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Post by rathernot on Oct 16, 2008 9:03:20 GMT -6
I coach at a junior high school that next year will split into two separate middle schools. These new middle schools will continue to feed one large high school. Most of the area high schools sponsor 8th grade teams that are associated with their program and are fed by all their feeder schools (usually 2 schools feed this team). We are in a different school district and are debating the merits of our football program moving forward. I am looking for input into the two plans that are up for debate.
The first plan is that both new schools will have their own football team completely separate from the other. They will play in the same conference that they play in now against largely smaller schools and play each other at the end of the season.
The second plan is that the schools will combine into one feeder program (as it is now) and play a full A schedule against the other large schools in the area and play a full B schedule in the original conference against mainly smaller school. Two separate teams "A" and "B" with two separate staffs.
As a coach which one of these plans would you prefer to; coach in, and/ or get your feeder players from as the high school coach?
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Post by justryn2 on Oct 16, 2008 9:18:25 GMT -6
If I was coaching at the Jr. High, I would rather pick my "A" team from the largest pool of talent available. I'm not really sure how I would feel about coaching the "B" team. I suspect that it might be difficult to keep that team together; kind of like, "Well, its not the 'A' team so why does it matter?" I could be wrong about that but I see it as a red flag.
However, if I'm the HS coach, I would probably prefer to see players coming from two completely separate programs because that would probably maximize the competitive playing experience of the players coming in to my program.
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Post by coachorr on Oct 16, 2008 10:14:08 GMT -6
I just took over a team that is exaclty this way. We are one Junior High that feeds one High School and there is another JH that feeds that same high school and another one.
Every team we play has two split 8th grade teams that combine into one 9th grade team. We only have one 8th grade team. Every game we were significantly outmanned, but we adjusted the scheme enough to be competitive. WE dressed on average about 21 kids, last night we dressed 19. Teams we play have about 40 to 50 kids, even the JH that feeds the two high schools.
Some people would argue that it would be advantagous to have more kids play, but the truth of the matter is that it is better to have more kids on a team, because by that time the kids who are going to really help your varsity are pretty much determined. If it were me, I would combine the teams.
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Post by wingt74 on Oct 16, 2008 11:25:10 GMT -6
Players learn fundamentals in practice right? And at this level, I believe that is most important.
My problem this season is I have 8 strong players, 8 bad players, and 8 terrible players. When coaching up the fundamentals, it becomes more and more difficult when the total quality of players on the team is poor. How can you teach a group of 5 OLineman to block when they are blocking a defensive front that is terrible?
You split those kids in half, your practices will suffer.
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Post by knight9299 on Oct 16, 2008 11:37:01 GMT -6
One of the local school districts is fed by 2 middle schools. They are now using the A squad and B squad philosophy. The biggest problem they are experiencing is transportation. Half the kids come from another location and bussing has been a little bit iffy, most of the time the bus is 15 to 30 minutes late. So instead of practicing 4 to 5:30 it turns into 4:30 to 5:30. Next year they will be having a team at each middle school to solve the transportation issue. So take that into account.
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Post by coachorr on Oct 16, 2008 11:41:28 GMT -6
Wingt74, you hit the nail on the head. Now think of it as having only one lineman who will possibly play when he is on the varsity squad. And when you play other teams, they have at least five linemen, usually more and usually on both sides of the ball who will start varsity, how do you prepare the other 4 to compete, when you don't even really have one?
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Post by coachwoodall on Oct 16, 2008 11:59:38 GMT -6
We went through this about 5 years ago. 1 Middle (Jr) school into 2 middle schools because of growth. Both schools feed 1 high school
We have separate teams at each school. Now our conference play has separate divisions for 7th and 8th grade.
We average about 50-60 on our 7th grade teams and about 40-50 on our 8th grade teams.
Now of course we loose some along the way, but now we have 2 qbs, 2 rbs, 8 wrs, etc..... to choose from when they get to the freshman team.
I can understand wanting to go with the A and B team concept, but often at that age, you sometimes are not quite sure whether not a kid is a DB or a WR, an OL or a LB. It gives the kids chance to work on those skills at a lower level for another year. Plus when they get to the freshman level, the freshman coaches look like the second coming of Bear Bryant with all that talent to choose from!! ;D
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