of all the reasons I have heard from kids as to why they aren't playing the top 3
I don't like football
My parents won't let me
I don't know
You have to sell your program, that's not begging, but it is pointing out everything that is good about being and athlete who plays for your team.
You have to sell yourself as the person who wants to teach them the game that we all love, in a manner that they will also fall in love with this game.
You have to sell the parents which means don't just meet with the kids also meet with their parents, and let them see how their sons success is what is important to you. Don't be afraid to let them know every safety protocol you and your staff have, as well as how you work every year to make it better.
And take it personal when a kid doesn't play at the freshman level, because that is a kid that will likely never play at the Varsity level. Make it your mission to get every able body in 9th grade out there. Then your 500 season is average and numbers increase for your JV as well as Varsity level.
your 1 sport athletes, pull up a list of NBA players with football ties, they would be surprised
Coach
In addition to the above:
(I took over a program that barely would get 25 to 28 kids out for football in 2005. My first team I had 28 kids on it trying to play in the largest classification. To now where I am cutting down to 45 players. We currently have over 200 players 8-12)
What was the change:
1. Embrace your youth programs and get them on the same page as you. Help them recruit.
Easier to recruit the little guy then the big guy.
-The past mentality was youth vs. School and now it is all about getting as many kids into football as possible no matter if it is school or youth.
2. Middle school. Get those coaches down there who love the game and can get the kids to love the game.
-current mentality everyone plays because you never know who is going to be the starter for you and our only goal is too turn them onto the game.
3. Organize one Friday game as YOUTH NIGHT.
-this is when you invite all of youth football into your locker rooms and on the field during warmups and let then play during the halftime of the game. Parents who do not have kids in the program who come to the game see it and this allows the youth to recruit those kids who are playing two hand touch on the sideline.
4. Have Mini-camps for all kids in the district where the varsity kids do skills stuff with kids from all over the district.
5. Punt...pass...kick...competitions.
Now Varsity:
1. Establish a brotherhood.
-once established then have players bring friends to the events.
2. Tell one sport athletes (almost always want to go to college) that college recruits do not want just one sport athletes. When a recruiter walks in and after the first question about GPA they want to know what other sports you play. If none they usually walk out.
3. Let them know about: I wish I had a dollar for every kid who ever graduated and came back to me and said "Boy I wish I would have played football when I was in school. It was one of my biggest regrets and now I cannot go back and change that. I have plenty of time in my life to:
Bmx..skateboard...do...martial arts...and work but my window to say I played the greatest game on the earth is closed." And I do not want to see that happen to them.
4. Parents do not want me to:
-then say if I call your parents and they say Yes he can you want to play then?
Yes: then call the parents
No: then that is not the reason.
5. Remind yourself...your players and these kids all together that football is a special sport that is unique to any other sport in the sense that:
YOU PRACTICE MORE THAN YOU PLAY.
It takes a special guy to come out and play football because:
1. To practice 5 days to play 1 is not like any other sport. They all play more than they practice. Only a special individual who is motivated inside can do that.
2. To come out in 100 degree heat during your summer vacation when all other could be home sleeping...watching cable TV and eating ring dings is a person who when adversity hits in life they will remember these moments and how they got through them and they will know that if they can get through all of that then they can get through anything.
He says no after that then you do not want him anyway.
3. That football helps all other sports.
A.Batters box will feel like nothing after football.
B. Rebounding...boxing out and aggression needed for basketball will be a piece of cake after football.
and the list goes on....
4. You will become a part of our brotherhood that is like no other. You will play for something more than just yourself. You will represent all of those brothers who came before you and your community.
We bring in alumni from our association to talk to our players, but also to these kids about the mentoring programs they offer and networking for jobs after college they offer and this usually gets both parent and kids.
5. Have your current players bring 2 friends with them to a off season event and if you got 30 players X 2 you now 60 individuals in a room. If you get 5 out of the group your making progress.
6. Parents:
Let them know that football is great etc.. but end that talk with this:
You know right now your kid is only being watched at school with only 1 set of eyes (Coach who does their sport), but if he plays football it will go to 6 sets of eyes (JV and varsity) watching him. Making sure he is making good decisions, getting to class on time etc... six sets is way better than 1 set.
Good luck and hope it helps
Coach Wright