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Post by coachjm on Jul 20, 2019 8:19:37 GMT -6
Wouldn't that apply if you only increase vertical space as in the kick off example you mentioned. Lots of vertical space as players run down the field but they are still bound by 53 1/2 yards. Picture your open field tackling drills. I don't think those are high impact collisions, but ratherY a lot grab on and hope for the best type of tackles right? Any space theoretically would add additional velocity, additionally with more horizontal space you would have to play with more vertical space to ensure angles to cut off players....
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Post by coachjm on Jul 20, 2019 7:37:24 GMT -6
The other thing that is off here, especially if we want to use it as a measure for determining overall sport popularity is that soccer, by and large, does not care about high school too much. Far more important to soccer is the local club, and more often than not its the club coaches who college coaches, especially for girls, are more interested in talking too. I don't think that high school participation is a good measure of where a given sport is going in the country. Far more important is overall participation nationwide, which means that you have to factor in clubs in every sport, including things like AAU basketball, baseball, etc. If that system is used, football will be way down, which is problematic. Some coaches may say, well, you have to be "special" to play football. That's a load, and we all know it. You have to be special to excel in any sport. My daughter's spring season for her club ended 6 weeks ago and this week she just started her first practices for the fall season. Then there is the - well, special here means that you are tough, tougher because football, well, is football. The effectiveness of that trope is waining. Some people would say that tackling and hitting on another is not necessarily tough but dumb, and they may have a point. My daughter's team practiced for 2 hours last night in 94 degree heat and they don't stop - constant running - hmm....that sounds pretty tough and exceptional to me... So, what is football to do? How is football going to fix in the medium term its declining numbers. Some people who work in insurance believe the game might not even be insurable in the future based on where you are. That does not mean that the game would not be played, but it would be even more than it is today a spectator sport that most people watch but don't play, sort of like Rome and gladiators in the coliseum. So, how does football jack up participation, without resorting to the same tropes (they're not working anymore either, especially with more educated kids and parents)? I think one thing we can do is look north - to Canada. Their field is a no brainer - better disperser of force across the field. The added space on the LOS, that too is smart.... What else? I have always felt adding more space whether it be on the LOS or on field creates more severe collisions and greater risk. This is the reason there is always ongoing discussion about eliminating the kick-off.... Ultimately, eliminating the 3 point stance and penalizing offensive/defensive players from all head to head contact I think would have the largest safety impact however I'm not sure that would be a very watchable game....
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Post by coachjm on Jul 16, 2019 15:18:15 GMT -6
We had camp when I was a player in the 90's then when I got my first HC position my teams did this. I stopped doing it in the 2010 season. The main reason that we stopped was due directly to the concerns I had with boys making potential bad choices. Fortunately we didn't have any issues but I remember discussing with our staff in 2010 about the things our boys were exposed to due to the internet and television that they hadn't been 20 years prior and the effect that this had on them. A few years later a friend/coach of mine had some issues at a camp and it had a huge impact on his successful program and career. Ultimately, as a Coach we have a tremendous responsibility of the welfare of our players, I will continue to chose not to take this responsibility on for 24 hours a day for a extended period of time and instead partner with their parents in supporting their child to choose to make the correct decisions.
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Post by coachjm on Jun 15, 2019 7:24:18 GMT -6
mrjvi.... I know you know this but....
Football is a physical, violent game, that is very rigorous.... Basketball is a high skill game that requires great cardiovascular stamina. There will always be several good athletes at each school that the physical nature or rigor caused by the demand caused from short explosive maximal exertion successive repetition causes that football doesn't appeal too. It makes total sense to me that these type of athletes are more interested in being WR which more closely mimics the energy system they train for or are innately more comfortable utilizing. Ultimately, as a double wing coach our process to try to increase their participation is by emphasizing those aspects of the game with their position until practice starts and even at that point of the season we likely spend much more time on ball skills, route running, and other finesse aspects of our offense then we probably should. Of course there is always one or 2 that still aren't interested in participating...
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Post by coachjm on Jun 13, 2019 4:53:13 GMT -6
For you guys that do a percentage of off season attendance (as opposed to strictly summer), how do you handle your multi sport athletes? Do they get credit for playing a winter or spring sport as it pertains to attendance, or are they still expected to be in the weight room, other sports schedule permitting? We do not count it for them or against them if they are not in attendance but if they come we will count it for them. IE Basketball player doesn't lift all winter he would be 0/0 going into the spring. If another one comes 6 times he would be 6/6... For our schedule there are too many conflicts for them to make it all the time and we want them playing other sports so we don't want that to hurt their percentage only enhance it.
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Post by coachjm on Jun 12, 2019 4:48:35 GMT -6
Our first season at our current school (250 students) we had 17 on Varsity and 17 on JV and both teams had nice seasons we were down to about 14 on Varsity by the playoffs due to injuries but at that point some of the younger boys could contribute. Since that time I have had that mental threshold of needing 34 boys to be able to functionally field two teams although I'm sure it could be as low as 30 and still make it work. With that said it is ideal to be closer to 24 per team. In larger schools situations it has always been the agenda to have 20 Seniors and over 40 in the program as we were big believers in getting the majority of the boys on one side of the ball. In my two situations 1. we were likely never going to get to that number due to some factors in the Community and if we had it would only be for arbitrary years, the other situation we got to it and could see the impact it was going to have on our program.
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Post by coachjm on Jun 12, 2019 4:43:07 GMT -6
If you come 75% of the time you get your name on the back of your Jersey, if you come 90% of the time you have the opportunity to be voted as a Captain by your peers.... We start this percentage check right after the season for all other then the incoming freshman they start theirs at start of summer going into their freshman year. We give plenty of opportunities to "earn" back their percentages if they fall short as it is our goal for our kids to work hard and prepare.
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Post by coachjm on Jun 4, 2019 5:07:00 GMT -6
Although we have good participation rates at all levels right now we are making the decision this year along with a couple other communities in our league to move our 3-6th grade tackles leagues over to flag starting tackling football at 7th grade. Our goal is "for kids to have fun playing the game" and to grow the game to families who may not be comfortable with their young child to play but feel more comfortable as the child gets older. Ultimately, we have no idea how it will roll out as our youth tackle program but I like where we are heading right now...
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Post by coachjm on May 18, 2019 20:08:47 GMT -6
Was talking to another coach about this and he had some interesting points so I figured I'd pitch the same discussion here. When recruiting the halls and getting your numbers set for the season with how many kids are going to come out, do you worry more about the quality of the kids you have or the number of kids you're going to have? Obviously we all want lots of players that are all quality guys, but is it better to have great numbers in your program or have more quality individuals? Ultimately, we believe that Football is a great sport for young people and that the players can grow through their experience in playing Football more so then many other activities... Therefor, we want to get everyone who has interested involved and we want to invest our time as coaches in maximizing each boy who plays to be the best they can be if we don't invest in every boy really they can't get out of the experience what they need to. With that stated we believe that boys are pack animals, and if the herd is choosing to play football then your numbers will be good and if they are choosing other things the numbers will not be good. So we want to facilitate an environment in which we are building the herd from the end of the season until the start of the summer, we want our culture to be one of optimism, hope, and even unrealistic goals for the next season. Once we get to the season we want a culture of high expectations which may thin the herd some but will yield a united group committed to our cause. There are several things we do in effort to grow our numbers however to answer your question it is both! You want to grow your numbers in certain periods of the year and you want to have high expectations that focuses on the growth of all of your players which has a direct correlation of the quality that you have in your program.
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Post by coachjm on Mar 7, 2019 6:14:27 GMT -6
Taken me 20 years to figure out a system for me on this one... I like many have had notebooks all over my house with the best artwork I know how to do.....
This year when I go to a clinic or meet with other coaches I typically type notes into a word doc or email to myself I send it and then review a couple days later. In addition, I have a tab on my "notes" feature on my phone any note that I review and believe is something that we should consider to implement I place it on my phones "note" feature. That page of notes then I take to our next staff meeting for discussion.
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Post by coachjm on Feb 23, 2019 6:53:06 GMT -6
I am a big fan of D3 Football....
My Father was a D3 Athletic Director, Football, and Baseball Coach the majority of his career (and during my entire youth). I played at a D2 school prior to transferring back to the D3 School he worked at, and I Interned at a top 10 power 5 school and turned down a GA opportunity to be an Offensive line coach at a D3 School... Here are my thoughts..
First all D3's are not the same in fact there is great variance from school to school. University of Chicago or even Kalamazoo college are not hunting to grow enrollment in fact highly selective schools like that often times have a small number of spots reserved for football players as often times the football players are selecting their school after they have filled their enrollment slots. There are D3's that are struggling to stay open and rely on their sports recruitment to serve as their admissions department to stay afloat. Many D3 schools have specific qouta's that they need to bring in by sport. The point being is Mount Union, Rose Holeman, Wabash, and all the Wisconsin public D3's are drastically different in how they approach recruiting and how football serves in the overall mission of the University.
Secondly, private school financial aid packages vary greatly, the "sticker price" of the college as little resemblance of what every kid is playing at a institution. A couple years ago we had a young man pay $3,500 a year to attend a $40K a year school with no loans, we have had other kids who are paying right around the same cost they would at one of the public schools after their financial aid packages came back (this includes loans) ultimately what people pay out of pocket and with loans is more directly correlated to the endowment of the University then the actual cost.
Thirdly, although D3s have a foundational belief (that I agree with) to not give scholarships athletics often does have some impact on the financial aid packages. To compete many schools have "leadership" scholarships or other items that the vast majority of recruited athletes get that traditional students may or may not. As a HS coach I always ask the University what is the average percentage of aid kids receive for the institution along with the overall cost. One school that was in this year stated their average student received 46% aide while the average football player received over 90% aid. No scholarships but nice financial packages for boys who chose to play footbal..
Finally,the benefits our young people have playing D3 football is often rooted in what the article states many students play thinking they want to be "big time" and play college football, they enter a new world where they learn new things about other opportunities in life and eventually earn a degree that propels them in life. In addition to that they gain an entire network of hard working men most of which will be successful in life that they will call teammates forever. This network is a huge benefit for anyone who ever played four years of college football....
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Post by coachjm on Jan 29, 2019 6:47:21 GMT -6
Ways to connect....
We welcome all MS staff and youth director to clinic and all meetings we have. We run youth and MS camp, the MS camp is in conjunction with the MS coaches. We welcome our MS kids in our weight room program doing a readiness program. Our MS is under our jurisdiction (I hire and evaluate these coaches) so they run all of our schemes, I don't believe this is necessary. We work in a world of collaboration and invite the guys to post game and offseason get togethers they are part of our staff.
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Post by coachjm on Jan 4, 2019 19:45:40 GMT -6
Our staff comes in at 6 p.m. on Sunday nights we meet with offensive coaches from 6-7, talk special teams at 7 when our defensive coaches arrive then talk scout team responsibilities on both sides then the O coaches leave and we talk defense. We do all breakdowns prior so our discussion typically covers adjustments and items we need to discuss/debate as part of the game plan.
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Post by coachjm on Jan 2, 2019 8:24:07 GMT -6
We don't do two-a-days anymore either, we stopped in 2009. We have one 3 hour practice including the warm-up, conditioning, and cool down activities. We typically do a 1 hour film session prior as well.
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Post by coachjm on Dec 15, 2018 7:35:15 GMT -6
We have had this in place for the last 7 years....
Youth level, we requested the youth program, to install the same blocking and tackling philosophies and a few other basic philosophies specifically drills that tie to these two things as well as general cultural things (not spending the entire practice running laps, screaming/swearing at kids ect.) all of this was welcomed and encouraged without much hesitation by the youth program, when we did our clinics with regards to blocking and tackling the director asked to run our schemes as well. I don't think this is necessary and really it matters very little if our youth programs run our schemes or not but I do see benefit if we are running the same system long enough in which some former players become coaches which we are a couple years from now.
MS/HS The expectation from day one is all are instructing the same material at all levels with the same methodology. If a Coach isn't willing to do this they are not retained on the staff. MS coaches attend all of our professional development and we do coach with our MS coaches at camps to model what we are looking for.
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Post by coachjm on Nov 4, 2018 18:31:15 GMT -6
We split staff, with two levels of Football.... Junior Varsity is on defense while varsity is on offense. We have one coach from each side run the scout squads for the opposing side. As the HC I stay with the varsity all the time however, I only roam at this point on defense. We feel it is ideal as each coach has consistent language and techniques at their position group for four years. As long as you have enough staff that is competent I believe this is the best model to use. We tried to split this year to 3 levels and include the MS kids the logistics didn't work out though and we went away from that fairly quickly. Coach can you post a typical practice schedule for the week? Monday: Varsity watches film, JV starts on offense Do Special Teams together, followed by 10 minutes of tackling fundamentals together JV goes offense, Varsity goes defense Tuesday Varsity goes and does offense with two group periods and team, JV lifts Do Special Teams together, followed by 10 minutes of tackling fundamentals and Power hour together Varsity runs "long defensive set", JV does "long offensive set" JV does brief defense, Varsity lifts (if not in lifting class) Wednesday Special Teams together, tackling fundamentals together Varsity does "long offensive set", JV does long defensive set JV does short offensive set, Varsity does short defensive set. Thursday JV plays, Varsity does hour "run through" practice Long set offense is-3 perids of indy/fundamental periods, 1 period of double teams, 1 period of group pass/trap, 1 period of prim run, Team Long of defense is 3 of indy/fundamentals, 1 inside run/route rec, 2 of prim run, 2 of 7 on 7, 2 of team. Short periods is less periods of same drills. Certain weeks we will emphasize specific teams ie we may do two of 7 on 7 and no inside run vs. a spread team.
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Post by coachjm on Oct 28, 2018 15:00:53 GMT -6
We split staff, with two levels of Football.... Junior Varsity is on defense while varsity is on offense. We have one coach from each side run the scout squads for the opposing side. As the HC I stay with the varsity all the time however, I only roam at this point on defense. We feel it is ideal as each coach has consistent language and techniques at their position group for four years. As long as you have enough staff that is competent I believe this is the best model to use.
We tried to split this year to 3 levels and include the MS kids the logistics didn't work out though and we went away from that fairly quickly.
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Post by coachjm on Jul 7, 2018 14:32:06 GMT -6
I'm not the header so It's not my conversation to have with the school or AD. I just know life was better this year without her. Baseball and basketball all say the same thing too.
I'm sure there are incompetent trainers just like there are bad coaches.
Would still rather have one to CYA and relieve coaches from having to assume those duties.
There absolutely is and I have had both. However, I agree with blb the vast majority are a major asset to the program... They are medical experts that are hired from a local hospital or medical institution that provides first response services to student athletes. With experience they know the difference between someone "getting out of practice" and who has an injury. However, with that stated those who are "getting out of practice" likely not are helping the team much in the end.. I have worked with 8 certified athletic trainers and all have been tremendous assets.... I have worked with some student trainers who were working towards their certifications that weren't great but more were good then not in that program even and the vast majority of issues that arrised were more realated to immaturity issues then their understanding of student injuries..
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Post by coachjm on Jul 4, 2018 7:20:20 GMT -6
Ultimately, it comes down to how badly I need/want the job. If your out of work and need to find employment I'm not sure there are any deal breakers... If you are highly sought after you can set a list of specific criteria and ensure you get all of it to take the position. In the end your job is to make the most of the situation you inherit.
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Post by coachjm on Jul 4, 2018 7:15:14 GMT -6
We had our field condemned in the middle of the 2008 season (at the school I was at during that time) and had to finish our second half of the season on the road. This was a difficult situation and created a unexpected challenge for our "home" games we searched local colleges for opportunities to play, we were fortunate to be able to play one of our games in a Division 1 stadium which softened the challenge some as it was a memorable experience. Likely due to your unfortunate circumstances you may be able to get some facilities for no or low rent.
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Post by coachjm on Jun 28, 2018 5:45:56 GMT -6
We talk to our kids and parents at our parent meeting each year about how our summer program will be as minimum as we can make it to ensure that our kids will still be healthy when we start practice in the fall. All of it is TRULY optional as it is my belief that the players have to value the importance of it not our coaches. Our Seniors each year lead it and set the expectations for their peers. Over the last 7 years we typically have close to 100% attendance of the players in town (kids leave for family vacation/mission trips ect of course) we work with the other sport coaches to ensure nothing conflicts and try to have workouts compliment each other so the lift follows a hoop session for example so kids can come to the school one time get their workout in and leave.
Ultimately, I used to be a grinder during the summer and kids would come and workout because it was my expectations for them and we cared about one another, however, at this point I'm not grinding it is their expectation for each other which puts a lot less pressure on them. Also when it comes to the season we have a lot less burnout and I know that has made us much better at the end of the year as we continue to improve for a longer period of time.
Finally, had a new coach join our staff this year, it is obvious he is a very good coach and knows the game. This change I can see seems a bit crazy to him with our summer culture and atmosphere it has been interesting for me to see as he essentially has the perspective I would have had.
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Post by coachjm on May 19, 2018 7:00:31 GMT -6
Build the Herd, find all the kids who have interest get to know them first and what makes them tick.
Slowly build the weight room, get fundamentals of lifting taught and the importance of the correct weight and rep routine.
Hire a staff of good loyal men who have the ability to teach, you don't need a ton of guys just good people.
Teach your staff simple and sound schemes in all three phases you will be implementing focusing on fundamentals and common language that will be used.
Keep kids playing at the levels they physically should be at even if that means taking some lumps at the varsity level, getting beat up isn't good for anyone.
Be patient!
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Post by coachjm on May 14, 2018 5:22:47 GMT -6
Have any of yall had problems with your wife wanting to move? I got a great opportunity to be a DC, signed my contract and all already. We go to look for houses and she straight up says "I am not living here"....mind blown I have moved around a bit in my career and also always take my wife to check it out. When I was trying to get my first job (teaching and coaching) I was offered it in a school that had a little rougher community she had one more year of college to get done, I accepted the position because it was a full time teaching job (assistant football) we drove up the following weekend looking for rentals and she said we aren't moving here. I think between the roughness of the area and the challenge we would have had for her finishing her schooling (prior to on-line schools) it wasn't worth it to her. Within two weeks I got a job at a school in the area and was named the HC there two years later, it was a nice school and a great place to work.
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Post by coachjm on Feb 11, 2018 8:16:02 GMT -6
I can get more info on-line at a faster rate.... However, I feel I get key phrases, instructional techniques, and ways to teach better from meeting/listening to other coaches. My favorite method is to go meet with a staff but I do enjoy listening to a good presenter. At our state clinic the last few years we have had several staffs that all run the schemes come together and meet and this has been a great clinic within the clinic.
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Post by coachjm on Feb 11, 2018 7:59:45 GMT -6
I have had the same thoughts, I have a 11 and 14 year old. My oldest runs cross country but my youngest wants to be a QB. I have two perspectives....
I transferred in college to the D3 school that my father was the long time AD/OC at the whispers were there always, however, I do remember him switching responsibilities in an effort to help the team and culture, he brought in a former QB to run the offense and he coached running backs (I was a center) I know he had conversation of going to the defensive side of the ball. We never talked on the field and after a year people would comment that they couldn't tell if we liked each other or not. With that stated I was around the field house endlessly we would get a meal after games and on some random nights and we got an extra 4 years of bonding.
With my son if he continues with the sport it will be the same thing, I'll do everything to not coach his position (of course still playing catch with him and working with him at home as any father would) and if I think it is an issue at all I'll step away for a few years or coach at another level so I can watch him and cheer him on rather then coach him.
I want him to get mentored and instructed by other men I respect I think it gives a different impact then coming from his father. Also, I want him to see me as his father as his support and encouragement regardless of his performance. I don't want him to see me as his critic I am that enough with normal life stuff (clean your room, take out the trash, brush your teeth, ect. )
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Post by coachjm on Feb 9, 2018 13:29:26 GMT -6
Now that is funny... Not sure if those would be my criteria's in picking a state however, there are certainly some states whose values are different then others. I live in the great state of Michigan and I love it for lots of reasons, however last year I moved to a community right on the Ohio line and the difference in general perspective and value from Michigan to Ohio is very significant to me especially when it comes to the perspective and role of HS sports and HS football.
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Post by coachjm on Jan 2, 2018 10:13:53 GMT -6
This is the system we utilize, I serve as the HC and my OC is in the box on the phones, in 6 years of working together we have developed a lot of synergy. On Thursday for JV games he is on the field and I am on the phones with him in the box. Ultimately, we make a good team because his back ground is very different he looks at the game differently. He does make many calls through the course of the game but this isn't predesigned, ultimately throughout the game we are having constant dialogue and both are making playcalls... The box coach is always building a ready list of play calls we like by situation as well and those calls are thrown out when those situations arise.
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Post by coachjm on Dec 19, 2017 20:24:27 GMT -6
Choose one of three routes...
1. Take one thing you do, a play, a fundamental, or a drill and break it down with all the exact details of how you teach this, it is likely a core principal of your scheme that everyone knows and can learn from but obviously it is no secret.. (I like doing this for our base play, power, or our blocking fundamentals).
2. Talk more holistically over the entire scheme of what you do and why you do it and key drills that develop the skills you need, again this isn't really giving away secrets but can give tips or drills to folks who may run a different scheme (ultimately you are at a clinic to help other coaches).
3. Go Mike Leach and talk on random topics that come to mind while making sure you are funny as heck... (This is entertaining)
I have yet to do 3 and not sure I have it in my skill set but the other two I think are generally effective..
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Post by coachjm on Dec 14, 2017 18:50:51 GMT -6
Great Coaches:
Have a mastery of their scheme and Coach it well Have a mastery of fundamentals and Coach it well Have a gift to inspire others to achieve more in life Live a Selfless life.....
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Post by coachjm on Dec 14, 2017 7:40:08 GMT -6
I wouldn't advise looking at it from that lense.... Ultimately, there will be so many factors that determines your output many of which you won't really know until you get in the job.... I always used to develop these plans and yet they never were even close to as I envisioned in fact first thing that happen was I had to junk the plan. Have a Vision work hard to get that vision in place and enjoy the process.... My experience...
1st job: Took over a very good program, didn't need a plan just needed to not screw up great things in place... 2nd job: Took over a program with 1 win in 3 years, we won 8 not as planned (thought it would be a 5 year deal) left after a year for what I thought would be bigger and better. 3rd job: Had a 3 year plan followed a very good coach in a tough league thought if we could generate more numbers and enthusiasm we could take next step, reality was there was some major infrastructural challenges that had nothing to do with coaching really a 6 year plan was needed much of which needed to be administrative changes (ie league, school of choice population, youth/middle school program set-up) although we made head way with some of this after 3 years and 8 wins my dream job came open. 4th job: My dream job, my home town (Grandpa was first Mayor) coming off of 2 1 win seasons total rebuild 5 year plan had to rebuild Middle School and lower levels, we qualified for playoffs and won 6 games in year one with 22 Varsity boys and 14 on JV team in a large school... Fired after year 4 (3, 2, 2 wins the following three years) with 35 Sophomores playing, 50 Freshman and 120 MS boys. Had a change in my admin and had a board member feeling like we needed to be more dynamic offensively... 5 Year plan may or may not have worked but didn't get to it. 5th job: Took over a 4-5 program with a coach who ran sound schemes and had kids lifting although there were dwindling numbers... Didn't really put in any plan just said lets have fun coaching and lets get kids having fun playing the game! Lets get better each day and lets focus as coaches on the effort we get out of our kids and the fundamentals we are instructing in all 3 phases... The results have been good 8-2 the first year and 61-13 in 6...
Ultimately, the point of this was I always had a plan the plan never went as planned! The only plan I think one should have at this time, is maximize each day, inspire (don't force) kids to work/lift/play, and focus on mastering your instruction of the fundamentals of your schemes and let the results be what they will be which will vary a great deal from place to place, time to time, and situation to situation!!!
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