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Post by irishdog on May 19, 2012 11:52:47 GMT -6
You're an old coach when you started coaching in 1972, coached against one of your former players 10 years later, coached with one of your former players 20 years later, got beat by one of your former players 30 years later, and finally... coached FOR one of your former players 40 years later!
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Post by irishdog on May 7, 2012 17:10:45 GMT -6
The NFL is not a very good resource for high school football. The men who play at that level are bigger, stronger, and faster, and are paid professionals. Professional sports took games and made them a business, and the men that play those "games" are paid handsomely to play, but treat the way they play as a business. Most of us who coach at the high school level coach young boys. Many of those boys have no intention of becoming NFL players, and play for the sheer fun of the game. Some of us are fortunate to coach a few boys who have the talent, and mind-set to take the game to the next level, college. Some of them will still play in college for the sheer fun of playing the game, while another few will continue to pursue playing at the next level, professional football. Most coaches at the high school level understand the importance for safety, and teaching proper techniques to our boys. Football has been, and always will be all about blocking, tackling, and hustling and it is our responsibility and obligation to properly teach those aspects of the game to our boys without putting them in harms way. The nature of the game can be violent if our boys are taught to be violent. However, after successfully coaching the game for over 30 years I was fortunate to have excellent coaches teach me how to play, and how to coach the game the way it should be played. Helmets are not weapons. Leading with the head is dangerous. Diving at knees and leaving the ground to block/tackle is dangerous for both the tackler and the blocker. Emphasize and teach proper blocking and tackling on a daily basis. Have similar sized, aged, and/or ability kids pair up and practice with one another. Don't put kids into mismatches and set them up for failure. I have always gone by the following creed regarding whether to play a freshman or sophomore on the varsity. If he has the physical, mental, and emotional maturity to play varsity football I will give him a look. He must possess all three of those traits before he gets that look. Otherwise he will play at the sub-varsity level until he is ready. Sorry to ramble guys, but after saying all that it is OUR responsibility to the boys, and our obligation to their parents to make the game fun, and safe, and keep it a vital part of mainstream America.
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Post by irishdog on May 7, 2012 12:06:40 GMT -6
Not sure if I have introduced myself before or not (didn't want to search through 40 some pages) but I have been a high school and college football coach for over 30 years. Spent six years as a college assistant coach and defensive coordinator, and the rest as a high school assistant, offensive and defensive coordinator, and head coach. Currently semi-retired, and the offensive coordinator at private high school in Texas. Favor a 4-2-5 defense, and a multiple wing offense. Enjoying the heck out of it!
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Post by irishdog on May 7, 2012 11:59:36 GMT -6
Interested to know how many Double Wing coaches in Texas, or in surrounding states (OK, LA, NM) would be interested in attending a DW clinic in Austin, TX next spring. The clinic would be geared toward MS, Youth, and HS coaches and their staffs. If you would be interested in attending, or you know of other DW coaches/staffs that would be interested please PM me. I would like to contact as many as possible.
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Post by irishdog on Mar 17, 2012 20:29:51 GMT -6
At the end of the school year I hand out a Captains Nomination Form with 10 criteria listed that our team captains MUST HAVE in order to be named Captain. I have our returning players write-in the names of three seniors as their "nominations" for team captains based upon that listed criteria. The players turn in their nomination forms to me and I count the "votes". The 6 seniors with the most nominations are informed by me that they have been "nominated" by their peers for captains positions. At that point I issue each one a Captain's Bible which they must review with their parents, and return the signatory back page within one week signed by both the player and parent(s), and keep the rest of the "Bible". At that point I meet with ALL of them to let them know that the coaches and I will observe their leadership over the summer, and during double-session practices. Prior to the first scrimmage the team will meet again, voting forms with the criteria will be distributed again with the names of the nominees. The players are asked to submit the names of three of the six nominees they believe met all (or most) of the criteria over the summer and double session practices. The coaching staff tallies the results, breaks any ties based upon our own observations, and the nominees who have "earned" the respect of their peers and coaches are named team captains. Have done it this way for 16 years and once we only had two captains, and once we had four. The cream always rises to the top.
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Post by irishdog on Mar 12, 2012 11:38:29 GMT -6
Failing to prepare - is preparing to fail. John Wooden
Hard work is 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration.
The difference between CHAMP and CHUMP is "U".
It takes an "IRON" Will to Win!
First we will be strong... then we will be first!
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Post by irishdog on Mar 12, 2012 10:43:16 GMT -6
When I had the numbers (50) our kids learned to play both offense and defense. We did everything we could to two-platoon, and limit the number of two-way starters (1 or 2, usually skilled position players). When I didn't have the numbers (35) our kids learned to play offense and defense. We did everything we could to two-platoon, and limit the number of two-way starters (4 or 5, usually a mix of skilled position players and linemen). Football is, and has always been a numbers game. Get as many playing as you can. Eventually you'll find you have more kids who haven't played football, wanting to play football, and your numbers will increase.
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Post by irishdog on Mar 12, 2012 10:12:29 GMT -6
When a kid tells me he doesn't want to play football because "it's too hard" I respond with, "Football is just a game. LIFE is hard; you not going to play that either?" If the kid rethinks it and comes out I'll work with him. If he doesn't... I'll go with the ones I have.
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Post by irishdog on Jul 6, 2011 7:13:35 GMT -6
Just moved to central Texas (Austin) and am going into my 39th year of coaching football at both the college and high school levels. Was an assistant and a DC at JC and D2 schools in California, and have been an assistant, DC, OC, and a HC for 18 years at the high school level. I've run just about everything on defense and have run the 4-2-5 for the past 15 years. I find it provides the best balance, easy to teach, and lets the kids pin their ears back and get after it without a lot of pre-snap adjustments. Have also run just about everything you can run on the offensive side of the ball but found the Double Wing about 10 years ago and have been running it ever since.
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