sbv
Sophomore Member
Posts: 171
|
Post by sbv on Jan 26, 2009 8:43:05 GMT -6
I was wondering if anyone on here has been a part of starting a program at a school that just began a football program or at a newly created high school? What were some of the things that worked, did not work? What would you do differently? What were some obstacles? Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by bigdog2003 on Jan 26, 2009 9:28:39 GMT -6
Coach, you may want to try and get in touch with the coaches from South Pointe HS in Rock Hill SC, they went from starting a program at a new school to winning a state championship and being ranked 1 in the country for part of the season by one poll in 2 or 3 years. There coach is Bobby Carroll and his email can be found on this site. sph.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/athletics/athleticcoaches.aspx |
|
brimanning
Freshmen Member
Online Football Software
Posts: 39
|
Post by brimanning on Jan 29, 2009 8:39:36 GMT -6
Depending on whether or not you have middle school/rec programs, you have the opportunity to really go out on a limb. Since people don't expect much of a new program, a lot of coaches go the easy route and have simple offenses and vanilla defenses in order to not confuse kids who haven't played before. That is definitely the traditional thinking, you really have a chance to make a splash by going a completely different direction.
If the school has traditionally had good basketball teams, you can make it a run and gun or spread offense, or if you're from a place with good hockey, maybe something smash-mouthed might be a good way to go.
|
|
|
|
Post by schlomo on Jan 29, 2009 10:17:53 GMT -6
Coach just finished my 2nd year of building my program from stratch, I have a five year plan, if you are interested PM me with your e-mail and I will send it to you.
1st year we went 4-6, 2nd year 7-3.
|
|
max51
Freshmen Member
Posts: 56
|
Post by max51 on Jan 30, 2009 10:46:34 GMT -6
Coaches please post if you've opened and built a new school from scratch... I've just been named here in AZ to a new school Campo Verde in Gilbert... I want to find out what to do and what NOT to do during these very important first years...
|
|
ram7gm
Sophomore Member
Posts: 133
|
Post by ram7gm on Jan 31, 2009 12:30:10 GMT -6
Congrats Max!
Maybe some coaches could post what they absolutely would start with, when opening up a new program (i.e. 1st hire such and such type coaches, etc) and/or what they absolutely need to buy first? (i.e. standup pads instead of a sled or a digital editing system instead of something else), and so on. In other words, what aspect(s) of your program could you not live without?
It might help us all jog some ideas.
|
|
max51
Freshmen Member
Posts: 56
|
Post by max51 on Jan 31, 2009 21:53:53 GMT -6
That would be great!
|
|
sbv
Sophomore Member
Posts: 171
|
Post by sbv on Feb 2, 2009 11:29:09 GMT -6
Schlomo, I'd love to you your 5-year plan. I pm'd you.
|
|
max51
Freshmen Member
Posts: 56
|
Post by max51 on Feb 4, 2009 19:29:08 GMT -6
bump... just post and I'll pm you... have already gotten some great ideas and info... more the merrier!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by shields on Feb 5, 2009 18:23:31 GMT -6
Just finished year two at a brand new school in Greensboro, NC. Fist two years was supposed to be all JV but numbers were so high we had a varsity team this year. We weren't eligible for playoffs because in NC a team must be in a conference and as a varsity squad a year early, we weren't. First year, we went 8-2. We coached the kids with a varsity mentality...we were all varsity coaches afterall recruited to the school by the head coach or athletic director. Our final game in year one was against a varsity squad in its second year and we beat them in overtime! That first year, the school didn't open until January so we had no weightroom, we practiced on the baseball outfield, and the kids were bused from two campuses where they attended classes first semester. In January, we got them in the weight room before school which showed a commitment on their parents and their parts because no one could drive (all 9th graders except for a few tenth graders who chose to come to the new school), had spring ball, did four passing camps over the summer, and took the kids off for to camp for four intense days of four-practices-per-day. In year two our JV team went 6-4 and our varsity team went 10-1 (the team that beat us played for the state championship). We had to play anyone who had an opening in their schedule so we ended up playing 5 public schools and 6 private schools all over the state (not sure how large our travel budget is but our HC is a master fundraiser). Next year, we will be legit with our first senior class (not but 100 kids where the others average about 400 kids each). We have all sophmores and juniors on the team in weightlifting during the day and all freshman are encouraged to attend the after school weight program. Position coaches began at the beginning of this semester meeting with their players and doing on the field drills. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by lukethadrifter on Feb 6, 2009 10:02:47 GMT -6
First and foremost, surround yourself with the best coaching staff possible. And this means coaches that are not only intelligent, but that are loyal and are great communicators with kids. Then give each coach detailed job descriptions, taking into consideration their strengths and weaknesses. From day 1, lay out your rules and expectations to the coaching staff and the kids, and then stand behind what you say. Your program must have good discipline before you can move forward. Make sure that the junior high program is a mirror image of the high school program (philosophy, drills, off-season, etc...), and gets a lot of attention from all of your high school coaches. Put a big emphasis on the weight room and off-season program. Your off-season program should start immediately after the football season is over, and it should be sold as a program that not only produces better football players, but produces better athletes regardless of the sport. This program has to get kids bigger, faster, and stronger, as well as develop discipline, unity, and mental toughness. Try as the new coach to get as many kids out for the athletics or the team as possible. The more numbers you have, the better. Have a team slogan every year. Talk about and set goals with your kids, and have high expectations. Support all kids in every sport and in their academic endeavors. Have a plan of offense, defense, special teams that you and your coaches know and believe in, and then sell it to your kids. It is better to run a handful of plays or schemes to perfection than it is to run too many plays or schemes mediocre (because you can't get enough reps). Always focus on mastering the fundamentals of your sport, and never get away from emphasizing them. Emphasize character traits daily in your coaching (discipline, being dependable, being a hard worker, being a team player, learning how to overcome adversity, being goal-driven, etc...). And finally, as a coach, always be a hard worker and have a lot of energy and enthusiasm daily when you are with the kids. This kind of attitude is contagious with fellow coaches and players. Good luck.
|
|
max51
Freshmen Member
Posts: 56
|
Post by max51 on Feb 9, 2009 8:09:21 GMT -6
Thanks coaches, keep them coming...
|
|
|
|
Post by touchdowng on Feb 9, 2009 9:22:59 GMT -6
Have had the opportunity to open two high schools. One in '97 and the other was in '05.
In both cases our coaching staff worked hard at delivering a constant message to our players and parents and that was hard work will pay off. We did a lot of things to celebrate the continuation of hardwork and did not focus on the wins as we created a culture that the wins will take care of themself if we focus on what is most important.
You get to create your culture and that's probably the biggest challenge you have. We decided to find ways to reward and recognize going the extra mile, or doing the small things, or weight room improvements.
In both cases, both school made the state playoffs by the 3rd year and this was with starting with no seniors and very few juniors. In both cases we were going from a 1 HS district to a 2 HS district and juniors to be had a choice of where to go. Needless to say, most of the good athletes stayed at the original H.S.
I set boundaries with parents right away at school 2. Again, establish and develop your culture. Players play, coaches coach, and parents positively support the programs efforts. I had to communicate with them (often) what that meant.
From a coaching staff standpoint, the second time around (as I learned from the first time) I created a great deal of rigor with off-season commitments. I needed to find out what men wanted to put in the time it was going to take. I began meeting weekly for a 4 hour chunk of time with those who were interested in coaching for us. It was amazing to see who came up with what excuses for not showing up. We started these meetings in Dec before the school opened and by March I had a very good idea as to who I wanted on my staff. I didn't do this at the first school and sorta "settled" on the guys who were going to be coming to the new school. They were good guys but beyond the actual season did not want to put in extra time. They were just glad being part of something. You'll need guys who will walk through Hell with you because you're going to be there for the short run.
Those same guys (at school 2) are still with us today.
None of the guys from school 1 are coaching FB any longer.
|
|
