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Post by touchdownmaker on Feb 10, 2009 15:12:24 GMT -6
We have not had an off season meeting yet because we are limited to ONE for the entire year  so, rather than meeting with the whole team to lay out expectations I go out of my way to talk to each kid and recruit others and try hard to get kids to sell the program for me. someone on this forum mentioned meeting with each boy to go over individual goals/expectations and I like the idea and after talking to another coach thought Id give his ideas of putting out off season progress reports. They are handed to the players with instructions to review the report with their parents if they wish. I keep a copy on my computer and in a file for the AD as well. (In case someone asks). An example of what might be on the progress report would be attendance and performance for the first 3 months of the off season. Expecations and areas to improve upon and why. Projection to 2009 season ie -- what we have planned based on what we see so far. What the player can change between now and then. Do you think this is a good idea or one that will come back to bite me in the rump. I keep thinking that it covers more bases than anything else we can in one big meeting. We can also mail these home for parents or even call home when a player is "failing the off season" so to speak. |
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Post by coachinghopeful on Feb 10, 2009 15:19:10 GMT -6
Sounds like a good solution to your situation, IMO.
Bo Schembechler at Michigan used to do something similar with each of his players after spring ball. He would privately meet with each one individually to let him know where he stood and what was expected of him by the time fall practice started. Worked pretty well for him.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Feb 10, 2009 15:55:41 GMT -6
It "seems" good, and my intentions are good...but sometimes I wonder if its too gung ho and if maybe too much for a high school kid. I think of it like anything else, Id want to know where I stood.
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Post by fbdoc on Feb 10, 2009 16:10:11 GMT -6
It gets too much when the coach isn't clear with the kid. Get a feel for how eager each player is to set his goal(s). Some are going to be really gung ho about and others luke warm. Help them set realistic goals that are meaningful to them. We try to do 3 areas: Academic, Football Skill, and Football Speed/Strength. Then we discuss HOW he is going to accomplish each one. Show them that they have the power to reach these goals but that there are steps to making them happen. Taylor the goals and the process for each kid - if a kid just isn't willing to put in the work thats needed to go raise his bench from 180 to 250, don't run him off. Help him to do enough work to raise it to 215 or 225. Even a little improvement is still improvement. Stirve for reasonable success - not unreasonable failure.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Feb 11, 2009 4:48:02 GMT -6
how about raising his bench from 115 to 135. thats a bit more typical for my crew.
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Post by jpdaley25 on Feb 11, 2009 6:16:53 GMT -6
I have a hard time contacting all of mine in the off season because of basketball and baseball. I was complaining about it one night and my GF suggested I wake up and smell the 21st century: I have joined the texting culture!  I send every player a text message at least once a week and they always respond! They are more comfortable communicating that way than face to face it seems. I go and see the few that don't have phones. It has helped me, in my situation, stay in close contact with all of my boys. |
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Post by touchdownmaker on Feb 11, 2009 6:18:57 GMT -6
I do not even know how to do a text message. I am serious.
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Post by CoachMikeJudy on Feb 11, 2009 6:59:31 GMT -6
TDmaker GREAT IDEA I think anyone not doing this is missing the boat- you have to meet with each kid individually. Too Gung Ho? Nah- what's so gung ho about communicating your expectations- that's all it is... Immediately after the season, have your wrap up speech, and tell them the dates of the meetings. Post sign-up sheets outside of your office/class/wt.room with time slots- Guys playing winter sports & seniors get first dibs on slots, then all others. Stay after school for an hour, maybe a week or two, and have 5 min meetings with every player in the program. Individualizing the talks pulls the kids in- will raise buy-in to your program- "hey, coach wasn't yelling at me all those times during the season...he just told me how proud he was of me for being a leader..." Your message will get across to each kid better. I LOVE the texting idea. In fact, our HC uses a mass-texting service to announce upcoming meetings, important dates, etc to players and coaches. I don't remember which one, but something like www.eztexting.com You literally type your message on the web and it texts to your contacts... |
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Post by touchdownmaker on Feb 11, 2009 10:24:45 GMT -6
My principal like it.
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Post by coachd5085 on Feb 12, 2009 7:20:00 GMT -6
Iindividual meetings are 99.9999999% of the time going to be more effective, if for no other reason than forced attention.  We did it, and I think every school that has the ability should do it too. It DOES get a bit tediuous...because of the regulated time structure of the high school student (in college, you can meet all day long because of the variety of schedultes) |
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