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Post by fcboiler87 on Jun 22, 2023 19:50:17 GMT -6
My son was going into 2nd grade and was insistent on playing flag football. I never mentioned it or tried to push it at all. I let him chew on it for a while, and he persisted. So we let him play. I coached, for your point number two. From the minute flag ended, he couldn't wait to play tackle football this coming year in third. I'm not a fan. I told the league that it was too young to start tackle, but everyone else around here does it, so that was falling on deaf ears. I want to tell him no, simply because I think developmentally, it needs to wait. But he wants to so bad, we aren't going to tell him no. I am going to coach again. Not because I am anything special, but I won't be out there sending kids on laps around the field, running the Oklahoma drill and doing other pointless, stupid things that too many youth coaches waste their time on.
It's a really neat thing, getting to coach your kid. I try not to coach him much on the field and let an assistant work with him closely, but it is inevitable. I also try not to talk about it when we leave, but he asks and wants to talk about it. I try to keep it positive and concise, but also get him to see the big picture. Good luck to you.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Apr 3, 2023 19:07:27 GMT -6
I bought a new Acer chromebook last summer. It has a 15.5" screen and even has a numeral pad in addition to the regular keyboard. I bought this to replace an 11.5" Acer chromebook that lasted 5 years. It was still going strong, but the thing about chromebooks is that they have a 5 year shelf life for updates. So once five years is up, the device will no longer receive security updates. It was still running like the day I bought it. I couldn't believe it. I would recommend the brand for sure.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Feb 6, 2021 20:38:04 GMT -6
Also from Indiana..
I will say as a whole I think it has been a good thing for not just football, but all sports.
Although, here is my one issue. I think the two year cycle is too short. Just one example here, but I am sure there are more. This was girls basketball... team had some generational classes coming through. They won a sectional with freshmen/sophomores. Then went to state with that class the next year and lost. But as a result, they were bumped up to a higher class the next year. There was no way they were going to make state in that class, though they were very good and competed. Had the cycle been every 4 years, this school would have likely won a state title, which would have been first in school history.
It is examples like that in which I think it hurts public schools that have a few really good classes in a row. If the cycle were 4 years instead of two, I think it'd be more representative of the success of that school/program.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Dec 2, 2020 20:17:45 GMT -6
I was a part of a start up high school program when I first started coaching. It was a heck of a experience trying to teach kids football where there was no football culture. I think that was the biggest downfall. There is just something about a place where it exists. It will be on you to create it. Is the school good at those other sports? This school wasn't really. The needs to be some kind of sports culture and some athletes.
I believe our biggest problem was having no flexibility in scheduling. We were locked immediately into a conference that took up pretty much the entire season. We were the smallest school in the conference enrollment wise so it made it an uphill battle. I left after a few years and 13 years later, they have never had a winning season. They were .500 twice when they had a pretty decent amount of talent. So consider what scheduling will look like. You need to schedule relative competition. If you don't, it will be hard to get momentum going for the program. Another school also started football in the conference not too long after. It has had an equally difficult time getting going, even though it is a bigger school. They don't have the experience and/or talent to compete with the conference. I really believe if both of those schools played independent or in a a less competitive conference, they would both be much better programs. Another small school started football off to the west of us in a weaker conference and 12 years later they were in the state title game. They had talent of course, but a much easier schedule to navigate early on to build some momentum.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Nov 24, 2019 8:27:06 GMT -6
My district struggles with test scores and we just pray someone applies for our teaching positions that is actually certified. If you have a pulse, a certification and fill out a simple application, you've at minimum got an interview!
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Post by fcboiler87 on Jul 28, 2018 6:59:02 GMT -6
I worked for a couple of HCs that were not very nice and liked to display that in public. It didn't matter if it was practice or sidelines of a game. I like to believe it was because they were trying to hold us to high standards. I didn't appreciate it, though and felt it was unnecessary.
When I became an HC, I did not have one instance of that. There were a few tough private conversations that needed to be had, but nothing public. However, in reflection, I do see some merit in some good @$$ rippings. I should have done it to a few of the clowns I had around me. Again, not in public, but sometimes a guy has to be put in his place when he doesn't understand his role.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Oct 15, 2017 19:04:26 GMT -6
Just curious how many schools have this kind of autonomy? In Louisiana, the districts (I am assuming that is what is being referred to as a league) are set by the state association. Some states like yours have districts that are set periodically based on enrollment. Kentucky is one as well. I know in Kentucky, some programs actually apply to the state to drop out of district play in order to schedule freely to try to get some wins and build their program. The only catch is that they are then ineligible for the playoffs. For the teams that do this, it makes sense, as they may not get many wins otherwise. In Indiana, you play your conference opponents. Conferences are born largely from traditional alliances formed decades ago. There has been a fair amount of movement lately here with it, but many are still stuck and do not want to change. Some conferences have teams that are 2 or 3 classes separate, meaning their enrollment disparity is incredible. Enrollment isn't always the main factor, but it can make a big difference.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Oct 15, 2017 8:58:10 GMT -6
If you are a school that hasn't been competitive in a long time, it is something to seriously consider. I hear that argument all the time at my current school and it drives me nuts. "We were founding members of this conference," "It's tradition," blah blah blah. Yeah well have fun getting your arses kicked like you have for the last 20 years in all major sports. Times change, schools change and it is fair to adjust accordingly. We are the smallest school in our conference by 300 people, the largest schools in our conference are 2 and a half times our enrollment. We'd be better served moving. It just makes too much sense.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Oct 8, 2017 11:50:03 GMT -6
This is my first year not being involved in football season since before I was able to play the game. I've been an HC, OC, DC, STC throughout my career. I was in a bad spot at my last stop as HC. I got out. I had the opportunity to coach elsewhere, but decided instead to take an admin job when offered. The real deciding factor though was the fact that my son was born when I became HC. The first two years of his life I felt like I wasn't around enough. Before I had kids I said there is no way those little varmits will keep me from coaching. I was wrong. It takes a little perspective. I get to spend a whole lot more time with my family now and it really has been great for all of us. Being a little more financially stable is just a plus. I have gone to a couple of high school games just for fun. I watch more football on Saturday. The break so far has been great. I am sure I will eventually get back in, at least in some capacity, especially if my son decides to play. I'm completely okay with that.
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Post by fcboiler87 on May 21, 2017 12:54:58 GMT -6
We have a kid that isn't even on the school basketball team but is on an AAU team. He is 5'6 and not a good athlete whatsoever. He can't play on this team, or they must be pure garbage. But he's an AAU player and gets to brag about it. He probably wouldn't be eligible if he tried to play for the school. Guess they aren't eligibility requirements for AAU.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Mar 9, 2017 8:23:41 GMT -6
Consolidating them is best if at all possible. I did it for mine and my wife's. We paid ours off fairly quickly, but we still wanted one manageable payment in the mean time before doing so. However, we did not have to do federal AND private. That could make for a complicated situation. I've seen a lot of publicity on SoFi, a lender organization whose primary claim is to refinancing your student loans at a better interest rate than is currently out there. You may check with them and see how they can help you. Otherwise, combining private and federal could get difficult or impossible. At very minimum, combine any federal ones you may have.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Feb 22, 2017 11:36:29 GMT -6
Like some others have said I have done it but I don't have to do it again. I'd like to. But I'd only do it for a good situation where we could win a reasonable amount of games and I would be allowed to run things as I saw fit. Otherwise, no thank you. No amount of money would be worth the struggle and politics of a bad situation. As they say, there are more good coaches than there are good HC jobs. It's very true. To any young guy wanting to make it there, be patient and wait on the right opportunity, not any opportunity. I've got an opportunity to coach at a larger more successful school here locally next year. I'll just be a position coach and that's okay with me. I know now more than ever what it takes to be a good AC and plan to do so.
To the OP, it is a great quality to have that you do not want to be it. HC's need more people like that.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Feb 14, 2017 13:57:44 GMT -6
I've seen all kinds of things having worked under 8 different head coaches. I think you can get away with them if you keep them short. But as an HC myself it just wasn't my philosophy. I did just a brief chalk talk on day one of the summer to go over some things - less than 10 minutes - and then we hit the field and never looked back. Our DC would hold a weekly scouting report session and did have a hand out but this did not exceed 10 minutes either. We would always line things up on the field and walk through if it was new and then rep it out. We had our ups and downs but never once did I go back and think "man I wish we would have met more." Our issues were certainly not X/O related.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Feb 12, 2017 18:17:43 GMT -6
If you school and/or school board really cared, they'd create a PE/weights position and then hire a football coach to fill it. Then require all of your athletes regardless of sport to be in there. Sounds like it's more than your football program and if given time, this is the best scenario for your entire school's athletic department. Good luck because it looks like you're going to need it.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Dec 20, 2016 11:41:46 GMT -6
Might be short and one-sided.
Exactly. Be prepared to no longer be employed, specifically as a coach but potentially as an educator as well. Hope it turns out okay for you though. Best of luck.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Dec 19, 2016 9:10:42 GMT -6
Today and tomorrow with kids. Wednesday is a professional day. We are the only district locally that is in the week. We don't go back until Wednesday after New Year's so I guess it'll be okay then. These days are just finals days so there is a lot of extra time on hand. I just feel better knowing some of you guys are there all week. I am surprised by that. I would be a lot of people may take off Friday or earlier to go wherever they may go for vacation.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Dec 15, 2016 8:22:24 GMT -6
We fundraise a lot so we use that money to cover cost of clinic and hotel. The only thing we have paid for is our transportation and food. I went ahead and purchased that stuff before I was on my way out the door so I am still good to go this offseason.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Dec 15, 2016 7:33:10 GMT -6
Sounds like a tough situation. I'd ask the dad to have a meeting. Then I'd outline clearly that you appreciate his help and are fine with it so long as he understands there will be no favoritism towards his son as a result. He has to earn it like everyone else. At least then you can say you said so. I would probably be sure to include the athletic director as a witness.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Nov 18, 2016 10:58:25 GMT -6
I bought some from thegraphicedge.com for our off-season competition team winners. I got them Under Armour of the largest size possible (and these things were huge) and they cost me $50 a piece. Not bad at all for such a nice bag. This also included a custom embroidery with their name and number. I think you could get the smaller size for less than $40 and that is UA. They may have some cheaper versions. The company was very good to work with as well.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Nov 3, 2016 8:19:38 GMT -6
That's the tough part. I won't coach somewhere unless they are committed to winning. Some of the best jobs our there are programs that have been down but the administration and community want success. We are in a situation where we have to give kids rides. I give three or four kids a ride home from practice and to school each day. It is something I actually look forward to. I have also been at places where kids have every advantage. The big deal is what are the expectations, and do they match the support you will be given? Can your coaching staff build a culture that overcomes a lack of administrative and community support? I once took a job at a place that said they were committed to winning, but after walking through the door I found out they were committed to mediocrity. It was going to be my first head coaching job, and I had signed the offer letter but not the contract. I am thankful there was a delay in the contract being written. I found out quickly they didn't want to be a championship program. They wanted to be below mediocre, and they embraced everything that had to do with underachieving. I made a decision to not sign the contract. It was the best career decision I have made. If the culture outside your program is so toxic that it creates complacency within the program, and there is no way around it, find a new place to coach. People who strive to excel cannot coexist with people who embrace being mediocre. Sorry to side track things a bit but how did you determine that their commitment level wasn't there? What little things did you see that said to you "I gotta get out of here."
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Post by fcboiler87 on Nov 2, 2016 12:42:03 GMT -6
It starts with the culture you build as a coach. Many years ago we took over an apathetic program with apathetic kids. It was a process building a championship culture. Every day we brought it as coaches. We told them from day 1, if you aren't here to become a champion, then deuces. We had some talented kids quit. While we were less talented, we became a better program. We didn't play kids that didn't attend practices. We didn't play kids that didn't work hard. When you have a cancer, you must kill it before it spreads. You can cut it out or you can attack it with chemo. Either way, it must be gotten rid of as quickly as possible. It will hurt in the short term, but it's part of the long term process that will make your program better. It is hard to do. It is easy to trick yourself into thinking you need those talented guys that are lazy. If they don't work hard they can go be a PE All-Star. Agreed 100%. Unfortunately some places aren't apt to give you that time to do so anymore. If you are taking a job where this needs to happen, you better be sure that your school will give you the time needed to do this and build or else you'll be done before you get where you want it to be. Fall break kills us.. we lose 5 guys at least every break. Usually they're freshman who use the excuse for not having a ride but it hurts the scout team for the size school we are.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Nov 1, 2016 9:59:04 GMT -6
Indiana has a ratings system that is top notch, and they don't use it. Jeff Sagarin, a statistician that was used to formulate the BCS is from Indiana and rates every football, and basketball team in the state. His ratings are remarkably accurate yet are never used. Indiana uses an all-in format and doesnt even seed the playoffs. Teams are assigned their games based on a blind draw. The top two teams in state for the 2nd largest division faced each other in the first round of the playoffs while 0-9 vs 0-9 matchups are taking place. It's lunacy. Roughly 64 teams are in the bottom 4 divisions (enrollment wise) and 32 teams each in the top 2 divisions. If Indiana took the "top half" of each class according to Sagarin ratings to create their playoff teams, we could have a meaningful playoff system. 5 total teams in the state who were a bottom 32 team beat a top 32 team. That's with 320+ teams playing. I'd think that's a pretty powerful tool that is not being used. Preach!! Then you end up with one of the potential best matchups in the playoffs in the first round with Columbus East vs New Pal!
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Post by fcboiler87 on Oct 28, 2016 6:05:48 GMT -6
I am with you fantom, we are done as well. It was over last Friday night for us. One of the worst seasons in recent school history. But it was one of the worst groups I've ever been around - the most uncoachable and entitled group of kids I've ever been around. Nothing we could do could fix it and believe me we tried. On to the next one now. Best of luck to you moving forward.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Oct 12, 2016 7:31:11 GMT -6
thegraphicedge.com
I got this site on here several years back. I've been using it as an alternative to a local person because we can actually get stuff in a reasonable amount of time. A couple things we ordered were back-ordered so we had to wait a little longer, but they were upfront with us and offered alternatives. Prices are very good too. My experience with them has been good and I would recommend.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Oct 2, 2016 8:32:17 GMT -6
Lmao what kind of AD has that talk with his coach in week 3 DURING the season?! One with no spine. One that is too concerned about their own job. One that has already fired HC's from 3 other sports. This is at a school where all, literally all, of our sports are god awful. We won twice as many games as our basketball team last season and will probably at least equal them again this year. The AD will be gone too if the corporation cares at all but not sure if they do. The real problem is just two fold - little to no athletic talent or ability anywhere and a horrible, entitled school culture. It's not enough to do things the right way and treat people well.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Oct 1, 2016 11:27:07 GMT -6
Fantom,
I can relate. It's been that kind of season for us too. We started the season with 44. We will be down to 25 now that we have hit our fall break period. 4 lost for season with injuries, numerous kids quitting. Most of them quit when they were going to be punished for making poor mistakes. Some of them it is social media and they are talking crap about the coaching staff. It gets perpetuated because adults are too, even ones in our building. I don't peruse social media but if it gets brought to my attention there are consquences - I see it as a teaching moment - would you want to say that about your boss? But they don't care.
AD told me I probably wouldn't be able to be brought back - this is my second year and I was told that after a 0-3 start. We reeled off 3 straight wins then played well last night against a really good team. AD still says probably no choice because parents aren't happy.
It is a train wreck and with no support anywhere, it's miserable! So we're in the same boat and thanks for your posts as it at least makes me feel not alone!!
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Post by fcboiler87 on Sept 30, 2016 8:03:58 GMT -6
Canyon,
I think based on other threads we're in similar situations. Culture is real and it is a very difficult thing to overcome and defeat and in some cases, impossible. There are those blue moon teams that come around and win based on talent. Then the next year they're gone and it's back to reality. Before the last 15 years where I am, there were 3 winning seasons in 40 years. The fortunes have turned largely since then, but we're are sliding back and the same cultural reasons are going to be why. I have fought like hell against all of it, but when a community is comfortable with its existence, they will fight you like hell right back. The talent is cycling down here big time and all other sports are struggling as well. We're the last ones to come to it, but naturally the HC gets the blame. Truth is there aren't very many good football jobs, especially where I am at so it's either deal with what you have or move on from it.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Sept 26, 2016 10:06:25 GMT -6
We had that happen earlier this year. I felt we could win. The problem is the kids we overconfident and thought they'd kill the opponent. Got blown out same score you did. We were losing kids throughout the game from "injuries" and everything else. It was embarrassing all around. The hungover went through us the following week. It took some lousy opponents for us to regain some confidence but in a way we are still reeling and that was week 2 and here we are week 7. Just have to keep plugging away.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Sept 25, 2016 7:37:49 GMT -6
We don't meet on weekends so we watch film from the previous Friday on Monday after school. We watch about 15 minutes at max. I think they begin to drift off after that. We make playlists of our top O and D plays that need to be reviewed, go over it quickly and move on. Tuesday we watch film of our upcoming opponent. Again we have playlists of their O and D, watch it for 15-20 minutes and that's it. We ask the players to watch on their own at home and of course the good ones do. I'm not a big film guy for the kids, I'd rather they gain a brief knowledge of what to expect then work outside on executing against it.
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Post by fcboiler87 on Sept 21, 2016 5:43:50 GMT -6
Yesterday was first day we were in full pads since last Wednesday. Last Tuesday and Wednesday we had 10 guys (out of 35) not wearing knee pads. We had warned them it would result in reminders (100 yards up downs at each 5). Tuesday we did it, then they came back on purpose to do it on Wednesday so we had them do it again. Yesterday there wasn't a single kid who wanted to do that again so not one person tried to pull a fast one with no knee pads. lol
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