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Post by coachrobpsl on Jul 19, 2017 8:50:47 GMT -6
Write the plays on small 3x5 cards Give the Qb a wrist coach Send the play card in with the sub , he takes it reads it in the huddle, puts it into his wrist coach , run the play , sends it back when the next sub comes out Gave that idea to a friend of mine who still uses it Another thought is Qb to the sideline every time QB to the sideline has the qb running a whole lot of extra yardage. Plus, in a rush it will hamper you. We were always hurry up with wrist bands for everyone and yelling it in. We had to stress to everyone to never get set until you were 100% sure you had the right play call. As far as defense stealing play calls, use dead and live numbers or just have multiple calls for your base plays. Anything ran more than 5 times a game probably needs to have secondary calls. Plus, good luck having the defense process all that info if they do catch on. Probably better for them if they just play honest.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Jun 28, 2017 12:04:25 GMT -6
Wrist bands and yell really loud. Worked great for us. No sense in having the kids remember silly symbols and stuff. Plus, then you have to remember them and I know I don't want to do all that.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Jun 28, 2016 16:06:03 GMT -6
As far as laps go, I feel they are a complete waste of time at any level of football. Exactly what are they accomplishing? They get a misbehaving & distracting player out of the way. But it's been pointed out that the player doesn't get any instruction at all while taking a lap, so sit-ups are better because the player can still be nearby & hear & see what's going on. Exactly, we have other options than laps for those situations. I was talking more about the obligatory laps at the beginning of practice or before team or group time or whatever. We stopped doing those a long time ago. Kids that need an adjustment get to do burpees.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Jun 28, 2016 5:29:21 GMT -6
As far as laps go, I feel they are a complete waste of time at any level of football. Exactly what are they accomplishing? When in a football game will a kid ever run a lap?
The death of a youth football practice is too much talking by the coaches. The kids don't want to hear how the game was played way back when and they don't want to hear about how you want to want it more than the other guy or that they are the hardest working team. All of that crap is just that. Keep the talking to a very concise minimum. And for Pete's sake, don't use terms that they don't understand which is just about every football term you know and some terms you don't realize they don't know. Like say "down"(as in towards the ball, they literally have no idea) or linebacker.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Jun 22, 2016 7:17:16 GMT -6
Pursuit drills that get the whole team going to the runner. Are they scoring on sweeps? I imagine that would be the strategy at that age in flag. I bet teams rarely pass because they just can't. In that case don't even bother playing pass defense. You can teach them how to spill to the sidelines to help use the sideline as that unblockable 12th man.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Jun 2, 2016 10:37:25 GMT -6
I think what many HS coaches don't realize about youth football, especially the ages in question in the rule change, is the overwhelming always onside kick philosophy(never punt is another but not an issue here of course). With so little time allowed with our teams, special teams don't get nearly enough time. It is just easier and safer(from a coverage pov) to onsides all the time. JRK covers my feelings on it pretty well. The 35 yard line is terrible field position at those age groups. Special teams have always been an equalizer for a less talented opponent. Creating an easy turnover on the ko for youth coaches has always been one of the keys to beating a more talented team. Taking that away tilts the favor even further to the more talented teams. i dont buy the "not enough time" BS - if you dont have enough time then you need to run a more effecient practice. our youngest levels around here practice 3 days a week...2 hours a day and they seem to get everything they need done. - granted they are into the Dave Cisar dont waste a minute at practice stuff, which is amazing if you buy into it. We ran super efficient practices. Very well planned and every minute was accounted for and everything was super high speed. We got more done in one practice than most youth teams get done in 3. But that's us. Most youth coaches have no idea how to plan a single practice let alone how to lay out an entire preseason where everything is installed and then backed up and added upon during the season. So what happens is specials get forgotten about. I don't agree with it either and think it is absolutely poor practicing but the fact is most youth teams practice poorly. You talked about in another thread about trying to train coaches. Almost all youth coaches are being trained by a guy who received none himself so the cycle just gets worse.
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Post by coachrobpsl on May 17, 2016 6:13:13 GMT -6
I think what many HS coaches don't realize about youth football, especially the ages in question in the rule change, is the overwhelming always onside kick philosophy(never punt is another but not an issue here of course). With so little time allowed with our teams, special teams don't get nearly enough time. It is just easier and safer(from a coverage pov) to onsides all the time. JRK covers my feelings on it pretty well. The 35 yard line is terrible field position at those age groups. Special teams have always been an equalizer for a less talented opponent. Creating an easy turnover on the ko for youth coaches has always been one of the keys to beating a more talented team. Taking that away tilts the favor even further to the more talented teams.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Apr 18, 2016 14:45:26 GMT -6
If you are going to teach coaches how to coach the very first thing you need to do is to actually teach them how to coach. Most dads have no idea how to convey a message to a group of kids. There are tons of do's and don'ts. A biggie is to talk less and drill more. Youth coaches often need to learn to shut up, teach it in as small a time as possible in the simplest vocabulary possible while doing nothing to distract them like tossing a ball around in your hands(that is a biggie for the little guys). Knowing when to be serious and when you can loosen up, knowing to be yourself and not try to be something you are not, don't tell stories from back when you were the best player ever to walk the planet and could throw a football over that mountain. Keeping the kids attention is the hardest thing to do and not wasting time is the next hardest thing. Those two things are inseparable though.
Once they can teach effectively, I would teach them the fundies and EXACTLY how you want drills to be run. On day one of practice they have to be able to teach the fundies. X's and O's can come a little later but fundies need to be strong from the get go. Plus, in the youth game, for the most part, either the header or a coordinator if you have one can usually handle most of the scheme stuff. With all that said, I strongly feel the best coach should coach the oline. Either the header or the OC or maybe you have some great communicator that learns fast should be with the most important part of the team. I know you understand that 33, but others new to this youth ball thing often overlook the oline.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Jan 26, 2016 8:15:12 GMT -6
One thing coaches of older kids don't get is the concept that you are herding kittens for sure. They will see a butterfly and that is the coolest thing in the world, way cooler than what you are saying. Kids have short attention spans. Keeping verbal instructions to an absolute minimum is very important. When it comes to coaching younger kids how you approach them is much more important than what you coach them. we all agree that they need to learn the fundies. Just do it without talking a whole bunch. Tiget makes a good point with being no nonsense, just don't expect them to not shut down if you are too stern. Strict but friendly if that makes sense. The kids around 11-12 are closer to the 13-14yos so they can handle a bit more rattling. Those little dudes, the 6yos, will try your patience if you show any weakness but man they are fun. Take a deep breath and smile with those guys.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Jan 23, 2016 9:42:39 GMT -6
Oh, and if you are not familiar with dumcoach.com, it is website that is more geared for the youth game. There is some great hs stuff there as well but most of the coaches on there are youth coaches with a knowledge level that rivals many hs coaches and hs coaches that have coached youth successfully. Not the run of the mill youth coaches for sure.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Jan 23, 2016 9:36:50 GMT -6
You would be surprised at what younger kids are capable of. Start with stance and get the core muscles developed. Young kids have an issue with staying in a stance and not standing up as their first movement because their core strength is undeveloped. I think that is the biggest difference with the younger kids from a physical perspective.
Kids also need to understand the importance of footwork and how it ties into power and balance. They truly don't understand the relationship and demonstrating that relationship will help the light bulb turn on. Once they see that they are more willing to do footwork and body position drills.
For the oline, it's hard to say because scheme and style of blocking(many youth coaches will use shoulder/flipper blocking) so the hand and arm fundies may change but the footwork should be relatively the same. First two steps and hand placement is something kids struggle with. They just want to hit the guy in front of them but don't understand the reasons why we want them to step a certain way or place a hand here or there.
For the skill positions the kids need to learn how to handle a football. Simple things like taking a handoff, catching with the hands in a triangle and having soft hands(they won't know what you mean by that btw so explain it), basic throwing mechanics for qb and how to deliver a handoff. Again footwork, footwork, footwork.
So work like that with each group. Blocking and tackling of course is where we earn our wins and losses. Tackling has to be brought in slowly in a progression. Younger kids are rarely inclined to want full contact so acclimate them with progressive drills. In fact, start without pads for the basics of breaking down, feet, head palcements, hands. Work to bringing to the ground later in pads or if you have a crash mat you can do it without pads at half speed. A similar approach with blocking will work.
This all probably sounds like what you do with the older kids because it is really. The little guys just need simpler explanations with a language they can understand. Not only will they not know what a 3 tech is they might not know what a dt is. You will be surprised at what they can learn and physically accomplish. Just remember that they may know next to nothing about the game and that the field is much bigger for them so things need to be adjusted with that in mind. Hope this helps some. It's is no different than what you are already doing, just a little more basic with more explanation andless(almost none with the really little guys) coaches speek.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Nov 15, 2015 21:09:52 GMT -6
I hit a Glazier or two usually. Sometimes I coach with an 8x8 tackle league. I end up reading a few coaching books(not just football, I will read books by successful coaches from other sports). I watch a bunch of video clinics on the Glazier. Right now, we are still alive so I at least have another week of the season left. Not sure if I'm coaching next season. Parents, boards, other coaches being absolutely clueless about simple things etc. are just making it difficult to enjoy myself or be effective. If I come back I will concentrate on special teams in the off season.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Nov 5, 2015 15:51:54 GMT -6
Dave is crazy busy. He gets tons of emails and calls daily. He has his own team and his own league and the business. Keep trying and be patient. You will have better luck at dumcoach getting a hold of him. Whether you want to run his offense or defense the package is still worth the money for all the other, non X and O stuff that is in his package.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Oct 3, 2015 10:21:46 GMT -6
Coaching to win, coaching to develop kids, and coaching to ensure that kids keep a love for the game do not need to be mutually exclusive. I have been lucky enough to be on some extremely successful youth coaching staffs and I firmly believe we were able to accomplish all three of those goals. The reality is that at every level, to include the NFL, winning is not important because it is truly just a game and a form of entertainment. The NFL has a bit of an argument against this because those players get paid to perform. But again, they are getting paid to play a GAME. It is just a game and in no way is it actually important. Not when compared to things that really matter.
My best friend is a very successful hs coach who played D1 ball, won a state title in hs as a player and a coach, has a NC ring from college as a player and a GA coach and has coached some college ball. He also played pro baseball for a short time. You know what he wants us youth coaches to do? Teach the kids to block and tackle and install an attitude that hard work will take you places and the awareness that without hard work you will never succeed. That's it. He has no problem with youth coaches wanting to win. Losing is not fun. Winning is addictive and takes hard work. He laughs when people make absurd statements like it is a youth coaches job to get them ready for hs ball. He says a youth coaches job is to coach youth football. Make them love the game at the level they play or they will not continue to play as they get older. My thought is if they don't play as they get older it is not necessarily the youth coaches fault. It probably has little to do with the kids youth coach. Kids have many more choices in how they spend their time. What is important to us might no be important to them. That's ok believe it or not. Their interest may be much more noble or meaningful than this silly game we all love and obsess over. I love football, take it extremely seriously but it is just a silly game. No matter how much work we put into it, time and money we invest, football remains a game. Some people need to get over their over inflated view of how important they are and climb down of their enormous pedestals. You look quite comical up their preaching and dictating.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Aug 21, 2015 11:21:52 GMT -6
For those of you guys who coach youth or 7/8th grade do you go to clincs like high school staffs? If you do, are they the same type of clinics i.e. Nike, Glazier . . ? Are there clinics exclusively for youth football? Thanks! i go to 2 glazier clinics a year, and at least one university clinic (this year was Cal Poly SLO, last year was Cal Poly and UC Davis) i think the clinic scene is VERY important for anyone who is planning on being a coach for a long time. exactly like jrk5150 said: if you are going to coach, go learn how to coach better. very VERY rarely do i take any scheme stuff away from clinics. what i get is the program and practice and drills (and cheap coaches choice videos/books!!!!)Yeah, I'm not really looking for scheme stuff at clinics unless it is a very specific scheme clinic. I sit in on each and every oline clinic I can when at Glazier. Zone, gap schemes, practice planning, pass pro, I don't care. I always get something and it is usually little gems that deal with technique. I love talking about practice efficiency with guys with more experience than myself.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Aug 20, 2015 6:33:36 GMT -6
Nothing wrong with the wing t at younger levels. You just need to limit the amount of series you run. I have seen teams do well with the wing t with young kids.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Aug 12, 2015 11:23:56 GMT -6
I attend at least one Glazier a year(Orlando). Sometimes 2(Tampa). Nike COY clinics I think are far inferior to Glazier. Considering Glazier almost always offers a discount for youth coaches it is a no brainer for me. I usually am one of the very few youth coaches at these things and I never attend the youth specific presentations. I've been doing this for a while so I just don't get much from the youth presentations. Not that they are bad but I no longer need the bare minimum basics which is about all they tend to offer. The dirty little secret is the real stuff is learned having lunch or while having a few beers after the clinic with the people you meet. There are youth specific clinics but all the ones I have seen have been on a local level. Some guys, like Dave Cisar, will come to you for a cost.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Aug 10, 2015 7:25:39 GMT -6
Putting him as the x at that age level seems to be a waste if he is the home run threat. How many times will a team of 9yo complete a pass to x in a game? How may times will they throw x the ball in a game? I want my home run threat to have the ball consistently. As far as learning 5 positions in the wing t that is absurd, especially if they are running more than one series. Sounds to me that there will be positional tells if they do that. Just because an org has produced national championships does not mean that all the coaches in that org know what they are doing. My org has produced a handful and the disparity of coaching know how is wide within the org.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Jun 19, 2015 17:03:06 GMT -6
Meshparker, You really feel that because somebody does something in Europe it must be good? I remember when I lived in Europe and the few times I have been back hearing vendors say things like "New, from America" like somehow that made something better. The reverse is just as silly. Anyway, if you want to make an argument but don't want to justify a statement don't bother posting(the "thing I will leave out" and "I will leave it at that"). Why even bother posting that statement?. I would like to hear what you have to say, it may be very insightful or provide a useful point of view. You obviously have something to say but are being cryptic for some reason. Go ahead and say it. I am not sure I even understand your stance on this discussion. Are you for or against youth tackle?
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Post by coachrobpsl on May 31, 2015 17:43:46 GMT -6
I am not sure flag is even football. The games are so different that I feel flag is an avenue to teach and enhance bad technique. With that in mind I don't recommend flag at all. Our program id away with flag. On a side note, the amount of head injuries in flag were higher than tackle when we did have a flag division.
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Post by coachrobpsl on May 4, 2015 17:15:10 GMT -6
Another great one Doug missed weas Jack Gregory. He has a great dw system and a 6-3 defense. Coach JJ has a great and simple DW and 3-3 stack. Coach Coxman has a bunch of dw stuff and some defense stuff as well(4-2-5 I believe). Coach Marsden has a great split 4 defense. For the beginner coach who knows almost nothing the Cisar and Gregory stuff is great.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Apr 25, 2015 18:11:40 GMT -6
I have never seen a kid block or tackle a sled during a game. Not that they can't help but they are not necessary. Our program is very successful and we do not have sleds. Shields can be used as can simple stepped progressions(fit and form) into players. There are a few hand made sled designs out there on the internet. I can't speak for them as I have never built any of them. I don't like sleds because they do not react like actual players. I have also heard many youth coaches complain of not having equipment and not being able to properly coach their kids. In almost all cases those coaches were using a lack of equipment to cover up their lack of knowledge or ability to actually coach. I would be more inclined to get some home made chutes made from PVC or even manufactured chutes instead of sleds. Boards would also be a bigger priority. The 2 biggest problems with youth olinemen imho(this applies to d linemen as well) is standing straight up at the snap and the second step being too far and too close(as in width) to the 1st step. Given the time restraints youth coaches face, I would(and do) focus edds on these 2 issues.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Mar 22, 2015 12:34:36 GMT -6
Congrats on the header job coach. The problem with coaching youth(even for the good youth coaches) is lack of time. Since you probably don't have an off season program you will need to develop everything within those 6 hours a week. Remember that the first couple of weeks you are allowed 10 hours a week. I believe that what most youth coaches do wrong in developing a practice schedule is that they don't have a long term plan for the entire season. Anybody can put together a schedule that has 10 minutes of warmups(too much in my mind for youth), 30 minutes indies, 30 minutes group,30 minutes team, 20 minutes specials or whatever. The issue is that these kids usually have little if any football skills and some don't even know the basic rules. So having a long term schedule is important to implement what will developed and in what order so that come game one you can put a team on the field and be competitive. We design our practice schedules based on our long term schedule. We need to meet certain goals each week as position coaches. If not the team fails. As each week progresses reinforcement must occur with the EDDs but you also need to move on to new skills. This all seems pretty obvious but believe me it is not. Never loose site of the fact that your kids and most likely your staff is clueless with little experience or knowledge. EDDs and all other drills have to be followed exactly as designed and the coaches have to know what that design is. If not, you schedule will be meaningless. Again, obvious, but in the youth world even more important imho.
The most important thing to consider in youth practice scheduling is the time allotted to the oline. Come up with a good amount of time that they are together with group and indies and then double it. I prefer my oline to not play defense so on defensive days that group can be doing oline stuff. Very few youth teams have good olines. The ones that do, win championships and allow overall team success. When the oline is working, the qb, backs and recievers will be able to develop. Without a good line, the ball handlers can do their thing. Anybody can run behind a good oline.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Mar 22, 2015 11:59:50 GMT -6
It is not about teaching them to stay low. You need to get the core strength to be able to stay low first. Most younger youth players do not have the required muscle development to stay low from a 3 pt stance nor do most youth coaches have a preseason training regiment needed to develop these muscles. Doing it during the regular season can be accomplished but it better be done in EDDs that are well designed that incorporate blocking skills. As we all know as oline coaches, we are rarely given the time we need to get what we need to get done. Kids that are forced into a 3 point stance who do not have the proper core strength will ALWAYS stand straight up first because they have no other choice. Once the core strength is developed then you can teach them to fire out low and fast. So to solve this a 2 pt stance can be used. They will be out leveraged by the better trained dlines but they would lose that battle even worse if they cannot fire out from a 3 point stance(because they will stand up first). So my take, for whatever it is worth, do your best to develop core strength so they can succeed from a 3 pt stance. Until then, use a 2 pt stance. A proper 2 pt stance from the oline is really not much higher than a 3 pt. I want chest almost, if not touching, the knees. My issues with the 2 pt have been that the pullers seemed to give away a tell that they were pulling(that of course can be coached out of it) and that if they come up they are REALLY out of position. Chutes can be used the same way as from a 3pt stance to train staying low. Home made pvc chutes are pretty easy to make btw for those that don't have them. I made mine for about $65 worth of materials and it is adjustable(thanks M).
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Post by coachrobpsl on Mar 6, 2015 18:59:10 GMT -6
Veer and midline as a true triple is tough at any age level. As 33 coach points out you really need a special qb but I would go one further and say you need two special qbs because if one goes down you need someone else who can run your offense. Option football is a funny thing. Generally coaches are either option guys or they are non option guys. If you don't really understand how to install option I wouldn't try it. Not being an option guy though I have no real advice as far as how to install. I just want to point out a few obstacles in case you weren't aware.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Dec 19, 2014 7:59:43 GMT -6
The Glazier youth scholarships seem to be discontinued this year so i don't think they are free to youth coaches this up coming year. But the season pass is still worth it even if you only go to one clinic as the video content on the Glazier site is available with the pass. efootballflix.com is an inexpensive subscription website full of football clinic videos. I agree with 33 coaches opinion on dw blocking being of value in hs. Zone teams will still have a gap scheme where rule blocking, trapping and pulling is used. Plus, I think football is very cyclical and I firmly believe power schemes are on the way back in. there is a 10 dollar processing fee...but the scholership still exists (i just got mine ) I just saw this. It just popped up a few days ago. Great news for youth coaches. I'll end up spending the money at the clinics anyway.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Dec 19, 2014 7:58:28 GMT -6
The Glazier youth scholarships seem to be discontinued this year so i don't think they are free to youth coaches this up coming year. But the season pass is still worth it even if you only go to one clinic as the video content on the Glazier site is available with the pass. efootballflix.com is an inexpensive subscription website full of football clinic videos. I agree with 33 coaches opinion on dw blocking being of value in hs. Zone teams will still have a gap scheme where rule blocking, trapping and pulling is used. Plus, I think football is very cyclical and I firmly believe power schemes are on the way back in. there is a 10 dollar processing fee...but the scholership still exists (i just got mine )
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Post by coachrobpsl on Dec 12, 2014 8:22:25 GMT -6
The Glazier youth scholarships seem to be discontinued this year so i don't think they are free to youth coaches this up coming year. But the season pass is still worth it even if you only go to one clinic as the video content on the Glazier site is available with the pass. efootballflix.com is an inexpensive subscription website full of football clinic videos.
I agree with 33 coaches opinion on dw blocking being of value in hs. Zone teams will still have a gap scheme where rule blocking, trapping and pulling is used. Plus, I think football is very cyclical and I firmly believe power schemes are on the way back in.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Sept 15, 2014 16:49:02 GMT -6
Doug nailed it. Be the boss. Tough age but they really do want someone to take charge. Don't bend on rules. Sit your best players for insubordination. Not for a series or a quarter, the whole game. That will end all bs. But don't let it come to you having to enforce it in a game. Also, and this is a huge piece of advice, never use laps to discipline kids. In fact, don't ever run laps in football practice ever. Under any circumstances. Laps are the biggest waste of time in the history of sports. If you need to discipline make it quick and something you can control. I have, under the worst case scenario, asked a kid to remove themselves from practice. I told him to go sit over by the fence until practice was over. He could call his ride if need be but he was temporarily removed from the team. I did this once with the worst problem we have ever had. It worked. The kid isn't perfect but he is much better. This happened this year and was a piece of advice from a guy I have a ton of respect for with over 30 years of coaching experience. It worked amazingly well.
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Post by coachrobpsl on Aug 29, 2014 14:18:08 GMT -6
Not enough to bet on it.
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