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Post by lochness on May 31, 2016 7:13:06 GMT -6
The only other spin I'll put on this, though (and this is going to piss people off I'm sure) is this:
We want those "football 2nd or 3rd" kids who are great athletes to come play for us rather than doing open mats, AAU, or elite travel this or that. Got it. Agree. But, on this very same forum, I constantly see coaches kicking and screaming about how they want full participation in their weights programs, and that "if they don't come, they won't get playing time" and that kind of thing.
So, in a way, we are just as guilty as the other coaches who pressure their kids to specialize. Regardless of whether or not you say it, kids who are "football 1st" types will drop other sports, especially as they get older, so they don't miss weight room workouts because of the pressure you put on them. I think that's wrong and it's a double standard. I want our guys playing lacrosse and baseball, and then I want their asses in the weight room when they're NOT doing another sport. I unfortunately don't get that same courtesy reciprocated, by other programs, but that's our stance on things.
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Post by lochness on May 31, 2016 7:06:32 GMT -6
I feel the pain on this one.
I've had kids who play on other teams tell me that those coaches discourage players from playing football or other sports. They never say "don't do it," because they know that will mean their jobs...but they say stuff like "I want you to know that I'm going to put my time and energy into the guys who bust their butts for us year-round first." So, if you're a basketball-first kind of kid, and your coach says that, you're probably going to quit football.
Also, in our area of the country, we don't get a lot of "scholarship" looks for football players. So, kids are convinced that baseball, lacrosse and basketball are more viable options if they are playing for the prospect of scholarships. And, those are all sports you can find a way to play year-round if you want to. When you add to that the recent attack on football as being more dangerous to humans than diving head-first off the Empire State Building...it's definitely an uphill battle.
I'm lucky that football is big in the school I coach at. We get the most community support and most student support. So that helps a little. But, at the end of the day, we get the kids who LOVE football, and that's about it. We're not going to get 75 or 80 kids (school size 800). We average about 50-55 total. It's good from the perspective that we have kids who are "into it," but we don't get that great 6'3 basketball kid as a receiver / strong safety. That (hypothetical) kid has decided that he needs to focus on basketball and not risk decapitation or disembowelment playing a silly game like football.
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Post by lochness on May 29, 2016 7:54:40 GMT -6
Seems like having your coaches yell and correct players would be more cost-effective.
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Post by lochness on May 24, 2016 13:22:28 GMT -6
Coach, How do you go about punishing kids? I hate making them do up/downs and everything but it's the only thing I know. What's a better way? As was talked about in this topic the expectations need to be clear and the accountability has to be placed. So I decided to take playing time away. Late to class? That's one series. In trouble with classroom teacher/administration? That's a series Late to weight room? Another series. If a kid gets up to 5 then the first game of the season is gone. Basically it puts all of it on the kid. Now I have to preference that by saying I fully explained how I will discipline, take time away etc. So far I have seen a dramatic improvement in punctuality, grades, and attitude. You would be surprised at how quickly that impacts kids.
As for the season same rules will apply - late to practice? Series.
I should also say I do treat each kid in a case by case scenario. If a kid, for example, is late because of a major incident (family, test, etc) obviously the rule would not apply. I think it is important to also note that before punishing - you got to talk to the kid.
I like this in theory...but there's two places I would have trouble applying it:
1. What about players who don't already play much? This would certainly motivate starters and guys who play important roles...but what if your standards are not being met by kids that are 3rd string types?
2. What about situations that are full-team issues? So, for example, I want our locker room to be treated with respect. No clothes left out, no food wrappers or Gatorade bottles on the floor, etc. If I can't pinpoint the culprits...this tends to need a "team" solution. And that seems to lend itself to some kind of unpleasant physical activity.
Thoughts?
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Post by lochness on May 11, 2016 6:28:48 GMT -6
What does he usually talk about? Broad varieties of OL play, but also other topics of interest. Saw him do a "practicing situational offense" clinic this past winter which was very good.
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Post by lochness on May 10, 2016 19:46:16 GMT -6
The main idea I am going to take away from this thread is that there are a lot of football coaches who are thin-skinned pu$$ies. Some nights you are the bug, some nights you are the windshield. Nothing more, nothing less. I have never felt that I have had the score run up on me. I have coached in games in which I got beat a lot to a little but it wasn't because the score was run up. It was because we were really bad. But, even if I ever did think someone was running the score up on me or even in those games when I just got beat really bad, I would NEVER want to act like a petulant little b1tch. I would not want to give the other coach the satisfaction of seeing me lose my $hit and act that way. If you are getting your a$$ beat, for whatever reason, walk across the field at the end of the game, tell the other coaches, "thanks for the game", and get out of their with your dignity. Anything you say after the game regarding who was in the game or out of the game or play selection or scheme is going to make you look like a whiny pu$$y. Nothing good came come from it. I HATE the whole "unwritten rules" thing. You coach your kids and I'll coach mine. Leave it at that. Theres a a big difference between crying and being butthurt because you get beat bad and being a coach who decides to ring someone else up. It's two completely different sides of the issue, and just because i have the philosophy of not looking to embarrass another in victory doesn't mean I hold others to that expectation. I have no problems getting rung up or being the recipient of an embarrassing brow-beating. God knows it's happened. Said that already in this thread. But, my personal philosophy is I'm not doing that to someone else. That doesn't make me a pu$$y. I tend to think it makes me a good coach who puts players above personal ego. There's no "unwritten rules" governing my behavior...just my personal ethics. Like I said, if someone can feel good falling to sleep at night after embarrassing another team...more power to 'em. Put all those points you scored in a jar for a rainy day where you feel sad or whatever.
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Post by lochness on May 10, 2016 18:20:18 GMT -6
George Deleone
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Post by lochness on May 10, 2016 14:50:44 GMT -6
Usually the people losing are losers for a reason. Instead of looking in the mirror and saying we need to get better they blame others for something like leaving starters in or throwing on 3rd down. We have had quite a big of success and put alot of running clocks the last few years. There were two times that you could have said we were out of line, both were this season. We played our rival who's coach had run his mouth about one of our assistants publicly. Well we put as many as we could on them before half, ended up being 58-0 @ half and we scored with less than a min before halftime. Gave it to our senior center for a TD. The other instance was a school in our district turned us in for recruiting which was investigated and nothing came of it. We played them and our DC told their head coach before the game don't ask for a running clock take your @$$ beating like a man. The team was actually good(7-3) but we were salty this year. We beat them 60-6 leaving the starters in until the beginning of the 4th, running clock the entire 2nd half. We ran 17 offensive plays. It was 40-0 at the half, obviously made us feel good but their kids probably didn't deserve that. See, this is where the rationale falls apart every time for me. If the other school district are d!cks or the other coaching staff is classless, and you decide to light them up to “make yourself feel better” or “show them up,” all you’ve really done is embarrass their players (who are kids just like yours) and stoop to their level. Running it up to prove a point is never justified in my opinion. Never. It’s not about you. It’s not about the other school or their coaches. It’s about the kids who play the game. No matter what way you slice it, if you’re piling on someone purposefully, that’s about servicing your ego and your insecurities. Like I said, I can see if the other team is still playing 1’s and bringing heat and all that…but you can STILL respond to that in a controlled and classy way while maintaining the integrity of your program and keeping the safety of your players in mind. But, in most cases, I think it’s mostly rationalizing…we run up the score to make ourselves feel good. And that’s wrong.
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Post by lochness on May 9, 2016 11:27:31 GMT -6
I love these guys, so long as they are coachable and good teammates.
We had a kid 2 years ago who started both ways for us (OLB and WR) and won our highest program award.
Last year, we had a kid who worked hard but wasn't particularly great. He ended up starting the last two games at WR and really bailed us out because our starter got got hurt. Ended up catching a long TD for us in a critical game.
Other times, these guys don't break through, but they are valuable on specials and scout and understand their roles from the get-go.
I wouldn't turn my nose up at anyone in this day and age. If they're not crapbags, we need to find a way to set them up to contribute.
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Post by lochness on May 4, 2016 16:01:12 GMT -6
Is that First Back Thru, or Second?
Simple and efficient, yet elegant and sexy (much like myself)...therefore second back through!
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Post by lochness on May 4, 2016 9:23:06 GMT -6
Pilot G-2 07
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Post by lochness on May 1, 2016 13:25:21 GMT -6
I did for 9 years. I thought I was happy, until my first week coaching somewhere else. I'd never do it again...and I'd tell my younger self not to do it if time travel were possible.
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Post by lochness on Apr 19, 2016 17:37:32 GMT -6
I don't know why anyone would want to spend their time and energy on coaching if they didn't love it. That would drive me crazy.
That said, it's all relative I think. Some guys love football and coaching, but not nearly as much as you do. They may love the IDEA of coaching...but the reality of it is a different story. I tend to judge people's "love" for coaching football against mine...but most will admittedly come up short in that category. I have a phenomenal staff...but I'm not sure any of those guys are as loony as I am about coaching and details. That doesn't mean they aren't good at their jobs, though.
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Post by lochness on Apr 16, 2016 15:55:06 GMT -6
We have a membership and have found it useful. But nobody writes about what we do on offense. It's all RPO right now. Lol. That's why I don't sign up. If you're not running the latest and greatest smack, it's not going to be too helpful.
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Post by lochness on Apr 13, 2016 20:37:59 GMT -6
I do want to make sure I'm clear about something- because some of this discussion is about guys who get pissed and accuse you of running it up and some of it is about how YOU react if you get rung up.
I don't give a {censored} if you score a bunch on us. If we get our asses kicked we probably deserved it because we played like crap and/or practiced like crap. But I can tell you that it is my personal philosophy that I do not want to embarrass another team if we are the ones rolling.
It's your call if that kind of thing doesn't bother you and you can justify it as being right in your own mind (and it seems like many of you can). For better or worse, I just don't operate that way. We will do everything we can to ensure a win, ensure the safety of our players, but leave our opponent with some dignity and pride. To me, that's the right thing to do. But I don't expect or feel entitled to the same treatment. You do whatever makes you feel right...it's my problem to figure it out if you decide to ring us up.
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Post by lochness on Apr 13, 2016 11:09:45 GMT -6
I think you approach it this way, in order of importance:
1. Substitute. Leave your starters in, and you deserve to be questioned. 2. Do what's best for your program and your kids. 3. Don't do anything to embarrass the players on the other team or your own program.
I can tell you that we don't throw it if we are way ahead, unless it's a bubble or hitch or something that's clearly designed for a quick gain and that's rare because those aren't key parts of our O. I like what pvogel said above. It's 4-minute drill. Sometimes that means you throw it. But, to each their own. Lots of guys hide behind the "it's your responsibility to stop me" story, and that works for them, but personally I wouldn't sleep well at night embarrassing another team... but that's just me and that's my problem. I feel it's my responsibility to win, but this isn't Madden Football, those are human beings on the other sideline and in the stands.
I also admit that each situation is different. We pull guys and you don't...And then you start tee-ing off on us and whooping it up because you dropped my 3rd string RB like a bad habit? Yeah, I'm not going to be so nice then.
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Post by lochness on Apr 12, 2016 11:32:44 GMT -6
Change is typically driven by necessity. Is the current condition so painful that change is necessary? If not...someone who is "set in their ways" is going to have a hard time justifying to themselves why they'd want to do things differently.
I think, with any change, you need a fact-based rationale. What are the facts that have led you all to conclude that the changes are necessary? Present those in a professional and unemotional manner and see what happens. Also- pick your battles...! If you try to change O / D / Specials, install Facemelters, change tackling techniques, and modify the practice schedule, he'll throw you all out on your asses. Pick ONE or TWO things each year that you want to address and tweak, and go after those.
As a HC myself, I love it when my staff is confident and passionate enough to suggest changes. But, they better
1. Have their $hit together when they suggest it 2. Not be suggesting it just because they are bored and/or saw SexiPants University doing it at spring practice 3. Convince me it fits into our global philosophy and strategy
If they just come in with a load of sexy progressive crap and no rationale...it's a quick meeting, and not one that ends in favor of the assistant(s).
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Post by lochness on Apr 8, 2016 17:54:21 GMT -6
I wish I didn't suck my first 10 years coaching. Arrogant, scheme-oriented, teaching too much stuff, thinking I know everything, taking opportunity and position for granted.
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Post by lochness on Apr 6, 2016 18:45:17 GMT -6
85-90% of our guys are in lacrosse, baseball or track. We lift 3 days per week. Starting in late April, we do QB workouts for one hour per week. It's mostly mechanics and arm strengthening. We do Trench Warrior Wednesday after lifting every week where we have special workouts for just our linemen that last maybe 40 minutes (skill work, whiteboard, and/or film).
We don't have spring football.
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Post by lochness on Mar 20, 2016 7:08:29 GMT -6
This is a two way street also. When the kids show THEY care by showing up, listening to coaching , being a great teammate it can turn a lousy day into a good one for me. Some years I feel a little selfish in that I'm the one having the most fun and getting more out of it than the kids even. Plus, while I am supposedly "helping them grow up" they are helping me to be a kid again. Works both ways. Those are the years we have the most success on the field too. So true. I can't tell you how many times I've left work to go to the weight room in a drained, frustrated state. By the time I'm leaving the weight room, I'm completely re-energized because of my guys. It's great.
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Post by lochness on Mar 19, 2016 10:16:16 GMT -6
lochness You're right, coach. It can sometimes seem like overdoing it when coaches wax poetic about being the surrogate parent in their kids' lives. In my experience, it's sad because I'm not trying to be that guy. I do as you say. I respect them, listen to them, talk to them, etc. and just genuinely care. Unfortunately, for some of these kids, you're the only person in their lives who is like that which thrusts you into that role. Fully agreed...and I think this is definitely ok if it happens naturally and you are equipped to be that guy. I just don't go actively looking to be "everyone's most influential person." I try to be a good man and a good role model, and not only do I care about all my guys, but I try to show it in ways that I am comfortable with and that I think are appropriate. But, that's the best I can do. It's the same philosophy i have with parenting my young sons. I just try to be a good dad. I'm not trying to be superdad...because that feels contrived and kind of lame to me.
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Post by lochness on Mar 19, 2016 8:17:04 GMT -6
I think a lot of good has been said here, and different approaches work in different communities and cultures.
I do think that it's a lot simpler than we sometimes make it out to be, though. I show my kids that I care by being present (as much as possible). I treat them like human beings. I don't try to manipulate them. I let them know that their experience (fun, learning, togetherness, etc) is my top priority. I don't yell at them or use sarcasm to "motivate" them. We treat them with mutual respect. I have a leadership council of 10 guys who we talk with about values, culture, action plans, etc. Guys have my cell number and can connect with me through our team twitter and Facebook accounts, which they do with varied frequency. We do some basic team building stuff (OL Buffet Day, 7v7 Tourney, bowling, etc). I joke around with them, bust their balls in the weight room, and take interest in other things they seem to care about. I tell them the truth in a straightforward and respectful manner.
That said, (and this might be controversial and even objectionable to some), I don't really totally buy into this whole movement that we need to strive to be life-changers and surrogate parents. I think you can over-do that stuff, and it just isn't my style. I've gone to 3-D Coaching Clinics, and I've read Joe Ehrmann's book cover-to-cover several times and really I love that stuff...but I don't view it as my responsibility to give these guys an experience that transcends anything they've ever experienced in their lives blah blah blah. I do incorporate some of those things into my thinking about our role as coaches and how we can impact and influence in a positive way...but I'm not on a crusade to change the world through football either. I'm not a cult leader or religious figure. I'm a guy who teaches football to a bunch of lunkheads, and I do it as best I can with their well-being in mind. I try to be a role model. I hope that my approach and relationships have great positive impact on our young people...but I'm still going to be me.
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Post by lochness on Mar 15, 2016 18:22:05 GMT -6
Way over-priced. Looks like an awesome tool to help safely teach tackling...but not at that cost.
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Post by lochness on Mar 6, 2016 7:44:54 GMT -6
This is a great board, and one of the greatest most well-maintained coaching resources available.
But, what you are bringing attention to has been going on since 2005 and isn't going to change any time soon. You need to develop skills to weed through the frequent annoying foolishness (RPOs, facemelters, Mabel banjo coverages, unstoppable Double Wings that Chuck Norris couldn't defend, triangle defenses, INNOVATIVE THOUGHTS that will change the future of humanity, and schemes designed for paraplegic blind nuns to be successful) and filter down to some of the really REALLY good stuff.
Facemelters, by their very nature, are gonna want to talk about melting faces. Even they have a home here. Just chuckle, roll your eyes and keep moving.
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Post by lochness on Feb 29, 2016 22:23:29 GMT -6
I've been coaching for 23 years, and the defensive boards here drive me crazy. Way too clique-y with program-specific terminology. I'm not trying to offend anyone by saying it, just trying to say "don't feel bad, it's not just you." What you mean you don't want another rip/liz or a TCU blue sky solo thread? Only if we can be clear on when to integrate "Mabel vs 3x1" and converting to Banjo into our discussions. And dont even get me started on spurs, ponies, hybrids, donkeys, etc. haha!
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Post by lochness on Feb 29, 2016 21:59:03 GMT -6
Don't post often because I don't know much. I read all over though trying to learn. Trying to read the defense more but I just don't understand a lot of the terminology. Getting better though! My favorite one is probably the general board. Love reading how you all do things with your programs because my ultimate goal is to one day run my own program. Favorite threads are the face melter ones. Favorite blog is CoachBduds. Really need to read more of the offense and defense but school work comes first unfortunately. I've been coaching for 23 years, and the defensive boards here drive me crazy. Way too clique-y with program-specific terminology. I'm not trying to offend anyone by saying it, just trying to say "don't feel bad, it's not just you."
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Post by lochness on Feb 29, 2016 21:54:24 GMT -6
Convince them that it's not the coach they should be playing (or not playing) for, it's their classmates and friends who need them. And, unlike most other sports, organized 11-on-11 football is not something they can really ever play again.
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Post by lochness on Feb 28, 2016 21:12:40 GMT -6
I think it comes down to one thing, even ahead of culture:
LEADERSHIP
This, to me, encompasses everything we've talked about with regard to culture, player buy-in, player motivation and performance, weight room participation, coaching effectiveness, etc.
Coaching leadership and player leadership is the holy grail.
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Post by lochness on Feb 28, 2016 21:04:10 GMT -6
1. Weight program... Especially with in class lifting for all of the kids with their coach 2. Players... Weight room helps but having some raw talent is obviously critical 3. Money... Whether it comes from admin or boosters or fundraising... All successful teams I've seen have money coming in from somewhere... Even the "ghetto" schools get it somehow some way Notice I didn't mention coaching in the top 3. We think too highly of ourselves sometimes (myself included) Xs and Os, play calling... All overrated We've all made great play calls that didn't gain a yard, and horrible play calls that got lucky and your stud popped it for a big play or something Agreed, but I'd say one aspect of coaching is X's and O's, but more importantly is: Coaching- decision making, dedication, innovation, communication skills etc. How do programs go from 2-8 to State champs in a year or two? With the same kids? Often it's coaching- Coaching creates this culture you speak of, creates a sound o/d/spt system that plays on their kids abilities and doesn't contradict them, creates the beliefs needed to win games, creates the family environment etc...it doesn't just magically happen. To me, a successful program starts with coaching. 1) Coaching Leadership to set the culture 2) Players 3) Admin Support Happy kids=happy parents EDIT - I surrounded myself with the best coaches I know and turned a program around that didn't have a winning season in 10+ years...won the state championship with the same kids that went 5-5 the first year and 2-8 the year before. Same kids, different culture, different philosophy, sound systems of play...all coaching decisions. Nice post
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Post by lochness on Feb 27, 2016 21:35:06 GMT -6
Interesting question.
I participate in: General Board Career Board General Offense Running Game Offense
Read Frequently, but rarely post in: General Defense D Fronts D Coverages / Secondary Passing Game
Read Rarely, Never Post in: Special Teams (actually lots of good stuff...just not active enough a board) Strength and Conditioning
I don't go in the other areas much at all.
Now...interesting enough...maybe I should get out more.
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