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Post by spreadbone on Sept 22, 2008 9:08:57 GMT -6
My first year as an hc has been a big disappointment and it's only week 3! We are 0-3 have only scored 3 td's and are not very good. The problem is we have the abiltiy to be more competitive than we are. We have some senior leadership issues going on as well as some coaching issues going on that are tearing us apart. I wish there was a team doctor we could go to, diagnose our problems and find the solution because behind every issue I find a different problem so it appears that there is no single cure. I really don't know what to do and that is why I'm turning to you guys on here. I'm trying to hold it together and be positive, but it is very difficult. I have a ton of issues from lack of coaches to internal senior leadership issues which would probably take more time to type than I have right now. The one thing I have a problem with is I know it is my fault and I'm getting blamed, but I cannot figure out why the kids lack motivation, why they don't execute, and why they aren't competitive? We run a much simpler offense than we did a year ago, and we run the same defense. The one thing we have done this year is attempt to platoon. I don't know if it is working or not, but our oline is struggling b/c we put our def. first. In years past we always seem to run out of gas in the 4th quarter and I was trying to make a change by platooning, but it seems now I was wrong. Of course the parents point this out, and I a dumba$$ for doing it, but 20 years of getting beat in the 4th qtr. was enough for me to try something different. Also, how much fire and energy should a team get from the coaching staff? I heard on Sat. when UF faced UT that the only energy and excitement on UT's team was coming from the staff and it wasn't helping. I mean really how fired up are you at practice? How fired up are you at the games? I try to control my emotions so I can focus on what is going on, so my mood is not intense. I'm just looking for what I'm doing wrong. My staff and I have been accused of blaming the players for the losses. IMO who plays the games, the players or the coaches? I think any scheme out there will work as long as it is executed, am I wrong? If I am then why doesn't everyone run the wing t and the 50 then? If the kids would just execute then they would see that the scheme works. It's almost as if we have the horse at the watering hole we led him there through thick and thin and now he won't drink. Help?  !!!! I have parents who have been lifelong freinds who are now turning on me. I had a dad in here today, who coached youth ball with me even question my ability as a coach. He also called me stubborn and told me stubborness can be both a good thing and a bad thing. I didn't know I was being stubborn?! Anyhow, I need some help, because I don't know what I'm doing wrong and that bothers me. I simply see it as young men not wanting to do what the coaches are asking of them. |
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sbv
Sophomore Member
Posts: 171
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Post by sbv on Sept 22, 2008 9:55:43 GMT -6
Coach, I don't know what size school you are at or what the tradition has been and I obviously don't have all of the answers but it sounds to my take on your situation is this: Play the boys who want to win. There were some posts on here about including competition in practice. I'm taking that and putting it in tomorrow because we have a pretty good team but our players lack confidence in themselves and I am hoping that this will show them what they can do. Through this you should have a pretty good idea who needs to be getting playing time. As far as platooning your boys, I only have 30 on the team and my kids know that the best 11 will play 99% of the game. We have conditioned for this during the offseason and so far I feel like we have done a good job keeping them competitive in the 4th quarter. It you have 70 kids on your varsity, I think you could probably be able to platoon your kids, but if there is a big drop in talent, I'd play the better ones both ways. Everyone makes mistakes and owning up to it is the toughest part, and you've done that by placing the blame on yourself. The kids do play the game but if you are playing kids who won't give it their all, you are doing a disservice to those who will. Remember, that your 11 best players aren't always your best 11. If I was in the situation, I'd look to the younger kids to give them a taste of varsity and see where their heart lies. Good luck coach.
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Post by olinecoach61 on Sept 22, 2008 10:52:48 GMT -6
There are a lot directions I could go but I'll say a few things that stick out.
*Intensity: if you are being calm and keeping a cool head, is another coach getting in people's faces. Not every coach is a screamer but I think each staff needs to have a guy or two whose role it is to put their foot in the behind every now and again.
*Scheme Execution: 1. They don't understand the why. 2. They don't believe in the scheme. 3. They don't respect their coaches. I would bet on #1 but you never know.
*Keep in mind I'm an OC, I would always put the offense ahead of the defense in terms of practice time and reps. You don't score you don't win.
*Public Relations: Somehow some people are getting the impression you blame the kids whether thats true or not. Look through some old clippings and re - read your qoutes. Maybe they come across to others different than you intended. Always take the blame for the loss and pass the credit for the win to the players / asst. coaches.
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MaineManiac
Junior Member
What you see depends on what you're looking for.
Posts: 311
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Post by MaineManiac on Sept 22, 2008 18:06:57 GMT -6
Great post DCohio. As a professional I'm appreciative spreadbone gets the benefit of your thoughts. Thanks for taking the time to respond as such during a time of year where there are very few extra seconds.
On a secondary note, I'm an associate head coach - I agree with every one of DCohio's points.
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Post by ajreaper on Sept 22, 2008 20:46:54 GMT -6
LOL, hell I want to play for DCOhio after reading that post (waaayyyyy past my prime however). That was an excellent post.
For what it's worth don't ever, ever worry about what some parent thinks- they always give "what's best for the team" speech/advice but they always have an agenda involving thier child- ALWAYS. Do what you think is best and if they want to fire you so be it but at least you went down doing what you believed was right.
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Post by coachorr on Sept 22, 2008 21:43:17 GMT -6
Great points. I am in the same boat as Spreadbone. I am just sorry to hear that parents are coming down on you. This is my first year as an HC and we are 1-3, we scored 100 points in our first three games, but were shutout last week, as our Q went down with a deep thigh bruise. We have not been very good up front, so our entire package has been based on a Jet sweep running attack and a R&S passing attack. Once we lost mobility from our Q and then him finally going out of the game, it sealed the deal for us.
Same thing you are going through, kids do not know how to practice hard and I have been pulling my hair out trying to get them to. Moreover we have suffered three or four other key injuries.
We have a good core of kids of about 7 or 8 players who want to compete and who want to put out the effort but the rest are not committed.
We had about 21 kids for 2-a-days and then when school started we had another 10 or 12 kids sign up. I am not sure this was good for us as it just created more paperwork for me and these kids have been perpetually behind. I sold myself to the devil as I thought there would be two kids who could have helped us upfront have in the end, just been big bumps on the log. Except for those two kids at 250lbs, our line is about 150 lbs, which the offense was geared for those kids, I just thought that the two big kids could have helped us. Well, they have only hurt us with poor practice habits, laziness and penalties during the game.
Anyway, a week or two ago, I laid down the law on attendance. It had been pretty good over the last few weeks until today. Only 18 kids dressed, some kids had to go to the doctor, some were injured, and others just blew it off. Those who decided to sluff it, will be running bear crawl hit-its. Those who informed me they would be gone will be running to make up the practice.
It will be interesting to see what happens. It is hard enough competing against other kids who average over 200 lbs on the line and dress over 45 kids. See, our Junior High is the only one that is split with another one. We feed one high school and the other Junior High that feeds the same high school feeds two High Schools, but still it is no excuse for not competing and having poor work ethic.
In my ten years as a varsity assistant, I have never experienced anything like this.
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Post by talexander on Sept 23, 2008 1:49:32 GMT -6
I'm with you all--0 and 2 and just lost to a team 21-14.we should have beat
Second play- TD called back for clipping 20 yrds behind play.
Next drive-1st goal on 4, back up TE misses block on sweep--just had to get in the way-sure TD. Next Play drop a pass in edzone.
This continued--
it doesn't get easier with upcoming games
Problem is, we just aren't very good--last year an easy schedule and JV success led to inflated expectations. To make matters worse, our very talented RB gets hurt at practice--could be done.
Parents thought that we were actually a good team and are now coming out of the woodwork. These are the same parents who complained about their kids having to come to weight training, saying "it can't be mandatory!". Now, our team getting manhandled on game night by a stronger, faster opponent and it is suddenly "playcalling/coaching" issues.
We may do well to go 2-8 this year, if we work hard--but that is not happening.
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kr7263
Sophomore Member
Posts: 228
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Post by kr7263 on Sept 23, 2008 6:38:40 GMT -6
I asked a friend of mine who was fired from an NFL job "what is going on with the team?" This was the following fall after the team he was fired from fell flat on their face. He replied "Coach I have no idea because I'm not coaching there anymore." In other words, it's easy to criticize from the outside, but without experiencing the day to day issues its difficult to give specific advise.
I am currently in a "rebuilding" process after 20 years of coaching winners (state championships/NCAA playoffs etc). It is extremely challenging because you are dealing with attitudes / negative traditions & mental barriers. My kids are physically and mentally prepared week to week but cannot finish. We seem to continually shoot ourselves in the foot penalties, mental errors etc. Also, the coaches have done so little for so long it is a given that they can punch in 20 MN after school and punch out 2 MN after practice.
1. Have a plan and work your plan - use the experts and experience from this board and friends / mentors to do what works.
2. Stay the course - be consistent and constant in every thing. Teach and force fundamentals in all things - never compromise basic sound football so that you can "out scheme" a better opponent.
3. Be swift and harsh in discipline; loving, kind and caring in praise. My lovable losers will test me everyday but they need to be held accountable but also need my approval.
4. Don't second guess yourself - we all make mistakes, we all wish we did something differently. Move on - we tell the kids to strap up and play the next play - I also tell myself this every game.
5. Everyone has the answers but very few are willing to pay the price. Winning comes because you consistently do the right thing over the course of the season. NOT because of the scheme, plays called, etc.
6. You can't climb a mountain without first setting the rigging and climbing the wall. Set short term reachable goals and focus on them. Give the kids rewards for reaching goals.
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Post by coachnichols on Sept 23, 2008 7:49:36 GMT -6
Senior leadership issues? I'm experiencing that one right now.
I'm not the head coach, but from this experience I am taking this: I will not ever, ever, ever depend on seniors I inherit to be my leaders (this is assuming one would be taking over a bad situation). I didn't "raise" them, so I can't depend on them. If they step up, great. If they don't, well that's what I expected. I'm not depending on them. I will build from juniors on down and put a lot of emphasis on the freshmen.
There is no single cure; you said it. You have to stick your guns so to speak and do what you know is right. It's very easy to get down on yourself and very easy for others to criticize a coach. If you are taking over a terrible program, of course the kids don't know how to compete. They don't know how to win. You have to teach them and it's going to be tough. It will take time and a whole lot of effort on your part (and hopefully your staff's part too). I don't know your specific situation, but in taking over what we've taken over here, I could say the same things you are saying. It sucks. You have to keep plugging away (sorry about the cliche's) and work every day to teach them how to win/compete/not be scared/etc.
I don't know why they are being stubborn, but sometimes it seems when you are winning everyone will be your friend and you are a great coach. When you're losing you're an a**hole and can't coach to save your life. Maybe that's what your situation is now. I would guess you aren't doing anything wrong, it's just a tough situation that is not going to turn overnight. If it is, stubborness might be just what's needed.
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Post by ajreaper on Sept 23, 2008 10:10:36 GMT -6
LOL...yea, you guys say that but when it's you paying the piper I'd be a "SOB". DC when I went through Marine Corp boot camp 20+ years ago I did not "like" my drill instructors, how they treated us (at first) and what the cost was for mistakes however about 2/3rds of the way through the "why" for it all clicked and there is rarely a day that goes by that I do not think back about a lesson they taught me and I'd bet that's true for the athletes you've coached over the years- LOL, you may be an SOB at times but know it's important they learn the lesson's you are willing to teach them and from reading your posts here for the past year you love the job and the kids so there's no question those kids are fortunate to call you coach. KR- excellent post! |
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Post by bulldogoption on Sept 23, 2008 17:24:28 GMT -6
Your kids want to win but they don't want to work for it. They want it to be as easy as sucking a$$ has been for the last few years. They say they want to win, but have NO IDEA what kind of effort winning athletes AND coaching staffs put in.......the problem is nobody understands this except winning coaches and players and some losing coaches. Most athletes and parents have no clue. You can't usually rationalize with either....apples and oranges.
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Post by coachd5085 on Sept 23, 2008 20:33:08 GMT -6
Your kids want to win but they don't want to work for it. They want it to be as easy as sucking a$$ has been for the last few years. They say they want to win, but have NO IDEA what kind of effort winning athletes AND coaching staffs put in.......the problem is nobody understands this except winning coaches and players and some losing coaches. Most athletes and parents have no clue. You can't usually rationalize with either....apples and oranges. EXACTLY!!!! Very well put. Everyone wants to WIN. Precious few want to DO WHAT IT TAKES to win. Precious few even KNOW what it takes to win. So many think it is playcalling...or even worse, just generic bad "coaching" (as in, "we were 'outcoached'"). You hit the nail on the head. Many teams/players/parents/fans/bad coaches think it is winning is just as easy as sucking. |
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Post by cqmiller on Sept 24, 2008 9:13:03 GMT -6
Your kids want to win but they don't want to work for it. They want it to be as easy as sucking a$$ has been for the last few years. They say they want to win, but have NO IDEA what kind of effort winning athletes AND coaching staffs put in.......the problem is nobody understands this except winning coaches and players and some losing coaches. Most athletes and parents have no clue. You can't usually rationalize with either....apples and oranges. Amen... We are having that issue right now too. The kids around here think that it's not worth trying hard if you MIGHT lose anyway. They want everything to be cheap and free. No such thing in football. We're just trying to keep the staff all together on the same page so we can keep consistancy, and then just teaching/re-teaching/re-re-teaching/... the same stuff over and over. Eventually you will get a few kids where the lightbulb comes on and things will improve a little. |
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kr7263
Sophomore Member
Posts: 228
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Post by kr7263 on Sept 24, 2008 9:31:08 GMT -6
cq- we are 3,000 miles apart but you must be at our practice every day. How many ways can you tell a kid how to tackle? how to block? how to hold a football? Lou Holtz story.
ND staff watching film. Holtz "why is that DB using that poor technique?" DB coach "Coach Ive told that kid 1000 times how to do it right." Coach Holtz stops the film looks at the coach in the eye and says "What if that kid needs to hear it 1001 times, Coach that is your job to teach him what to do. If he doesn't do it correctly, than you are not teaching him correctly."
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Post by cqmiller on Sept 24, 2008 10:34:34 GMT -6
cq- we are 3,000 miles apart but you must be at our practice every day. How many ways can you tell a kid how to tackle? how to block? how to hold a football? Lou Holtz story. ND staff watching film. Holtz "why is that DB using that poor technique?" DB coach "Coach Ive told that kid 1000 times how to do it right." Coach Holtz stops the film looks at the coach in the eye and says "What if that kid needs to hear it 1001 times, Coach that is your job to teach him what to do. If he doesn't do it correctly, than you are not teaching him correctly." I hear you... I've come up with more analogies for "keep your outside arm free", and "use your hips and drive your feet on contact" than I thought possible. Some of them have made sense to me, some not, but you just keep trying and trying... It can get very discouraging, but when a kid finally gets it and understands what he needs to do, it is a great thing. Our staff has been really discouraged the last couple of weeks because we coach the practices and then the games, only to watch the film and OF COURSE the bad things are what stick out the most, and we always want to correct those things, but we are stuck in that middle-ground between the 2 sides: 1) High Expectations of the Kids - Expect them to do it right every time, and don't accept anything less. and 2) Not caring about winning and losing, just improving upon margin of defeat. Both of these are almost impossible to do... In the first case, if we expect them to do it right every time, then we are going to turn into that Varsity Blues Coach that the kids don't think cares about them at all and only cares about winning. In the second case, if we just want to improve on how bad we lose, that is discouraging to the kids because then they think we don't believe they can be good... just not as bad. I see them "giving-up" either way. We are trying to find that "happy-medium" where we expect them to do it right, but at the same time, have smaller goals than winning each game. This week we play a team that is 2-0 and has outscored their opponents 118-0. We are 0-2 and were within 7 points at half each game, but then "gave-up" on the second half and allowed the score to get out of hand at the end. We have been preparing the kids to try and win the game, but as a staff we all know that keeping the score respectable is about as much as we can hope for. (The team we play beat our rival 76-0 last week, and we are always about even-par with our rival team...) |
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Post by jgordon1 on Sept 24, 2008 19:46:10 GMT -6
Ohio: always weems to be a qb that needs to find a spot. maybe it's because we don't have the #'s you have, but I have had some good luck w/ qb's coming over on Def and helping us out. generally thay have a good nose for the game but for some reason or another they just couldn't get it done over there.
Hay in the barn thing: my college coach used to say this EVERY single week Coach P: Men they hay is in the barn. me: what the F does that mean LOL
To me the hay is never in the barn, coach , I don't think you believe that either. you are always making game adjustments. if you knew a blitz would work on Friday morn because you just saw something that night, i bet you would install it. I know you use very few words in your system so it would be a snap. I always have a few adjustments I might make in my head just in case they do this or that. you can't practice every possible scenario and I don't want to confuse them w/ maybe
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Post by phantom on Sept 24, 2008 20:49:01 GMT -6
Ohio: always weems to be a qb that needs to find a spot. maybe it's because we don't have the #'s you have, but I have had some good luck w/ qb's coming over on Def and helping us out. generally thay have a good nose for the game but for some reason or another they just couldn't get it done over there. Hay in the barn thing: my college coach used to say this EVERY single week Coach P: Men they hay is in the barn. me: what the F does that mean LOL To me the hay is never in the barn, coach , I don't think you believe that either. you are always making game adjustments. if you knew a blitz would work on Friday morn because you just saw something that night, i bet you would install it. I know you use very few words in your system so it would be a snap. I always have a few adjustments I might make in my head just in case they do this or that. you can't practice every possible scenario and I don't want to confuse them w/ maybe I agree with Ohio about "the hay being in the barn". There will be an adjustment to be made here and there but if your stuff isn't together by the Thursday walk-through, it probably isn't going to get together. |
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Post by schultbear74 on Sept 24, 2008 21:07:17 GMT -6
Great thread. I love to learn from you guys as much as I love the affirmation. Taking over a program is hard. Winning or losing, getting the seniors on board is tough and often out of the question. I have been in programs (6 of them) and transitions are the toughest. Sometimes you have to gut it out for as many as 3 or 4 years until all of the kids are with you.
The rewards are greatest as more and more kids are "with you".
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Post by CoachCP on Sept 24, 2008 21:29:22 GMT -6
I agree with the thoughts on having one or two staff members who are high intensity, in a positive way. Guys who can jump on you, but also get excited when big plays are made.
I know this doesn't help much, but if I was to place those guys at positions, it would be defensive line first and probably secondary second. I am also an advocate of my secondary coach being the "Turnover Coordinator" if I don't have an extra staff member for that. Basically that coach is responsible for all out hustle to every ball by the whole defense even on incomplete passes. Every dropped ball is picked up by the defense.
I think two really high energy guys are crucial. But I also think two really level headed coaches are as well. Those would hopefully be the offensive line coach and the offensive coordinator.
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Post by coachcb on Sept 24, 2008 21:33:09 GMT -6
My staff and I have been accused of blaming the players for the losses. IMO who plays the games, the players or the coaches? IMO, this is one of the major issues in your program right now. Placing blame on the athletes, even behind closed doors, will cause you nothing but problems. I have been down this road before and it absolutely breeds negativity. The kids take the losses upon themselves, but in a really negative way; self-confidence crashes and football becomes a bad portion of their life. If the responsibility for the losses lies with your players, how can you fix the problems? The best thing about taking responsibility as a coach is that now you have the mind frame to fix the issue. |
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Post by coachorr on Sept 24, 2008 22:23:03 GMT -6
Everyone wants to go to heaven, no one wants to die.
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Post by justryn2 on Sept 25, 2008 6:47:00 GMT -6
CoachCB hit the nail on the head, IMO. It's easy to blame the players and frankly, anyone should be able to win with clearly superior talent. What exactly is it about the players? Are they not athletic enough? "Someone" should be encouraging more time in the weight room and spending more time teaching technique during practice. Are they not motivated enough? Well, whose job is to motivate them? Do they not understand the game? Again, whose responsible for teaching it?
We all know that talent varies from year to year at every program yet, some coaches are able to produce winners year after year after year. I've found that the more I get my players thinking about winning football the less they are thinking about playing football. Strangely, they don't seem to win much unless they are thinking about playing.
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Post by coachcb on Sept 25, 2008 8:08:51 GMT -6
CoachCB hit the nail on the head, IMO. It's easy to blame the players and frankly, anyone should be able to win with clearly superior talent. What exactly is it about the players? Are they not athletic enough? "Someone" should be encouraging more time in the weight room and spending more time teaching technique during practice. Are they not motivated enough? Well, whose job is to motivate them? Do they not understand the game? Again, whose responsible for teaching it? We all know that talent varies from year to year at every program yet, some coaches are able to produce winners year after year after year. I've found that the more I get my players thinking about winning football the less they are thinking about playing football. Strangely, they don't seem to win much unless they are thinking about playing. I coached on a team several years ago that struggled through this very issue. We were a fairly talented unit; some positions were actually very good. However, there were issues on the coaching staff; ALOT OF THEM. We were an inexperienced coaching staff in many ways and we all had big egos. We lost our first game of the year in a fairly competitive fashion; 49-35, or something along those lines. We were playing one oif the best programs in the state and I felt that we did fairly well. Anywho, we all sat down in the office after the game and I started listing the things that I needed to work on with the positions I coached. Here were the comments going around the room in response: "Man, we just aren't any good..." "Can't make chicken soup out of chicken crap..." "Gonna be a long year.." From that point on, I knew we were going to be in trouble. Those negative sentiments got worse and worse throughout the year. Ther staff had basically given up one game into the year. |
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Post by jgordon1 on Sept 25, 2008 9:57:08 GMT -6
Everyone wants to go to heaven, no one wants to die. You obviously haven't met my wife, I'm ready. I think you wife and mine are sisters |
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Post by bulldogoption on Sept 25, 2008 10:04:25 GMT -6
Everyone wants to go to heaven, no one wants to die.  Very Profound coachorr ;D |
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Post by ajreaper on Sept 25, 2008 10:59:51 GMT -6
Everyone wants to go to heaven, no one wants to die. You obviously haven't met my wife, I'm ready. Well that comment resulted in diet coke being spewed on my computer screen and keyboard- now my 3rd hour really thinks there is something worng with me. |
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Post by coachorr on Sept 25, 2008 22:39:33 GMT -6
WTF? How did you get a photo of me? Obviously in my younger years, as I am a bigger monkey now.
We beat the S... out of a team with 55 kids dressed. We rolled off the bus with 18 dressed and took it to em. Fundamentals and the little things are taking over. Also, we let the dead weight fall off the deck. The two big kids who I thought might help us initially, we cut them out. They missed practices, one injured one forgot his pads twice and then had to go home with his mom to do homework. Neither one even dressed. We played lesser kids, ones who have been there thick and thin and whom have not had excuses and we overcame with 18 committed players.
Thanks to DCohio D5085 bulldogoption and others' counsel who have convinced me that staying the course and making the kids stick to what we say is the only way. Last week 32 kids dressed, this week 18 and we competed. Thanks guys.
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Post by coachorr on Sept 25, 2008 22:43:48 GMT -6
One more thing that I don't think kids get.
"There is no magic switch that you can just turn on Friday Night that will make you competitive".
And I am not just talkin kids. How can you run out of drills to do in practice? Anyone ever experience this pehenomenon?
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Post by coachbrexrode on Sept 27, 2008 1:29:19 GMT -6
Coachcb
It's you can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh$t. You can only add mayonnaise. We are 3-1 with a very talented team but a lot of individual play. We have added a lot of mayonnaise this year. In the past I've done a better job coaching a 500 team then when we won district. But admin, boosters, alumni and parents don't always see it that way.
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burn
Sophomore Member
Posts: 181
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Post by burn on Sept 30, 2008 23:17:03 GMT -6
Spread,
I am somewhat in the same boat as you and I would guess some others on this site. Quick synopsis of season so far: 1st game lost in the fourth quarter last minute, 2nd game lost in the fourth quarter last minute, 3rd game lost in the fourth quarter last minute and we had the ball. All three games we led at half time and all three games had a lead in the fourth quarter. The team I have consists of a senior class that was 0-10 as freshman and 1-9 as sophomores, and the junior class was 1-9 and 1-9. The kids have never won except the senior class last year as juniors when I took over the program. Many of the statements you made are much like my kids. My hair is grayer and my blood pressure is up. So what we did was I quit doing all of the talking and sat the kids down. I asked four questions and put the students into groups and they chose group leaders. The first question was "What are your goals for the season" and the groups came up with 3 sentences for their goals. The second question was "How do we attain those goals" and the groups wrote 3 sentences. The third question was for every player "What do you want to be your legacy or how do you want people to talk about you after you are gone as a football player" and they wrote three sentences. The final question was "What is the theme for this year." Each group leader read the answers to questions 1, 2 and 4. I then took all of their papers home and wrote up a mission statement. The next day I read the mission statement and their theme. I now said it is not me this is what you guys want and not only will I hold you accountable but every one of you needs to hold yourself and the others to your mission. The mission is up on the bulletin board and every player has one in their locker. Under the one on the bulletin board is every player's and coach's signature. It has made an immediate impact in our practices, our effort and our focus. The kids now have a why as to how they should compete and their accountability. Practices have been focused and intense. Many kids took this to heart and have taken full ownership of this mission and are leading by example and kicking other kids in the butt. We have a competitive fight in practice daily and kids are stepping up. I can not control our limited athletic ability but I can hold these kids to a higher standard. This so far has worked for us and we have become better. The athletes that were cancers are now on board because the others and staff are calling them out. Peer pressure can be used positively. Good luck coach and remember do it your way, don't worry about parents because they have single minded agendas and Rome wasn't built in a day.
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