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Post by coachdbucs on Nov 23, 2008 0:27:10 GMT -6
This question is directed to those of you who have been fortunate enough to get to the semi-finals or final game. We have been in the playoffs 12 years in a row but only to win 2 playoff games in that period. Our players at the end of regular season seem to lose any desire to continue to play. They also seem to be fatigued all the time by this point of the season. Do you do anything different or special with your team to prepare them to play 4 or 5 more games in the playoffs?
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Post by mitch on Nov 23, 2008 0:29:14 GMT -6
No, nothing different. In fact, we make sure we do the same things we have done to get us there.
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Post by Yash on Nov 23, 2008 0:29:28 GMT -6
By the time the playoffs roll aroudn I think it becomes a mental game. YOu gotta take your guys off their legs as much as possible while still keeping them ready to go. Shorten practice and make it a mental thing. If you aren't physical in week 12 you aren't going to get there. still work on tackling and blocking but you don't need to go full contact nearly as much as you did early on. stay healthy. no practice injuries.
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Post by goldenbear76 on Nov 23, 2008 1:14:07 GMT -6
By the time the 2nd round of the playoffs come around....your kids know the plays. They know the defensive fronts. The secondary/lb's know their drops and reads. Since all our games are on Saturday now.
Monday - we do offensive individual drills (no pads, so for us lineman..we work footwork)(Defense will go inside after practice and do chalk talk) - run the kids..get them out. (45- mins total)
Tuesday - (since we did indy on Monday) we go team offense, defensive recognition, light running, get them out. (1hr 20 Min's)
Wednesday - Defensive Indy, Defensive 11 on 11 (thud), Defensive 7 on 7 , get them out.
Thursday - Offensive Team 11 v 11, Screens, passing game, option work...get them out. (2hour)
Friday - Kick off, Kick Return, Punt, Punt Return, PAT/FG, Offensive Team vs Air (short), Defensive Formation rec (make correct calls/blitzes), Get them home. (1 hour)
Saturday - Game day.
This is our schedule ..but we are a small high school. Like Yash said...the hitting and pounding should be at a minimum...keep em fresh.
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Post by wingtol on Nov 23, 2008 6:59:25 GMT -6
Have been in this situation a couple times before and I would echo the statements that cutting back on the contact is the way to go. Still bang em a bit but don't go as much full out as you normally do. Run team O and team D live but after a bit maybe throw the bags out there instead of full go contact. Get done what you need to get done and get out. Along with that don't forget the fundamentals, it can get easy to become sloppy if you let them. Goldenbears schedule is pretty good for this time of year. The problem we run into is where do we practice this time of year. We have no home filed and there is usually some snow on the ground so we goto some local colleges or the city stadium where we play some home games. Last year was cool since a golf dome opened and we were able to get in the dome to practice. Was like having our own indoor facility.
One thing I have to ask is how do your players loose the intrest to play when you make the playoffs?
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Post by coachjaz on Nov 23, 2008 23:54:45 GMT -6
We've gone 14 in Wisconsin (state title game) Once we got to about the 2nd round all practice really consists of is a short indy/group period, usually just to warm up, and then team offense and team defense. I dont think we ever really went over 1.5 hours total. The hitting was very light.
Its do or die every week, I dont understand how kids could lose interest in that.
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Post by coachwoodall on Nov 24, 2008 7:13:41 GMT -6
We have been to the semis 7 out of the last 8. We do not change anything so far as our practice routine. We do cut back a little on the length of practice. If anything we add some contact periods at the end of practice for the young guys, the ones we think might be contributors for next year. A little hootin' and hollerin' to keep the excitement level high.
Our starters are still lifting twice a week and doing stride drills/band work after practice 2 days also. Our 'grey shirts' lift 3 days a week. We treat the playoffs like many colleges treat a bowl game; a chance to get more reps, especially for the young ones.
If we are fortunate to win this week and play week 15, we will still be doing our SAQ drills just as hard, going 2nd & 8 with 1s vs. 1s, and having our young guy Nitro to finish up practice. Mentally we have our kids believing that this is what we do and our speed and strength program is peaking. That is why we have been successful.
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jburch
Freshmen Member
Posts: 84
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Post by jburch on Nov 24, 2008 8:53:54 GMT -6
Have not been fortunate enough to coach that late into the year. I played HS on 2 state title teams 14-1 and 15-0. After week 1 or 2 of the play-offs it became a mental game. We were tired and beat up (small school most were 2 way players) and needed to heal more than anything. It would have been conterproductive to go out for 2.5 hour and get worse. (It got dark and cold early too). We watched alot more film and did alot more chalk talk. Did our reg. weightroom stuff. An on the field practice was long if it went over 1.5 hours. Alot more indy stuff and skeleton group drills. Tuesday was the only full pads day.
Take in account that we were at a school that was not new to this (12 state titles). We all knew what was at stake and did not dick around (it was serious business we went hard at what we were doing and we could handle the change). We got ready physically and mentally for the game and were ready come Friday night.
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Post by phantom on Nov 24, 2008 18:50:39 GMT -6
This question is directed to those of you who have been fortunate enough to get to the semi-finals or final game. We have been in the playoffs 12 years in a row but only to win 2 playoff games in that period. Our players at the end of regular season seem to lose any desire to continue to play. They also seem to be fatigued all the time by this point of the season. Do you do anything different or special with your team to prepare them to play 4 or 5 more games in the playoffs? You have to start in the offseason. Indoctrinate them with the idea that winning the championship is the goal, not just making the playoffs. Remind them frequently during offseason workouts that they're working for a championship. You can use a lot of quotes from great coaches about how working hard makes it hard to quit even it's the Parcells, "This is why you lift all them weights. This is why you do all that $hit.". In another thread they're discussing "Themes". Find a theme and sell it all winter and spring. Make sure that all of the coaches are coaching with the same enthusiasm in November and December as they did in August. As for the question about practice routine we change nothing. |
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Post by jsucoach79 on Nov 24, 2008 19:08:11 GMT -6
This question is directed to those of you who have been fortunate enough to get to the semi-finals or final game. We have been in the playoffs 12 years in a row but only to win 2 playoff games in that period. Our players at the end of regular season seem to lose any desire to continue to play. They also seem to be fatigued all the time by this point of the season. Do you do anything different or special with your team to prepare them to play 4 or 5 more games in the playoffs? We are blessed to be in the semis now and we are using the same practice plan. The only thing is that now it gets dark earlier. You have to start in the offseason. Indoctrinate them with the idea that winning the championship is the goal, not just making the playoffs. Remind them frequently during offseason workouts that they're working for a championship. You can use a lot of quotes from great coaches about how working hard makes it hard to quit even it's the Parcells, "This is why you lift all them weights. This is why you do all that $hit.". In another thread they're discussing "Themes". Find a theme and sell it all winter and spring. Make sure that all of the coaches are coaching with the same enthusiasm in November and December as they did in August. As for the question about practice routine we change nothing. |
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Post by tvt50 on Nov 25, 2008 11:11:57 GMT -6
One game at a time. Chuck Knoll used to say "Its like walking a tight a rope, if you look down to see where your at you might fall down" Just keeping play and remember the best team always wins. You just got to be the best team that day to advance. We look at the playoffs as a 4 game season, too.
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Post by coachdbucs on Nov 25, 2008 12:05:17 GMT -6
Thanks guys, great info. Sounds like you are all on the same track. I believe if we summed up all your responses we would have the following: 1) Focus on your goals, 2) Focus on fundamentals, 3) Lighten up on full contact, 4) Shorten practice a little, 5) Begin preparing them in the off-season, and 6) Hope you have the better team. Thanks for your help and for those of you still in the playoffs, Good Luck!
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Post by coachd5085 on Nov 26, 2008 7:05:18 GMT -6
. If anything we add some contact periods at the end of practice for the young guys, the ones we think might be contributors for next year. A little hootin' and hollerin' to keep the excitement level high. Our 'grey shirts' lift 3 days a week. We treat the playoffs like many colleges treat a bowl game; a chance to get more reps, especially for the young ones. These are GREAT points that should not be overlooked. I was shocked when I was working with a program, and after the Frosh season--they brought a few kids up and picked up the equipment for the rest. The Varsity had made the playoffs...I was like "Are you kidding guys. We just earned an extra week of practice. If we win, we earn another" but the staff didn't see it like that. Needless to say, the program has never truly lived up to its full potential. |
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Post by phantom on Nov 26, 2008 8:33:05 GMT -6
. If anything we add some contact periods at the end of practice for the young guys, the ones we think might be contributors for next year. A little hootin' and hollerin' to keep the excitement level high. Our 'grey shirts' lift 3 days a week. We treat the playoffs like many colleges treat a bowl game; a chance to get more reps, especially for the young ones. These are GREAT points that should not be overlooked. I was shocked when I was working with a program, and after the Frosh season--they brought a few kids up and picked up the equipment for the rest. The Varsity had made the playoffs...I was like "Are you kidding guys. We just earned an extra week of practice. If we win, we earn another" but the staff didn't see it like that. Needless to say, the program has never truly lived up to its full potential. I think that a lot depends on the structure of your staff. |
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