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Post by coachwood on Aug 3, 2010 1:21:13 GMT -6
It is 2:17 AM 1 week before the season and I'm still breaking down film, E-mailing coaches, making sure everything is perfectly planned. And I'm only the DC. I can't imagine doing equipment, lockers, and physicals.
This is some hobby we all have. What is wrong with us? It ain't the money.
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Post by coachdifference on Aug 3, 2010 8:44:27 GMT -6
it really isnt a hobby for you, is it? It aint for me.
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msalazar51
Junior Member
"Believing that 95% commitment is okay results in 100% failure."
Posts: 305
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Post by msalazar51 on Aug 3, 2010 9:08:07 GMT -6
This is no hobby, that is for sure. The original question is "What is wrong with us?" Is actually the wrong question. Better put, "What is wrong with them?" Those parents and faculty members that cannot, or will not see, that what we do for our kids is invaluable.
Gentlemen, we coach a game that requires absolute dedication on our parts for success, and even when you have that kind of dedication the chance of going 0 - 10 still exists! Why can't those around us see that what we do for kids, particularly at the high school level, is impact their lives for the remainder of their lives! How many of you refer to your high school coach as "Coach" to this day? I cannot even refer to my former head coach by his first name, although I have attained his level!
We do what we do for a lot of reasons, but for most, if not all of us, it is to impact the lives of young people! We all have the same motives, different methods, but our motives are very similar. What we do changes things for our kids. We have a chance to bring kids up in a manner that promotes self-reliance, honor, and respect. I just wish that "Johnny's Parents" understood that I am trying to do this for the 140 kids in the entire program at all three levels and that the fact that Johnny's 5' 7" frame, 145 pound body, 5.9 speed, and 2.0 GPA will not get him to UCLA, Stanford, or Cal! However, if Johnny is left with me, he will receive some valuable insight into life and challenges. Lessons that will be provided no where else in High School. Lessons that will carry him through the journey.
What is wrong with us, indeed! What is wrong...we love what we do, we love our kids, and most of all we are men of honor, passion, and have a drive to participate and make our piece of the world a better place! What is wrong with us? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM!
Keep working my Brothers!
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Post by tothehouse on Aug 3, 2010 9:24:11 GMT -6
Amen brother Salazar. I too found myself breakin down our week 1 opponent yesterday, getting play cards ready, etc. We don't start until next week.
"what's wrong with us". I think it's more like a button has been pushed and it's back at it. This is year 19 for me.
Last year we started the first week of school and played through the last week until Xmas break. Here's to many more seasons like that.
Enjoy the ride men.
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Post by khalfie on Aug 3, 2010 9:38:27 GMT -6
If I've said it once, I've said it a million times...
Coaches are obsessive, control freaks, addicted to conflict, competition, and adversity...
He got the question right... what's wrong with us.
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Post by coachsky on Aug 3, 2010 9:44:41 GMT -6
It sure is a passion! But I would recommend you look at your scheduling and tasks so you don't have to be up until 2:00am out of season.
I love coaching, but I love my wife, children, friends, family, my job, golf, camping. I think you can do a great job at football and investing in students without being a martyr and taking time away from other stuff.
I get really excited about football and will watch film too much or go over practice plans, etc. But for me it's about balance. As I get older I have learned to pace myself and spend time on activities that save me time in the season. I am spending about two hours a week cleaning up my scouting charts for our upcoming opponents. I have game film from some new opponents this year and I have diagrammed out all their base formations and plays, anticipating that there will not be whoelsale changes this year.
I can spend my time now, so I can spend it with quality face time with my position group in a couple weeks.
My eyes have been opened by visiting college programs for the last five or six years. It is interesting to see them at work and examine how much time they spend in the office. One thing I did find; the amount of hours they worked in a week did not correspond to wins. Almost the opposite. I've seen the coaches that sleep in their office and work from 6am until midnight, during the summer I have also seen programs that are extremely efficient in their time management. They take the approach that if you are their more than 8 to 10 hours in the off season you aren't a good manager. They have scheduled meeting times, office hours, it's regimented, organized, proffesional.
It was a relief for me when I figured out that hours logged is not a good measurement of success or passion.
Quoting Mr. Miyagi; "look eyes; balance".
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Post by hamerhead on Aug 3, 2010 9:56:00 GMT -6
It is 2:17 AM 1 week before the season and I'm still breaking down film, E-mailing coaches, making sure everything is perfectly planned. And I'm only the DC. I can't imagine doing equipment, lockers, and physicals. This is some hobby we all have. What is wrong with us? It ain't the money. That really is hilarious to me, because I was in the EXACT same situation last night at almost the same time, breaking down film of an inside run period we had during our last team camp. I agree, surely we must be ill. |
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Post by coachdifference on Aug 3, 2010 10:04:03 GMT -6
Coach Sky
IF I looked at it as work, I would agree with you. teaching classes is work, going on family vacation is stressful and work. Balance is in the eyes of the beholder. Coach Frey said it best, "This is not work."
If I am up until 2 am. It is not because i am working. I can promise that. and the reason i am up until 2 am is football.
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Post by morris on Aug 3, 2010 10:08:48 GMT -6
If I've said it once, I've said it a million times... Coaches are obsessive, control freaks, addicted to conflict, competition, and adversity... He got the question right... what's wrong with us. AMEN! Of course those attributes might also explain our lives outside of football for some of us. |
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Post by coachwood on Aug 3, 2010 10:50:46 GMT -6
It sure is a passion! But I would recommend you look at your scheduling and tasks so you don't have to be up until 2:00am out of season. I love coaching, but I love my wife, children, friends, family, my job, golf, camping. I think you can do a great job at football and investing in students without being a martyr and taking time away from other stuff. I get really excited about football and will watch film too much or go over practice plans, etc. But for me it's about balance. As I get older I have learned to pace myself and spend time on activities that save me time in the season. I am spending about two hours a week cleaning up my scouting charts for our upcoming opponents. I have game film from some new opponents this year and I have diagrammed out all their base formations and plays, anticipating that there will not be whoelsale changes this year. I can spend my time now, so I can spend it with quality face time with my position group in a couple weeks. My eyes have been opened by visiting college programs for the last five or six years. It is interesting to see them at work and examine how much time they spend in the office. One thing I did find; the amount of hours they worked in a week did not correspond to wins. Almost the opposite. I've seen the coaches that sleep in their office and work from 6am until midnight, during the summer I have also seen programs that are extremely efficient in their time management. They take the approach that if you are their more than 8 to 10 hours in the off season you aren't a good manager. They have scheduled meeting times, office hours, it's regimented, organized, proffesional. It was a relief for me when I figured out that hours logged is not a good measurement of success or passion. Quoting Mr. Miyagi; "look eyes; balance". God and family are first. Always. I'm just having a blast. I am blessed to be able to put that headset on every Friday night. Everything is typed. Meetings have been scheduled. Sometimes, I keep playing different situations in my mind. Things like ... "Are we ready?". "Are we all on the same page?" ... Going to have close to 80 9th graders this year, "3 new freshmen coaches. Are they ready?" I love this game and am lucky because all my boys play and my wife loves it also. Get after it everyone. Get after it. |
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coachriley
Junior Member
"Tough times don't last; Tough people do."
Posts: 406
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Post by coachriley on Aug 3, 2010 14:32:25 GMT -6
Coach Salazar, I think you summed it up the best. As for me, I kind of need to spend as much time as I can on football. Most other coaches have their own families and a wife and kids, well I dont have to worry about any of that and I always like having things to do, and so football is always a good outlet.
Also im trying to learn how to use the DSV program efficiently, so all the time I can spend there will be well used haha.
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Post by coachdifference on Aug 3, 2010 18:50:20 GMT -6
Chit brother I don't know about anyone else, but this ain't no hobby to me. "Coaches are obsessive, control freaks, addicted to conflict, competition, and adversity..." ~you forgot perfectionists. I wouldn't say I'm obsessive about it, doesn't everyone have last year game films on their first 5 oppponents? 09' rosters updated deleting 09' seniors. I mean I barely even know the 9 pass plays our game 2 opponent ran last year in their game 10. I'm not a control freak so long as everyone does it the way I want. I'm not addicted to conflict either and I don't give a chit what the anger management counselor says. (sadly I'm not making that up. She was stupid anyway.) I am against competition - can't we all just play and have fun? I also don't like adversity but it seems I either stumble upon it regularly or I am creating it, the jury is still out on that one. khalfie - I would argue that if you say we are all obsessive, control freaks, addicted to conflict, competition, and adversity...but you are saying to a bunch of coaches...that would make us all normal and everyone who isn't a coach weird. Honestly, what do people do who don't coach? What do they look forward to in life? I mean, just go to work, come home, over and over and over. Seriously? What's the point of that? Coach this seperates "coaches" in life from everbody else. "Coaches" are the haves and the rest are the HAVE NOTS. |
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hawke
Sophomore Member
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Post by hawke on Aug 3, 2010 19:27:48 GMT -6
Very good thread with some great responses. Someone once said that it is a means of living a life, not as a means of making a living. Football is a game of passion. and to most coaches it is a magical world that is both our Camelot and Purgatory mixed together. It is the purest definition of a Magnificent Obsession. Not my words - Joe Kerbel, my beloved college coach at West Texas who taught me that it is a game of Passion.
Hawke
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Post by coachwood on Aug 3, 2010 20:59:33 GMT -6
Chit brother I don't know about anyone else, but this ain't no hobby to me. "Coaches are obsessive, control freaks, addicted to conflict, competition, and adversity..." ~you forgot perfectionists. I wouldn't say I'm obsessive about it, doesn't everyone have last year game films on their first 5 oppponents? 09' rosters updated deleting 09' seniors. I mean I barely even know the 9 pass plays our game 2 opponent ran last year in their game 10. I'm not a control freak so long as everyone does it the way I want. I'm not addicted to conflict either and I don't give a chit what the anger management counselor says. (sadly I'm not making that up. She was stupid anyway.) I am against competition - can't we all just play and have fun? I also don't like adversity but it seems I either stumble upon it regularly or I am creating it, the jury is still out on that one. khalfie - I would argue that if you say we are all obsessive, control freaks, addicted to conflict, competition, and adversity...but you are saying to a bunch of coaches...that would make us all normal and everyone who isn't a coach weird. Honestly, what do people do who don't coach? What do they look forward to in life? I mean, just go to work, come home, over and over and over. Seriously? What's the point of that? For the record ... I was being sarcastic with the "hobby" comment. |
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Post by airtrafficcontrol on Aug 3, 2010 21:17:36 GMT -6
Hey you think ur bad?
My season only ended last month and begins in march..yet I am in full swing here at 4.20am breaking down film :-)
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Post by endersgame on Aug 4, 2010 1:11:14 GMT -6
Man, I can't wait until I can do that stuff! I've decided I'm really gonna put myself on a "football schedule" when I go to college in a month. Besides a job I gotta get and school work, it's gonna be learning football very, very often for me, and that's it. I'm cutting all other distractions out. My Xbox? Leaving it at home. High school friends to get me away my extra curricular work? I'm moving an hour away and will only see a couple of them on weekends. Crazy parties at college? I'm a Christian and I abstain from all that. I'm only bringing my football books with me, and this history book I've been slowly making my way through. On weekends I'll maybe watch a few college games and see family/friends, and on Sundays I got Bills season tickets. I'm just hoping work and school stuff won't take too much of my time from me. Oh, and my major? Physical Education. I'm definitely planning on working my butt off- but it's gonna be so FUN! I mean, I'm going to college. I'm gonna be sitting in an air-conditioned library with my nose in books while some people my age- some of my friends, in fact- are running miles at 4 a.m. at boot camp. The least I can do is take my free time and dedicate the majority of it five days a week to my future profession (hopefully). Better put, "What is wrong with them?" Those parents and faculty members that cannot, or will not see, that what we do for our kids is invaluable. Gentlemen, we coach a game that requires absolute dedication on our parts for success, and even when you have that kind of dedication the chance of going 0 - 10 still exists! Why can't those around us see that what we do for kids, particularly at the high school level, is impact their lives for the remainder of their lives! Funnily enough I was just thinking about this an hour ago. I mused to myself that there's three professions that everybody thinks they know more than the experts at: teaching, doctoring, and coaching- and in my humble opinion coaching and teaching are the same thing! |
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Post by coachzola on Aug 4, 2010 7:29:05 GMT -6
Boy I needed to read this thread today. First year head coach just had my first experience with administration politics, lost a valuable coach (not my decision), and other non sense stuff that is only hurting (IMO) the kids. Not sure if this is the way it is or they are trying to put a young coach in his place. But just need to remember, I love this game and the impact I have on these young mens lives goes beyond the game..That is why I coach!!
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Post by coachdifference on Aug 4, 2010 8:27:27 GMT -6
Man, I can't wait until I can do that stuff! I've decided I'm really gonna put myself on a "football schedule" when I go to college in a month. Besides a job I gotta get and school work, it's gonna be learning football very, very often for me, and that's it. I'm cutting all other distractions out. My Xbox? Leaving it at home. High school friends to get me away my extra curricular work? I'm moving an hour away and will only see a couple of them on weekends. Crazy parties at college? I'm a Christian and I abstain from all that. I'm only bringing my football books with me, and this history book I've been slowly making my way through. On weekends I'll maybe watch a few college games and see family/friends, and on Sundays I got Bills season tickets. I'm just hoping work and school stuff won't take too much of my time from me. Oh, and my major? Physical Education. I'm definitely planning on working my butt off- but it's gonna be so FUN! I mean, I'm going to college. I'm gonna be sitting in an air-conditioned library with my nose in books while some people my age- some of my friends, in fact- are running miles at 4 a.m. at boot camp. The least I can do is take my free time and dedicate the majority of it five days a week to my future profession (hopefully). Better put, "What is wrong with them?" Those parents and faculty members that cannot, or will not see, that what we do for our kids is invaluable. Gentlemen, we coach a game that requires absolute dedication on our parts for success, and even when you have that kind of dedication the chance of going 0 - 10 still exists! Why can't those around us see that what we do for kids, particularly at the high school level, is impact their lives for the remainder of their lives! Funnily enough I was just thinking about this an hour ago. I mused to myself that there's three professions that everybody thinks they know more than the experts at: teaching, doctoring, and coaching- and in my humble opinion coaching and teaching are the same thing! I would check the college library you are attending. Most college are wonderful places to find un-used resources. some schools will have backlogs of scholastic and other coaching journals. Scholastic coach goes back to the 1920s. And in many case colleges have hard to find and even unheard of coaching books. |
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Post by coachwood on Aug 4, 2010 9:08:42 GMT -6
Man, I can't wait until I can do that stuff! I've decided I'm really gonna put myself on a "football schedule" when I go to college in a month. Besides a job I gotta get and school work, it's gonna be learning football very, very often for me, and that's it. I'm cutting all other distractions out. My Xbox? Leaving it at home. High school friends to get me away my extra curricular work? I'm moving an hour away and will only see a couple of them on weekends. Crazy parties at college? I'm a Christian and I abstain from all that. I'm only bringing my football books with me, and this history book I've been slowly making my way through. On weekends I'll maybe watch a few college games and see family/friends, and on Sundays I got Bills season tickets. I'm just hoping work and school stuff won't take too much of my time from me. Oh, and my major? Physical Education. I'm definitely planning on working my butt off- but it's gonna be so FUN! I mean, I'm going to college. I'm gonna be sitting in an air-conditioned library with my nose in books while some people my age- some of my friends, in fact- are running miles at 4 a.m. at boot camp. The least I can do is take my free time and dedicate the majority of it five days a week to my future profession (hopefully). Funnily enough I was just thinking about this an hour ago. I mused to myself that there's three professions that everybody thinks they know more than the experts at: teaching, doctoring, and coaching- and in my humble opinion coaching and teaching are the same thing! I would check the college library you are attending. Most college are wonderful places to find un-used resources. some schools will have backlogs of scholastic and other coaching journals. Scholastic coach goes back to the 1920s. And in many case colleges have hard to find and even unheard of coaching books. And go visit brophy's blog. |
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Post by endersgame on Aug 4, 2010 10:05:48 GMT -6
I would check the college library you are attending. Most college are wonderful places to find un-used resources. some schools will have backlogs of scholastic and other coaching journals. Scholastic coach goes back to the 1920s. And in many case colleges have hard to find and even unheard of coaching books. Good suggestion, Coach, will do. coachwood: I already read brophy's blog near daily. Thanks for the heads up, though. |
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coachriley
Junior Member
"Tough times don't last; Tough people do."
Posts: 406
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Post by coachriley on Aug 4, 2010 11:54:59 GMT -6
Man, I can't wait until I can do that stuff! I've decided I'm really gonna put myself on a "football schedule" when I go to college in a month. Besides a job I gotta get and school work, it's gonna be learning football very, very often for me, and that's it. I'm cutting all other distractions out. My Xbox? Leaving it at home. High school friends to get me away my extra curricular work? I'm moving an hour away and will only see a couple of them on weekends. Crazy parties at college? I'm a Christian and I abstain from all that. I'm only bringing my football books with me, and this history book I've been slowly making my way through. On weekends I'll maybe watch a few college games and see family/friends, and on Sundays I got Bills season tickets. I'm just hoping work and school stuff won't take too much of my time from me. Oh, and my major? Physical Education. I'm definitely planning on working my butt off- but it's gonna be so FUN! I mean, I'm going to college. I'm gonna be sitting in an air-conditioned library with my nose in books while some people my age- some of my friends, in fact- are running miles at 4 a.m. at boot camp. The least I can do is take my free time and dedicate the majority of it five days a week to my future profession (hopefully). Funnily enough I was just thinking about this an hour ago. I mused to myself that there's three professions that everybody thinks they know more than the experts at: teaching, doctoring, and coaching- and in my humble opinion coaching and teaching are the same thing! I would check the college library you are attending. Most college are wonderful places to find un-used resources. some schools will have backlogs of scholastic and other coaching journals. Scholastic coach goes back to the 1920s. And in many case colleges have hard to find and even unheard of coaching books. This is exactly what I did in college, I graduated last year. We had old books on how to run the SW, Splitback Veer, an old school Demeo triple option book, stuff on the Belly. It was amazing having all of that there, and nobody ever checked it out so it was mine whenever I wanted lol. |
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