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Post by kylem56 on Aug 29, 2009 16:21:58 GMT -6
Hope everyone is off to a healthy and successful season. Anyway I have a question for those experienced coaches on here:
Last night we lost a heartbreaker which (as much as I hate using this excuse), was partly due to some terrible calls. I mean a loss is a loss and you cant blame refs but I cant help but feel sorry for the kids. Anyway, I could tell this morning during meetings they were still dissapointed about the game last night.
The problem is, this week, we are playing a team whos a powerhouse in the D5 division of Ohio . They have won the last 10 league titles, lost maybe 5 league games in 10 years, etc just a pretty damn good team that as much as I hate to admit, we don't have much a chance again. I obviously would not ever say or show that in front of the team but my question is...
How do you rebuild the confidence of your team after a heartbreaker knowing they have a daunting challenge ahead of them next game?
thanks for any responses
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Post by coachorr on Aug 29, 2009 20:27:11 GMT -6
Good question. One thing that is positive, however, is that it hurts your kids to lose and they know what it means. Nothing I hate more than having to tell kids on the bus or the locker room to keep it down.
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Post by jgordon1 on Aug 29, 2009 21:00:34 GMT -6
kids will rebound..just takes time..one game at a time..one play at a time
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Post by coachjmcs on Aug 29, 2009 23:04:46 GMT -6
Let them know that they can feel bad for themselves for a little while but the other team isn't going too so they can't let that get in the way for their preparation.Sounds like coach speak but in this case it is true.
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Post by CoachJohnsonMN on Aug 30, 2009 7:46:32 GMT -6
Set the tone for the week in your film session. Praise all of the positives from your previous game. Develop an improvement plan from the film and use the film to support it. Many times those close games sting because of perceived bad officiating but it is an early game. There were mistakes or sloppy technique on the part of your team. Point those things out and announce to the team that those areas are the focus this week. Then echo this message throughout the week. Most importantly, don't just give lip service to these areas of improvement--integrate those drills and points of emphasis in every practice.
I would not make the powerhouse opponent the focal point. The kids already know how good those guys are. They need to know that they were good enough to win last Friday night with slight improvements and that they are good enough to win this Friday if those improvements are wholeheartedly embraced by the members of the team. Will those improvements make you good enough to beat that team? Maybe not but it should shift their focus to the most important goal early in a season: improvement.
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Post by blb on Aug 30, 2009 9:09:14 GMT -6
Remind them that most teams make their biggest improvement from Game One to Game Two. If they commit to a great week of practice and preparation, even though they'll have a great challenge, they'll also have a great opportunity.
It's not where you begin, but where you end up that matters. First games are important but not end-all. Few years ago our school lost first THREE games, recovered to win District and lost in Regional to state finalist.
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Post by coachorr on Aug 30, 2009 12:15:11 GMT -6
These are some really great comments. We are in the same boat.
Focus on the positives.
Focus on Execution.
Focus on what "we" have control over.
The biggest improvement is from week one to week to, be committed to making that the most productive improvement.
It's not where you begin, but where you end up.
One play at a time, one game at a time.
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Post by kylem56 on Aug 30, 2009 17:53:53 GMT -6
thanks for all the replies so far, I am sure I am not the only one being helped by the responses in this thread
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Post by coachwoodall on Aug 31, 2009 8:49:39 GMT -6
If you want to get to where you expect to be at the end of the season, a team must improve each and every week. If you are as good as you will ever be in week 8, you won't make it to week 15.
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