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Post by huddlehut on Apr 19, 2017 18:53:43 GMT -6
Vanden48... Man, that's going to be a tough gig. I've followed some decent coaches at a few places (but not legendary ones). I admire your attitude and wish you the best but just know that it is very, very frustrating to hear "well, Coach ___ used to do it like this" a couple dozen times a day. Virtually everything that you do becomes a comparison. When you start feeling like you want to scream, just know that you aren't the Lone Ranger! Gets real old, real fast. Good luck to you!
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Post by huddlehut on Apr 18, 2017 18:18:41 GMT -6
Power Drive Trainer
Great tool developed and sold by Doug English, former Detroit Lion and Texas Longhorn. Tried to copy the website but... Google "Doug English Power Drive Trainer"
Great tool for hands and feet! Doug usually delivers these to you personally! Can be used year-round!
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 30, 2017 11:56:51 GMT -6
Mentioned earlier about "coddling" kids. My idea there is to push and give them opportunity to pass and be successful academically but after a while I'll cut them loose. If they can't work on grades on their own even to a minimal ability, not sure they will help me enough. I don't run any study halls. I guess I lean more towards the "hard knocks" philosophy. I am old fashioned but I want kids that want to be there, not sort of want to be there. But that's why numbers are down from 30 years ago, I guess. That being said, now that I'm at a small school will I stay true to myself. Amen, brother!
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 30, 2017 6:19:25 GMT -6
I never said that academics wasn't important! I said that there are a lot of staff's that waste time in the way that they handle academics. Read the thread. This thread that we are currently on is about EFFICIENCY. There are a lot of coaches on that thread who are making "academics" too time consuming and inefficient. It ain't that hard to get kids to do schoolwork. I would not have survived for almost three decades as an AD if my athletes were not having success in the classroom. Kids in Texas grow up knowing that they HAVE to pass their classes or become ineligible. Again, in my opinion, it comes down to expectations. Remind me how you get them to do the school work. They won't do their school work? How about allow them to fail? Let them learn a real life-lesson...or continue to coddle them. Babying our kids is why we have twenty-somethings that need "safe spaces" on college campuses.
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 29, 2017 21:14:28 GMT -6
So, I'm trying to figure out that why you'd say that monitoring academic pogress isn't important. I never said that academics wasn't important! I said that there are a lot of staff's that waste time in the way that they handle academics. Read the thread. This thread that we are currently on is about EFFICIENCY. There are a lot of coaches on that thread who are making "academics" too time consuming and inefficient. It ain't that hard to get kids to do schoolwork. I would not have survived for almost three decades as an AD if my athletes were not having success in the classroom. Kids in Texas grow up knowing that they HAVE to pass their classes or become ineligible. Again, in my opinion, it comes down to expectations.
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 29, 2017 21:08:35 GMT -6
I have been asked that very thing in interviews myself. I told them what I said here. Kids will generally perform to the level of expectation. 26 years as a HC and never once had a study hall. My staff knows our faculty members and we know our kids. We stay on top of the grades as well as anyone. We do not lose kids to failing grades (ok...Maybe a freshman or two).
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 29, 2017 20:59:59 GMT -6
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 29, 2017 20:48:46 GMT -6
35 years.
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 29, 2017 17:56:49 GMT -6
Platitudes... or philosophy? Basically, if something doesn't have a direct correlation to your desired end result, don't do it. You want efficiency, cut out all of the BS that we all spend so much time doing. For example (and I stated this on another thread), look at how much energy people invest in academic study halls and grade checks and punishment for not turning in homework, etc... That is a lot of wasted time and energy (not to undermine the importance of academics, however). I;m not sure how you can say that you don't want to undermine the importance of academics when you say that efforts to improve academics are a waste of time. Have you read the thread about academics? Certainly, as a coach one should support academic efforts, but jeez. At what point does one expect the kids to put forth some effort - or should the coaching staff hold the players hands and do everything for them...? If a kid can't do his homework without a study hall, you have big problems! [br You want efficiency, don't spend hours of your team's time in a study hall cajoling kids to do what they ought to be doing themselves!
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 29, 2017 17:13:06 GMT -6
Platitudes... or philosophy?
Basically, if something doesn't have a direct correlation to your desired end result, don't do it. You want efficiency, cut out all of the BS that we all spend so much time doing. For example (and I stated this on another thread), look at how much energy people invest in academic study halls and grade checks and punishment for not turning in homework, etc... That is a lot of wasted time and energy (not to undermine the importance of academics, however).
More philosophy... Occam's Razor. Look it up. Coaches tend to make things more complex rather than less complex... Your pre-game warm-,up, for example, how long does it take? An hour, maybe? How long for you warm up for practice? 5-10 minutes? Why is there such a difference?
Coaches need to ask themselves "why" are they doing the things that they do. A lot of time and effort could be eliminated (in my opinion).
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 29, 2017 12:31:28 GMT -6
Do what you do best.
Run your stuff and stop out-coaching yourself.
More is not always better.
Stop watching so much film that you begin to second-guess everything. Again, more is not always better.
Ride the mule. You got something going, keep with it.
When you add something (a play, formation, practice segment) you must eliminate something.
Stop doing things because somebody else or some other staff does them.
One more time: Stop out-coaching yourself (and go home)!
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 28, 2017 13:53:35 GMT -6
You want to know what is taking up all of everyone's time? Read the post on "improving academics."
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 27, 2017 18:48:29 GMT -6
I may not get the years back...but, in the State of Texas...where a large majority of the communities live and die by Friday nights...you better be working and you better win or you won't have a job. The pressure is TREMENDOUS to win...just like Coach Vint said. I'm not saying Texas HS football is better. I know there is great football in almost every state. What I am saying is the commitment and the investment from the Community is incredible. We coach in better stadiums than a lot of Universities at the FCS and D2 level play in. I currently work at a school that has a stadium that seats 18k with artificial turf and we have an indoor facility. Our practice fields have turf outside. We just passed a bond to build us a new 8,000 square foot weight room. We have to win. It's a 'win at all costs' mentality. It may be wrong...but, it's the truth. It is what it is. When I left the college level...I worked in a 4a level school (3a back then - 900 students)...pop of the town was around 12,000 people. We came in at 6 am on Sunday mornings to work...we broke for church at 10 am and came back at 2 pm. We had to leave vehicles in the parking lot (instructed by the AD/HC) so people would drive by and think we were still working. If we did not...they would call the principal and the Supt. Not kidding. For you and other coaches who coach in Texas or in places where the pressure is TREMENDOUS to win (and you lose your job and all assistants with it); at least at the big time colleges, these coaches have millions to rely on as they walk out the door. I just don't understand how you do the same on what is a teacher's salary? What are your options if you were to get fired? Does this also mean you never purchase a home because you don't know when your time may be up? Or does the good ol alumni booster club do a lot of 'fundraising' on the side? (don't answer this question! ) When you get fired, you move. I ALWAYS bought a home. To rent, I felt, showed a lack of commitment. Unlike the college guys, we don't have the big money to afford many moves. Many assistants show tremendous loyalty in pulling up stakes to move with their head coach! Requires fantastic wives!
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 27, 2017 18:40:51 GMT -6
Lots of wasted time, fellas! One day you're gonna retire and realize it. I did the same thing that you all are doing... thinking that you will outwork everyone. Can't get those years back, boys! I may not get the years back...but, in the State of Texas...where a large majority of the communities live and die by Friday nights...you better be working and you better win or you won't have a job. The pressure is TREMENDOUS to win...just like Coach Vint said. I'm not saying Texas HS football is better. I know there is great football in almost every state. What I am saying is the commitment and the investment from the Community is incredible. We coach in better stadiums than a lot of Universities at the FCS and D2 level play in. I currently work at a school that has a stadium that seats 18k with artificial turf and we have an indoor facility. Our practice fields have turf outside. We just passed a bond to build us a new 8,000 square foot weight room. We have to win. It's a 'win at all costs' mentality. It may be wrong...but, it's the truth. It is what it is. When I left the college level...I worked in a 4a level school (3a back then - 900 students)...pop of the town was around 12,000 people. We came in at 6 am on Sunday mornings to work...we broke for church at 10 am and came back at 2 pm. We had to leave vehicles in the parking lot (instructed by the AD/HC) so people would drive by and think we were still working. If we did not...they would call the principal and the Supt. Not kidding. In response: Well, I had 26 years as a HC /AD in the state of Texas. Two state finals appearances and one state championship, so you don't need to lecture me about football in Texas. I put in 90 hour weeks and all that. I got to the office each day by 5:00 a.m. You ain't telling me anything I don't know... In hindsight, coaching and winning was easy when we had great players and it was a chore when we didn't have the players. It's all about the Jimmy's and the Joe's. Out of the game now and I still say that coaches waste a ton of time (I was one of the worst) just so they can brag about it on forums like this! Way too much time spent on non-productive things.
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 26, 2017 17:40:24 GMT -6
Lots of wasted time, fellas! One day you're gonna retire and realize it. I did the same thing that you all are doing... thinking that you will outwork everyone. Can't get those years back, boys!
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 22, 2017 18:04:01 GMT -6
Honestly, I am amazed at the amount of time and effort you guys put into the academic stuff! I guess that we've been lucky because all we do is check up on our players on the computer (we can access their grades) and if anyone is having difficulties we address it. No study hall, no tutoring, or punishment. Haven't lost a kid to grades in years.
We have "normal" kids. No gifted parents or any of that stuff. Heck, if a high school student needs all of that other stuff to motivate them to stay eligible, then you've got big problems!
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 19, 2017 11:37:23 GMT -6
Wait until a group of parents from an opposing school write a " letter to the editor" of your town's newspaper about your team's lack of class for not taking a knee. True story. Happened to us last year!
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Post by huddlehut on Mar 19, 2017 9:04:21 GMT -6
Wow, mwpilots....Sounds like your old head coach had some "issues" other than football that he had to deal with.
If "he" is the HC and gives up 64 points, "you" should have scored 65.
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Post by huddlehut on Feb 9, 2017 7:31:37 GMT -6
The coach who posts photos on Facebook or Twitter of his players in the weight room "doing work." Like they're the only ones who ever lift weights. The term "doing work/putting in work" is my pet peeve.
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Post by huddlehut on Feb 8, 2017 22:18:56 GMT -6
Not trying to be snarky here... Just wondering if I'm the only one that this kind of thing bothers...
Is it really legit for a coach to say that he "builds" programs if he only stays places for three years before moving on to the next school? Can a coach really instill a "culture" in three years? Certainly, some things can be changed in a program but is three years long enough for a coach to say that he rebuilt the program and changed the culture?
Grapevine HS just won the state baseball championship last spring and that area (DFW Metroplex) is filled with tremendous talent, fantastic programs and wonderful facilities... GHS ain't exactly a "culture desert." I'm just wondering if sometimes we coaches might give ourselves a bit too much credit for "building" when, in reality, we were just fortunate enough to have found that our tenure at a school coincided with a good run of athletes. Now, stay there and win for six, seven, ten years...that's a different story!
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Post by huddlehut on Feb 8, 2017 18:21:57 GMT -6
That's how you have to begin...by setting small goals, breaking a single game down into smaller pieces - a quarter, a drive, etc. The kids also have to have fun (which is tough when your not winning. Winning makes everything fun). Most of the time a guy in your situation has to work harder and smarter than a coach who is enjoying deep playoff runs. Increase participation by treating kids with respect and a positive outlook throughout the season. Do everything you can to play sub-varsity games, even if you have to play with eleven players. Your thoughts about a lunchtime video and all are good. Create and maintain a website and post pictures (this attracts visitors). Paint your logo at midfield. Outline the numbers on the field in your school colors. T-shirts, decals on cars, signs in players yards, etc are good, too! Sure, some will say "just focus on the football!" but in your situation you just cannot do that! You have to also create enthusiasm, etc... Create a football Hall of Fame at your school (even if you haven't had any success - you are only looking at former players from your school). Again, the guys that are perennially successful will get all of the acclaim, however, you will probably outwork them!
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Post by huddlehut on Feb 8, 2017 17:29:22 GMT -6
RedCoach... I am really very sorry about the many stupid responses that you got on The Old Coach site. That site used to be a place to go and discuss football, but not anymore. The site has been hijacked by knuckleheads! I love the way in which you have sought advice regarding your situation. Sounds like you are facing an uphill battle but it can be done! I once took over a program that sounds a LOT like yours. We started with only 13 kids in the entire HS program and eventually got things turned around. Hang in there! Again, sorry about the poor response you received on the other site. Not everyone from Texas is a moron! Good luck!
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Post by huddlehut on Feb 8, 2017 8:04:12 GMT -6
The Wing-T is the way to go! Run a few plays well (basic wing-t package/series) from a lot of formations. Be simple but look complex.
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