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Post by s73 on Mar 16, 2014 7:26:43 GMT -6
same- we couldn't even all make the banquet and have yet to see everyone in the wt room. Same here. I'm not a meeting guy. Meetings to me are wasted time. The only meetings I ever have during the season when we watch film. And that's about 3 hours long at the most. Outside maybe getting an idea or two from a clinic, there isn't anything you're going to revolutionize for next year at this point of the season. Get kids in the weight room. Your depth charts, schemes, etc mean absolutely nothing at this point. Kids grow, move, get suspended, etc. I worked for a meeting guy once. Was actually the most disorganized person I've ever worked with. But he had plenty of nice packets and vision statements and quotes. Spent hours upon hours in meetings too. Most dysfunctional program I've ever been around. For my money, meetings guys have meetings so they can "work" lots of hours and have "organization". We're not taking over a country or running Microsoft. We coach a sport. A pretty simple one at that. I think you and me may have worked for the same guy once. We usually try to visit a practice of another school in the area that is maybe still in the state tournament if we have been eliminated. We meet over Xmas break for adult beverages and a very informal discussion about football and we clinic once a year. That's seems to be enough for us to keep us in touch and keep the rust off w/o overkilling it.
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Post by s73 on Feb 26, 2014 10:55:49 GMT -6
My stance has always been that I let "guys be guys". To me that means if it happens once in a blue moon I'm not going to get bent out of shape about it.
On the other hand if we look trashy and classless, that's not happening.
I guess an example that I'm talking about might be if a kid screws up in a drill and you can hear a little something under his breath, then so be it. In my mind, at least he cares. On the other hand, somebody screws up and screams the F-bomb or just generally talks that way, that's not happening. It's pretty much the way I talk I guess. I forget something for school & I might quietly talk out loud "oh sh*t". But if i'm screaming expletives then somebody please punch me in the face. JMO.
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Post by s73 on Feb 21, 2014 14:51:13 GMT -6
I agree w/ all of the above. I also strongly believe that addressing average athletes as if they are not average athletes goes a long way. Kids aren't dumb but they are naive sometimes. In other words, don't talk to a team of average athletes about "hopefully having a good season". Talk to them about how you expect to beat your crosstown rival this year and how you expect to be a play off football team and compete at a high level in the play offs. I really believe this makes a difference. I think if you can convince several average athletes that they are better than that, if they have any "intestinal fortitude" at all, they will SOMETIMES find a way to meet your expectations. I think average athletes can still be above average people if the situation and circumstances are conducive to do so. JMO. I certainly agree with having high expectations for young men because they will only go as high as you expect them to go. However, I also think there are good and bad ways of placing expectations on them. For the sake of argument, I'll play devil's advocate here. What if I put the "I expect to beat your crosstown rival this year" pressure on them, and they roll out in the first quarter and lay an egg? They are down 17-0. If they do not see a chance to reach your expectation at that moment, what will they do? I bet they shut it down. I argue this because I think you should put your focus on process-oriented expectations. Place expectations on them to live and work like champions, and the on the field product will take care of itself. Just my thoughts on it. I agree w/ you. I think we are essentially saying the same thing. I did not mean for my words to be taken in a vacuum. To more clearly state my position, my approach is to have them work hard, coach them up and then tell them that they have worked harder than anybody else, and as a result, they can win b/c they have put in the time. Whether it be true or not that they have actually worked harder than their opponents (no way to measure this) I feel it is advantageous for them to believe it to be true. I guess, I feel like when you put in the time properly w/ your kids, I believe in trying to develop that mental aspect that goes along w/ it. Try to develop some swagger in them mentally AS A RESULT OF THE PHYSICAL PROCESS. JMO.
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Post by s73 on Feb 21, 2014 6:43:28 GMT -6
I agree w/ all of the above. I also strongly believe that addressing average athletes as if they are not average athletes goes a long way. Kids aren't dumb but they are naive sometimes.
In other words, don't talk to a team of average athletes about "hopefully having a good season". Talk to them about how you expect to beat your crosstown rival this year and how you expect to be a play off football team and compete at a high level in the play offs. I really believe this makes a difference. I think if you can convince several average athletes that they are better than that, if they have any "intestinal fortitude" at all, they will SOMETIMES find a way to meet your expectations.
I think average athletes can still be above average people if the situation and circumstances are conducive to do so. JMO.
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Post by s73 on Feb 20, 2014 7:21:00 GMT -6
Coach, no disrespect but in many states new schools don't have a choice in this matter b/c they have to abide by a conference guideline to get admission. In other words, I'm a new school and I want to join your conference, I have to join when you accept me (unfortunately been in a tough situation similar to this). One thing I would suggest is "brand your self". In other words, find themes that you can build on, develop gear, sayings, traditions, etc and sell kids on it. The truth of the matter is, it's difficult to win in this situation but you can build pride in your kids by selling them on being pioneers. Hence, why you develop your own traditions, gear , sayings etc. Tell them they are building the foundation of a program and becoming immortals by not just passing through a program but creating it. I would also suggest you treat any of your successes with historical significance b/c quite frankly it is significant. First win, first conference win, first home win, everybody signs the ball and store it in the trophy case. Even the first varsity game regardless of the outcome still has historical significance. How many people can say they played in the 1st game in the HISTORY of a school. Sell it! It's an awesome opportunity that only happens to a few in their lifetimes. Good Luck. PS - MAKE it THEIR school. Have them develop inspirational sayings that you can post in the locker room, weight room, etc. Have them do things that not only will they remember for their lifetimes, but also something they can come back and see and say I STARTED that. That's pretty cool. i didn't think of that, good point and don't get me wrong, playing varsity in year 3 is definitely the norm... the school I am talking about is the only one I can remember in the area who played that extra year of JV and back then, EVERYBODY on the outside was talking smack about them for playing JV with all juniors but looking back, I think they made the right call and they were instantly a playoff team/league title contender once they did get seniors and went varsity I was in a new school situation once and we had to play varsity w/ only juniors (and a bad junior class at that) plus we had to bring up several sophomores. You are definitely right when you say it hurts you. Definitely cost us a year of productivity. Not to mention the fact that we had multiple parents raging on us (some thought we were irresponsible for playing soph's even though the soph's were physically superior to the junior they replaced, and some were pissed that we weren't winning if you can believe that). It was tough. But in our case the conference we applied to does 2 year scheduling and we had to go in that year b/c it was the beginning of a 2 year cycle and they needed us for scheduling purposes. But I'm w/ you. If you can avoid it, definitely the way to go. Not alot of good comes from lining up to be the lamb for the slaughter. And this was pre-concussion hysteria. I can't even imagine trying it now. But hopefully the OP has a patient situation. I will say this, when you post that 1st big win as well as that 1st good season, there's nothing like it. It's really exciting to see a brand new program turn the corner.
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Post by s73 on Feb 19, 2014 21:18:40 GMT -6
One thing I'll suggest Don't play varsity til year 4 when you have seniors I seen most new programs who start with just freshman play varsity when they are juniors and they always get killed I've seen one team keep them all down and play JV... Then first varsity with first seniors and it worked well for them They of course had the best JV team around being all seniors but it have those kids confidence, kept the numbers up, and they were probably the most successful team I've seen in their first varsity season Coach, no disrespect but in many states new schools don't have a choice in this matter b/c they have to abide by a conference guideline to get admission. In other words, I'm a new school and I want to join your conference, I have to join when you accept me (unfortunately been in a tough situation similar to this). One thing I would suggest is "brand your self". In other words, find themes that you can build on, develop gear, sayings, traditions, etc and sell kids on it. The truth of the matter is, it's difficult to win in this situation but you can build pride in your kids by selling them on being pioneers. Hence, why you develop your own traditions, gear , sayings etc. Tell them they are building the foundation of a program and becoming immortals by not just passing through a program but creating it. I would also suggest you treat any of your successes with historical significance b/c quite frankly it is significant. First win, first conference win, first home win, everybody signs the ball and store it in the trophy case. Even the first varsity game regardless of the outcome still has historical significance. How many people can say they played in the 1st game in the HISTORY of a school. Sell it! It's an awesome opportunity that only happens to a few in their lifetimes. Good Luck. PS - MAKE it THEIR school. Have them develop inspirational sayings that you can post in the locker room, weight room, etc. Have them do things that not only will they remember for their lifetimes, but also something they can come back and see and say I STARTED that. That's pretty cool.
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Post by s73 on Feb 11, 2014 7:49:29 GMT -6
What advice do some of you guys have for creating excitement at a football program that has been down and has a lot of focus on bball and baseball?
Be positive, enthusiastic - but demanding.
Make sure kids are enjoying their Football experience.
Most of all, Win.
Nothing succeeds like success.
Winning is #1. Other things we do: Find ways to sell your brand as Deuce says. We have weight room shirts for goals achieved, we always try to find a cool theme for our summer camp and put that on a shirt as well. But the beauty of it is we ask our graphics classes to design the shirts for us and the teacher is happy to do so (that obviously helps a ton). So we have classes w/ football players in them and maybe a few considering football who design our t-shirts for us. I think this helps to "expand" our program or reach out if you will to others. I always ask players to help run our youth camps, we also have players attend our 8th grade orientation night and recruit the incoming class to sign up for football. We have current players work w/ incoming kids the Spring before frosh year in the wieght room. We hosted a Madden tournament this year after the season ended. I think anything that is fun but also gives the kids ownership of the program helps. Because it's no longer dictated to them. They become partners in the process. Just my 2 cents. PS - Food is always. One example is ordering pizza on occasion when weight room attendance has been really good. Let's the kids know that while you want them in the weight room to help program success, they are more than just a piece of meat. It shows you don't mind breaking bread w/ them and telling a few stories. It's an opportunity to let your hair down some.
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Post by s73 on Feb 10, 2014 12:53:36 GMT -6
A friend of mine who is a HC actually posts a list of former team members who stop playing. He lists their grades when they quit and updates it per 9 weeks with their current grades. He does it by GPA for the quarter not by class but I thought that was pretty interesting. and yes I'm aware of the privacy laws and all that...but it's a school where football is a major priority and...well...things are just different when that is the case. If you scramble the list so that it's nor alphabetical or chronological and take out the names I think that most of us could get away with it. You might not want to post it but you could keep a copy in your desk to take out when a kid or parent talks about quitting to pull up his grades. This post got me thinking, so I looked it up and their are all kinds of studies showing that grades are better as far as GPA averages go in athletes v. non athletes for all sorts of reasons. The biggest probably being fear of ineligibility as well as better attendance due to not wanting to miss practice. Never the less, athletes score higher in almost every major subject. I think I'm going to make a copy of several of these studies and distribute them to my parents next year when we kick off the season. At the very least, it takes away the whole "I'm taking my kid out to work on grades" BS we all hear every now and again.
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Post by s73 on Feb 10, 2014 9:54:59 GMT -6
My favorite is the guy who quits to concentrate on his grades. In 20+ years not once have a seen a kid's grades improve once he stops playing whatever sport he quit to concentrate on them. In fact, I actually give this exact speech at our parent meeting to kick off the season.
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Post by s73 on Feb 8, 2014 11:35:05 GMT -6
sometimes I amazed by the sheer number of coaches who apparently never quit at anything in their lives. kids quit- talk to them, teach them, give them another shot. If they quit again, it wasn't for them and sadly you couldn't reach them, you cant be all things to all kids. Nobody can. sometimes kids "quit" and take a year off, grow up, mature and realize they missed the game and their teammates. they come back. I agree w/ your point here. My big issue w/ kids quitting is not that they quit but HOW SOME of them quit. I have a HUGE issue w/ kids who quit during the season and especially w/ kids who quit w/o telling me or another coach. Whether it be in season or out of season I have a huge issue w/ that. Now if a kid comes up to me like a mature young man and says it's just not for him after finishing the season? I have no issue w/ that. I can respect and accept that w/ no ill will.
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Post by s73 on Feb 1, 2014 13:19:10 GMT -6
I didn't read all of the posts so hopefully this is not repetitive but here are some other things I hate about practice. I hate scout team All - Americans (coaches & players) I hate holding up the diagram for the scout offense & you break the huddle & align wrong. I hate watching coaches condition forever w/ no secondary football purpose (gassers v. pursuit drill for example) I'd disagree that pursuit drill has no other purpose than pure conditioning. Coach i think you misunderstand. That's what I'm saying. Gassers have no other purpose. I hate seeing gassers when you can do pursuit drill or something along those lines. We are saying the same thing.
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Post by s73 on Feb 1, 2014 13:17:29 GMT -6
I hate offensive team/inside run period - where you are running the opponents defense and they give you cards, with a particular coverage or blitz to run and they have a big play every time...yet it never seems to work like that on friday...perhaps the offense should give the other team the cards so they line up in the right front and run the right blitz or coverage for our play call OR even better is when one of the defensive kids reads the play correctly and makes the play and you get the "THEY DON'T DO THAT" response from every offensive coach. More than anything else this just pi$$es me off to an unhealthy level. This but flipped. Drives me nuts. Worked with a DC that scripted everything and magically his blitz or stunt always lit up the scout play. God forbid you went off the script it would be like the Spanish Inquisition. I would always say something about how we aren't always going to have the right call for their call, heck Techmo Bowl had 4 options and you still got it wrong sometimes. I'm all for scripting, do it myself, and sometimes I prefer to see a specific coverage at a specific time but I'm not going to tell you every blitz, coverage, twist, etc. to do on every play because I don't know. The greatest part about all of it was the LB coach would run his mouth nonstop during team about stuffing scout team plays when they had the scripted defense called and would lose it when you went off script...or better yet when you were on script and a LB screwed up, somehow it was always the guard or tackles fault for not giving him the right read. I was an assistant at a school many years ago for 1 year (you'll see why in a minute) and the HC was a good guy but notorious for not communicating well. One day I was running the scout team O and the DC gave me a script and play diagrams. Well they blew us up a coupe of times. Then the HC comes over and whispers in my ear to run a pass concept they had trouble w/ last year & the DC "forgot" to include in the play cards. We run it b/c the HC told me too & it goes for a TD. The DC goes crazy. Well, a few minutes later the coach winks at me to do it again. I run it, it goes for TD & the DC flips on me again. This went on for 15 minutes. Looking back, pretty hilarious, as a new young guy at the time, REALLY SUCKED! I hate practices when staffs are not on the same page.
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Post by s73 on Feb 1, 2014 12:56:22 GMT -6
I didn't read all of the posts so hopefully this is not repetitive but here are some other things I hate about practice.
I hate scout team All - Americans (coaches & players)
I hate holding up the diagram for the scout offense & you break the huddle & align wrong.
I hate watching coaches condition forever w/ no secondary football purpose (gassers v. pursuit drill for example)
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Post by s73 on Jan 30, 2014 7:27:06 GMT -6
I know this is not exactly practice related more like pre-practice, I HATE anything equipment related. Especially 1 minute before practice when a kid runs into the office telling me his missing his practice pants/ jersey / thigh pad, etc. Again, not really practice but special teams was already taken. our guys do updowns on the spot before they get replacement gear. It cuts down on that. Also, they do updowns if their lockers are unlocked. We will put a lock on for them and they can do updowns for that too. if you want to cut down on that nonsense, you have to make it important. So, more stuff I hate about practice? when a position coach with no business butting into another coaches area tries to "drop knowledge" and show the kids what he knows (and completely screws up and is doing nothing but confusing the kids)- or if they see a technique being taught and they question it right in front of the kids "you don't teach it like this? when I played for high school xyz, this is how we did it" Yeah, I hate THAT part of practice. We do the same thing. I just hate it. Same w/ dudes rolling out late from the trainers & I was unaware they even had any type of issue. I HATE that. We instituted a rule that anyone who see's the trainer w/o the coaches knowledge has to make up the practice "as soon as he is able" w/ post practice conditioning. But still HATE it. In fact, I hate the part of practice where I have to tell the kids about how they will be punished for doing things I hate.
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Post by s73 on Jan 30, 2014 6:34:13 GMT -6
I know this is not exactly practice related more like pre-practice, I HATE anything equipment related. Especially 1 minute before practice when a kid runs into the office telling me his missing his practice pants/ jersey / thigh pad, etc.
Again, not really practice but special teams was already taken.
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Post by s73 on Jan 18, 2014 15:56:50 GMT -6
s73 Got it. I was just trying to see how that fit in with this thread, since Strong states -no drugs, no guns- as part of his program's core values and as I pointed out, in at least one of those threads, nobody really seemed to be dismissive of smoking weed. I wouldn't even use the word casual describing the one thread I linked. Regardless, I would say I have a bigger issue with drug use than players ear rings and facial hair. Not sure why anyone would have any different answer regarding athletes. Understood. Appreciate the response. I guess the correlation in my mind is I feel some of the responses were pretty casual. Again, don't want to target any responses in particular (kind of been there done that). To me that's a HUGE issue and I didn't see as many guys as I thought jumping in w/ the same urgency as me regarding the issue (again, my perception). But then I posted the earring stance & got 2-3 responses almost instantly. Nothing bad or upsetting, it just surprised me b/c I see pot as HUGE and jewelry and seating charts as nothing. So I became curious what others thoughts were contrasting the two.
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Post by s73 on Jan 18, 2014 11:58:16 GMT -6
Coach D, as I explained before, not looking for a fight. I was referring to this thread as well as the thread of substance abuse in areas where weed is legal. So 2 threads actually. Was not super impressed w/ some of the posts and responses. I felt some responses were pretty causal regarding drug use. However, don't want to call out those responses b/c I am not looking to judge or debate this issue. Just CURIOUS, are their guys on the board that are concerned w/ ear rings and facial hair, etc. but don't think weed smoking is a big deal? If so, CURIOUS about your thought process/ justification. That's all, nothing more.
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Post by s73 on Jan 18, 2014 10:58:04 GMT -6
All responses to my post I feel make valid points. I guess I personally tend to prioritize. I see drugs and behavior as a much greater priority than appearance. With that being said and since Coach Strong addressed drugs I would like to see where people stand on the following: Several months ago (maybe even a year by now) I saw a post in which their was an insinuation that smoking weed is not a big deal. In fact, it was even insinuated that it was not a big deal even at the high school level. I posted vehemently against this & to my shock many people echoed the statements of other posters that weed just isn't a big deal or priority we should concern ourselves with. I guess I feel radically different. Wondering how people feel about this topic now. I see many posting about the importance of not wearing an ear ring and seating charts, where do we stand on our youngsters smoking weed ? Not at all looking to fight or call anybody out, just curious about this contrast in light of the thread topic. There are a lot of people in this forum. Are you sure that you're talking to the same people? No Fantom, I did not mean to insinuate that either. My mistake if it came across that way. Not looking to fight either. Just curious. Like I said, a long time ago I got several responses that were dismissive towards weed being bad but today I got several responses that ear rings and seating charts are important. I am just curious about how those people who are posting on this topic now feel about kids smoking weed. It's clear how coach Strong feels about it as well as clear about how many of you feel about jewelry and such. I am just curious if the thread from way back was an anomaly or do many of us feel that ear rings and seating charts are more important than pot smoking? Not looking to judge or fight just CURIOUS. That's all. No other underlying motive. Thanks.
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Post by s73 on Jan 18, 2014 10:38:56 GMT -6
I just don't really get the earring thing. Do I have one? No. Do I think it kind of looks stupid? Yep. But I've also been out of HS for 25 years. Things change. I don't see the "harmful intent" on wearing one. I mean isn't the kid looking stupid punishment enough? That is exactly the point though coach. Many just like you (but in positions of power such as perspective employers and such) also think it looks stupid. When I was coaching college ball I would constantly tell my position players (db's) about how they would be judged for things like tats, grills, earrings, hair etc. They would complain, and say "That's just me man, it's my personality" and I would reply "Yes, and that's just THEM. And unfortunately for YOU, their opinion of you means a lot more than your opinion of them at this point in your life" While it may be somewhat of an overkill, I think you are underestimating the academic desires (and abilities) of many if not most D1 and D1AA football and basketball players. It is often said that without football or basketball most of those guys would not be attending college. I believe that is correct, but often interpreted wrong. Many think it applies to the cost of the institution. I think it more accurately describes the dark secret that nobody ever wants to publicly admit when discussing college football and basketball. Most of those guys wouldn't choose to go to school/nor do they have the qualifications. The sitting in the front of the class thing is not only trying to lead the horse to water,it is trying to hold his head under the water and almost force him to drink. All responses to my post I feel make valid points. I guess I personally tend to prioritize. I see drugs and behavior as a much greater priority than appearance. With that being said and since Coach Strong addressed drugs I would like to see where people stand on the following: Several months ago (maybe even a year by now) I saw a post in which their was an insinuation that smoking weed is not a big deal. In fact, it was even insinuated that it was not a big deal even at the high school level. I posted vehemently against this & to my shock many people echoed the statements of other posters that weed just isn't a big deal or priority we should concern ourselves with. I guess I feel radically different. Wondering how people feel about this topic now. I see many posting about the importance of not wearing an ear ring and seating charts, where do we stand on our youngsters smoking weed ? Not at all looking to fight or call anybody out, just curious about this contrast in light of the thread topic.
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Post by s73 on Jan 18, 2014 8:33:02 GMT -6
I just don't really get the earring thing. Do I have one? No. Do I think it kind of looks stupid? Yep. But I've also been out of HS for 25 years. Things change. I don't see the "harmful intent" on wearing one. I mean isn't the kid looking stupid punishment enough?
I also don't get the sitting in the front of class thing. If a kid attends class regularly and get good grades what does it really matter where they sit?
Other than that I think it was fine. JMO.
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Post by s73 on Jan 3, 2014 11:45:09 GMT -6
I'm glad I'm not alone in seeing this. I saw a Texas coach step over an Oregon player, flex, and then scream in his face. Dude, your playing days are over. How cowardly is that? Talking stuff knowing that the kid can't reciprocate with physical play. It reminds me of girls who pick fights at bars so that their boyfriends get beat down in their place. Thanks for making me look like an idiot at work. I laughed way too hard at that bubblegum story. Not to get off the subjectbut what bars are you going to? LOL
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Post by s73 on Dec 31, 2013 9:36:16 GMT -6
Came to my attention this morning that I have a young assistant coach who is Facebook friends with several high school players and even more high school students in general. He graduated from this high school a few years ago, only about 22/2 yrs old. I always used as a rule that until they walk across the stage, we will not be social media buddies. How would you go about this with this coach? To me, we have no business being 'friends' with these kids who we are trying to coach and impact. He has already been reprimanded before for his fraternization with high school players, and I am wondering if he just doesn't get the coach-player relationship. Tell him to "de-friend" them or you will "de-coach" him. He's already been told once. You don't need that kind of risk.
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Post by s73 on Dec 9, 2013 7:37:46 GMT -6
We meet together for refreshments first and then I talk about each TEAM briefly and introduce the staff. Then we split up after that. I figure that way I can talk about all levels and reinsert our goals, philosophy etc.
Then we give out numerous awards to the varsity, then call each individual up w/o really talking about each one but introduce them at the end as a team. Conclude w/ a high light video.
Only complaint I got this year was no dinner. However, we did dinner last year & it cost us $500. Not looking to do that when we're still working on affording essentials.
Out of curiosity, how many of you serve food and what type? Dessert, dinner, ice cream social?
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Post by s73 on Dec 4, 2013 14:18:18 GMT -6
Or even worse, they sit on last years accomplishments and had nothing to do with them. That's what happened to us this past season. Our 2012 seniors were good leaders and led us to much success. It was almost as if the 2013 seniors were comatose for the whole 2012 season. They took ZERO I mean absolutely NO cues from the previous class about what being a quality senior on a varsity football team looks like. As a result, we sucked. Became very difficult as we actually had to somewhat tell the juniors to take over the team and lead during the season while the seniors were still their. But it became self preservation essentially for next season. As a result, we are already miles ahead in leadership & team camaraderie despite the fact the season just ended. That happened at my one school. We were back to back playoff runs. The freshmen my last year were undefeated in Middle school and had talent everywhere. Got to the HS, we were 9-3 their freshman year. Our staff left, so that had some bearing. BUT - those freshmen would NOT lift. You couldn't get them in there consistently. Excuses abounded from players and parents a like. For example, the QB played AAU basketball but didn't play basketball for the high school... They never put in the time in the weight room, they never followed the leadership that they had as freshmen and they won 4 games in the next 3 years and one of those was by forfeit. They were 0-10 this year, but the team who beat them by 40 had to forfeit because they played an ineligible player. Its sad. They had 3 D1 players and still couldn't figure out that talent doesn't beat hard work when the hard workers are talented too. In 2011 we won conference w/ a team that was 3-6 as sophomores. They worked like DOGS in the off season. In 2012 we were conference runners up w/ a team that was 3-6 as sophomores. Another team w/ great effort & pride. Our current sophomore team was 8-1 as freshman and did a VERY poor job of lifting last off season and this season they were 5-4. Tried to pull the old complaining about the coaches move. I VERBALLY DESTROYED THAT once I caught wind of it. Now, "SOME" of them are getting better in the weight room. The juniors are doing fantastic. In fact, 15 of them got together on their own last night after weights and ran routes outisde. Was a very proud moment for me after this past season's senior class. I will respect this team a great deal regardless of their record next season.
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Post by s73 on Dec 4, 2013 7:07:51 GMT -6
Do not... Do not!! Let kids sit back on glory from previous seasons!! Always push them to be in the gym during off seasons and working on individual skill sets! The worst thing to hear in the locker room is "remember when I did ....... Last year" Or even worse, they sit on last years accomplishments and had nothing to do with them. That's what happened to us this past season. Our 2012 seniors were good leaders and led us to much success. It was almost as if the 2013 seniors were comatose for the whole 2012 season. They took ZERO I mean absolutely NO cues from the previous class about what being a quality senior on a varsity football team looks like. As a result, we sucked. Became very difficult as we actually had to somewhat tell the juniors to take over the team and lead during the season while the seniors were still their. But it became self preservation essentially for next season. As a result, we are already miles ahead in leadership & team camaraderie despite the fact the season just ended.
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Post by s73 on Dec 3, 2013 19:40:14 GMT -6
When we start our weight room the 1st day I tell the kids that I want 3 captains to create 3 teams. I also tell them the first 3 to see me that following morning will be the captains b/c I didn't want it to be as easy as 3 kids raising their hands. I wanted them to compete to find me first the following day. I figured those were the guys who REALLY wanted to lead.
I'm proud to say 3 kids were waiting for me in the parking lot when I pulled in this morning.
They become the 3 team captains. They draft their weight training teams. How do they compete? It's very simple, I simply give them 1 point for every team member in attendance each day in the weight room. Furthermore, I also give them a list of kids missing from weights and tell them for every kid you can recruit to the weightroom he now becomes a member of your team which means extra points everyday they are in attendance. For example, all 3 teams start w/ 8 kids let's say. Now team 1 recruits 2 more kids for his team. He can earn up to 10 points a day while the others can only earn 8 unless they recruit more kids.
The winning team gets $200 bucks to spend at Buffalo Wild wings and T-shirts. The coaches go w/ the kids to further the team bonding.
Just what we do. Simple but seems to work.
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Post by s73 on Dec 2, 2013 6:57:15 GMT -6
I think complacency is dangerous & often times the staff is as guilty as the kids. This was true for me this season. On the outside I think few people could tell a difference between last season (very successful) and this season in terms of my coaching. But the fact of the matter was I did a poor job of correcting the little things. As a result, we had a very poor season and lost 3 games by a total of 11 points.
I would just check to see if you are holding the kids accountable on the "little things". Are jumping jacks loud, is the huddle tight and orderly, when you ask a kid to do something is he doing 100% the way you want it or 90%? That's what killed us this year was I did not correct the little things. Have already been in the works of correcting this myself.
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Post by s73 on Nov 28, 2013 10:54:06 GMT -6
Coach,
I have experience in a slightly better but similar situation. Here is what worked for us.
First, I would imagine many of those guys are learning multiple spots due to injury possibilities etc. so I would make an educated guess that you are cross training many of these guys.
So what we did in these circumstances is we had base drills that everybody did regardless of position. Even the QB's b/c you never know if somebody beats one of those guys out & they get moved to another spot.
Blocking - Everybody did a 6 pt. blocking progression & one on one work in the chutes. Ball security drill - Everybody does it unless their is just no way on Earth they will carry the ball. Then, it's back to line drills. Pass blocking - mirror drills, 1 on 1, 3 on 3, 5 on 5 Maybe you could rotate one group doing this while another works throwing patterns on air.
7 on 7 half line stuff. I think this can be effective towards getting a good look b/c you can maximize best skill players here and you can monitor more closely plus it becomes ultra competitive since everyone knows which way you are throwing. Tell & sell the QB if you can complete balls under these circumstances the game will be easy. If on the other hand, the QB is getting destroyed in the drill then give him an additional down or two & sell that as "evening the playing field".
Group tackling of course, turnover circuits, pursuit drill.
These are just some of the things we did, not perfect but I think it can be effective. Hope it helps & good luck.
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Post by s73 on Nov 19, 2013 6:51:05 GMT -6
Talent Admin. Support Assistant coaches S/C program
If I were to list a 5th it would be parental support b/c I don't want dad rotting the program from inside/out with his comments to jr. after practice. But that I think can be overcome w/ the first 4. Especially #1. Makes the rest a lot easier.
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Post by s73 on Nov 10, 2013 19:05:11 GMT -6
I just cant agree w/ that. I was hired to make decisions about our program and removing personnel is one of them. I will give the admin. the professional courtesy of notifying them when Ive done so & to expect a call but that is all I feel I'm required to do. Furthermore, I have removed kids from our program before & during this year & have fielded zero parent phone calls.
Let me elaborate even further for you w/ regards to this young man. As Ive already stated he has 2 code violations (missed half of frosh season & all sophomore).
Also involved in 3 other very unfortunate capers this year which would have led to final code violation & and an end to his career but since the other party involved chose not to press charges we could not hold him accountable for the code violation.
I guess when I originally asked for thoughts on how to deal w/ this stooge, I assumed I would receive the professional courtesy that I actually knew what I was talking about. I choose not to go into further detail about this young man b/c he is a minor but trust me when I say he is not good for our team.
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