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Post by ghengiskhan on Dec 7, 2008 16:56:03 GMT -6
I am a young assistant coach and I will be going to my first coaches clinic in the next few weeks. I was wondering if you guys had any advice for me?
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Post by Coach Huey on Dec 7, 2008 17:15:50 GMT -6
focus on the drills, procedures, install patterns that teach schemes or skills. worry less about the magic plays but on how to better make your practices more efficient by better drills, better use of time, multi-tasking various group drills at same time, etc.
what can you take from someone else's approach to teaching their kids that will help you better teach your kids.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Dec 7, 2008 17:23:43 GMT -6
Check early to see if any speakers are arriving early or later... those schedules can get messed in a big way. Go see the obscure position coaches who are going to break down skills, drills and techniques. that stuff is gold.
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Post by kylem56 on Dec 7, 2008 18:05:37 GMT -6
dont be afraid to ask questions after their sessions.
like the previous posts, schemes are great but anyone can draw anything on paper, try to understand why they are doing what they are and take notes on how they teach things
also if you can, try to listen to one speaker on a subject you have no previous background in (ie you coach OL so you go listen to a QB or WR coach speak)
have fun
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Post by red2slam on Dec 7, 2008 19:10:17 GMT -6
Dont be afraid to listen to people who are speaking about subject you may not want to hear.
learn to identify the "philosophy" speakers.
If you watch videos of coaching clinics? Remember the coaches that impress the most. Good clinic coaches are good clinic coaches. If you get a chance to listen to saban,Gibbs,beightol, and hatcher? GO!
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Post by coachbdud on Dec 8, 2008 0:37:28 GMT -6
if they have any handouts, grab them... if they give you an email address to write them, make sure you get it most of these guys are cool about emailing you back regarding questions you have. I agree its probably better to learn skills and drills than trying to learn an entire O or D in one afternoon
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Post by cmow5 on Dec 8, 2008 2:41:24 GMT -6
Dont just look for the Known names/big time coaches. I have learned more from high school and lower division college coaches.
Also, if they break the sessions up like the Glazier Clinic try to go to all three sessions of the SAME speaker. Dont go to session 1 with one guy and then session two with another and so on. If the speaker has 3 then catch all 3.
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Post by coachwoodall on Dec 8, 2008 7:51:04 GMT -6
Bingo the above. I went to the Glazier Clinic for the first time last year in Atlanta and it was awesome. Saw some good stuff from little DIII Lagrange Ga. There were 5 of us in the session, me, my buddy, another coach, and the 2 speakers. Got some good stuff on their 5 wide package.
I usually go 50/50 to the offense/defense sessions. I am the secondary coach so I look for sessions on DBs stuff, but also hit the offensive side to figure out what they are doing. I try to find a good special teams session to bring something to that side of the ball.
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Post by brophy on Dec 8, 2008 8:47:55 GMT -6
- bring a notebook to write as much as you can down - write EVERYTHING down, not what you think you want to know.....it may make sense later
- if you can, bring a digital recorder (most phones have these now), because sometimes that pen isn't fast enough
- put higher priority on small schools over top 25 programs. Often times, the marquee speakers are there to collect a paycheck and recruit your players. It is nice to name-drop, but it doesn't really help you win next season when you're listening to a guy who has 75 blue chippers on the roster.
- be social, branch out and strike up conversations with other staffs. Some of the best information you can get may not come from a clinic, but from a colleague. Bar napkin X's & O's or swapping stories of practice formats can sharpen your iron more than a classroom.
- have a plan - see whats on the agenda and go to the clincs with questions you want answered. If they can answer those questions during the clinic, great.
- figure out what you need to learn, what approach could stand to see a different perspective.
- follow up with coaches.......not to be greedy, but calling a GA or VC a week after a clinic is a GREAT way to get your hands on cutups.
if you can take away ONE thing from a clinic, it is a success ---- even if it is just a new term for "slappys". |
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Dec 8, 2008 8:54:11 GMT -6
Brophy, "slappys" always makes me laugh.
Good points.
If you can come away with just 1 good idea, your clinic has been a success.
One thing I like about the COY that I've attended in Orlando they have breakout sessions that allow you to spend time with successful high school coaches and college staff.
I've learned a lot from being able to sit in those little groups with some guy who just won a state title.
So don't neglect those times.
OWJ
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2008 9:17:57 GMT -6
Nothing really new to add, but I definitely agree with the point on the "barroom clinics". "That's where the real clinic takes place" is a good piece of advice another coach gave me.
Also agree with the point on the Mega clinics. Those three sessions seem to morph together, so it's definitely better to listen to all three than pick and choose within a session.
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htownoc
Sophomore Member
GATA
Posts: 186
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Post by htownoc on Dec 8, 2008 9:43:07 GMT -6
Sometimes a good "philosophy" speaker is nice.
Terry Bowden have a great talk at the Pittsburgh COY last year. It wasn't about X's and O's or practice schedules or any of that. However it was very motivating and encouraging and I enjoyed it very much- kind of recharged my battery.
If you have a chance to hear Terry Bowden I recommend it.
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50Murf
Sophomore Member
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Post by 50Murf on Dec 8, 2008 11:45:34 GMT -6
Listen to Brophy's advice...write down EVERYTHING - not just what you thought you need to remember. Also, like htownoc said, try to get in at least one session about coaching philosophy. I was very fortunate to see the late Randy Walker (Northwestern) at one of the last clinics he did in Chicago before he died. Best stuff I ever got from a clinic in the ten years I have been going. He did not talk about X's and O's, instead, he talked about how to treat the Joe's. I still use his stuff everyday and I am so glad that I wrote EVERYTHING he said down. Some of the coaches with me only wrote down the good one liners and brief stories and now they do not have the whole story. It is like I got the book and they got Cliff's notes, and while that works to get out of school  it sure is good to have the complete book version now. |
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Post by coachcb on Dec 8, 2008 16:28:25 GMT -6
I always look for stuff on sports psychology at clinics. I get more out of that than Xs and Os.
Anyone can build the hoop of fire, it's getting the circus monkeys to jump through it that's the trick.
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Dec 8, 2008 20:47:01 GMT -6
O.K. CB, thanks for the quote: "Anyone can build the hoop of fire, it's getting the circus monkeys to jump through it that's the trick."  That's right there with: "A good coach and make a kid run through a cement block wall without a helmet, a great coach can get him to do it more than once." |
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Post by ajreaper on Dec 8, 2008 21:37:26 GMT -6
You also have to remember much of what they'll talk about will not be the least bit possible for a high school kid to do- big time D1 athletes can be coached to do things the average high school player will never be able to do. For this reason I often pass on the guy from the big time program and get to small school coaches who often have to do much with less talented athletes, like a high school coach. Also many time you get the canned clinic talk from the big name guy and really little of substance. I'd rather get a guy that takes 45 minutes to explain in detail how he teaches slide protrection then get a guy that's going to explain "Cover 2 the ____________ (fill in the blank) way".
I might add also that 10-12 hours spent over 2-3 days visiting with a staff at a college or university is 1000x better then 3 days at any generic clinic. I also meet with area coaches who have programs I admire or do a ceratin thing particulary well- most coaches love to talk football and they love to share their expertise with those who are passionate about coaching this great game. I've never had a coach/staff refuse- even some within the region we play in. Don't over look programs and staffs right in your own area!
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it sure is good to have the complete book version now. 
