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Post by holmesbend on Jun 24, 2012 22:26:11 GMT -6
How do I as a HS coach make HS football as fun as it was then and be competitive? dc...that is the million dollar question isn't it? That it is. DC....I ask myself that everyday. Speaking of LL baseball...no joke. Some kids our community are playing on 3 different baseball teams this summer. I asked their parents what they do about practice? Their answer? They don't. Three different travel teams...so, all they do is play, play, play, play,play.
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Post by holmesbend on Jun 24, 2012 8:21:38 GMT -6
BLB,
That's the thing....I've always tried to be one of your mindset, many get caught up with thinking that they aren't being perceived as working hard enough if they aren't doing what the school up the road is doing.
Our off season from Jan-End of school, consisted of M, T and Th workouts...and we very seldom, if ever went longer than an hour. From the time school was out May 16th-this past Thursday, we only went on Tues and Thursday evenings (lift/went out to 7v7/compete against ourselves).
Many of them have jobs, farm, play other sports (which I'm all for), so I've tried to accommodate. We've gone 6-5, 5-6, 7-5 the past three years...even a 10-3, Region Finalist season in '06. So, while we aren't exactly the creme of the crop, we aren't exactly sucking hind tit either. Just keep on keeping on I guess?! Our freshmen class will be 12-15 kids (quality within those numbers) and our 7th/8th grade classes are beating down the doors in numbers...could very possible have 55-60 in 7th and 8th grade alone.
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Post by holmesbend on Jun 23, 2012 21:52:42 GMT -6
Basketball and baseball are killing us, and I get it......all they do is play, play, play, play, play. Our basketball team won 25 games this year and went deep into the post season, a week after the Sweet 16 (KY here, our State Tourney @ Rupp) KY schools get to have "open gym", and they play the whole freaking month of June (yes, as a team, not AAU, against other schools....it's literally a season of it's own in June for the round ballers here in KY). If that's not enough, our baseball team gets beat in the region final game (Two days after Memorial Day)...guess what they start up the following week? You guessed it...their June season.
Here in KY, we aren't allowed to do 7v7 competition with other schools until the 2nd week of July, and we only get a couple weeks of that (can't 7v7 with other teams after our first day of full gear practice...well, we could, but it counts as an actual scrimmage).
Back to the point I'm making/realizing is that kids seem to be asking themselves this......with football, I can workout 8 months (off season, jan-july) out of the year to play 10 games, or I can play basketball, baseball, etc where I can play more games than their are days in the year and piss on the weights, speed training, conditioning, God awful practice conditions (heat) that come with football?
By the way, some of you might remember me posting back in late winter that I was in trouble of possibly only having 3 kids inmy sophomore class next year? Well, I have some news.....we are now down to.....drum roll......TWO (had one move).
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Post by holmesbend on Jun 15, 2012 20:51:11 GMT -6
What pisses me off is the only people who are coming forward are the ones who have had problems due to concussions and injuries, and not the ones who are perfectly fine. It's like the fear of flying....people that are scared to fly are that way bc when a plane crash happens, it's plastered across the media...well, what if the media gave an everyday report on the number of flights that landed safely? Same goes for football....the silent majority are the ones that need to start coming forth.
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Post by holmesbend on Jun 10, 2012 21:03:41 GMT -6
Awesome.
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Post by holmesbend on Jun 2, 2012 0:43:43 GMT -6
State: KY School size: 725 #'s last year: 40 (grades 9-12) Assistants: 6 paid + 1 volunteer (have $32,700 w/ weightlifting stipend included in that to split up however on as many as I want) HC Stipend: $10, 800 2011 record: 6-5
.....very rural area. Only HS in a county of less than 12,000 people.
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Post by holmesbend on Jun 1, 2012 6:48:40 GMT -6
We have a trainer and do the impact testing, DC.
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Post by holmesbend on May 31, 2012 17:58:59 GMT -6
Tell them that you are sure the kids will never have much more brain damage than their genetics already provides. Ha! Quality right there! I've told mine that the ones with concussions are only a very small percent of those who actually play. Kind of like the whole fear of flying deal...planes don't crash too often, but when they do, the media wears it out..if the CBS Evening news broadcasted the number of safely landed flights everyday like they do when one crashes, you'd have a lot less people that are scared of flying. I've had a few parents this off season buy their kids their own helmets, which I'm all for..1) for safety. 2) easier on our bill!
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Post by holmesbend on May 31, 2012 12:50:18 GMT -6
Our practice schedule goes like this July 15- 1st day of practice (all of KY) July 30- 1st day of full gear (in KY, this date is based off your 1st day of school) Aug. 17- 1st Varsity game Aug. 20- 1st JV Aug. 23- 1st Frosh game So, what I was thinking is for those freshmen that want to dress and/or have a chance for varsity playing time, show up July 15th. If they just want to play freshmen/JV and not dress on Friday nights, then show up July 30. The day of the 30th, whichever side of the ball the upperclassmen are practicing, the freshmen would be doing the opposite, in helmets only. Gotta get football done in time for hoops down there huh LOL We don't even start pads till Aug 14th this year. Back to the question...if numbers are a problem for you I would give them no choice, you want to be a part of the team you are here from day one. Now I know it's frosh we are talking about and you have to use kid gloves with them esp. when numbers are low. But give them no choice between when they start and if they dress for varsity. Create a one team mentality with them. We are a small school usually around 50 if we are lucky. Our frosh/jv whatever dress and go to all varsity games. We don't have any rules on how many qtrs a kid can play in a week so we usually have one or two games a year where those frosh are playing in a varsity game. That helps keep them in the program and build numbers. It's a joke, and it's not like KY is a national recruiting hot bed for HS bball players as is. UK had one scholarship kid on their roster and he just graduated, Louisville had one and he just transferred.....for some reason people think the days of Rupp are going to come back. These dipsticks that think their little 5'10, Joe Average white kids are going to get recruited by Coach Cal have lost it....that or they haven't been watching the same games I watch on TV during basketball season. We can't even do 7 on 7 in June with outside competition, but basketball and summer league baseball can play 989 games....makes a lot of sense, huh?! Surprising thing is...KY has really started churning out a lot more Div 1 talent here of late (nothing like you all in PA, OH, GA, TX, AL, FLA, etc of course, but making huge strides). The idea of starting freshmen late isn't anything I came up with, but I got it from my college head coach who went back to the high school ranks 7 years ago. He took over a program much like ours in terms of size (relatively) and demographics who had won 4 games in 4 years prior to his arrival...this year, they were the 5A State Runners-Up. I like your idea too, one team. And that's how things have been done here, which is the same way I played in (different school), but I don't know....something isn't working. Almost thinking about doing it the way I mentioned for nothing more than the simple fact of, how the he11 can it get any worse?!? Especially with this sophomore class coming up...TWO kids..have you ever heard of such?? We only had 6 of them as freshmen (3 have moved, Army kids...we're about 30 miles from Ft. Knox). Thanks for the input!
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Post by holmesbend on May 31, 2012 6:47:10 GMT -6
Our practice schedule goes like this
July 15- 1st day of practice (all of KY) July 30- 1st day of full gear (in KY, this date is based off your 1st day of school) Aug. 17- 1st Varsity game Aug. 20- 1st JV Aug. 23- 1st Frosh game
So, what I was thinking is for those freshmen that want to dress and/or have a chance for varsity playing time, show up July 15th. If they just want to play freshmen/JV and not dress on Friday nights, then show up July 30. The day of the 30th, whichever side of the ball the upperclassmen are practicing, the freshmen would be doing the opposite, in helmets only.
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Post by holmesbend on May 31, 2012 6:31:36 GMT -6
Same here BLB, we will play three games in August this year, it's typically just two, but the way the dates fall in place this year it's just one of those things.
I don't know, just trying to think of ways to get more numbers out in that age group. Our sophomore class next year is ridiculously low with two, but our Junior and Senior classes aren't much better in the grand scheme of things. Seniors- 8 Juniors- 12
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Post by holmesbend on May 30, 2012 20:34:02 GMT -6
Do they start at the same day as your upperclassmen or do you give them the option of starting 2-3 weeks later?
To give you a little background, I just took over at the school where I had been an assistant the previous 4 years (3 as the DC). We are a rural school of about 720 kids in Kentucky, and have had roughly 30-45 kids finish the the year over the last few, and it's been a steady decline each year. I'm not one that thinks numbers are a saving grace, but the fact of the matter is our numbers flat out suck. Right now we are looking at 22 kids grades 10-12 next year and our sophomore class only has 2.....no, not a typo..T-W-O.
I'm just thinking of ways to get more kids out in the younger grades, and though that if I didn't bring them in until around the time school started (not having to worry about two a days as freshmen, etc) that it might get a few more kids out? Right now, I think we should have a solid 15 or so (give or take a couple), but I'd love to get 20-25 (some of those are baseball and/or basketball only kids who have played football in their younger years).
We implemented a practice schedule last year where we basically split the kids up into varsity and JV/Freshmen groups (young kids never went against the older/varsity kids except for when we needed them as dumby holders) .coaches only coached one side of the ball, and we would do the same this year when the freshmen come in; essentially rotating the groups from offense to defense everyday. So, the young kids wouldn't be behind when they come in because they'd be practicing by themselves....us coaches would obviously just start over from scratch on the day we get the youngsters, then progress from there.
I've scheduled 18 frosh and JV games.....my 'plan' is to bring up several of our 8th graders to help with freshmen games and our freshmen being the bulk of the JV roster in hopes to offset the massive sophomore class we have haha.
Ideas?
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Post by holmesbend on Apr 24, 2012 21:37:02 GMT -6
Here we have spring ball, 7 on 7 (held by some of the colleges and schools), some off season conditioning type work, play 10 games plus 2 scrimmages and have a 3 class state playoff system for 8th grade and a single class 7th grade state championship. For use personally it goes like this. This year we threw for 30 min before school 2 days a week for the past 2 months or so. We have full pads spring for 2 weeks starting tomorrow with a spring game. A couple of 7 on 7 with local schools. We also have a speed box that will be arriving this week. Take part of the summer off and come back in July. Now one of the best schools in the state does not have Jr high football. They do the a local league of about 4 teams. Have a few guidelines and some 8th grades will play frosh football. I honestly think it is the best way to go. They develop sooo many players this way and they play versions of the HS offense and defense all the way down. They include rules that require a certain amount of passes in a game. Homer Rice set the whole thing up when he was the HC at the HS and its been a tradition ever since. Think that has anything to do with the fact that they have 90+ players 9-12, two platoon, won 5 straight state titles, finished #2 in the USA Today polls in '09, won 20 state titles overall and only have 725 kids in their school?
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Post by holmesbend on Apr 18, 2012 20:42:12 GMT -6
Outside of our offseason program which I don't count and a handful or two times with Track (either helping throwers or judging events), I don't.... With that said....if Golf was in the spring...I'd love to do that. But that was before I lived 200 yds from our country club #10 tee box. So...now I find that 12 oz drink and a good cigar a couple evenings (you golfers know..that last hour of daylight) a week in the spring is a helluva lot better gig than if I was coaching it.
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Post by holmesbend on Apr 16, 2012 19:57:56 GMT -6
I have come to the conclusion that the reason why you see kids lining up at the door to play basketball and even baseball is due to the fact that they do just that...PLAY. For example, our baseball team come April 20 will have played 20 games since March 20th. ....in basketball, everybody gets to score and shoot...in baseball, everybody gets to field balls and swing the bat.
So...to answer your question about the off season, yes, I think kids just don't want to put in the work for whatever reason...be it to play other sports (which I'm all for by the way) or the fact that the offseason is drawn out and it is....I'll admit it...come April and May...the weight room is the last place I want to be (obviously never tell the kids that) I'd much rather be golfing, fishing, turkey hunting, etc...we just lift/do speed work 3xs a week...Mondays, Tuesday's and Thursday's....we don't mess with Fridays. We get started by 3:15 at the latest and are finished by 4:30 at the latest
We lift for 6 weeks then I give the, a week off. The offseason is a grind...no question about it.
Basketball and baseball counting their summer aau, seasons and fall ball (baseball) play all of the time....alllll of the time....football as you know is much different....work year round for 10 game guaranteed. I just took over as HC at the school I've been an assistant at the past few years and I've drank the cool aid as far as playing games...so guess what I've done for next year? I've scheduled 18 total freshmen and jv games...I'm sending the sophomores we have ( MIGHT have 5 at best next year) to most of the freshmen games, too. Those young kids are going to have games on Monday, Thursday and dress for varsity games on Friday...so, they will practice on Tuesday's and wednesdays only.
Times are definitely different, and I'm not exactly a fan either...and I'm "new school" in terms of age (30), but old school in my core football beliefs....however, I/we have to adjust to the times as well.
I hope this helps? Didn't mean to ramble...
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Post by holmesbend on Apr 4, 2012 9:40:56 GMT -6
We have water at every station or group. Water inbetween reps. No "water breaks" that's how we do it Ill 3rd that motion.
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Post by holmesbend on Mar 26, 2012 20:25:15 GMT -6
Here in KY, and UK and UL are having doing pretty well right now in late March...maybe, you all have heard. Ha. But, Darius Miller for UK is a 6'6 swing man from KY and played football up until his senior year. As a matter of fact, I think he was offered by UK in both. ....that's what I say anyway!
Also agree with Iverson and LeBron.
Two other examples that I use are Antonio Gates for SD and Jummy Graham......both former college round ball players, didn't get drafted or even sign as a Free Agent for the NBA, yet here they are Pro Bowlers in the NFL.
Scholarships is the biggest selling point, IMO.
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Post by holmesbend on Mar 20, 2012 11:49:16 GMT -6
That's tough and I don't really have an answer just a thought...whatever that's worth... but coach, if you feel like you have to beg them or are begging them - they just aren't worth it, they will be more problem than they are worth and borrowing from another thread, they probably won't be worth a chit because they won't have any heart.and I also think you may gain some ground with other kids in the school by just recruiting around that class. I know for me, the hammers I swung on my senior class this year and the BS I put an end to has brought more kids out and back out. Heck we had 46 kids in the weight room yesterday - not bad considering we only return 33 off last year's team and 5 of those aren't playing anymore and the 8 baseball players weren't there. so...though you may not like it because of the numbers - addition by subtraction is sometimes best. Get more guys out in the other 2 classes. I agree with this as well. For example, we have a kid in our current sophomore class who is one of these 6'0 220 (legit 220) lbs hoop stars that just so happens to be the post player. As I said to him a month or so back..."Son, are you watching the same college games I'm watching?" Obviously he hasnt gotten the memo that colleges, I dont care what level, aren't in high demand of kids his size playing in the post....or even at a guard spot these days...not unless you can jump out of the gym and/or go from 0-60 in 2.3. This kid came out last year for two weeks...one of which was our week of 2 a days....was playing TE. What's he do? Quit the week after 2 a days....the week of our first scrimmage. Anyway...If I've heard people say, "Coach, you have to get him out!" once, I've heard it a thousand times.....and, Im not messing with him anymore...nothing personal...great kid, just not the type we need on our team. The way I look at it....if a kid his size, who has played football in his younger years doesn't want to come out and has to be coddled/ego stroked, etc. in hopes of getting him out...then to heck with him. I dont need him.
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Post by holmesbend on Mar 20, 2012 10:43:55 GMT -6
I'm more a Johnnie Walker guy personally. We brought our small class up to Varsity as Sophomores to keep Freshmen together. When those Freshmen were Seniors they won a co-championship, first at school in about 16 years. Ole' Johnnie is a good man. I'd have to agree. Evan Williams is main guy.
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Post by holmesbend on Mar 20, 2012 10:41:08 GMT -6
Coach I can relate completely. We started an incentive program as well in January and had awesome numbers our first day. Haven't seen half those kids since. They found out that we work in the weight room, not just goof off like years past. On a normal day, we have about 15 kids after school. Of those 15, 2/3 are rising freshmen. Which means only 5 kids in the high school are working out after school with the football team. Sure we have some kids who run track and some who do baseball, but we have several who will show up August 1st. The ones you have....coach em up. You can't take a horse to water and make him drink it. I'd make sure the 2 sophs I have are Co-POY their senior years. I'd love to have about 20 more kids walking our halls play ball, but they are lazy, shifty, turds who don't like sunlight, sweat, work, getting dirty, etc. Isnt it a shame? I understand now why kids these days actively want to play basektball and baseball only...year round. Heck, all they do is play. Our baseball team opens up today and bt now and April 20, they play 20 games. So guess what.....those 16-20 freshmen Ill have next year have a total of 18 9th and JV games. Once the season begins they will be playing on Mondays (2/3 of them will play JV...the other 30% will be those 3 sophomores and 3-4 juniors) and all of them will be playing on Thursday's. Granted...if our numbers get even lower, some of those JV games will be cancelled. But I'm selling it to these freshmen as though they will be playing twice a week...we'll see what happens. Anybody think I'm wrong in that approach and have other opinions? Thanks again coach, and to the rest of you again.
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Post by holmesbend on Mar 20, 2012 10:35:37 GMT -6
That's tough and I don't really have an answer just a thought...whatever that's worth... but coach, if you feel like you have to beg them or are begging them - they just aren't worth it, they will be more problem than they are worth and borrowing from another thread, they probably won't be worth a chit because they won't have any heart. and I also think you may gain some ground with other kids in the school by just recruiting around that class. I know for me, the hammers I swung on my senior class this year and the BS I put an end to has brought more kids out and back out. Heck we had 46 kids in the weight room yesterday - not bad considering we only return 33 off last year's team and 5 of those aren't playing anymore and the 8 baseball players weren't there. so...though you may not like it because of the numbers - addition by subtraction is sometimes best. Get more guys out in the other 2 classes.[/quote] Totally agree. Im thinking that's what Im going to do. I've been really involved with the incoming freshmen class and have been real involved with the 7th and 8th graders next year as well from the time they were in youth league. I feel like we've really made some strides in building positive relationships with those kids I appreciate your input coach and really enjoy reading your posts. You definately sound like a guy who knows what he's doing. Your comments are greatly appreciated.
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Post by holmesbend on Mar 20, 2012 10:30:25 GMT -6
Coach, tell me this- This upcoming 10th grade class, are they just sorry human beings or are they good kids who just aren't interested in football right now? This makes a big difference, IMHO. In my own experience, classes with very few football players also tend to be low-character groups. Not many hard workers, bad attitudes, trouble makers, etc. If that is the case, then bugger them. Dont graft a cancer into your locker room for the sake of numbers. On the other hand, if they're good kids that just aren't really into football, winning might fix that up. Also, I'm sure you've done this already, but in case you haven't, just pulling some kids aside individually and telling them you'd love to have them come give football a try can work wonders. Kids like that special attention, especially if they've never really done sports or anything and never had any reason to think anybody would want them around. But by all means, if the class is just generally full of turds...shoot the hostage and forget about em. Coach Nix, They arent bad kids at all, if anything, they are too good...if ever such a thing. They just dont seem to be interested. Not to use this as a crutch or an excuse, but like I said in my original post....it's not just a pandemic for our football program, but they only won 3 games in freshmen basketball (Varsity just completed a 4 Peat of their District) and only 3-4 of them in the entire class are playing baseball (our baseball team has won 10 straight district championships). Now...there are a few canerous types in the senior class that might not be playing, and quite honestly, if they cant change their ways...I dont want them too. If they change....Ill have 11 in that class...if they dont, Ill have 7. Thankfully though, if I just end up having 7 in the senior class, they are all solid kids...very coachable...want to win...all started as juniors.
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Post by holmesbend on Mar 20, 2012 10:14:48 GMT -6
holmes, I have been in your position. One bad class such as you describe can really set a program back, especially at a smaller school. However sounds like you have made up your mind. If you're going to make kids who don't meet "expectations" in Off-Season pay for stuff others get free and make-up things they didn't do before being allowed to play, you aren't going to get any more out. So you can bring the 2-3 Sophomores that do play up to Varsity and maybe lose them - guaranteeing you virtually NO senior class in three years, or combine them with Freshmen, which may set that group back if they have to play "up" (don't know if you have separate JV and Freshman teams). That's what I'm worried about right there. Quite honestly, I'm thinking that I will just combine them with the freshmen. Coach, I try my darnest not to be one of these coaches who blame the kids for not getting stuff done...I love and honestly try to coach by the "You're either coaching it wrong or letting it happen." approach, but these soon to be sophomores....1 MIGHT play as a junior and the other two...if they are back-ups by their senior year, then it will be a miracle...it really will. By the way......how did you come out/survive that year or years this happened to you? Will the quote from Christmas Vacation, "I had a lot of help from Jack Daniel's!" be appropriate?!?
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Post by holmesbend on Mar 20, 2012 10:08:28 GMT -6
Coach, I feel for you, I'm in a similar situation entering my 2nd year as HC. The way I figure it, I needed to start with making things a positive experience at the high school, which we were able to do by and large last year. Some good word of mouth is being spread, starting to get a couple more kids coming out of the woodwork who want to play next year. We're able to keep the incentive type structure you described without any negative effects because it's positive in nature, it rewards those who do the work, without really "punishing" the others. I like the way you have that structured. The real issue for us, and I'm guessing for you, is to do whatever we can to get young people in the community playing football BEFORE they get to high school. This is a more complicated issue, one I'm working on now, and I have a lot more questions than answers. This is really where the biggest payoff would be for us, it would prevent us from having to scramble each year to recruit new first time players from the current high school population, that can be so time-intensive, and is really only a band-aid solution in my mind. I'd like to hear other's thoughts on this as well. Grouch See, that's the thing that blows me away. I can honestly say that our LL is in very good shape and our MS next year will have a solid 40-45 in 7th and 8th grade....20-25 in each class. Good group of kids. I totally agree about developing a positive relationship. Kids these days are so much different..and I graduated high school 12 years ago. I'd a given anything for just a random pat on the back/head "Great job!" every now and then.....much less a mass text message like I sent out the other day after workouts to about 10 of our kids..praising them for their great max out performances in the weight room. Thanks coach.
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Post by holmesbend on Mar 19, 2012 21:29:42 GMT -6
Ok, I'm going to try and give a brief run down of the situation, then sign off...shut up..and listen to you guys.
I just took over at the school where I have been an assistant the past four years (the last 3 as the DC...I got the job over Christmas break). We are a rural county school of about 715 kids in KY and have finished with around 40 kids give or take a few by end of each year, grades 9-12. The past 7 years, we have literally been a .500 program (39-39 over that time).
Next year, our numbers by class are looking like this: Sr's -7 to 11 (depends on if a few of them want to get with it or not) Jr's - 15 (great group...not very talented, but WANT to be good) Soph- 3 (two for sure, one will be first year players, never played b4) Frosh- 16-20 (we will have 16 for sure, solid group)
Now, here is the dilemma.....we are giving incentives to those who meet their offseason requirements (grades, attendance, etc) by buying their Spirit Pack and other goodies for them (gloves, first dibs on the new revo speeds we are getting, etc.)...all the while holding those who don't meet requirements, accountable (will have to pay for spirit pack and also have to make up X amounts of workouts come July if they plan on playing).
But...as you can see...our numbers aren't great as is and the sophomore class is unlike anything I've ever been around in my life (and I've never been part of a school with over 900 kids...as a player or coach). I want to get kids out and getting them out in that class is Public Enemy #1......so, how do I try to get kids out in that class from here on out, all the while holding them accountable as I have been doing with the rest?
FYI....this current freshmen, soon to be sophomore class isnt just a thorn in the side for our football program, but there are only 4 of them playing baseball (2 of them are football players) and our freshman basketball team won 3 games this year. Our baseball team has won 10 straight district titles and our basketball team has won 4 straight in their own right. Decent programs to say the least.
I know....nothing about this was short, my apologies. All suggestions welcomed..thanks guys.
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Post by holmesbend on Mar 19, 2012 19:28:10 GMT -6
All of those stats are good indicators. I would also like to propose sometimes there are stats that could be specific to your program. For example in the last four years we have not won a game in which we attempted 11+ passes. We have also not lost a game in which we have run it over 50 times. Of course if you accumulate 50+ rushing attempts you are probably not turning the ball over, and you are converting 3rd down etc. Agreed. Also, let's say you have 2 teams....one is run heavy and the other is pass heavy. The run heavy team rushes for 300, passes for 50...the pass heavy team is vice versa. I'm taking the run heavy team in the 'W' column more times than not. For example....look at Texas Tech during the Leach era (and FYI, I'm a huge fan of Leach)....every year he had 5,000+yd passers and went what on average...8-5 give or take a game? You show me a team that rushes for 5,000+ yds and I'll show you a team that doesn't come close to losing a game, let alone 5.
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Post by holmesbend on Feb 19, 2012 23:37:07 GMT -6
We are a rural school also and sell parking spots with their name on it. Everyone knows who has paid and who hasn't paid. We make around 15,000 with a few signs around the scoreboard. Wow, how much are you selling the slots for? Impressive.
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Post by holmesbend on Feb 19, 2012 23:33:59 GMT -6
We are in rural area, we do much of the same Holmesbend! We did a letter Writing fundraiser for the first time this year and we made about 3 grand with it, we thought it was going to be a lot better. There are companies that will do the letter writing and thank you's for you. Poker tournament is an idea some of the coaches have been throwing around. Good stuff. Pardon the ignorance, but what exactly is the letter writing? Writing to whom? Has anybody ever heard of doing a fundraiser distributing phone books in there area?
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Post by holmesbend on Feb 18, 2012 22:52:27 GMT -6
Any of you out there coach in a rural/county school? Meaning in a county of <12K and a county seat of 2,500? We are a school of about 750. How good are you doing with things? We've been able raise anywhere from 12-16K each of the past few years doing things like: -Gold Cards in July like many of you already do. -BBQ Chicken Dinners in the Spring @ our county lake which has, what's equivalent to the county's main reception hall. -cookie dough/sweets sales through gearupamerica.com -apparel sales at games and preseason orders -program ads. -concessions at Little League.
Definately thinking about doing the golf scramble this year, but is anybody else in a similar situation as far as being in a small community like this? Anybody making serious cash for your program? If so, how?
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Post by holmesbend on Jan 29, 2012 11:09:57 GMT -6
We are two years into a new policy that I demand out of my frosh coaches. No frosh football player may start both ways. 22 starters every game. I implemented this because our JV numbers were falling. We were going undefeated every year at the Frosh level and getting half the kids to come out the following year. I changed coaches and told the new coach that I wanted a positive experience and at least 45 JV players the next year. I don't care if they are 10-0 or 0-10, I want numbers and kids who love football. Last year we had 51 JV players. This year it appears our numbers will be similar. Our Frosh numbers are usually around 65. Although, players may only start one way they all learn a position on the other side of the ball and at times may play that in the game as long as they don't start or play more than the starter. I'm a first year HFC. But we only had 14 freshman come out for football this year (in a 1000 kid school). So I did the exact same thing with our middle school. I demanded that both the 7th and 8th grade teams be 2 platoon. 22 kids start. It's simple - the more kids get to play, the more kids will stay to play. The head of one of my youth programs is a principal here and he carried it on down to the 4th, 5th and 6th graders as well. Same here DC....I just took over our head job over Christmas break, and I am almost positive that I'm going to demand our MS two platoon. One of my big selling points to these middle school and freshmen who don't play, yet play basketball and baseball (which I highly encourage) is the fact that there are only 5 positions on a roundbal team, 9 in baseball and 22 in football....so, tell me which one you have a better chance getting to play? Like some other posters, I also truly believe that too many seniors can be a huge negative if most and/or all aren't either starting or playing quality minutes. Numbers can definitely be over-rated.
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