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Post by nstanley on Oct 15, 2016 13:35:39 GMT -6
These are some ideas we've used and some I've thought about or heard: - Build into kids spirit packs/fundraising money for a new jersey each year. The first year is expensive but after that you just rotate home and away. Kids get to keep a jersey which they really like and allows you to have a fresh look each year. Also, if you purchase a jersey like Russell, they give you a ton of stuff plus like 10-15% credit for coaches gear. For about the same price as other brands stock jerseys, you get a custom jersey plus shorts, shirt and socks. For $90 you have a great spirit pack.
- We play music at practice. I don't know how common it is but I think little things like that help sell your program.
- Do community service and make sure the newspaper knows about it. It's good for your kids and program plus the community will really appreciate it.
- Have a social media presence. If parents/kids are looking to find out about your program, they are going to go to the internet first. We keep a Facebook page that we have people update pretty regularly. Of course, Facebook is skewing older now so using snapchat, etc., is better for kids. If you're going to do cool stuff, make sure you have a way to share that other than word of mouth.
- Build a great relationship with local youth programs. I don't know what youth programs are like where you're at but I know in Portland, OR, there are huge shifts in talent from one year to the next when someone with a connection with youth football gets hired. I don't think they recruit the kids but I am sure youth coaches encourage players to go to programs where they have a good relationship with the HS coach.
Hope this helps some.
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Post by nstanley on Oct 8, 2016 20:38:14 GMT -6
We are a single platoon team with all kids learning both sides of the ball. Only a few kids start both ways but most are in the depth and will absolutely play when needed. We have a couple of coaches on our team that will meet occasionally after practice or a game with "their" group". what do you think of this? some of the things that might be said are positive like we have to carry the team on our back..others times they might get chastised for having a bad day as all groups will do from time to time I am torn: One side of me says hey these are good coaches (they are) trying to build a group..the other part of says hey aren't we all one team. All coaches coach both sides of the ball..for instance I coach lb's but help the Oline guy..The oline guy also coaches olb's..the wr coach helps the db coach etc thoughts Our O-line coach was doing O-line dinners a few years back and our D-line coach started to help hosting them as well. They pretty much coach all the same kids so they do that together and watch extra film on Mondays. I encourage our position coaches to meet with their kids to go over stuff or just see how things are going but I do want us to coordinate so that our message is the same. I think what your guys are doing is great but you are right to want a single voice and message throughout the program. I'm sure if you just addressed that everyone would be on board with it.
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Post by nstanley on Oct 6, 2016 15:34:27 GMT -6
Google Athletic Director's survival guide. There are several resources out there that would give you a good idea but, the best thing to do is call guys up you respect, ask to buy them a cup of coffee and ask them about their job.
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Post by nstanley on Oct 1, 2016 22:21:51 GMT -6
I usually ignore parents when things aren't going their way. I believe it comes with the job that not all parents will be happy with you. I've always treated it like water off a ducks back. Now I have a parent going to my players and causing dissension in the program. This parent is calling all of us coaches m'fers and calling the school a dump and he went to my players about this. His kid is one of our best citizen type kids...straight As and a hard worker and he us loved by the team so the kids listen to his dad. I just want to know what you guys would do with this. I don't know what your AD or principal are like but in my experience, having those people advocate for you will go a long way.
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Post by nstanley on Sept 28, 2016 22:23:30 GMT -6
What do you do to your players if they receive a penalty for spiking, fighting, cursing or throwing helmets? A friend of mine makes kids who commit penalties apologize to their team. If they think it was a bogus penalty, they can vote to "acquit" the accused. i can't remember if there was a punishment other than apologizing to the team.
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Post by nstanley on Sept 27, 2016 20:30:53 GMT -6
Dinner/auction. Sell $300 steak dinners for $30-40. Steak will cost like $12-15 per person plus you can do salad, potato, bread and water. Get beverages donated and either sell them separately or people give a donation for them. Each team gets a basket donated for a silent auction. Get each program to donate one themed basket. After the first year, I highly recommend hiring an auctioneer and having 10 big items for auction. A good one will pay for himself several times over. We did a half hearted crab feed last year and made $10k without very much work at all. I think had we done a steak feed, we would have doubled that. A baseball team in our area nets about $45k with theirs. Wow What size school and town do u live in work at About 1000 kids. 50-60% free and reduced lunch. Town is around 25k w/ another public school of similar size, a private school and a charter school w/ around 500 kids.
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Post by nstanley on Sept 22, 2016 21:35:10 GMT -6
Dinner/auction. Sell $300 steak dinners for $30-40. Steak will cost like $12-15 per person plus you can do salad, potato, bread and water. Get beverages donated and either sell them separately or people give a donation for them. Each team gets a basket donated for a silent auction. Get each program to donate one themed basket. After the first year, I highly recommend hiring an auctioneer and having 10 big items for auction. A good one will pay for himself several times over.
We did a half hearted crab feed last year and made $10k without very much work at all. I think had we done a steak feed, we would have doubled that. A baseball team in our area nets about $45k with theirs.
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Post by nstanley on Aug 28, 2016 22:00:32 GMT -6
I don't know if you've ever held one of these before but, if not, it's a great way to get your mom's on board with the program. I've written a quick blog post on what we've done in the past. Hoping to get a few more ideas from coaches who have been doing these for a while. www.smartcoaching.co/?p=164
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Post by nstanley on Aug 24, 2016 10:56:27 GMT -6
I just read this interview with Pete Carroll on SB Nation and found this quote really interesting: The last paragraph is a great challenge to coaches to find ways to get their message across to their kids. As we're in the middle of doubles I find that the energy we had just a few days ago isn't the same and we need to double down on our core values and bringing back the energy. This can happen in the middle of a season too. What are some ways that you a) keep your message fresh and find ways to fascinate your kids each day and b) how to do you "feed the monster?"
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Post by nstanley on Jul 29, 2012 12:55:32 GMT -6
I always remember hearing Dan Hawkins when he was at Boise St speak about having a philosophy. He said that you need a philosophy and go to the death defending it. He cited his famous quote when asked why his kick off returners never took a knee in the endzone:
"Gandhi didn't take a knee, Martin Luther King didn't take a knee, Thomas Edison didn't take a knee, and I sure as hell am not going to take a knee." -- Dan Hawkins
Of course, one could ask how'd that work out for those guys? To me you need to think about what you do and why you do it. If it's important to you, stick with it. If it's just an arbitrary decision, or one that you think is adversely affecting the team, you need to weigh the cost and benefit of it.
I am not going to compromise my integrity to make someone else happy, or to win games. I will however give up things that I like, prefer, etc in order to win games.
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Post by nstanley on Jul 16, 2012 12:44:52 GMT -6
Weebly.com
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Post by nstanley on May 28, 2012 20:44:32 GMT -6
I'm looking to use an online camp registration, however I was hoping for some recommendations, etc. Anyone using one they really like?
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Post by nstanley on Nov 7, 2011 0:21:09 GMT -6
Wow. I think there are a lot of good suggestions here. Football is a co-currucular activity and as such is a part of the educational misson of your institution. Nowhere in public education is this sort of behavior acceptable, nor does it support the mission of the institution.
First, the coaches suggesting a preseason meeting outlining your expectations are right on the money. While we believe that people should understand the "norms" of society and in particular the middle class, you'd be surprised. I talk to my parents about what Bob Hurley calls the "Grocery Store Rule." The basic premise is that you don't get to talk to me, an official, a player, or another coach in a manner you wouldn't do at a grocery store.
Second, as per my first point about this being a part of the educational mission of the high school, if the administration won't support you and protect the kids, it's time for a come to Jesus meeting with them. As the saying goes, "All things end badly otherwise they wouldn't end." By that I mean I would rather depart coaching/conducting the program that I want, than allowing things to persist that I disagree with in order to keep the peace or my coaching job. The police are often times good about providing an influencing presence if they're aware of the problem.
Finally, a very good teacher once told me that when he knows he's done his best and someone has something negative to say to him he replies, "I'm sorry you feel that way, have a nice day." While it's tough to find your moment of zen in a situation like that, the saying about wrestling pigs seems pretty appropriate. These people are miserable and want you to be in the same boat.
A little aside from our own season. A few weeks ago, some parents got in the face of a coach who had benched their son. It was a pretty upsetting thing for myself although I didn't really have much to do with it other than breaking it up and dealing with it on Monday. Not 30 minutes later we were going to a restaurant to eat after the game and a former athlete was working there and told me, "I was just thinking about you the other day. Remember when you used to tell us it didn't matter what kind of athlete you are, or how much money you make but what kind of brother, son, father, friend, teammate you are? Well I was thinking about that." I went from the worst it seems it can get for a coach to the best in about 15 minutes. While cowards in the stands can ruin your day, keep in mind what you're really doing and it might help you keep things in perspective.
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