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Post by Coach Bennett on Oct 13, 2009 10:08:40 GMT -6
Any other open fields your area? How about lining an open area of grass that could accommodate the size of a football field and play a game there? Obviously, no bleachers, etc. but at least you could actually play a game...
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Post by Coach Bennett on Aug 21, 2009 14:13:14 GMT -6
I respect and understand the many posts regarding building conditioning into well organized drills and agility sessions.
For us, however, conditioning is not solely about building better legs and lungs; it is about showing young men that they have more in them than they ever thought possible. We continually discuss building heart and feeding the spirit and our kids take great pride in knowing that there's not a better conditioned team in our league.
Furthermore, by conditioning at the beginning of practice as opposed to the end, our kids must demonstrate mental fortitude for the myriad drills and team sessions that follow. We believe this pays great dividends in the second half.
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Post by Coach Bennett on Jul 29, 2009 3:57:48 GMT -6
I was wondering how many of you use facebook and the like for your program?
I have been reluctant to enter that world as I can hardly find the time to email and, of course, hang out at this site.
For those of you that do use it, have you found it beneficial for posting important dates, etc? I was also thinking it would be good for fundraising, etc.
Again, for those of you that use it what has worked, what hasnĀ“t, what would you do differently if starting out again, what would you keep the same, in short, what advice/feedback do you have?
Thanks much!
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Post by Coach Bennett on Jun 11, 2009 11:31:40 GMT -6
Some of you stated that football causes divorce... hell, football keeps us married HAHA... If I was home all that time - we would kill each other!! Football season keeps us both SANE There's something to that. One of my favorite quotes regarding my lovely wife and football season: "How can I miss you if you don't go away?!"
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Post by Coach Bennett on Jun 10, 2009 7:10:44 GMT -6
We have clubs like the big dipper club (25 dips), galaxy club (40+), 1000% club (bench body weight 10x), etc. Kids love seeing their name publicly recognized.
We also have a record board for our 6 core lifts/exercises...what has really helped, however, is then having 6 weight classes for each lift so that the 160 pound receiver can have his name up there just like the 240 pound linebacker.
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Post by Coach Bennett on Jun 10, 2009 7:06:50 GMT -6
Trust your gut.
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Post by Coach Bennett on Jun 2, 2009 7:03:55 GMT -6
I would put all of the aforementioned ideas before this one but another reason why teams perpetually can't seem to get it done after a good start is because they run out of gas.
You have to create an attitude within your team that they own the 4th quarter and one part of owning it is seeing the other team with their heads lowered and hands on their knees.
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Post by Coach Bennett on Jun 2, 2009 6:49:37 GMT -6
Before challenging the powers that be in an open forum, how about first scheduling a strength and conditioning program to come to your school?
Whether it's BFS or some other program that you've researched, if you get it scheduled, hype it in every public venue possible, then maybe those that are resistant to it will HAVE to get on board?
Just thinking outloud here...
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 29, 2009 9:59:05 GMT -6
I just went to his myspace page.. and his update says.. "Im a WR like TO, cant nobody stop me" "Football is my new sport" Congrats coach! Nothing like recruiting in the hallways! Way off topic but are you ever leary of going to kids' myspace pages? What happens when you see something you don't want to know about?
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 29, 2009 9:39:38 GMT -6
I like taking the kid that is athletic and smart and making him the "utility" player in addition to his primary position.
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 26, 2009 7:44:20 GMT -6
Nicknames are fun so long as they aren't overtly derogatory. Kids know that when we're razzing them, poking fun, it's because we care...I warn them that once they don't hear us getting after them, something is seriously amiss.
Creative conditioning is more "fun" (I don't want to call it fun per se) than always doing straight gassers.
Building skills competitions into an organized practice helps to break the monotony and is definitely fun.
We have a 15 push up rule for anytime someone on the field swears...when the kids see a coach doing push ups it moves from fun to downright funny!
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 24, 2009 7:36:02 GMT -6
Does it seem like it's being accepted as more of a post workout excercise now? We static stretch at the end of practice and it has served us well injury-wise the past few years.
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 21, 2009 11:41:31 GMT -6
Thanks coach!
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 21, 2009 11:28:40 GMT -6
Like some of you, we do a little bit of both. We'll get in lines, do our jumping jacks, pushups, maybe a core exercise, then move to dynamic warm up.
We like it because the format allows us to take attendance easily in practice (everyone has an assigned spot and it they are absent there is a "hole" there) and we get to hootin' an' hollerin' before breaking into our dynamic warm up.
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 21, 2009 11:23:39 GMT -6
Try the 26th! Good times.
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 21, 2009 11:20:18 GMT -6
Thanks coach. Ok...let's say it's the near the end of the game, you're down and are opting to free kick. Your captain informs the official. Once he informs him could you go at "nascar" pace, kick it almost immediately likely catching the receiving team not giving you 10 yards from the kick and giving your kicker an even better shot? All highly unlikely just wondering when and how in the next 30 years to bust it out
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 21, 2009 10:46:55 GMT -6
After a fair catch do you simply tell the referee of your intentions?
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 21, 2009 8:20:38 GMT -6
Would any of you ever try it outside of field goal range? Say a team punts it to your 30 and they haven't moved the ball all day. Would you try and back them up?
I'm thinking you'd take the ball if they were that bad but just brainstorming other possible situations.
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 21, 2009 8:14:09 GMT -6
There have been many threads on this board regarding the "me" generation, entitlement, narcissism, etc.
Instead of venting about how much we see it, how about starting a dialog of how to really deal with it?
I'm curious to know how you address such issues with kids? Or do you at all?
I'm wondering because if it really is as wide spread as it seems, aren't we in a great position to at the very least help the kids we work with see the light so to speak?
How can we affect real change beyond cutting dead weight or getting overly frustrated at "kids today"?
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 20, 2009 12:16:44 GMT -6
Looking for some scenarios where you'd employ a free kick after a fair catch. Thoughts?
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 18, 2009 10:27:48 GMT -6
you guys spit or swallow? Man, I'm glad I don't chew
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 18, 2009 7:11:00 GMT -6
I've done both. We've had rosters where half the team didn't show and there was a blank next to their name for every lifting session we had.
We've also let kids write their own name in and then coaches initial the box for the particular day throughout the summer. This worked well because we didn't ostracize those that didn't show but also were able hold those that did make it accountable.
When we let kids initial their own name under each lifting day, some kids couldn't help with initializing (is that a word?) days they didn't make it...that's why we have a coach survey the room and sign for kids now.
Like others, we let the kids that have been dedicated get first dibs at new equipment, lockers, t's, etc.
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 18, 2009 7:04:06 GMT -6
3 out of your 4 are not illegal and another depends on your state, age and a number of other factors. Underage drinking and use of tobacco products is illegal. Has nothing to do with if I use tobacco products or drink. I am of legal age and so if I wish to do so then I can. Would you have a beer on the sidelines then? You are of age. If you have an 18 year old senior coming up to the doors of the school for two-a-days and he has a dip in is that cool? If you are at home and choosing to partake in tobacco or alcohol products, of course, that's your choice...you are of age. Is it a different story when acting as a member of your school's community in a specific leadership capacity?
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 18, 2009 6:37:38 GMT -6
Simply playing devil's advocate here but is it narcissistic on to criticize another? For instance, is it narcissistic on my part to say that kids today are obsessed with themselves? Does anyone really care that at 8:43 this morning little Joey had an English muffin with jam and has thus announced it to the world via Twitter?
If this thread had coaches saying "I have the best record in our league over the past 19 years" or "you'd know that I know what I'm talking about because our program is tops in organization, coaching, etc." or "we're the best and we know it," then, perhaps, finger pointing could take a "holier than thou" element and be deemed narcissistic.
Criticism is not narcissistic. Putting oneself on a pedastal with a mirror that only reflects those attributes that one considers superior or above others is absolutely narcissistic. Let's not forget the myth where all of this started. A dude who saw his own reflection in a pool and died there because he couldn't pull himself away from what he saw.
It's forums like this one where we realize much of what we do is not perfect and we get to see where our deficiencies lie...or at least we should.
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 15, 2009 11:55:27 GMT -6
One of my favorite past times here at school is to tell a kid the truth about their performance either on the field or in school and then, in a voice that is as whiney as I can get it, say "ohhh...did I hurt your self esteem?" That's usually followed by a 30 second tirade with me pretending to be them and asking where my ribbon is and wondering why I don't feel special right now. wow...are you serious? Your favorite past time is ridiculing children? No coach, not my favorite past time...ONE of my favorite past times Tongue and cheek humor is difficult to convey via forums like this one. That said, kids seem to "get it" when I over-the-top ask them if I hurt their self esteem. The joking manner/tirade is not belittling nor a power trip. It is, as I've found, a way for kids to hear what they sound like, albeit it in a humorous tone. In fact, I have kids all the time now ask kids if they hear the "whaaaa-mbulance" or "would like some cheese with that 'whine'." We have many conversations in class and during 'ball about entitlement, earning what you get, etc. If we don't find ways to discuss issues like these with our kids beyond "you guys are so spoiled you don't even know it" no one is going to get anywhere. In my humble opinion, mixing humor with discipline is a great venue for getting kids to think about and look at themselves from another's perspective.
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 15, 2009 6:15:22 GMT -6
There's a difference between positive self-esteem and narcissism. Positive self-esteem is rooted in being aware of strengths and weaknesses with the ability to deal with failure through resiliency and strength of character while narcissism is an excessive and subjective love of self.
One of my favorite past times here at school is to tell a kid the truth about their performance either on the field or in school and then, in a voice that is as whiney as I can get it, say "ohhh...did I hurt your self esteem?" That's usually followed by a 30 second tirade with me pretending to be them and asking where my ribbon is and wondering why I don't feel special right now.
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 14, 2009 14:58:34 GMT -6
Reading another post about what folks eat before/during games, I was surprised at how many coaches chewed.
More for curiosity's sake than anything, do your players know you are doing so?
If so, is it accepted that's just what coaches do?
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 11, 2009 11:13:18 GMT -6
My gameplan if all is not going well.
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 7, 2009 11:42:49 GMT -6
One thing we do to get more use out of them is that we convince the senior parents to buy their sons Jerseys for them as a senior gift. So basically every year we replace several home tops. I was thinking the same thing! The next time we get new jerseys, I'd like to offer all of our kids a chance to buy their jersey and wear it for the year. At the same time, I would by a complete set for the equipment room and thus have a brand new set "in waiting" for every kid who chose to buy their own. I was thinking that if we made the same offer every year, our "set" could go a long way.
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Post by Coach Bennett on May 5, 2009 11:00:34 GMT -6
What do you all do to develop leaders?
It's a beautiful thing when you get the player that everyone respects, that isn't afraid to speak his mind, is on point with all you are trying to do, but when one of these gifts doesn't naturally present themselves, then what?
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