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Post by shocktroop34 on Jan 1, 2014 16:26:39 GMT -6
good god, they hold their kid back to get a competitive advantage are you fricking kidding me? What is wrong with these parents. Would rather see them play flag then this crap. The unfortunate thing is that most of these "coaches" are a joke and as long as they have that type of place they will continue to think that they are "great" And then if you don't play little Johnny at linebacker or qb "where he played when we won 4 straight super bowls" then they just flips&$T and then we don't know what the he!! We are doing because Johnny was a superstar in little league football... Hate this type of stuff ! One thing I tell my incoming freshmen parents is, 'Four years from now, if people are still talking about how great your kid was in middle school, then it means he didn't accomplish very much in high school.'
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 31, 2013 15:22:15 GMT -6
This is a take off of the "Facebook Friends" thread that made me pose this question. I searched the site under this topic with no results. Subsequently, I just heard a coach from (FL) mention it in a video on efootballflix as well.
So I ask, does anyone have specific written ethical guidelines for your coaching staff? If so, would you share it?
If not, I'm interested in what you might include on such a list.
I didn't think I would have a need to create such a document until some "issues" surfaced on my last staff. Every staff is different, but at this time, I do feel compelled to put something in place.
As always, feedback/input (as opposed to opinions) are appreciated.
p.s. I did a quick google on the topic but most examples were so vague that it didn't cover some of the specific matters we see in the sport of football.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 31, 2013 14:37:57 GMT -6
This is the one the turns my stomach. I try very hard not to get fired up about too many things in life, but I hate this kind of stuff with a passion.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 30, 2013 15:44:26 GMT -6
I may be the last person in the world under 45 that doesn't have facebook or twitter. So, understandably my post will be biased. Nevertheless, for me, it would be a quick conversation. Facebook or playbook...take your choice.
And honestly, I'm not a social media hater. I think it has some really good purposes. However, as CQ referred to, in our profession, if the user operates it in a fashion that could possibly harm the program, it's simply not worth it.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 21, 2013 9:27:17 GMT -6
This is a recap from the 2008 junior national tournament. Yes, they are amateurs, but you get a sense of the disparity in talent levels. In short, during three games, the opponent only entered the red zone once. Also, three different teams amassed a grand total of three points: USA Football Junior National Team – America’s first junior national team in football. Composed of the country’s top incoming college freshmen, Team USA won the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship, televised nationally by Fox College Sports. The eight-nation, four-continent tournament was played in Canton, Ohio’s historic Fawcett Stadium and attended by more than 40,000 fans. Only once in three games did a U.S. opponent penetrate Team USA’s 20-yard line. Team USA’s defense stifled opponents for a three-game total of -67 rushing yards, outscoring the opposition 174-3. But Canada's Junior National Team has since beaten Team USA in this exact same tournament. I wasn't aware of that. When did that happen? At the same time, we're talking about Canada. Football is not a foreign concept there. No pun intended.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 21, 2013 9:23:59 GMT -6
Congratulations, Coach!
A couple of thoughts...First, it might not be as tiresome as some make it out. It's just about time management. You just have to find the best way to manage your time based on you and your family's lifestyle.
Lastly, if you have to choose football or choose family...choose family, every time.
I think a lot of coaches, whether they admit it or not, have regrets about investing more time in other people's kids than they do their own. I confess that I'm partially in that category. Fortunately, I was able to coach my two oldest boys and make up for a lot of time as they were around me so much in high school.
I'm just saying, I think you'll feel better about yourself as a dad if you can look back at the time with as few regrets as possible. It's the hardest job you'll ever love.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 21, 2013 8:53:30 GMT -6
You think the 92 dream team was dominant in basketball, if there was Olympic or World Cup football nobody would ever even put points up on us even if we didn't send professionals and sent division 1 players This is a recap from the 2008 junior national tournament. Yes, they are amateurs, but you get a sense of the disparity in talent levels. In short, during three games, the opponent only entered the red zone once. Also, three different teams amassed a grand total of three points: USA Football Junior National Team – America’s first junior national team in football. Composed of the country’s top incoming college freshmen, Team USA won the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship, televised nationally by Fox College Sports. The eight-nation, four-continent tournament was played in Canton, Ohio’s historic Fawcett Stadium and attended by more than 40,000 fans. Only once in three games did a U.S. opponent penetrate Team USA’s 20-yard line. Team USA’s defense stifled opponents for a three-game total of -67 rushing yards, outscoring the opposition 174-3.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 14, 2013 22:18:51 GMT -6
Not sure how your area is set up, but my school required me to have insurance. I went through K&K insurance. It was a while ago, but I think I paid a couple hundred dollars for a two-day million dollar policy. link
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 14, 2013 20:02:12 GMT -6
That's all well and good, but I'd rather carry my wife's purse around the mall, as she runs from store to store, trying on jeans two sizes too small, while constantly asking me if she looks fat in this, than watch football in the Olympics.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 10, 2013 20:58:28 GMT -6
Isn't the game already being "pimped out" by greedy fatcats here in America? Yes, and we already have seen how they are willing to change the game to make money. Why won't they be willing to change the game more in order to make more money.? That's the point we are trying to make. Is a route that we should not advocate traveling. All I'm trying to say is that I feel the sport, in the hands of Olympic officials, becomes diluted and compromised by those who have no true regard for the sport other than financial gain.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 10, 2013 20:37:22 GMT -6
I would just hate to see the sport that we all hold so dear, get pimped out by greedy fatcats in the International Olympic Committee. Isn't the game already being "pimped out" by greedy fatcats here in America? Yes, but they're our fatcats.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 10, 2013 20:16:41 GMT -6
People may want to stone me after these comments, but here it goes: I don't want football in the Olympics. I don't see it as an Olympic sport. It is not a global game or even as recognized in many parts of the world as we see it here in the U.S.
I'm not even that crazy about seeing football become more "global." Playing in other countries, and such. All that propaganda is not about improving the sport, it's about money. I would just hate to see the sport that we all hold so dear, get pimped out by greedy fatcats in the International Olympic Committee.
I may be alone, but I just don't see the attraction.
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Banquet
Dec 10, 2013 15:35:32 GMT -6
Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 10, 2013 15:35:32 GMT -6
I just looked at a program in Colorado. Pretty successful. But, they had their banquet the Sunday before their final regular season game. I thought it was interesting.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 9, 2013 19:50:17 GMT -6
In college we had a table for the seniors in front and parallel to where the coaches were sitting (wedding style). Seniors said a few words. It was always the most special time of the night. I haven't held a banquet in a few years, but when I do I will make sure to let the seniors have their moment.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 5, 2013 0:31:02 GMT -6
Throwing out walsh and saban's name made me think of the bar scene in Good Will Hunting... "Yeah I read that too. Were you gonna plagiarize the whole thing for us- you have any thoughts of your own on this matter? Or is that your thing, you come into a bar, you read some obscure passage and then you pretend - you pawn it off as your own- your own idea just to impress some girls?" Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using proboards For visual reference (2:28)..."my boy is wicked smaaat."
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 3, 2013 11:56:27 GMT -6
Couldn't agree more. The win-loss column is mostly an external scorecard. As long as the coaches keep a team focused internally, improvement will be constant. It may not be immediate, but as long as you are improving, your chances at winning get better and better. Schedule the cupcakes for a warmup early on or to rest your starters later in the year. Make sure you also have that slightly overmatched team to give your players something to reach for. That underdog/marquee game is a great motivational talking point for you both before and after the game, win or lose. That's fine if you have one or two underdog games. It's hard to be successful if you have seven of them. No doubt. I think different communities and programs have different needs and priorities. If I was "0-fer" I wouldn't care if we played the morning shift from Dunkin Donuts, I'm going to find a win anywhere I can find it. But the original OP sounded more like they were on the cusp of making the turn in a couple of years. In that sense, I thought a program of that nature had to eventually have a "signature win" to make true strides. But getting your head thumped week after week...no.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 2, 2013 22:47:09 GMT -6
The university I got my degrees from has one of the highest-rated business colleges in the country.
One of its classes is on How to Implement Change and Quality Improvement.
Weeks 3 and 4 in the course they give students a list of things that will NOT improve quality and discuss why they won't work.
One of the things on that list: Slogans.
FWIW. Just curious, what were some of the reasons that they listed for the ineffectiveness of slogans?
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 2, 2013 16:09:39 GMT -6
I know of a team that lost in the finals. The next year they came out with "Finish 14." That was the number of total games including the state championship. Since then, they have returned to the finals for the third straight time. The question is…did they win any of those trips to the finals? Just wanting to know if the slogan worked to help them "finish 14." They are playing for their third straight title this weekend.
link (They haven't lost since week 6 of 2011)
Who knew? All it took was a slogan!
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 1, 2013 23:57:52 GMT -6
I know of a team that lost in the finals. The next year they came out with "Finish 14." That was the number of total games including the state championship. Since then, they have returned to the finals for the third straight time.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 1, 2013 12:49:45 GMT -6
To be clear, I wasn't saying that was the original intention of the thread. Just that based on the two replies (discussing FUZZ, talking about systems) , it certainly seems poised to head into that direction. I think this is one area where the "playbook collectors" have an advantage. I have seen glossaries in most college/nfl playbooks, including the ones we created when I coached college ball. No, I understood clearly what you meant. You helped me pump my breaks because I think I was going to lead the thread in exactly the direction you alluded to. haha. Thanks for providing the clarity in your statement though.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 1, 2013 11:45:24 GMT -6
It is probably been out there for years, but I just started to notice the phrase "set the edge" for defensive ends. When an OT or TE is trying to reach them, they have to "set the edge" and not give up outside leverage. I know it's not necessarily a word, per say, but your post has me thinking, too... I also assume that your vocabulary will be directly based on your respective systems as well, right? I think there are a few different things starting to be discussed here. ONE..is a generalized (even though there is no universal language in football) set of football vocabulary (things like gaps, splits, spill, EMOL) one is general terms that mean somewhat different things for different people (force, contain etc) and one is specific terms you use (FUZZ, ) Understood...good point.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Dec 1, 2013 11:17:09 GMT -6
It is probably been out there for years, but I just started to notice the phrase "set the edge" for defensive ends. When an OT or TE is trying to reach them, they have to "set the edge" and not give up outside leverage. I know it's not necessarily a word, per say, but your post has me thinking, too...
I also assume that your vocabulary will be directly based on your respective systems as well, right?
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Post by shocktroop34 on Nov 30, 2013 21:33:43 GMT -6
If you're coaching your team the right way, showing them a video clip to get their emotions going will not only be useless, but a waste of time you could be using on things that COULD actually help you win. emotional tactics do nothing, except for maybe getting them nervous and shaky. Before the game, get them calm and collected, get them thinking about how hard theyve been working and how prepared they are, and thinking about their responsibilities/how much fun they are about to have. That is a matter of personal opinion. His original post asked for help, not an opinion. With all due respect, this site is much more useful and efficient when people respond according to the requests of the OP.
To add: In the past, I've used a scene from the movie Gladiator before. The scene where they all had to fight together, and Maximus told them "stay together!" The odds were against them, but they worked together and won a battle that was not intended for them to win.
Good Luck Coach.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Nov 27, 2013 17:22:51 GMT -6
shocktroop34, when you met with your principal on Monday mornings, what sort of topics were discussed? Was it a "state of the program" discussion or just an open, informal conversation? It really has me thinking because I too am not as open to communication as I should be. I am not as open and brutally honest with my admin as I need to be as you stated you were not. The same goes with my coaches because I am a pleaser. Weekly meetings could open the dialog that's needed and make us comfortable enough around each other to be able to talk about anything. Great post! No problem. First, let me explain a little about her. She was a HUGE supporter, but also understood aspects of the game. Now, she didn't know an A-gap, from an A-hole, but she knew what she saw. Meaning, she could tell if we were or weren't executing, too many turn overs, etc.
When I was first hired, she would call me down to her office during the last period on Monday. After a couple of months, I just knew to show up. She always had the same demeanor, win or lose. Always calm and civil. If she was frustrated, she never let it show. The climate was relatively informal, but there were no wasted words. She liked to get straight to the point. We weren't drinking coffee. It was "business casual," if you will.
She would always start the conversation by asking me my thoughts. I would then in turn ask her what she thought. Almost every time she spoke I would marvel at how keen of an eye she had. The conversation would then turn to players, injuries, behavior, school issues, etc. She would inquire about my coaches (were we getting along, who was helping, who was hurting, etc.).
Parents would come up from time to time (I had some rowdy ones). She would want to know about my relationship with the community. These conversations would vary from week to week. She never meddled, but she would state things in a way to let me know she was aware. If I needed to fire someone, she never questioned why. She would want to know my reasoning. As long as it was sound, she approved.
If I lost, she did not want to hear excuses, and would call me out on it if I tried. If/when I messed up, she would have my back, but she didn't want me to make the same mistake twice.
After a while, because of the communication that we had built, she would support me when the wolves came-a-hunting. I was 1-4 in my first five games. She told me that the parents were hoping the ticket I bought was round trip. It's funny now, but at the time it hurt to hear that. It was her way of saying, 'don't listen to them, you're still my guy.' One week we blew out a cross town team 50-0. They were just bad. We weren't very good at the time either, but we scored in all three phases of the game and were subbing by the 2nd quarter. Their principal called to complain. In no uncertain terms, she told him to stop crying and suck it up. The woman was no joke.
Over time, she started to give more motherly advice. We'd talk family stuff, holidays, raising children, etc. (Spos21) I hear what you're saying, but it didn't feel like micromanaging. Her tone was caring, not pressuring. I think she could tell that I pressured myself more than anyone else could, so she laid off that stuff. And, I don't think she met as often with the other sports as she did with football. I just looked at it like a department meeting or something like that. The football department.
Good Lord. I didn't realize how much I miss her guidance until typing this all out. These threads are the cheapest form of therapy you could ask for. So, that was how things basically went. Let me know what you think.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Nov 27, 2013 12:47:22 GMT -6
I honestly don't know where to start. You have all helped me immensely in just a few short posts. I can't lie to you, my palms were a little sweaty when I was typing this thread. It is always difficult as a man to show vulnerability in front of people that don't know you personally. On that alone, I thank you guys for having the ability to see me "exactly where I'm at" so to speak.
As kmiller stated, I think a part of my challenge is to create an atmosphere that will foster openness. As Dude stated, using moments to just talk and get their feedback, is a way to gain their support. Note cards (in a more formal setting) are a great idea. And carookie suggested a great idea that I think I will take with me going into any job that I ever have again. When it comes to a direct superior, a regular meeting place/time is essential. In fact, I won't take a job unless I am assured that we can establish a regular meeting schedule.
The is one thing that I feel a good head coach does, is that he has the ability to make people feel good about themselves. Kids, parents, boosters, teachers, admin, reporters, etc, etc, etc. However, those are a lot of areas to manage. If you are not acutely aware of the need to build people up, then things could go south quickly. It did for me. As you said carookie, this (style/philosophy) may not be for everyone, but I know for certain (given my personality and coaching style) that it is for me.
One revelation that has hit me (after reading all of your posts five times-haha), that if I keep the needs of the kids first and foremost, I shouldn't be afraid to say what's on my mind. As long and I'm speaking tactfully, yet respectfully, I've done my due diligence. Hopefully with practice and consistency, I can become better at this over time.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Nov 26, 2013 18:37:23 GMT -6
Do you feel that you struggle to communicate effectively when expressing yourself to others, or that you don't open up the lines of communication as often as you should? Great question, and honestly, it's a little bit of both. If something isn't right, I have a hard time telling a superior what I think. I was in the military so I really believe in following authority. It is a flaw of mine as I think me not speaking up has hurt my program/players at times. I struggle with finding the line between respect and insubordination. A lot of times, I just can't find a way to start a conversation if I know it is a difficult matter. I will let time go by hoping it will just die down and fizzle out. When that happens, I think it erodes the relationship a little each time.
And then it snow balls. When I think there might be tension (and it could be minor), I tend to clam up. Then I don't communicate as often as I should, which ultimately creates more awkwardness, etc. A lot of times, I think I just want things to be perfect and when they aren't (in my mind) I get quiet. Sometimes I think I make problems bigger than they are because I can be an "A type" personality. But when I get quiet, I just seem dig a deeper hole.
I'm not a rookie as I've coached for many years. But I promised myself that I would do a lot of self-reflection this year. This is one of the things I'm trying to address. I'm a big boy, so even if it's not pretty, I appreciate the feedback.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Nov 26, 2013 16:55:54 GMT -6
I'm not a poor communicator, but I'm not a great one either. This is one area that I could greatly improve in. I've had decent relationships with my AD's, but I have always looked for ways to make them stronger. Same with admin.
One of my best years was when I had a principal that expected me to meet with her every Monday morning. The communication was great. Since she left, I have never been able to replicate that open atmosphere with anyone else.
I'm looking for ideas from those who have seen or consider themselves to be effective communicators. Also, how to be effective when your superiors are not great communicators themselves. Techniques, philosophies, or concepts to better communicate with people would be appreciated.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Nov 26, 2013 16:23:53 GMT -6
Schedule any game in which you feel that you can be competitive. Only you know what your kids can/can't handle. Put them in a position to be competitive and then let the chips fall where they may. Kids know when you play a quality opponent and when you don't. The satisfaction over a soft schedule will be short lived. In the same sense, the pain will linger if they are getting throttled all year long. If you search for a competitive schedule (even if you are slightly overmatched), it will be one of those underdog wins that will be the defining moment for your turnaround. to me, it's not about the kids that are in the program, it's about the kids who are not in the program. We won a thriller of a game 14-13, early in the season...and we had two kids come out immediately after, one of the quit soccer to play (bless is heart) I strongly agree with build a program by softening up the nc schedule. An established program...exact opposite. Need competitive games, that don't matter to get kids prepared for conf play. "Iron sharpens iron, just as one man sharpens another." It's just my belief that you get better with relative competition.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Nov 24, 2013 10:54:35 GMT -6
I understand exactly what you are dealing with. I was at a similar type of environment at my first stop. Here's another couple of ideas that are of little effort on your part that can bring in a few bucks.
Take a rejected reconditioned helmet, buff it out, put some new stickers on it, have the kids sign it...boom. Parents love that. Do the same with a jersey, kids sign it, do a silent auction. With your population, if you did two car washes and brought in $500 a piece, that's a good haul. Timing is everything with car washes.
A phone-a-thon. Create a www.gofundme.com account. Bring the entire program (including parents) into the cafeteria. Buy some pizza and soda. Tell each kid that they are going to call five relatives or friends. Tell them have a prescribed list (so you don't cross call people). They all make calls to people and ask for donations. They read from a short script on what to say. Eventually you will see people talking to folks they haven't talked to in years. It becomes a great time and you start to bring the community together. With again, very little effort on your part. The idea is to reach outside of the already small community.
If the phone idea is too much, do a letter drive. Create a form letter to be mailed out. Explain to people what the purpose is and that "little johnny" is trying to have a great upcoming season with their support, type of thing. Have each player bring in 5-10 addresses of relatives or friends. They are taxed enough. Hit up some new money. (This was my biggest fundraiser at my last school, but another school messed it up for our area and it got shut down. On the letter they "trashed" the school board by putting in the letter about what we didn't have, the condition of the equipment, etc. It made them look very bad-though I don't think it was their intention. However, we all know how sensitive board members can be.)
Now in regard to the concessions, I think myself and other coaches are kinda scratching our heads a little on that one. I understand the HC's mindset about asking parents to miss games, but unless you only have one team the solution is relatively an easy fix. Ask varsity parents to work the JV games and the JV parents to work the varsity games. At a smaller school you only need about 4 people to work each week. That's like two, maybe three, different families. With full parent participation, they would only have to work 1-2 games out of the 4-5 homes games that you would have.
Sorry this was so long, but I feel your pain, brother.
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Post by shocktroop34 on Nov 23, 2013 11:08:33 GMT -6
I'm not sure exactly where you are located, but years ago I knew of a team that cleaned up the bleachers after a Nascar race. It was a quick $1,000. Might be more now.
I find it interesting that the lift-a-thon made so little. You might want to consider setting it up differently. I bought cheap t-shirts and anyone who turned in $75 dollars of pledges or money got a shirt. Kids will do anything for a shirt. With about 30-35 kids I cleared over 3k.
One thing that went big for me was doing a lift-a-thon vs. another school in the area. We had a trophy for it, too. It really enhanced the competitive spirit in the off season. Most total $ + Most total weight lifted by each team took the prize. Parents were running out of the stands with donations to help us win. Music, MC, 50/50 raffle, silent auction for a signed jersey all went on during the competition. Very minimal effort and little overhead. Both (small) schools cleared over 5k.
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