|
Post by coachjm on Nov 3, 2013 6:18:26 GMT -6
I drive 106 miles each day for work and practice. My job is 50 minutes away from my home and my coaching job is 40 minutes from work and it is 30 minutes home from there. It is a big triangle, I was coaching at our current school prior to taking a new position that is 50 minutes aways. I do not mind the drive at this point but I know likely I can not continue to make it for the long haul. It will require us to move or change one of the positions if this is my employment in 5 years.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Jul 28, 2013 18:13:01 GMT -6
4 on 4 Football tournament There are several water balloon games you can play that kids enjoy can set up relay races with water We try to end all "fun" events with popsickles, they are cheap, cold, and have sugar they heat the spot after sweating for a bit!
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Jul 26, 2013 16:33:20 GMT -6
Last year we had 17 boys on our Varsity team, this year we currently have 21 planning to play and that attended camp this week. I actually love this number of kids, I feel we can coach them all and can find a role for all of them. We do have 6 Varsity coaches (mostly volunteers) so we end up having 1 on 3-4 instruction which is great. Here is what we feel is key.
Don't waste time in Practice, since every kid is getting nearly every rep at practice by having a quick tempo your team will be conditioned. We do a ton of film work in an effort to prevent too much banging we want the mental reps to occur through film we spend an hour everyday reviewing film. We currently have 8 lineman 5 ends, 6 RB, two QBs we run double wing so the pulling we do a lot of.
Offensively we start with plays on air to look at spacing After Indy drills we start adding parts We will work pulls without the frontside down blocks so we will work our pullers and backfield together We work Trapping with G, C, G, T, E and a FB the other guys are typically working on pass game We will do half line and work on Belly, Rocket and Trap When we go team we will go Full offense 1/2 a defense all plays in what direction for a period and the second period all plays go to the otherside as we switch the defense. When we do pass game we do a session with no defensive backs and focus on our protections. We focus on a skill at a time or a couple conflicting plays at a time and each period we are very specific to what we want to focus on and defenders are placed in those spots.
Defensively we start with tackling each day after indy we do an edge drill with two G an EMOLOS and backfied we play our DE/OLB/ILB and a secondary support then give different keys for the boys to react to. We do all allignment and blitz work vs trash cans. We use our offensive half line drill as our defensive half line drill We always play a coach at QB in order to get a better look as well as gives another body We use trash cans when working on fill drills We will do an inside run drill with LB/DT We run 7 on 7 everyday that includes run plays so that we have to take good read steps. The most exciting thing this year is we have 14 guys to do 7 on 7 last year we had to do 3 on 4 on just half the field.
Most special teams stuff we do with our JV team
Enjoy it, you will know your kids well and you will have ample time to instruct them at the key pieces of the game.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Jul 7, 2013 16:36:58 GMT -6
SE Michigan so far south we travel through Ohio to get to a game of one of our league opponents who is also in Michigan....
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Jun 25, 2013 16:58:42 GMT -6
We have no requirements of our kids on the weekend. In fact, we firmly believe the boys should have the weekend to go and be kids and enjoy themselves. I do like to do a community service project one Saturday morning during the course of the season though. Our Offensive Coordinator and I (HC) meet on Saturday morning whenever my kids and his kids are done playing sports for about two hours and my DC/Co DC and I meet on Sunday night for about two hours after our kids go to bed. Other then that we prep everyone up on Monday and hope they have a nice relaxing weekend. Our goal is our coaches and we feel we have a great staff enjoy coaching and it doesn't consume their life. We feel our teams are well prepared and our kids generally seem rested and ready for the weak each Monday. Everyday we do watch film with our kids for about 1/2 hour before practice starts.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Jun 23, 2013 16:28:57 GMT -6
Twice when taking over programs we have done visits to all possible football candidates and their families. Always was a very positive thing, the parents are more apt to encourage the boy to participate after they meet you. You can have a "meet the coach" night but only the most motivated attend that and it sounds like you want to get some new boys out. When we did this we would drop off a t-shirt and our summer workout schedule and than simply introduce ourselves. It is quite a bit of work to get it organized but worth it in the connections you make.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Mar 9, 2013 6:24:01 GMT -6
My wife always says clinics look like gang wars, everyone out in their colors walking around with there chests out...
The dress for comfort is great advice! I generally wear khaki's or jeans with a school jacket or shirt. When I have the opportunity to present I almost always wear shorts, as I get going and I get sweating. I figure the audience would rather not see a fat man with sweat rings all over!
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Mar 7, 2013 19:51:40 GMT -6
Yep that is exactly what we did, if I remember right it did take a couple tries with different combinations before it accepted one as a "person" to me it has made it a more user friendly tool then a group.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Mar 7, 2013 11:39:22 GMT -6
We made our account as a person rather then as a group this helped us further disassociate it from anyone person. If you want to see it and the type of stuff that goes on there go to www.facebook.com and put in whiteford bobcats you can see the type of postings that we put in and the type that parents/community members put on our wall.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Mar 5, 2013 17:52:49 GMT -6
This is all about administrators bucking responsibility. I see this more and more everyday in our field of education, people will hire a third party expert to fulfill a duty if it works out (less concussions in this case) the "educational leader" will state how they brought in "experts" and this is why. If it doesn't work out (more concussions) then they can blame the third party and not have to except responsibility. Fact is you the coach is the "expert" that was hired to properly fit kids in equipment. You are responsible that they are as safe as possible. Acknowledging there is an inherent risk in all things including football. Unless it could be proven to me (which I would welcome and be open to) that someone else had superior knowledge and qualifications in fitting equipment it is my obligation to do it. When I find this person in my local community or within our retailers that we work with I will encourage them to do this for us as they have superior ability.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Mar 3, 2013 7:42:07 GMT -6
We have one, I (the HC) run it, and it has been a great tool to get information out. I do get a strange PM every once in a while but have yet to have anything posted that hasn't been appropriate. Also been able to have some "teachable moments" with our boys when they have posted a few sketchy things.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Feb 28, 2013 13:56:52 GMT -6
I work out everyday inseason and out of season. It is all about it being a priority/discipline I will go at 5 a.m. or 10 p.m. I will do a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio (3 miles) not fast just a good sweat, if I have time i'll go farther if not that is the minimum. Then generally try and lift 4 times a week 10-14 total sets can get it done in 10 minutes if I need to it is frequent but generally fast.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Feb 16, 2013 12:54:44 GMT -6
I really appreciate this discussion..... I really appreciate Brophy input to this discussion and video/links that are attached. With an 8 and 5 year old sons and being a HS Head Football Coach this is issue is both personal and an opportunity for educational growth. I want to learn and grow more as a Coach and this discussion is helping that. My approach as a coach has changed drastically due to the concern of concussions through the last 5 years. In turn we hit much less in practice, I'm highly concerned about the equipment we are placing our kids in, and I have completely changed our approach to both blocking and tackling. Our methods I believe have always been sound and time tested but now when looking for methodology I look for methods that are the least likely to create trauma/contact to the head especially helmet to helmet collisions. We will continue to evolve based on improving the safety for our players.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Feb 4, 2013 19:34:26 GMT -6
Taught PE in HS for 12 years, taught 1 year of elementary PE, also have taught, health, drama, speech throughout my career. Currently running a Virtual (on-line) School... Every job has had its ups and downs!
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Jan 27, 2013 9:47:07 GMT -6
It is interesting to me that the NFL, Coaches, and others.....
1. Discuss reducing the speed and space of special teams plays, at the same time create rules to enhance greater space on offensive/defensive plays (ie increase pass game).
What would be the impact on football if they eliminated hand blocking and the NFL allowed DB to jam recievers until the ball is in the air, obviously pass game would be greatly reduced and in turn the space in which the game is played would be reduced likely the interest in the game would be reduced.
2. Discuss the importance of creating improved equipment, however continue to build sleeker more comfortable helmets.
I'm reminded of I believe it was Steve Taskers helmet, it had the helmet and an outer core, now I'm not sure of the proven effectiveness or lack there of, of this design I can state that it is obvious creating additional layers of an outer core of a helmet that takes impact movement especially rotational impact out prior to even contact occurs to the core of the helmet would improve the safety of hits that occur. Why is it we are not seeing different outer core designs of helmets that reduce multiple forces of the impact, is it simply that it doesn't look cool, they would not sell as many, kids don't feel as fast in them. At what cost....
3. The concussion issue has changed my approach as a coach, it has made me much more focused on how we practice, how long we practice, and how we protect our kids, in my opinion it has made me a better coach due to these factors, this offseason we have focused completely on how we can teach tackling better to avoid helmet to helmet contact at all cost..... We never encouraged this or coached it but now I want it completely eliminated for the protection of our players!
4. Brophy I appreciate your posts on the subject the analysis of this subject is critical for all of our growth and our sports growth...
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Jan 20, 2013 15:31:32 GMT -6
Your system is a product of your experiences, your mentors, your successes, and your failures. ultimately in time and through commitment to base philosophies you develop a systemic approach that has answers for all the challenges that are thrown in front of you. When you have this it is tough to change your philosophy because it is a process of starting all over. For me, my father was a long time wing t coach, I played in Power off tackle based systems in HS and College, and my first assistant coaching job we ran a ton of jet sweep out of a wing t system. Not to mention I have 3 really strong mentors that have supported me throughout my career in turn our system has a small fingerprint of each of these experiences. Defensively it is the same for us although the experiences are much less varied.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Jan 19, 2013 18:30:36 GMT -6
Become friends with the other coaches and push your players to get involved in 3 sports. When they are in another sport support the other coaches philosophies wether you agree with it or not this will create an atmosphere where it is an expectation for kids to play everything. Find a way to involve the whole roster, it is critical to rest your players at the correct time even if they are the best player on the field so that they are able to play fast and hard when you really need them to. Play the whole roster, find a role for each kid so that all of them stay invested in the program. Make sure your whole athletic staff is on the same page with regards to weight lifting. Be very very wise fiscally because you won't ever feel like you have enough money and it is generally tougher to fundraise because you have less hands able to fund raise. I love coaching small school football but there are ample challenges as there are with all schools.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Jan 1, 2013 20:31:00 GMT -6
Posting lifting attendance or maxes for all students is much much different then posting a list of those who are falling short. We too have an attendance chart, the main purpose is for us to chart attendance nothing more nothing less. We start our first session with the statement that offseason training is non mandatory and that this team is success and failures will be based on the team finding importance and motivation in this work if we as coaches have to force you to want to be better we likely will struggle as a football team. Attendance is taken for a couple incentives if they reach the percentage goals that our players set. Again the intent of this is what is key, it is not done to humiliate the players do not see it as a stress item our goal is for our boys to develop intrinsic motivation and purpose of self improvment not to force them to do it.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Dec 30, 2012 21:00:43 GMT -6
Coachbry, are you stating....
The reality of HS football is it is necessary to humiliate kids (as method to motivation) or you will get fired?
To answer your question no it would not be fun to be fired! However in my experience (which includes being a state coach of the year, college coach, and being fired) when there is a major difference in philosophy, which mine would include not humiliating the athletes, a change in path is typically best for all parties.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Dec 30, 2012 20:17:25 GMT -6
To create an atmosphere where it is a goal to humiliate a kid who wants to play a game for fun seems like foolish practice to me. By posting a list that will make a portion of your roster feel bad about themselves makes me curious of what the objective in coaching is. Incentive programs are wonderful, having expectations are necessary, accountability measures for those who fall short on "mandatory" expectations are essential. However, creating a list to humiliate those KIDS (talking HS) because they are not meeting the arbitrary expectation that you created for them would do nothing but eliminate prospective students/kids who likely need the discipline and structure that football offers the most.... The goal is to motivate and teach the kids to appreciate the necessary work that is required to reach a championship level in life, this has very little to do with accountability and humiliation and a whole lot to do with relationships, communication, and common goals.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Dec 30, 2012 7:56:53 GMT -6
I am in a job that is requiring me to do administrative duties in a school and my wife is a HS assistant principal to add to btex post. There are many commonalities to being the head coach as you are managing people and trying to maximize the different talents that all possess. The political challenges are even bigger as you deal with those seemingly all the time and there is less of the immediate "joy" that you have when working with kids. There is gratification in seeing programs come to fruition and helping other staffing enjoy there work. Your day to day operations are seemingly different each day which is enjoyable but most of the time you are not dealing with the most enjoyable parts of the education profession....
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Dec 22, 2012 20:14:17 GMT -6
Don't be afraid to start practice at 6 p.m. if that is what it takes to get good help. I coached at a couple small schools, a couple big schools, and now am back at a small school. There are more similarities then differences in my opinion. It is still about maximizing the talent you have out and teaching the fundementals of the game. A positive is you can build relationships with kids throughout the program and you have plenty of time to really break down and teach skills. The negative is you seemingly always have depth issues and it is tough to build competition amongst the team. Feel free to PM me as well but I have to admit the most enjoyable years I have had coaching have come in the small schools I have coached at this might be a byproduct of being in good places with good people though.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Dec 16, 2012 6:28:41 GMT -6
The root of taking a knee for injury stems to youth soccer where at the lowest of ages kids frequently get boo boo's and to help control the environment they have all the other children take a knee so they are not running around standing over the hurt child ect. Very appropriate and functional.... For HS football if a child has a serious injury that is going to take a while taking a knee only causes the other athletes to tighten up and create an atmosphere they potentially could get hurt. If it is something minor obviously taking a knee is not appropriate either. I have also had parents go pretty nuts when we don't take it due to social norms. I now explain to the parents in our spring parent meeting that we will not do this and the reasons why the above explanation is enough for most. We do encourage all the boys to clap for the injured child regardless of the seriousness of the injury as this is a traditional form of showing respect for an injured player.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on May 25, 2012 16:23:11 GMT -6
State-Michigan School Size- 260 approx 2011 Team Members- 40 approx Staff HC paid, 3 assistants HC Pay 5,000 potential 1,000 dollar reduction as per current negotiations Record 4-5 2011
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Jul 11, 2010 8:10:46 GMT -6
Kyle,
We are bringing on a youth pastor to our staff this year to help us do this very thing. His teachings will be secular. I'm very excited about this for several reasons, I think it is helpful to have an outside person as it is a different voice that is supporting the themes that the Coaches are presenting. We are excited to have a youth pastor because 1. he is professionally trained in discussing integrity type issues 2. he is professionally trained to work with this specific age group. We are a public school and he fully understands the importance of keeping a seperation of his biblical beliefs in what he is teaching. Our mission with this is identical to what you are discussing and we are fortunate enough to have this help.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Jul 8, 2010 13:30:26 GMT -6
My current Fr Coach favorite saying right now is boys when you are with a women "No" means "No", "Maybe" means "No" and most importantly "yes" means "No"
Had a JV coach several years back say this to an official. Game was a blowout and we were up by a ton, the official was having a rough time out of boredom as everyone else was as well just a real mismatch of a JV game everyone trying to keep things clean and without embarrassing anyone, after about the fourth TD was called back my JV coach becomes irritated, we score on a long run and it is called back again, my JV coach yells to his side judge who threw the flags "I hope someone is at your home doing to your wife what you are doing to us right now" I'm in the press box drop my head phones run to the field fearing the worse, I get down there and they have their arm around each others shoulders, my JV coach turns out was an old college buddy with the official.
Varsity game heck of a wind storm, our DC is our kicking coach real intense guy, Kicker can't get the ball through the goal posts in pre-game he looks down picks up a rock throws it up in the air then it hits the ground, then Coach says loudly "No wind, I don't know what your problem is"
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Jun 19, 2010 7:10:09 GMT -6
Unfortunately, if there was procedure put in place to forbid summer activity other outside organizations would start programs to train athletes. These outside organizations would have less educated staff, priority on making money vs. the total development of the student-athlete, would feed children with unrealistic belief of individual abilities leading most to believe they are scholly athletes as long as their school coach doesn't screw them up, and a list of other issues. For examples of this see most AAU programs (although there are certainly positive examples as well) and continue to watch the money the combine companies are profitting despite no real data to support opportunities being created. I'm not sure this is the can of worms that would benefit our sport.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Jun 16, 2010 7:13:37 GMT -6
First I have a similar meeting tonight,
second check and ask as many folks as you can of people that have coached with this man.
The only prediction of future behavior can be drawn from past Precedent.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Mar 12, 2010 19:23:24 GMT -6
If you are looking for making money, you are far better off making the video's yourself. If you are looking for name recognition and free advertising then go through coaches choice although understand they will keep most of the profits. If you don't care for either of these things just make video's for your own staff and tell them no.
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Dec 31, 2009 14:31:36 GMT -6
It matters a ton for several reasons, I ran this offense in college and we like most option teams were awarded as LOS players for getting cut blocks. On all Dive phase, cutting LB's was highly effective as the dives hit quick and getting a LB on the ground allowed the ball to scoot by, also allowed undersized lineman to take hard angles and attack through knees. The perimeter concepts it is obvious the advantage that would exist in any offense. However, with the Flexbone playing smaller quick kids in the slot the cut block is a great equilizer against OLB's. Changing the cut block rules in high school football would enhance all schemes however, quick hitting dive schemes would benefit the most.
|
|