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Post by Yash on Oct 22, 2008 19:09:50 GMT -6
Rome wasn't built overnight. YOu just have to decide if you want to be on the construction crew or not. This upcoming offseason is the time to review everything you did and think about what you want to keep the same, or what you want to change. Is there something you can do to make the game more fun to make it appeal more to the kids who keep quitting? Is there a way you can sit down and talk to the higher ups about the issues you have with them?
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Post by coachdawhip on Oct 22, 2008 19:53:40 GMT -6
You guys are missing the point, it's not the kids.
It's the boosters and principal. The principal has already written you up, the principal is trying to make a paper trail and my show you in a negative light, even if you aren't 100% wrong.
He can have 80 kids on the team, he has to have assistants, the principal is trying to make the job hard.
I know everyone is saying stay for the kids sake, but who is doing anything for airraider's sake?
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Post by touchdownmaker on Oct 23, 2008 6:10:45 GMT -6
Administraters are not perfect. The season is not over and perhaps if air says and does the right things the paper trail ends. Quitters never win and winners never quit. No matter how difficult things are Air can lead those kids every day and every way. Perhaps air works best with a chip on his shoulder and the boss being up his butt might just be what he needs to geterdone. Air, hang in there, overcome the adversity. Massive success is the best revenge. Rather than taking it hard when the principal gets on you, ask for suggestions on handling some things you might not see eye to eye on. Never know, that just might be what the boss wants to see and hear.
I do not agree with tucking the tail and running here. It serves as a poor example to kids who have bought in and who have worked hard to be part of what you believe in. You can not hope to make everyone happy and trying to do so will drive you insane.
Focus your energy now on the kids who you can trust and find the motivation to dig a little deeper and work a little harder. Think about some of the mistakes you have made (everyone makes them) and correct 2-3 things every week. You get better or you get worse, make sure every day you get better.
My final word on this, air, never ever quit.
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Post by rideanddecide on Oct 23, 2008 6:32:39 GMT -6
Alright, so who can answer the million dollar question?
What's the difference between quitting and leaving in search of a better opportunity?
What if Air gets another opportunity to be HC at a school that may be a better fit for him? What if he wants to step back to focus on something specific as an assistant again?
Is he quitting?
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Post by silkyice on Oct 23, 2008 6:34:30 GMT -6
My final word on this, air, never ever quit. Is getting another job quitting?
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Post by rideanddecide on Oct 23, 2008 6:45:10 GMT -6
The key part of my question is "in search of" a better opportunity.
What is wrong with knowing what you want and dedicating yourself to finding it?
Is that quitting or is that a fair thing to do?
Why does a coach have to stay as HC at a place where he doesn't mesh philosophically with the community or administration?
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Post by touchdownmaker on Oct 23, 2008 6:45:26 GMT -6
How would you view a player who left your school to go play football at another school? Did he quit?
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Post by rideanddecide on Oct 23, 2008 6:50:33 GMT -6
How would you view a player who left your school to go play football at another school? Did he quit? comparing a head football coach to a kid is not even a close comparison. The "demands of the job" are so different and, hopefully, the kid doesn't have kids of his own to care for.
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Post by coachnichols on Oct 23, 2008 7:20:36 GMT -6
A little background on my principal and our relationship.. First day in.. he has meeting with me and makes sure I know that "HE" hired me.. not the booster club.. that I was there because "HE" wanted me there.. And that I was not the best candidate for the job.. but the other guy didnt have his paperwork all together.. He told me that football has no money.. its the school's money.. He spent a $1000 donation from the neighborhood association that was given to us to buy equipment.. to pay our state dues and for coaching membership cards for coaches of other sports. Made me and my staff attend a faculty meeting at 3:45 on a game day.. we were set to leave the school at 5.. so I had volunteer coaches getting the kids ready to go.. He wrote me up this past week due to an incident where I asked the opposing coach why he was trying to run the score up on us.. Tried to make myself and other head coaches sign a paper that stated we would be personally financially liable if we were fined by our association for eligiblity issues. After Hurricane Gustav.. we were not able to practice that Monday or Tues.. due to school being out.. we did get together weds evening in the gym.. myself and the other coach got together to attempt to reschule our Thursday night game to Saturday.. everyone was on board.. but he wouldnt let it happen.. stated that the parents would get mad if we changed it.. But come to find out.. he went to his alma mater's football game on saturday.. and I am sure that is why he didnt want to change it.. From what you wrote (that I've quoted), you should have never taken the job. This principal does not want a winning program. From what you said, IMO you should have told him you've made a mistake and turned in the resignation. Do they have something like an annulment for jobs? "Nope. Sorry! Mulligan on this. I can't work here! Bye!"
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Post by jgordon1 on Oct 23, 2008 8:16:02 GMT -6
I have never been a head coach so please help me. Alot has been written about lack of administartion support. How does an adminstartion not support you? I can think of only three ways. #1 steal take your money #2 not approve the hiring of the people you want #3 lies to you. IMO and as I stated before, have no head coach experience, we should just try as much as possible to keep it between the lines. I have heard this called the "Circle of Control" in the AFCA manual
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Post by rideanddecide on Oct 23, 2008 8:31:31 GMT -6
Coach jgordon, good to see you here.
Admin can not support you by telling you one thing and then doing another. Example: "The school board wants you to do this so we are going to do as told." Then when you ask the superintendent he fully supports whatever you want done and knows nothing about what the AD said.
About allowing other programs in the school to do things one way and then get on your case because you are trying to make your program top class.
Example: I confronted a kid a few weeks ago as he walked into school. He had his name in the paper for underage drinking. His second ticket. I told him I didn't want him wearing his jersey in school that day. My AD got all over my back for embarrassing this kid (there was no one else in the hallway), and holding expectations over kids that are higher than other programs. Exact words were, "you can't do that because no other coach in this district would."
There are a lot of different things admin can do to make life difficult. I think the key is what type of district do you work in. In some districts this abuse of power can be overcome. In others it would cost you your job.
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Post by jgordon1 on Oct 23, 2008 8:59:21 GMT -6
but here's the problem...WHY, did the principal, the HR and a news reporter attend the meeting? I could possibly see the principal and the HR person in a meeting but a reporter??? how does a principal let this happen
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Post by silkyice on Oct 23, 2008 9:04:20 GMT -6
How would you view a player who left your school to go play football at another school? Did he quit? So football coaching is a lifelong commitment to one school or you are a quitter? What about an assistant coach who leaves to become a OC or DC or head coach? Is that still quitting? It would be just like a player who left to go to another school so he could play another postition or get more playing time. A player who quits is one who quits in the middle of the season. A coach who quits is one who quits in the middle of the season. After the season, all should evaluate their postion and place. What about a coach who retires? Is he quitting?
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Post by touchdownmaker on Oct 23, 2008 9:21:26 GMT -6
COMMITMENT SACRIFICE AVAILABILITY WORK ETHIC LOYALTY DEDICATION ENERGY ENTHUSIASM HONOR HONESTY DISCIPLINE DESIRE The very things we expect from our players. www.prismltd.com/commit.htmPay close attention to the final paragraph: "WHEN IT IS MOST IMPORTANT Commitment is most difficult and most readily proven during tough times. How someone weathers the storms most clearly demonstrates their basic beliefs. In antiquity, Epicurus stated: "...a captain earns his reputation during the storms." When your competition scores big against you, when the money dries up, or when the glamour of success wears off, this is when it is easiest to compromise your commitments. The real test comes when you can hold the line against the easy route of compromise. Fortunately, paying the price that commitment commands has payoffs worth the cost - a reputation for integrity and, even more important, the commitment of others in return. Commitment is a two-way street. You only get it if you are willing to give it. " At what point does a Coach say " I can no longer commit to this job"- its a personal choice I suppose. For any job a coach is going to have to have a thick skin and take criticism from his superiors from time to time. He might also need to be disciplined (air has been disciplined for his actions and can a) tuck and run or b) grow and learn from it) If a coach is not himself "coachable" then he will be doomed to scoot off from one job to another for the rest of his coaching days. Its unrealistic to think that the head coach and his superiors will always be in 100 percent agreement on every action or reaction. "lack of support" has to be more than just a disagreement doesnt it? I would think that there at times must be some give and take philosophically as the admin has to take some heat if the header is a problem child. SIMILARLY any coach who constantly thinks the grass is always greener somewhere else will likely fail where he is - "BE WHERE YOU ARE AT" applies to head coaching as well as assistant coaching roles. I think its stupid to consider a promotion "quitting" so I am not sure why any one would seek to argue that. Lateral moves for the wrong reasons certainly can be considered quitting.
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Post by rideanddecide on Oct 23, 2008 10:01:26 GMT -6
COMMITMENT Commitment is a two-way street. You only get it if you are willing to give it. " . Well said coach. Regarding this quote though, what if you give it and give it and give it and it never comes back? I'm all for sticking through the tough times, and finding an answer for your struggles. However, sometimes the grass really is greener and that coach should not have to be called a quitter. Especially if that coach HAS improved the quality of the program, and HAS given everything he can give. We're all awfully quick to call out others when we dont' all walk in the same set of shoes. Let's be real, sometimes it just ain't gonna happen no matter how dynamic the coach is or how hard they work.
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Post by silkyice on Oct 23, 2008 10:15:53 GMT -6
COMMITMENT SACRIFICE AVAILABILITY WORK ETHIC LOYALTY DEDICATION ENERGY ENTHUSIASM HONOR HONESTY DISCIPLINE DESIRE The very things we expect from our players. www.prismltd.com/commit.htmPay close attention to the final paragraph: "WHEN IT IS MOST IMPORTANT Commitment is most difficult and most readily proven during tough times. How someone weathers the storms most clearly demonstrates their basic beliefs. In antiquity, Epicurus stated: "...a captain earns his reputation during the storms." When your competition scores big against you, when the money dries up, or when the glamour of success wears off, this is when it is easiest to compromise your commitments. The real test comes when you can hold the line against the easy route of compromise. Fortunately, paying the price that commitment commands has payoffs worth the cost - a reputation for integrity and, even more important, the commitment of others in return. Commitment is a two-way street. You only get it if you are willing to give it. " At what point does a Coach say " I can no longer commit to this job"- its a personal choice I suppose. For any job a coach is going to have to have a thick skin and take criticism from his superiors from time to time. He might also need to be disciplined (air has been disciplined for his actions and can a) tuck and run or b) grow and learn from it) If a coach is not himself "coachable" then he will be doomed to scoot off from one job to another for the rest of his coaching days. Its unrealistic to think that the head coach and his superiors will always be in 100 percent agreement on every action or reaction. "lack of support" has to be more than just a disagreement doesnt it? I would think that there at times must be some give and take philosophically as the admin has to take some heat if the header is a problem child. SIMILARLY any coach who constantly thinks the grass is always greener somewhere else will likely fail where he is - "BE WHERE YOU ARE AT" applies to head coaching as well as assistant coaching roles. I think its stupid to consider a promotion "quitting" so I am not sure why any one would seek to argue that. Lateral moves for the wrong reasons certainly can be considered quitting. Coach, I actually agree with you on all points, but one. You are not a quitter if you go somewhere else after the season is over. I also agree that it should be for the right reasons, and yes, someone who does that all the time is not to be trusted. And yes, I apply that to players also. I might be dissappointed in them for leaving or deciding not to play, but I don't think of them as a "quitter" in that situation.
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Post by ajreaper on Oct 23, 2008 10:48:13 GMT -6
Rebuilding a program, hell even maintaining a program, requires adminstrative and parental support if you won't get one or the other you have a nearly impossible job in front of you, if you'll get neither it is impossible.
Often the bigest obstacle to overcome with the adminstration and parents is the feeling the problem is, was coaching. In programs that have struggled for a period of time it's never just about coaching it's about changing the culture of the program and changing the attitude of players, parents and in some cases the adminstration.
Often they cannot understand the coach keeps changing yet the team still struggles and the constants have been same administration same booster club/members- they refuse to admit they need to change not just keep blaming coaches and keep a revolving door going with them but never address other issues other then "coaching".
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Post by intelloff on Oct 27, 2008 10:51:27 GMT -6
Airraider, How is your coaching staff? I aks because it seems like, to me, if you want to generate the succeess you desire you may want to expand you prescribed duties beyond items (tactics and strategies) to things outside the football field. In brief, as a coach and a Marine Officer, it took me years to learn that I had to find responsible, knowledgeable and trustworthy Marines and coaches (in both professional and my coaching experiences) that I can pass my guidance and critical informational requirements on to knowing they will properly execute under my guidance. I then expanded my scope to the larger issues, those that had sometimes what appears the least critical impact upon my units and programs; often this is the less glorious and "fun" work but it is often the primary work of a leader. So, taking inventory, can you depend upon your coaching staff to function with your general guidance to put game plans together and keep you informed? Can you focus on being an administrator of the program wile letting your staff fill in the specific tactical details? Next, have you developed a strategy for handling the school officials? The student-athletes? The parents? Do you have a communication plan? I have seen that a majority of these problems stem from a lack of an aggressive communication plan? Further, do you have a budget? If so, what can you do to increase it? What is your fundrainsing plan? And how can you enlist the adminstration/student/community support on this one? Equipment--definitely sounds like a problem....but have you and your staff strategized on how to fix this?
If I can frame a context for thinking and strategizing, foe every problem that you are confronted with (and you perhaps already realize it) think: "What are the ways to win?" In the USMC we would call this "Course of Action Development." I think it is very applicable for any organization and can often be dumbed down to a brainstorming seession for you and your staff. Believe me, on this one, the answers are there--just break patterns and think outside your traditional patterns and behaviors.
Intelloff
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Post by btincup on Oct 27, 2008 11:47:58 GMT -6
I feel your pain !
I went the other direction this year and took an assistant coaches position which I have not done in 8 years. I ended up in the same scenario as you except my head coach is a teacher and rides the same horse as the principal and AD. Totally disorganized and dysfunctional !
What I have found is successful teams have very little to do with the talent of your kids. It obviously helps to have some studs but with organization, discipline and support you can have a successful season. In my opinion a Head Coach actually does very little coaching of the kids and more coaching with his staff. Once your staff has a plan then your staff can implement during practice. We haven't had any of that this year. Our head coach shows up with a drill book in his hands and asks us what we would like to do today.
In your situation I think your only option is to finish out the season and then move on. It's hard cause it truly isn't your fault but part of the HC's job is to take it on the chin.
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