center
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Post by center on Dec 1, 2019 12:14:32 GMT -6
As a teacher and a HC I always said there wasn’t a day I walked into school that I didn’t do something for football.
But sometimes that was just spending 5 minutes to send a recruiting list to D3 coaches. Or unlocking the equipment room for the reconditioning guys to pick up the pads and helmets. Not always staying until 6:00 with players.
If your players are in other sports and/or have weights class in the winter and spring there isn’t a lot of stuff you HAVE to do.
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center
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Post by center on Nov 18, 2019 16:59:55 GMT -6
Ability to handle their group of players to start with.
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center
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Post by center on Nov 12, 2019 22:09:01 GMT -6
I think you still try and get HUDL but stick with a basic package. Don’t worry about sideline, assist, and all that stuff.
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center
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Post by center on Nov 12, 2019 20:21:24 GMT -6
Great thread. Great posts, especially blockandtackle...
These jobs are brutal, maybe impossible, but a coach can really make a difference with these kids.
If I had to emphasize one thing to start a program it would to get the kids to practice. I wouldn’t worry about off-season incentives as much as providing in season incentives to get kids there every day.
I would have lifting with practice a couple of times a week and try and build momentum for offseason lifting. Keep the same simple program year around.
Short practices. No weekend stuff at all. Any film you want watched is at practice. Don’t rely on kids watching HUDL alone.
Fundraising thought is kids at these schools love to spend what money they have on concessions. Try and work those over the course of the year to build some money.
Try and run a low budget program. Instead of spending $5000 a year on HUDL stuff just get some way to film the games.
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center
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Post by center on Sept 11, 2019 12:13:22 GMT -6
Ideally if you can have all three at the end of the half and game that would be great. Stop the clock or strategize when you want to .
I liked the idea on here a couple of weeks ago. A HOF coach at a small numbers school called a TO at the 6 minute mark at each quarter. That way they had a mid quarter break as well as end of quarter for rest and water.
But sometimes you need to call them and put out a fire or the game will get out of hand.
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center
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Post by center on Aug 25, 2019 11:41:11 GMT -6
If you are managing the game now I would include a depth chart of O/D/ST. You can make the personnel decisions right away if someone goes down, especially on ST.
You can prep the ST better with that sheet. Offense in 3rd and long start alerting the punt team. Stuff like that
Have a PAT sheet (when to go for 1 or 2). Also a “run the clock” chart. How much time you can use up when opponent has 1-2-3 timeouts.
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center
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Post by center on Aug 3, 2019 19:43:35 GMT -6
I thought the last episode has a couple of poignant moments when the Garden City and Iowa Central coaches opened up about what junior college coaching was all about.
I saw the Garden City coach in a little different light then.
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center
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Post by center on Jul 25, 2019 11:01:01 GMT -6
Another solution I heard was a coach at a poor school that I knew that had a short camp the week or so before practice started. Had it at night and basically arranged transportation to get everyone there. He might have went around with a school bus even. Don’t quote me on that. But he was crazy and didn’t let anything get in the way.
He had horrible summer attendance in the past but at this 2-3 day camp he basically did a bunch of running, cals, lined up base O and D.
Also he had all the preseason paperwork there and it was right by the school physical date. Wasn’t ideal but he got most of the paperwork in so they could practice. That is a huge deal in these situations.
And they got a little work in before start of practice. Better than nothing.
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center
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Post by center on Jul 11, 2019 13:15:23 GMT -6
Another main point I got from the article was the emphasis on playing games without any time for strength and conditioning.
Elite NBA prospects that cannot squat, lunge, or balance on one leg. Injuries waiting to happen.
One of the first articles that I have seen on the topic that highlights that part of it.
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center
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Post by center on Jul 3, 2019 15:09:31 GMT -6
I love this conversation, but have to disagree slightly. The kids haven't changed. The parents have. There were no lawnmower parents when I was growing up. I got switched as a high school senior in 1999 and my dad asked how I had earned it. But he didn't try to fight my buddy's grandma that did it because I swore in her house. That's what has changed the landscape. Kids are still kids. They are just supplied with a skewed perspective of their place in the world. That’s a badass grandma...maybe grandparents have changed?
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center
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Post by center on Jul 3, 2019 10:22:02 GMT -6
Not really. Nothing that kids decide to do anymore surprises me. We had a similar situation. Now, in 2016, we only went 6-3. But, given the preseason expectations, that 6-3 might as well have been a state championship. Most, me included, felt 1-8 or 0-9 was well within the realm of possibility. Well, due to that unexpected success, morale was high in the program and school as a whole, coaching staff received pats on the back all year, etc. In 2017, we then went 0-9, our numbers were lower than they had been the year before, so low in fact we weren't too sure we were going to be able to field a team for the last three weeks of the year and in hindsight, we probably shouldn't have. I have seen several examples of this over the last decade. Banner years followed up by lower numbers and interest than ever before. We have a local 2-time state champ program that literally dried up within five years of their last title. I think as a coach you need to expect to start over from scratch every year.
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center
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Post by center on Jun 25, 2019 11:45:05 GMT -6
We never brought kids in on Saturday when I was a HC. Our league was mixed in that way. Some did, some didn’t. Did not correlate directly with wins and losses among the teams I knew of.
But I do see some value in Saturday’s. In a perfect world it would be nice to have injuries checked, treatments, and a first look at film.
You can address hard feelings sooner, get last nights game out of the system sooner, etc.
But it does cut into a big chunk of free time for kids and coaches. And what if kids miss? What is excused/unexcused? Penalties?
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center
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Post by center on Jun 18, 2019 14:51:18 GMT -6
I got two great ideas from a coach coming off a 2-7 season in the smallest classification in our state one year.
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center
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Post by center on May 18, 2019 18:48:52 GMT -6
I learned when I was coaching in college and recruiting that is has to be THEIR idea to want to be there.
In other words, don't try to talk anybody into coming out.
Sell your program best way you know how and if some don't want it, find the ones that do. "Want to" can make up for a lot of deficiencies.
After all you can't do anything about those who don't want to play-do what's necessary to be good (or the players your opponents have either).
If you have great numbers that may just be more kids in the back of the bus who aren't playing and their parents bitching about it.
Get the kids who have that love of the game and the fight, and the blowtorch desire to be good - then develop and coach 'em so that they are.
This is a really good post.
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center
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Post by center on Mar 17, 2019 13:37:46 GMT -6
Maybe, just maybe, this culture/scheme things isn’t an all or none thing.
Maybe it actually takes a combination of both? No?
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center
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Post by center on Mar 6, 2019 14:52:51 GMT -6
Do whatever you can do to get help. You can drill kids as a large group. But for them to really improve individually you need to be able to watch them more closely as they do their drills and provide feedback.
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center
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Post by center on Dec 30, 2018 10:32:26 GMT -6
People change... This is what we evolved to the back half of this year. Monday: Offensive Emphasis/Full Pads Start practice with tackling circuit. Oklahoma Drill Do a bunch of offensive blah, blah, blah. Last 15 minutes of practice is Defensive Align & Assign plus Pursuit Drill. Tuesday: Defensive Emphasis/Helmets Start practice with tackling circuit Do a bunch of defensive blah, blah, blah Last 15 minutes run Power/Variations vs bags. Wednesday: Team Emphasis/Helmets & Shoulder Pads Start with tackling circuit Work 10 Plays of D, Work 10 Plays of O, rinse and repeat till end of practice. Last 15 minutes Power vs 7 Man Sled/Pursuit Drill. Thursday: Off I would suggest the book "Lean Startup" or just a general investigation on Lean Methodology when designing a practice schedule. How long are you practicing? Do you do anything on Thursday?
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center
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Post by center on Oct 4, 2018 9:00:33 GMT -6
We have a Legion baseball program around here that is absolutely toxic. I'm not over-exaggerating when I say it's the worst-run sports program I have ever seen. The kids get into legal problems (MIPs, cell phone chit) during the summer (we can't do anything about that), failed classes in the spring, and raised hell in school and still played for this team. There are absolutely no consequences for the kids' behavior when it comes to this baseball team and it shows in the attitude of the kids that play football. They run fall baseball, push specialization and the school sports programs are paying for it across the board. We're having success in football this year and I've heard several kids talking about ditching baseball to either participate in track or lift weights for football. I've kept my trap shut when I hear them talk but at I am at the point where I am wondering if I should interject and give the kids a little push. I could do so tactfully; "If you don't play baseball, come on out for track and throw for us!" or "If you don't play baseball or do track, you'll have more time to hit the weights for football." I've never been this way when it comes to other sports; I've always kept quiet and let the chips fall where they may. But, there has been no push by the parents or the community to clean up this baseball program and it's hurting all of our school sports. Thoughts? What is an MIP?
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center
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Post by center on Sept 26, 2018 12:45:58 GMT -6
Any grade of football player that does not have the motivation of an upcoming game is going to lose interest and numbers quickly. Only a coach can get any joy out of just practicing all year.
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center
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Post by center on Aug 15, 2018 19:35:08 GMT -6
I think thud only practices are pretty common now. I know a lot of schools that rarely go live, if at all during the season.
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center
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Post by center on Jul 15, 2018 12:54:10 GMT -6
Make the football time commitment as reasonable as possible.
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center
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Post by center on Jul 4, 2018 14:50:12 GMT -6
Need some thoughts: Long story shortened...I am taking over at a small school in eastern Kansas. We had a tornado come through the middle of town last week and it finished up by hitting out football field and high school. Stands (basically) damaged beyond repair, our locker and equipment rooms damaged beyond repair, scoreboard destroyed, and most damning, game and practice fields littered with debris. Clean up has begun and new equipment is being ordered. Here's the problem: we are going to have to go on the road for all our games this fall. My first thought was I feel terrible for the seniors who won't have any home games. However, there is nothing I can do about it, so how do I make the best of a bad situation? Is there any chance you could get at least one end of the year game at home? That things would be cleared enough by then?
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center
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Post by center on Jul 1, 2018 18:53:14 GMT -6
We need some grind. I am trying to stay relaxed. This is my first year with this team...have spent the last 4 months building relationships with the athletes. While we have almost double the #'s of last season. (committed on paper) I have not seen it translate to the weight room. Sounds like traditionally the athletes don't show up until August. No weight room culture what so ever. While I am happy that there are more "saying" they are going to play I am not happy with the no shows. It is a small school and this is my first year with them but man it kills me to wait until August to see what type of team I have. Even looking at scaling back weight room times. Possibly going to 2 days a week Instead of offering it 4. See how your first season goes. Then see what the kids immediate response is to the season. Sometimes a group will go through the first year, take a few lumps, and then are ready to hit the weight room because now they know.
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center
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Post by center on May 28, 2018 7:30:37 GMT -6
Has anyone ever watched film, seen poor effort or players doing things contrary to coaching and made an announcement that all starting spots were back up for grabs that week - and then made those changes? This could be heat of the moment or pre-determined. As a coach it kind of admits to yourself that you did a lousy job of getting your team ready in the first place.
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center
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Post by center on Apr 30, 2018 8:54:22 GMT -6
Dream Team.
Based after the Olympic BB teams and the 1989 movie of the same name.
It is usually the biggest bomb squad of football players you have even seen but the name made them feel important.
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center
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Post by center on Apr 12, 2018 11:45:26 GMT -6
Attendance
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center
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Post by center on Mar 24, 2018 11:40:45 GMT -6
Neither. The past couple years I've just grabbed the 4 oldest kids closest to me before the coin toss. I've tried just about every method- Srs, one from each class, leadership council, kids vote for them, coaches vote, etc- I really think it's one of the most overrated and useless things in sports. Agreed. What is the purpose of the "leadership council"? What are they supposed to do, actually? Quite honestly, it has always struck me as one of those window dressing type things coaches do to pay lip service to some concept of "character building". The team leaders are going to be organic, anyway. Whether or not a guy has the title of "Captain" or is on a leadership council really doesn't matter. The kids know who the alpha dogs are. I'm sure it works for a lot of programs. It's just my opinion that the energy and time spent on it isn't worth whatever benefit comes back from it. But I'm probably wrong. I'm sure there are many programs that implement it efficiently and get great results from it. I don’t think there is really anything wrong with any of the particular leadership methods:committee/captains/nothing. I do believe that leadership and tough decisions still need to be provided by the head coach and his staff. They are the hired, paid, leaders of the team. When other forms of leadership replace the coach then there are usually problems.
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center
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Post by center on Mar 5, 2018 15:54:49 GMT -6
You can order Gatorade whey protein bars and shakes either directly from Gatorade or your local sporting goods rep.
You can sell them for $1 and cover the cost of the order. They are about 350 calories a piece and would cost $2-3 or more at a convenience store.
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center
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Post by center on Jan 11, 2018 11:38:16 GMT -6
Can't you practice as long or as short as you want to as long as you organize it to get everything done. I think even a one platoon team can go 1:30 and get something done.
At a lot of places film is on Hudl, weights are in school, meetings do not exist are at lunch or study hall. Those things save time for those that have them.
Also what you do with Monday and Thursday can shorten the Tuesday-Wednesday work days. One coach I know (successful) does only special teams work on Thursday and that is the only day they do ST.
Kids are usually sick and tired of practice by mid-season if not earlier, so the sooner you can get through it the better you might be.
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center
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Post by center on Dec 29, 2017 13:03:49 GMT -6
Coach the daylights out of your position group.
Also monitor their off the field stuff. Grades and stuff.
Don’t let problems with them get to the HC.
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