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Post by fkaboneyard on Nov 2, 2021 11:52:54 GMT -6
We were up 28-0 at half one year week 9. The opposing coach asked for a running clock in the second half. Then with about 3 minutes to go, he goes no huddle and used all 3 timeouts to get a score in and lose 34-6.
These situations are just maddening. You're trying to do the right thing and they are just prigs. We were once up 28-0 early in the 1st quarter - and our offense hadn't even gotten onto the field! KOR for TD then pick 6 for a TD, KOR for TD then pick 6 for a TD. Stating the obvious, we were very good but they were absolutely wretched. We pulled our entire varsity team and put the JV team in. Even the JV team was scoring on them so we put JV benchwarmers in. Opposing team started trying to hurt the little kids, whooping it up - even the coaches were clowning our kids. Our HC told the official to tell them to cool it or we'd put our guys back in. They didn't, we did and it was a bloodbath. I hated that game.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Nov 2, 2021 8:25:25 GMT -6
Have been on both sides of terrible blowouts and neither side is a fun one to be on.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Oct 28, 2021 10:03:36 GMT -6
I was in a similar sized program that had a good JV and a very good varsity program. For the first couple years we made all the JV kids join the varsity practices for playoffs. The JV kids knew they would never sniff the field during the playoff games. Most of them would stand in the back and chitchat during team and loaf during drills indie time. I wouldn’t say they were a distraction because the varsity kids were all business and coaches basically ignored them. But allowing kids to act like that on our field when we previously had demanded focus & hustle started to set a bad precedent. So we eventually allowed the kids that wanted to split to split and told the kids that wanted to stay that we would love to have them but they had to have a great work ethic. The kids that stayed, did and were actually better from the experience.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Oct 28, 2021 9:52:45 GMT -6
What a run! I can only imagine how you've changed lives - not just directly but also how the lives you've impacted have also impacted others. Well done.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Oct 14, 2021 7:32:05 GMT -6
I think allowing the kid to speak to the team would be a mistake. Next thing you know guys left and right want to address the team. We love them, but kids this age are morons.
I would tell the boy that addressing the team wouldn't be good for anyone involved, including him and that he should talk to his former team members individually if he felt they needed to know something.
Then as a CYA, I'd email the parents, the administration and the school counselors so that there is a paper trail that you didn't just ignore the kid. He's probably seeking attention but he may have a real issue.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Sept 21, 2021 11:55:59 GMT -6
I can (sorta) understand why you would be handed a loss for being quarantined and unable to play a game but how in the world are you handed a loss for the other team being quarantined and unable to play? Seems both instances should be a no contest.
I read it as “lost the game” meaning the team did not have an opportunity to play.
A-ha, thanks. My reading comprehension ain't so good.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Sept 21, 2021 11:25:14 GMT -6
We lost our first game because we were quarantined. We played our 2nd game, but lost our 3rd game do to the other team being in quarantine. I can (sorta) understand why you would be handed a loss for being quarantined and unable to play a game but how in the world are you handed a loss for the other team being quarantined and unable to play? Seems both instances should be a no contest.
To me it's crazy the way this covid thing is playing out and though I'm probably considered a right winger by most standards I'm absolutely a believer that it is real and we need to take serious precautions. I've lost 2 friends to it in the last 45 days - both early 50's and both healthy with no underlying conditions. One of them was the father of the varsity QB so that kid has not been allowed to play (contact tracing or whatever they call it). It's strange to me that some get it with only mild symptoms and others really take it on the chin.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Sept 13, 2021 14:10:40 GMT -6
Have you ever known a winning HC that didn't have a huge ego?
When we were winning, by the time we were late in the season the indie time went way down. By then our kids knew how to block & tackle (or didn't) and we didn't want to risk injuries. Instead, we focused on expanding the playbook and trying to make kids expert at alignment and assignment.
When we were losing we continued to drill fundamentals as we did early in the season.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Sept 7, 2021 9:30:40 GMT -6
There are a hundred little things that add up to long term success, but they all boil down to attention to detail in my opinion. I read in a Glazer Clinic book (yes youngsters, back when you had to get a book for info) about a presentation someone put on about rebuilding a program. They had the players set up the practice field every day. One day it wasn't set up perfectly and the coach made everyone go back to the locker room, come back out and re-set everything. They didn't get it done and so they went thru the entire sequence again until correct. The coach asserted that if you can't even do the most mundane things correctly, you will struggle with the complex. He went on to turn that program into a state contender every year.
I was told, "Everybody does the big things correctly. Winners do the big things and the little things correctly."
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Post by fkaboneyard on Sept 7, 2021 9:04:49 GMT -6
Apparently the Bishop Sycamore coach has said that they "are not a school and that there was a misunderstanding."
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Post by fkaboneyard on Aug 31, 2021 7:50:03 GMT -6
What a dumpster fire. I can't stand watching those IMG games on ESPN, it's not really high school. If I want to watch college I'll watch good college football.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Aug 26, 2021 9:08:54 GMT -6
I get the NFHS emails all the time and I've considered doing it but then I think of some of the absolute prigs that I've seen abusing officials and I dismiss the idea.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Aug 24, 2021 7:47:42 GMT -6
Didn't like them but program had them and kids loved them so.... For us, the AC's handed them out based on practice hustle, watching hudl and game performance. I was the OL coach and I would grade each player's game performance (1-5) each week (did that anyway and reviewed with the player). If a player got a 3.6 or above he got a sticker. Always made a spectacle of giving the stickers to linemen and they loved it.
If a kid completely crapped the bed the box cutter came out and he lost one. Some of these kids, holy cow, you'd think I was taking off a limb. It was rare but it happened. Their performance always improved dramatically the following week.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Aug 19, 2021 9:15:33 GMT -6
Agree with most of the above, would also add that wearing masks is taking a huge toll. It provides some anonymity for many people and they say things that they previously wouldn't say. In addition, non-verbal communication like a smile is completely lost and people are isolating. It's a sad time.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Aug 16, 2021 14:31:15 GMT -6
In the '70's it was global cooling and we were all going to freeze to death. Maybe we'll get back there in the next decade and we can go back to playing games in the rain & the snow and then the worry will be about skinny kids getting hypothermia.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Aug 16, 2021 9:24:19 GMT -6
When I was coaching JV the center started shotgunning Fiber One brownies and eating copious amounts of Kashi cereal for the express purpose of farting on the QB's hands. He was exactly the kid that you would imagine would think something like that up. I'll admit that at first it was funny and I had a difficult time hiding my reaction but it quickly became a distraction. After awhile I told the kid he was going to lose his spot and he stopped, though he would throw a day in about every two weeks and then just go, "Coach, I can't help it, I suffer from occasional stomach upset". He was a complete moron and I loved him.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Aug 12, 2021 10:48:53 GMT -6
It's easy to take shots at a program with a dead kid when all you read is a two paragraph news article. Certainly, there are programs with dumb coaches that make dumb decisions and it's a miracle they don't lose more kids. There are also programs with conscientious coaches that happen to have a player with an unknown medical issue.
I was in a program where the HC was so worried about the effect that heat would have on kids that he made wholesale changes to practice structure when heat hit 90+ (which was nearly all the time in southern California) - moved practices to mornings, watered kids literally every 10 minutes, checked in with the kids all the time "you guys okay? do we need a rest?". It was frustrating to the staff but we understood and dealt with it. Then one practice a kid with a congenital heart defect collapsed and we lost him. It was a morning practice that had only been underway for about 40 minutes. Fortunately for me, I was not at the practice because I was in a business meeting. In spite of being surrounded by a bunch of ambulance chasers the family did not attempt to hold the coaches or school responsible. Still, the HC and several AC's quit and never coached again. If I had seen that child laying there going out of the picture I don't know that I could have stepped back on the field. Heck, I saw a kid compound fracture his leg and it still haunts me.
One thing to add - there were comments from ignorant fools that blamed the coaches for this kid's death. Said we worked them too hard, it was too hot to be practicing in the heat of the day, etc.
It seems to me that the vast majority of these incidents fall into two categories. Either the player who died had an undiagnosed heart condition or the coaches exercised poor judgement. Deaths that fall in the first category are a tragedy and can't be prevented but the deaths that occur as a result of ignorant adults are inexcuseable and need to be prosecuted fully. That shouldn't be a controversial opinion.
I don't disagree with that at all, just saying that not every news article is factual. I may be overly sensitive to this specific issue given my experience.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Aug 12, 2021 9:38:02 GMT -6
It's easy to take shots at a program with a dead kid when all you read is a two paragraph news article. Certainly, there are programs with dumb coaches that make dumb decisions and it's a miracle they don't lose more kids. There are also programs with conscientious coaches that happen to have a player with an unknown medical issue.
I was in a program where the HC was so worried about the effect that heat would have on kids that he made wholesale changes to practice structure when heat hit 90+ (which was nearly all the time in southern California) - moved practices to mornings, watered kids literally every 10 minutes, checked in with the kids all the time "you guys okay? do we need a rest?". It was frustrating to the staff but we understood and dealt with it. Then one practice a kid with a congenital heart defect collapsed and we lost him. It was a morning practice that had only been underway for about 40 minutes. Fortunately for me, I was not at the practice because I was in a business meeting. In spite of being surrounded by a bunch of ambulance chasers the family did not attempt to hold the coaches or school responsible. Still, the HC and several AC's quit and never coached again. If I had seen that child laying there going out of the picture I don't know that I could have stepped back on the field. Heck, I saw a kid compound fracture his leg and it still haunts me.
One thing to add - there were comments from ignorant fools that blamed the coaches for this kid's death. Said we worked them too hard, it was too hot to be practicing in the heat of the day, etc.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Aug 2, 2021 8:34:54 GMT -6
When picture day is on a practice day it always seems to make that practice completely useless, the kids are unfocused. I was in a program where the HC did it on a Saturday two weeks before the first game and then had a bbq after. The grandmother of one of the players made the best collard greens I ever had. There were some fun games for the kids and there was a flag game between the players and the dads & coaches (that wanted to participate). It was a good day to meet families and build community within the program.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Jun 14, 2021 11:18:09 GMT -6
Awhile back I coached at a school where the HC pretty much let his studs do/not do whatever they wanted. Regular Jimmies were given nothing, no matter how hard they worked. We had a kid enter the school as a freshman and he was a true “Rudy” – in fact, everybody called him Rudy. A sweetheart of a kid that worked his ass off, showed up early, stayed late, put bags away, got good grades – just the model kid except that he was terrible. In spite of all that, the HC would sometimes make the kid his whipping boy. It was a pretty good program (win-loss wise, dumpster fire culture wise). Kid was a benchwarmer even as an 11th grader on JV. His senior year we had graduated a ton of kids and we literally had to forfeit the first 4 games. We only had 4 linemen so we stuck him at center and he thought he had hit the lottery. He’d DM me on Hudl all summer, “thank you, Coach, I’m not going to let you down, I’m going to be the LOTY, I’m going to handle it, etc.” Fortunately the rest of the teams we were playing were also having down years so the kid was okay. But after the 3rd game the kid would tell me, “Coach, my body is beat up, I need to take a week off” and “Coach, I don’t know how much longer I can do this.”
I have no idea what that has to do with the topic at hand but here was a kid that wasn’t treated fairly who overcame but then completely wimped out lmao
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Post by fkaboneyard on Jun 10, 2021 12:17:42 GMT -6
Any post with a Big Lebowski clip is getting an automatic thumbs up.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Jun 9, 2021 13:52:31 GMT -6
I just remember being a high school kid forever ago and not starting "hell week" until August 15, first game about September 8. It gave players and coaches a shot at having a life and we always seemed to be prepared enough to field a team that wasn't trash. I actually worked for the HC in his cabinet shop building cabinets. I desperately needed the money (single mom and all that) and wanted to work 5 days a week. He told me, "Go out and have some fun. You'll burn out if you don't."
Looking back I don't know that I would have been willing to blow my entire summer having practice 4 hours a day, every day for 10-12 games. I know that the last few years that type of schedule had me questioning my willingness to continue coaching.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Jun 3, 2021 12:54:28 GMT -6
I think it's an important distinction but no one will care what the intention was.
I don't know many teenage boys who would consider eating a whole pizza to be punishment.
The article said that the kid thought that the pizza appeared to be "spoiled". That said, I'm in agreement, I know most football players would be fine with eating a day old pizza. And the linemen would pretty much without exception consider it punishment if they were not allowed to eat it.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Jun 3, 2021 11:34:10 GMT -6
Splitting hairs a little, and either way it was stupid, but was the punishment to eat an entire pizza or to eat pork? It's the difference between being a staff of idiots and a staff of idiots that violated someone's civil rights
I think it's an important distinction but no one will care what the intention was.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Jun 3, 2021 9:04:01 GMT -6
This sounds like something that a group of jackass AC's would do while the HC is away for some reason. The fact that the HC was the shot caller on this is crazy.
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Post by fkaboneyard on May 25, 2021 7:13:08 GMT -6
So - he (and by extension you) coach Football primarily because you like the sport. "Helping kids" is not a motivation for either of you, just something YOU (not the kids) may get as a "side benefit"? I/we get to deal with kids. His spin his different than mine, but we both can blame ithere mistakes on being kids. He would tell you it is far better than his “career.” I view teaching as fun and easy. Everything about my gig is a blast. The kids don’t need me. I am an example who is, as kids tends to do, exposed as fatally flawed. I don’t view my role as there parent, guiding light. I will tell them how I see it. But my first reaction is go to your parents. I just coach and teach. Here is my mark on them:“I make 60 grand to do nothing, have summers off, work 6 hrs a day. And coach football.” Kids help me as much if not more than I help them. They keep it real.
This is embarrassing.
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Post by fkaboneyard on May 24, 2021 8:53:16 GMT -6
My son went to college and it was among the most difficult things I've ever gone through. Due to covid, he was sent home 6 months later. Having him back home was one of the most difficult things I've ever gone through.
As to conditioning - if my linemen group had to do 10 110's after practice every day they would stop playing football. Some would probably quit if it was one day a week. I can't say I'd blame them if they did.
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Post by fkaboneyard on May 12, 2021 10:44:04 GMT -6
Parcells once said something to the effect of, "If Aikman falls asleep during film I'll say, 'Troy, check in.' If a rookie falls asleep I'll scream at him to GTFO."
Maybe unpopular opinion but kids should get treated fairly, not equitably. That's not the way the world works. In fact, if we're trying to teach them how the world works then treating them fairly is probably a misrepresentation.
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Post by fkaboneyard on May 4, 2021 9:02:27 GMT -6
We go Saturday mornings. 1) We have a 24 hour rule. 24 hours to celebrate a win or mourn a loss. I feel like we violate that rule when we put off the film until Monday. Plus I want all attention on us and the next team on Monday. Not the last game. 2) I want to check the kids out and see if anyone needs to see the doctor or trainer. Two extra days of rehab can mean the difference between playing or not that Friday. Otherwise you might not see them until Monday afternoon and they might not get seen until Tuesday which would be three days of difference. 3) I like getting them moving. We warmup and jog a lap. That is it. But I do think that makes Monday better. 4) Cut out one night of partying. The kids are less likely to party or party hard when they know they have to see the coaches at 9am the next day. 5) It makes Monday so much better. Trying to lift, condition, practice, have a JV game, AND watch the last game makes an already long Monday even longer.
Pretty much our reasons in the program where I was. We usually met at the school at 7:30, kids did a lite workout for 30 minutes with our S&C coach, film review from last nights game, preview of upcoming week and then the kids were out of there by 9:30. Coaches might meet for another 15-30 minutes to talk about practice plan and approach for the upcoming week.
As somebody said, getting kids there after a big win was easy, after losses it was not nearly as easy. And then the HC had to decide how he was going to handle that. There was always a few kids that routinely had some kind of excuse as to why he wasn't there. It created a problem for the HC because they were good football players.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Apr 27, 2021 9:44:32 GMT -6
If you decide to continue, I would do everything I could to make it fun (while having a purpose). If it's miserable you will soon find yourself with 4 dudes and then no dudes. If you make it fun they will tell their friends and you could have more dudes.
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