teams sake each year; hope that you have more of the later than your opponents. Because that (plus scheduling) is what ultimatly dictates things in the end.
I personally don't know more states don't look at modeling their rules after colleges and the NFL as far as what goes on during June and July, and start dates for practice/games.
All D1 schools have their players all summer for workouts, but they are also paying them a small stipend and paying for their summer school classes.
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Post by holmesbend on Aug 1, 2015 22:37:21 GMT -6
It sucks, and I can't add to what anybody else has said.
But, if these kids are your best players and they are coachable, good kids (not showing up over the summer doesn't make them any less of this), committed during the season and they make plays. You play them.
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Post by holmesbend on Aug 1, 2015 9:54:15 GMT -6
holmes, I'm curious - what is the rationale for Kentucky starting school so (what I as a Yankee consider) early? By contrast we start school day after Labor Day. It's obvious that the start of practice correlates with the start of school, as it does most places. We play our state finals the 1st weekend of December and have for some 25-30 years. Problem is, that's also back when school started like you all do after Labor Day or the last week of August at the latest & practice started August 1 (or whatever that 1st Monday in August was) & not July freaking 10th-13th with helmets (somewhere right in there, since our state mandated "Dead Period" last day is July 9th every year). On our message boards here in KY, you get a lot of people in favor of ending the season sooner (Thanksgiving Weekend at the latest like you all), where there is others of us who would much rather push back the start of the season, both practice and opening weekend, in attempts to make it the fall sport it's intended to be. He11, by our Fall Breaks that 1st full week of October, many schools have already played SEVEN games & it only being TWO weeks into Fall. Ok, I've gotten this thread all side tracked. My apologies.
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Post by holmesbend on Aug 1, 2015 9:25:08 GMT -6
holmes, I'm curious - what is the rationale for Kentucky starting school so (what I as a Yankee consider) early? By contrast we start school day after Labor Day. And if they start the first week of August, when does their school year end? Shock....BigMoot said it with his explanation of GA. That's how things go here. Most are scheduled to get out mid May to the Friday before Memorial Day. Some districts have 2 week "Fall Breaks" that take place the 1st two weeks of October, but EVERYBODY takes at least one WEEK of Fall Break during that same time. Talk about a PITA for football programs. Not only are vacations in July an issue (which they shouldn't be), it comes up again in October. Like July, you usually don't have issues from the ones actually playing...but, JV and Freshmen kids? Some are just getting to where they don't schedule Freshman and JV games those weeks. I know a couple coaches who end their Freshmen and JV schedules the week before Fall Break for that matter. Two week Christmas Break and a week or 2 week long spring break. Those schools who have 2 week fall breaks? They have the same with spring break. Now last year, with the winter being so bad, many used some or all of their spring break to make up the snow days. We'll never go back. The momma's in all of our districts teaching at the elementary schools will make sure of that when schedules go up for vote every year. This fall break stuff is gold to them. Kentucky has 225 football playing schools in our state, and exactly 54 of them had turnover this offseason (and, we have averaged right at 40 changes the last 5 years) 2/3 of them I bet were due to coaches hanging it up. I think only TWO came open to coaches playing leap frog. Some were do to being axed ( I was one of them) & we unfortunately lost one of our brothers in the profession to cancer. I have no doubt whatsoever that a lot of the turnover (and, you don't see many of these coaches getting back in it when other jobs come open) has to do with the early start of things (football and school), coupled with the fact that the coaching supplements haven't increased in most places in the last 20-30 years, and in many places...stipends and other financial help have been cut, all while the time you have to invest and expectations have clearly risen.
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Post by holmesbend on Aug 1, 2015 9:10:39 GMT -6
holmes, I'm curious - what is the rationale for Kentucky starting school so (what I as a Yankee consider) early? By contrast we start school day after Labor Day. Coach, I wish I knew. I throw around the information you all have put on here about how things go on in Michigan all the time with your practice start dates & the start of school. My personal belief? Kentucky had SUCH a bad reputation in the education world for so long, that for the last 20+ years or so, it seems like we have since wanted to be known as the Innovative Leaders of the World when it comes things. All about perception. With that said, it's seemed to pay off...I have no idea how all of these different outlets dictate the national rankings in all things education across the country, but we're a lot more towards to the top than the bottom (I've seen some recently that have us in the Top 10 and Top 5). We were quick to jump on that whole "Year round" when that was the fad in some states. I also think that our weather and resources to combat that during the winter months has a whole lot to deal with it. It seems like we're the only state in the country where we can have 90+ degree temps in the summer for 30 straight days, but then follow that up with random winters like this past year where we had TWO seperate snow storms that dropped 20+ inches +/- a couple that literally SHUT DOWN the state. And next winter? We may not get a trace of snow (which shuts down many of our areas). So, spending thousands/millions of tax payer dollars on snow plows and an abundance of salt doesn't really add up. In defense of the early start, had we not started early this year, schools wouldn't have gotten out until the End of June, if not later. There were schools in the "mountains" of Eastern Kentucky this year that missed over 30 days of school in the winter because of these snow storms. Now, Jefferson County (Louisville)? Much better suited for these types of winters....until Snowmageddon 1 and 2 hit this year. They have somewhat been the odd-balls in that they didn't start up until the last week of August (or close) most years. After last winter? They are starting next week as well along with most of the state (the latest I've heard of anybody starting in KY this year is August 12th or 13th). So, those are my two reasons (and, ones I've heard from not just my parents who were in education here, but others as well) whether the powers to be in Frankfort admit it or not.
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Post by holmesbend on Aug 1, 2015 8:39:09 GMT -6
Am I the only one who doesn't see this as a big issue? We have thousands of hours with these guys basically year round. If they decide to miss some practice time during the summer, I am sure as hell not gonna lose my chit over it. The kid is behind, and that figures into the competition, but it's not a level 9 line in the sand. What I have found is your core will be there. I have never worried about our starting quarterback doing this. I share the exact same thoughts. Here in Kentucky, we completed three FULL weeks of practice already before today, August 1st. It's a joke. Nothing about July and football has ever felt right to me. And, I've literally LIVED the sport for all of my 33 years on this earth (grew up in a coaches family: Grandfather was a HC for 33 years and Dad coached for 28...half or so being a HC...I played all through HS and all through college, and now into my 11th year of teaching/coaching myself). But, since the vast majority of our state STARTS school the first week of August (some actually got their 1st days in on Thursday, July 30th) it's trickled down to football with us literally having to use 3/4 of July as practice. The coach in you wants to ask a WTF when Johnny tells you they are going on vacation July 20-July 27th, but the realist in you is thinking "They SHOULD be going on Vacation" & "Colleges and NFL aren't practicing yet, so they must be onto something." Until the start of school (which is toooooo day-um early itself), I know several who have adopted the July attitude of--- "Go on vacation, but when you get back...you WILL make up all of the conditioning & if you're good enough to to fall behind, kudos to you.....if you aren't that blessed & can't afford to miss any at all, sorry about your luck b/c the show must go on."
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Post by holmesbend on Jul 29, 2015 7:10:11 GMT -6
D1 schools, players usually get to go home the Month of May after finals until summer school starts that 1st Monday of June. Maybe not a full 4 weeks, but for arguments sake, it's a month. They are on their own, but when they come back...the daily grind returns on campus along with summer school classes.
As another poster stated, at the D2, NAIA and D3 levels, they aren't required to stay on campus. Work out on their own over the summer and be prepared to pass whatever given conditioning test.
I'm in Kentucky, and what bothers me is the fact that I have never and probably never will equate July with football. We were able to start practice July 10th after our state mandated 2 week DEAD period. So, by this Friday....August 1st, we will have completed 3 WEEKS of practice already. Our opening week for the state is August 21/22. By Fall "Break" (this doesn't apply for football, obviously) which usually is the first full week of October for most districts in the state, teams will have already played SEVEN games (so, a full TWO weeks into actual Fall & 3/4 of the regular season is complete).
My whole deal is when we actually start practice and the start of the season. I'd just love to back things up 2-3 weeks at least. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but have you ever noticed how Basketball and Baseball, colleges and the NBA/MLB ALL start practices and their seasons BEFORE most states high school seasons. But in football, it's the exact opposite (at least in our state)...so, if practicing almost all of July and opening the season the 3rd week of August was such a novel idea, then why aren't colleges and the NFL doing it?
It was meant to be a FALL sport, and for a long long time it was....that's what I want back.
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Post by holmesbend on Jul 29, 2015 6:44:17 GMT -6
Team out of Kentucky basically had the whole month of June off. Practiced a couple of times, did a couple of 7-7s, then just won a big national select 7-7. They'll be a sack of hades come this fall. Yes they did and yes they will.
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Post by holmesbend on Jul 1, 2015 23:12:30 GMT -6
Thanks for the reply boiler. About to PM you. By the way...does the FC in your name have anything to do with Floyd County, since you mention you're from Southern Indiana?
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Post by holmesbend on Jul 1, 2015 8:59:40 GMT -6
This is an interesting question as I have been thinking about the possibilities of a nearby school getting football also as oddly enough my girlfriend's cousin mentioned his HS looking to get football into the school. Granted he's 16 and not the smartest grape in the bunch, so it could just be a rumor. Glad I'm not the only one wondering. This school has a very good academic reputation & there is a pretty good tax base...lake community. Enrollment wise, they have more or less an open enrollment type deal (reciprocal agreement with surrounding nearby schools). They have about 60 or so kids on a "waiting list", but not enough room for them at the school. With that said, they also are losing a few of their better male athletes to the surrounding schools. Matter of fact, a Mr. Football candidate to be in our state this year (QB) went there through middle school then transferred out because of no football.
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Post by holmesbend on Jun 30, 2015 23:28:01 GMT -6
Are there such things?
Short version...
A small school close to where I grew up of about 160-180, grades 9-12 ended their football program back in the mid 70's. It's an independent school in KY, actually wedged between 3 good programs (two of which are some of the best in our state. All 3 have won a state title) in terms of proximity...Probably not 8 miles from either of the other 3, well respected programs.
The current principal is from one of the aforementioned football powers, while the AD is from another (where I happened to played HS ball) and for what it's worth, my mom is the curriculum coordinator for the entire district (30 years as a coaches wife at that, 15 of those spent at 2 of the 3 football schools above). So, there are admin in the district right now really serious about the possibility of bringing football back.
I was just curious of any financial assistance out there.
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Post by holmesbend on May 24, 2015 17:42:20 GMT -6
Middle school is the age to hook a kid who's not on the team and not playing another sport. Totally agree.
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Post by holmesbend on May 20, 2015 8:52:47 GMT -6
...and, this might get a little off subject, but they just don't see it as fun.
Running these high school programs like college programs (D1 programs let their players go home for the month of May. NAIA and other lower levels, they all still go home for the summer) where they never get away from it just isn't very attractive.
Let's see....give up 3-4 nights (or more) a week during the summers...to lift....and run...some more, like we've been doing since December. Not counting the season, where we practice MORE and play LESS than some of these other sports? Ehh, I'll pass.
Doing this grind, damn near year round..for a guaranteed 9-10 nights out of the year? Some will read this as blasphemy, and that's fine, but I don't think concussions are the real reason behind kids not coming out. Gotta make it attractive to KIDS, and right now...it's just not.
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Post by holmesbend on May 20, 2015 7:04:15 GMT -6
I wish "recruiting the halls" was as effective as it is cool & the right thing to say. I think most will sympathize with you in this. I personally never worried about "the halls" as much as I did finding the baseball, basketball & wrestling kids who weren't playing football. Those are the targets. I don't know how others feel, but those 15-16 year olds who aren't already playing one or two of those, probably tells you all you need to know. They either have zero drive for the commitment that athletics take and/or they have zero ability. It's hard, especially with the big boys.
Fact is, the main reason they aren't out there in the first place is....it's just hard. I'm not sure how you realistically talk the big boys into playing who aren't doing so already. Might snag a couple, but I know you are looking for more than that.
It's a hard sale....especially if they already have a vehicle, a steady job and a gal or two on the side. There is a whole lot of fun and freedom as they know it to be given up.
What kind of school? Rural-suburbs-inner city?
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Post by holmesbend on Apr 23, 2015 17:54:24 GMT -6
Healy fan, also.
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