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Post by cllew on Aug 1, 2016 10:21:30 GMT -6
What percentage of HS players have their helmets properly inflated any given day?
How many coaches and trainers check the air in their player's helmets everyday?
Who is responsible for making sure helmets are properly inflated?
Xenith reduces liability, saves time, and is a 5 star helmet. We like them.
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Post by cllew on May 8, 2008 18:50:32 GMT -6
BTW - I got the HC job today. The superintendent liked the 3 strategies I emailed him - so thanks again!
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Post by cllew on May 8, 2008 13:09:03 GMT -6
CoachJ,
I appreciate your post.
I've been a youth coach and we always had our 9th graders go to HS. I can understand that there are some players who might be better off in a youth program - size, athleticism or lack of, inexperience, social needs - but this should be an exception rather than a rule.
Creating an atmosphere where one program is pitted against the other demonstrates how adults can screw up anything. We will probably do fine even if they hold back players as long as we get the kids who stop playing youth and currently do not play HS football.
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Post by cllew on May 8, 2008 7:54:38 GMT -6
They play other youth teams whose age brackets extend into HS age. You don't have to have older kids on your team (probably most don't have as many).
Even Pop Warner has a league you can be age 16 on July 31st and 165lbs and play youth football. That would have been my senior year (late birthday, not held back by my parents).
But even if the cut-off is 15 years old by July 31, some kids can play in their junior year if they make the weight limits.
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Post by cllew on May 6, 2008 18:51:15 GMT -6
I can add to the drama a bit -
The coach at the youth level, another coach from the neighboring town, and I are finalists for the head coaching position at the school. I've been there two years as the O/D line coach (our TB ran for over 3400 yards the last two years and we went 15-4-1 in those two years).
The superintendent of the school system (the asst. super and HS principal were there also) posed this question after I said I was creative and a good problem solver -
"There is popular youth football coach in town that has a big following and dissuades players from coming out for the HS team. The previous coach [who stepped down unexpectedly after we went 9-1] who the HS players held in awe the entire time he was here could not increase the numbers of the program. We need more players in the program - a varsity of 40 is too small for a school of this size. What are you going to do?"
Now, before we go any further, the youth coach was actually hired to be on the original staff of the coach who just stepped down, along with a couple of other town coaches. Five days before the start of the official season, they all quit on the same day and abandoned the program. So this has been going on for over 5 years.
Of course, he is a candidate for the position and can deliver the players he has encouraged to stay back.
In the interview I said something to the effect that (a) that we need to be able to talk to the youth program and get them to realize that we are putting kids and their families into a dilemma by fighting over their kids, (b) we should all do what is best for the kids and their families, and (c) I need to present the pros and cons of playing HS football vs youth in an open environment (open house, etc), perhaps with representatives of the youth program (like a college fair).
Furthermore, I said the key was to try to align our goals - to do what is best for the kids - and we need to gain their cooperation. I said I would go as far to put a youth coach on my staff - not necessarily my rival, but an existing coach so we could start to build a relationship. I said I believe in 2nd chances.
At the end of the interview when it was my turn to ask questions, I asked them what they would do with the youth program. The assistant superintendent spoke up - he is friendly with the youth coach since his kids went through the program. He didn't say anything much, but did say that my offer, if perceived as genuine could work.
After the interview I knew this was a big issue so I talked to some of our parents whose kids have gone through the youth program and to the president of the youth program who has a kid on the varsity. He said that there are about 10 players a year who stay down (figure they can reasonably stay until their sophomore year) and a number who don't go out at all - either youth or HS. He felt that there was little communication to the parents about the varsity program (I know there have been several things done over the years, but it is his perception), and that many opt to stay because the youth program has been successful. Now I know the youth coach works hard to persuade certain players to stay down and regularly bad mouths our program, but that is neither here nor there, for me.
I took this information, along with some observations about the shortcomings in our freshmen team in terms of retention and outlined 3 strategies for the superintendent via email.
Strategy #1 is to simply address the issue with the youth team - it is kind of the 500lb gorilla in the back of the bus that no one wants to talk about - and get them to agree that some players are better off in HS and some are better off in youth (I'll take them as sophomores or juniors for now) and we should work together to sort them correctly. This way, the badmouthing should be reduced and we get the players (sometimes the bigger ones) they can't use or want. It starts to build a bridge and lets them know we want our kids.
Strategy #2 is a comprehensive marketing campaign based upon many of the ideas presented here - thanks guys! It is mainly aimed at the parents and the players and can be implemented without the consent of the youth team. Their cooperation is better for many of the ideas, but remember many of their real leaders discourage association with the HS program (they pitch themselves as being an elite youth program). Given that the youth program is in tougher league that won't allow as many shenanigans (playing down at lower levels and stacking older but lighters) and our increased presence and success, we should be successful long-term.
Strategy #3 focused upon improving the freshmen experience and collecting more data to make the program, lets say, more user-friendly without sacrificing our mission or principles. It may requiring a coaching change/reassignment. I would also revisit with any players who have left the HS program or played youth and have not. There are enough players to help us out and improve our numbers in the meantime.
This was several days ago - I did get a nice email back from the super acknowledging my efforts on this important issue. But all of us are waiting to hear who gets the job or if there will be a 4th round of interviews.
I have the solid support of the players and their parents, the ex-head coach, and the existing coaching staff. The youth coach has members in town, including the chairman of the board of education, the assistant superintendent (perhaps), and the deputy mayor (who employs him as a landscaper). The third candidate has some issues and is bit too traveled, but does let the superintendent bypass the political issues (youth vs existing HS) by going completely outside the town.
It will be interesting, but it has been two months in the making as other opportunities go by.
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Post by cllew on May 2, 2008 8:26:01 GMT -6
Thanks for the replies. All of your ideas are good.
We've done some of these
* invitation and cookout at our spring game * free attendance to games with jersey * play a flag football game at half-time of the game
The youth program coaches will not participate in any youth clinic.
I think you are right about a positive marketing campaign.
We need access to parents to point out the benefits of playing HS football in terms of (a) athletic future and opportunity for impact on college plans, (b) smoother academic and social transition into HS by having an identity (c) more after-school structure for their child, and (d) better preparation for life.
At the same time we need to get the middle school kids excited about playing HS. We need our players to befriend and invite the younger kids into our family. So attending their games, etc is important. We've had invited kids to be on the sidelines in the past.
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Post by cllew on May 1, 2008 21:17:53 GMT -6
Need advice and creative solutions for a dysfunctional feeder program:
1. The youth football program in town encourages high school aged players (incoming 9th graders and older kids) to remain in the youth program and NOT play high school football. They actively put down the high school program.
2. The youth program as won several "national" championships by playing down (C team) and playing alot of older but lighter boys. They've had to migrate to different leagues because once they win they won't move up.
3. Currently they are in a league where the age limit is 18 with graduated weight classes.
4. They sell their program on their familiarity with the players and parents, reduced practice time (only 3 days a week), and winning national championships. The youth program has a pretty big following, including people in important town positions (chair of board of ed, deputy mayor, etc.)
5. The high school has been very successful the last 4 years - 4 winning seasons with 2 years at 9-1 with a playoff appearance. We've had quite a few players go on to D1AA, D2, and D3 college programs.
6. We are experiencing a reduction in numbers at the freshman level because of the youth program. Even when we get some back, they've either missed important time - freshmen and/or sophomore years, and they've usually played out of position. The 150lb middle lb who never lifted weights now knows nothing about being a safety.
What are ways to turn this around? All and any ideas welcome!
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Post by cllew on Apr 1, 2008 20:47:05 GMT -6
Let me get this straight:
1. You coached team Less-talent last year.
2. Team Jack-a$$ beat you 52-0 and displayed an extreme lack of sportsmanship
3. You now coach team Most-talent which defeated team Jack-a$$ 22-20 last year.
4. Here is where I'm unclear - which team did you and Brophy leave at the start of the season - team Jack-a$$ or the new team you have, team Most-talent? Or another team? Too many pronouns.
In any event, if you teach the coach a lesson and run up the score you are also punishing the other team's players and reinforcing to them and your players that its ok to run up the score beyond a reasonable level. Show them how to be classy.
Do you punish your players when their parents are jerks and the kid has no control over what the parent says or does? That is what you are proposing. The players for this jerk had no control over the game score.
First, why don't you tell the other coach how you feel and why before the game?
There are other ways to embarrass or make your point to the coach beside running up the score.
1. Use some gadget plays early so he looks bad - fake punt, onside kick, fake FG, reverse pass, exotic formation etc. When the other team fails to adjust or make the play, most people blame the coach for either not knowing it was coming or for the players no knowing what to do.
2. Build a big half-time lead and start your backups and jv team for the second half. Or even in the first half - now that's embarassing, especially when other teams see it on film.
3 When you get a big lead, call the referees and him into a huddle and ask the other coach if he wants to go to running time since the game is so lopsided. Or ask the refs to ask him for you.
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