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Post by natenator on Nov 9, 2014 17:36:10 GMT -6
Any math teachers on here? Ones that actually majored in math? Randomize your selection OR choose the entire population. Both will remove the selection bias issue. Use open-ended survey's and/or interview style. Do not conduct the interview yourself as it leads to significant response bias, prestige bias in particular. Have an independent person code the responses making note of the different themes and topics emerging then categorize making sure that responses are related to the topic at hand When we begin assigning "weights" to this coding you will remove the "noise" associated with response who are just people trying to grind an axe or those who are uninterested. Who knows, maybe there's something in those responses by those players as to WHY they are uninterested/lazy/unresponsive? Something simple that you haven't considered? Maybe you begin to see a consistent relationship develop among these players and their responses? When you ONLY select from people you deem "worthy" you inherently skew the results. When you ask questions in a leading manner you inherently skew the results. When you conduct the survey/interview yourself you absolutely skew the results. I'm not saying you need to make this some big analytical process but I'm a firm believer that if you are going to do things such as this you should be doing them properly to ensure you receive data that's relevant, reliable, and valid otherwise just don't even bother. I'll leave it at that
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Post by natenator on Nov 9, 2014 8:42:36 GMT -6
The same way anything is evaluated. How many of us know anything about the logistics of mass retailing, but I bet some of us have filled out an online survey from sort of retailer, or a restaurant and on and on. I have not had players fill out a survey, but I have done a very informal sort of exit interview with some of my players in the past. What I have done is pick a few of my position players that I trust, and who trust me to listen and not correct everything they say. I frame it in the way it is intended, your feedback will help me be a better coach, which in turn helps the program. It really is a self-evaluation tool for me. Some of the things I have asked: -What did we do everyday that you thought was a waste of time? -What did we do every day that you think helped YOU as a player improve? -Did the drills we do every day translate to game situations, and were you able to realize that when we were doing the drills? -When I explained or taught something, were you able to understand what I was getting at? -Was I open to the players feedback during practice and games? Come up with your own list, but in my opinion feedback like this is extremely valuable. You're not getting reliable feedback if your hand picking players, especially when you're using a subjectively biased selection criteria. Garbage in. Garbage out. Not to mention that the responses you're getting are inherently biased (positively or negatively) if you're personally surveying them.
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Post by natenator on Nov 9, 2014 8:40:17 GMT -6
Are you #$%^&& kidding me? How are kids qualified to evaluate a coach? The same way anything is evaluated. How many of us know anything about the logistics of mass retailing, but I bet some of us have filled out an online survey from sort of retailer, or a restaurant and on and on. I have not had players fill out a survey, but I have done a very informal sort of exit interview with some of my players in the past. What I have done is pick a few of my position players that I trust, and who trust me to listen and not correct everything they say. I frame it in the way it is intended, your feedback will help me be a better coach, which in turn helps the program. It really is a self-evaluation tool for me. Some of the things I have asked: -What did we do everyday that you thought was a waste of time? -What did we do every day that you think helped YOU as a player improve? -Did the drills we do every day translate to game situations, and were you able to realize that when we were doing the drills? -When I explained or taught something, were you able to understand what I was getting at? -Was I open to the players feedback during practice and games? Come up with your own list, but in my opinion feedback like this is extremely valuable. You're not getting reliable feedback if your hand picking players, especially when you're using a subjectively biased selection criteria. Garbage in. Garbage out.
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Post by natenator on Nov 9, 2014 8:36:14 GMT -6
Survey I agree with... What ways could this season have been a more positive experience? Stuff like that... spin it positively with leading questions. The feedback could prove to be valuable. You don't really care about valuable feedback if your intent is to use leading questions.
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Post by natenator on Aug 31, 2014 16:26:20 GMT -6
In my opinion you should have done that in the summer in the weight room. We do a 10 minutes of hell period that is designed just to break the kids. If they can fight through that all summer they can handle what's going to happen on Friday nights. Disagree. What you do in the weight room does not prepare you for what's happening on the field when all sh!t is going to hell and the mental kicks in and you start questioning your play, the play of your teammates, and whether your coach is calling the right plays - ALL of which happens. No amount of weights prepares you for that. They need to be placed in adverse situations on the field so that they can be mentally prepared to deal with and adapt to a fluid environment. There's a reason why pilots, ship captains, etc use simulators - they need to be tested in the environment and conditions they will face when sh!t hits the fan and they need to react without thinking. No amount of gym sessions designed to 'break' them will help when the time comes.
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Post by natenator on Aug 17, 2014 16:40:50 GMT -6
I mean I know we had some games where our base defense for the week was "83 Blood" - nowadays someone would be threatened by the name of the defense. I have a 7 man blitz package that I let our D (15/16 year olds) name. They came up with kill'em all. You wouldn't believe the comments I get from parents when they hear their little Johnny's shouting 'kill'em all' on the field during a game lol
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Post by natenator on Aug 9, 2014 19:59:19 GMT -6
Excuse the ignorance but what are Boombah shoes? I live in Canada and never heard of these but did check out their site. Product is cheap. Are they actually good quality?
Thx!
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Post by natenator on Aug 6, 2014 17:31:30 GMT -6
Coming off my first year as DC where I was also the DL position coach for most of the season.
Had a DB and LB coach. All coaches are volunteer.
In reflecting on our season I realized that my position coaches were not detail oriented, allowed loafing, and generally didn't look to coach players to achieve their very best. One even felt that stance wasn't as big of a deal as I was making it out to be (because he misconstrued the words of a college HC).
Because it was volunteer and I had my own position group to worry about most of the time there was a lot I started to let slide (even though I was rabid about it early on) and it showed in our play.
How hard do you push your position coaches to make sure they are coaching per your specifications? How do you go about enforcing it?
Thanks!
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Post by natenator on Aug 5, 2014 19:24:08 GMT -6
I'm curious to hear what some of you do to create a competitive atmosphere away from actual play on the field -there are lots of drills for that.
I coach summer ball (season done now) and am thinking of holding bi-weekly competition during indy period for things like max pushups, max pushups in X time, fastest 20, 40 yards, max situps, and longest plank.
Posting it along with the depth chart each week so that players know where they stand and that to get better they need to work harder.
I want to find ways to make everything about competition.
What do y'all do?
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Post by natenator on Aug 5, 2014 12:36:02 GMT -6
No. I refuse to believe it. found a picture of him. not in his truck, but maybe it makes my story more believable: Staying classy I see...
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Post by natenator on Jul 17, 2014 13:42:22 GMT -6
This has gotten me in trouble in the past. I tend to over explain and it blows their mind. Something I am currently working on as coach...Of Course Oline guys are typically wired like that. Haha same here. Not with OL but definitely with D players. I have so much love for the game and want to share as much of that with the kids I coach bit sometimes I think I overload them. Have really stripped it back over the years so trying to teach the 'theory' as it specifically relates to the technique I'm coaching and not bring in other stuff.
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Post by natenator on Jul 17, 2014 10:05:30 GMT -6
Curious if other coaches try to teach the WHY behind a technique or element of the game instead of just HOW to do it?
I coach summer ball in Canada and get limited practice time with my team (4 hours) which is mainly due to lack of fields in our area as we compete with soccer clubs/teams. As such, I try to teach my kids why an offense (I coach defense) is trying to do certain things. For example, why a reach block, base block, double team, and scoop block. Why to YOU on certain plays and not to others, etc. I try to teach them how a QB is taught to read a defense and what they are looking for pre-snap and immediately post-snap. In other words, I try to elevate their football IQ in hoping that it elevates their level of play ability by knowing WHY something is being done they are in a better position to defend it over just telling them the HOW and nothing else.
I've tried to do this for a few years now and I am not sure it pays dividends at the 13-16 age range.
As always, I'm looking to be a coach and not just an instructor. Maybe it is paying dividends and I am just not noticing it or maybe I am trying to do too much in too little time and should just triage to what is needed the most: the how?
Always curious to hear what more experienced guys do or would do if you only had 30-45 mins (max and if very lucky) of indy time per week.
Thanks gents!
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Post by natenator on Jul 14, 2014 17:13:54 GMT -6
Could it be a case of the kids not understanding exactly what you mean? For example, when I played in college as a freshman my coach would say things that the older guys knew and understood, but I was clueless. This made me seem uncoachable, and other things that have been discussed. But that wasn't it. I only needed a little more demonstration/explanation. Sometimes we forget that the kids don't know exactly what we mean when we say something, or at least I do I always explain the why in something before teaching the how. I look to raise their football IQ as much as possible in the hopes that it pays off. For example, with DL players, instead of just teaching them how to defend each of the 4 main blocks I teach them what the offense is trying to achieve by blocking them a certain way. Knowing WHY they are trying to do something should offer them an advantage in being able to play their position. Same with LBs. In terms of technique I use video to show them what they do vs what it should look like. Don't have lots of coaching resources to do this so it's not as often as I would like but it does occur a couple times a month. Plus there is game video that I highlight and telestrate. C'est la vie. Larrymoe's reply is probably the best course of action at this point.
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Post by natenator on Jul 14, 2014 10:33:49 GMT -6
No but a lot of players want to play selfishly and not do what they're required to do. Well, if kids just naturally played the game the right way they wouldn't need a coach, would they?. Remember this, somewhere a few years ago, some coach was probably saying the same thing while he was watching film of you. What is your solution to get kids to not play selfishly? The players that do it are the ones which know we don't really have a viable backup solution. They ARE coached proper techniques, responsibilities, etc. They are routinely shown video of their play (practice and games) and how their selfish play affects the players beside and behind them. I used to make them run hills after practice but see no improvement so stopped doing that since I was just punishing myself/coaches for having to stay late to make sure they are done. The next solution we're trying this week is role reversal. We're changing roles of players so they get a taste of what it's like for others when they put their individual play ahead of the team play.
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Post by natenator on Jul 14, 2014 10:07:05 GMT -6
Serious question. When I review video of our games I need a frigging valium or something to keep myself calm watching players CONTINUALLY screw up the same things game in and game out. It's like once a game starts, all they were coached on in practice goes out the Window and they are in their own little world. 15/16 year old kids. So frustrsting Always remember the film is YOUR signature. No player wants to do badly No but a lot of players want to play selfishly and not do what they're required to do.
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Post by natenator on Jul 14, 2014 6:10:27 GMT -6
Serious question.
When I review video of our games I need a frigging valium or something to keep myself calm watching players CONTINUALLY screw up the same things game in and game out.
It's like once a game starts, all they were coached on in practice goes out the Window and they are in their own little world.
15/16 year old kids.
So frustrsting
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Post by natenator on Jul 1, 2014 18:14:46 GMT -6
^^^And for those of us that don't have that ability with the kids we coach? how is that possible? youth club? Summer league. I wish I could get kids involved in weight room but barely able to get them committed to practicing for 4 hours/week let alone watching our game and opponent scout video
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Post by natenator on Jul 1, 2014 17:41:55 GMT -6
^^^And for those of us that don't have that ability with the kids we coach?
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Post by natenator on Jun 3, 2014 9:01:20 GMT -6
I would be suspicious of why a parent wanted to watch practice, but wouldn't bar them unless they were a distraction or problem is some way. I tell them at our Parents' Meeting "Let us coach your son." Friend of mine said that if a parent was too close to practice field he would run sweep right at him until he got the message. I coach summer ball and we have parents that watch and generally like to be close to the action. I keep telling our OC to throw the sideline out so we can work on our breaks. Suddenly parents are no longer close to the action
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Post by natenator on May 29, 2014 7:33:38 GMT -6
Football in Canada is much different than in the US, although I've been told plenty of times my mentality towards football is on par with those in the US in terms of play, expectations, and unkindness towards losing. Maybe its because of that mentality I was recruited by major division I programs when I was playing? Who knows.
That said, I've learned to handle the loss itself pretty well regardless of being affiliated with a winning team or not. That does not mean I am accepting of it or complacent about it and I do not let my players be either. Whether we win or loss, there is always a 1000 mistakes that occur in a game from simple alignment and technique issues to blown coverages because players didn't know what they were doing to something an offense did that we had not seen nor were prepared for. One can accept a loss without accepting the play that resulted in the loss so I don't dwell on the loss itself - I use what we did wrong to help my kids get better and become better than they were the game before.
However, one thing I cannot handle is getting beat. And, there is a big difference between losing and getting beat. A very big difference.
I do not tolerate or handle getting beat.
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