Football Knowledge

I prefer the 1-on-1 with coaches. Visiting their practices, or talking with them about the specifics of their schemes.... their methods of teaching those schemes, drills, etc.

All of the above. I prefer visits to clinics but when you're starting out broad-based clinics are a good source of general knowledge. Visiting colleges and HS programs is a great way to learn program administration and practice planning. For technique stuff I like videos but for scheme and program stuff books are better, IMO. The internet is helpful, especially with pointing you in the right direction and answering specific questions.

Years ago I was coaching Wr's at a DIII school and wanted to know more. I picked up the phone and called the SEC school in our state and got a 1 on 1 with the WR coach there. I learned more in those 3 hours than I could learn in 3 years on my own. He was great to talk to and I could tell he really enjoyed coaching, because he was such a great teacher to me.

one on one with other coaches is by far the best, period (at least for me).
clinic talks rarely do much, but going to clinics give the potential for the one on ones with the coaches, so they're not all bad.
this site is awsome, both for stress relief and for meeting coaches (more one on one questions).

I'm a young coach. I just graduated from college, but I've coached, off and on, for approximately 5 years. I've committed to learning as much as possible because, personally, I hate not understanding something. I'm a lot better as a coach when I understand the full picture. If I don't, I lose confidence and I fear that can be sensed by players.

Overall though, and this may seem naive, but I do feel advanced for my age because I've utilized every method above.

1. Clinics
- Okay to a point. Maybe it was because I was in college, but when all the other coaches got hammered, I wanted to learn. Maybe that's because I could do that any weekend at that time. But overall, and I learned this in my 2nd year coaching, there is so much "clinic talk/speak" that it's worthless. I only attend scheme stuff when I know I will encounter it/could use it. Best for when you can talk to your staff about how something may be worthwhile.

2. Other high school coaches
Good no matter how good the staff is. I've been on a varsity staff which was clearly inexperienced (at the start of the season, I had the 3rd most experience on the whole staff on every level, which was 4. That was 3 more than the varsity DC). And, although we were terrible, I learned so much about myself and how to coach, for better or for worse. I wasn't very good, and I was young and very cocky. After my first year there, I had such a hunger to learn so I could really make a difference.

3. College coaches
I spoke to several D-III college coaches in the area about 2 years ago. Just went on a spree. I learned so much. This was, by far, the most rewarding. Make sure you talk to them, especially if they are successful, about their philosophy about growing their kids and building a family. They know a lot about it, because they need to take a brand new team with brand new recruits every year which may replace a current starter. Keeping that family together is very tough but very critical. Finally, and of coarse, ask about technique, drills, scheme to an extent, ect...
4. Books
Good for introductory material. I bought so many when I was in that first year at that inexperienced program. I learned a lot. However, very few get to the nitty gritty, which is needed for success. Use books as a place to develop questions for GOOD clinic speakers or for college coaches when you are inexperienced in the scheme.

5. Videos
A great visual tool if you need drills, are new to coaching a position, or to learn advanced/new techniques Besides that, eh.
6. Internet/Coaching forums (this site)
Best resource. It brings all of the above together for me. Great place to ask questions. Also, when I answer a question, I make sure to read the responses for criticism. Is there a better way than what I provided? Is there a flaw in my thinking?

Overall, like I mentioned, I feel like I'm advanced for my age. Since my age (22) is so inexperienced, that really doesn't say much at all. Best advice, talk to experienced coaches here or in person. Then see if its applicable to you in some way. There may only be one nugget of information that is relevant, but it helps your understanding or helps you teach for efficiently and effectively, then you are much better off than you were before.

Take whatever you can get, read it, watch it, and sort it out later. If you are just beginning it is all going to be garble to you anyways....but it will give you something to chew on.

Small college.

I have done this twice and will try to do more next year. One of the visits I was able to talk to the OL coach, OC and HC.

How to take advantage of clinics...talk to other coaches...track down a speaker. Some speakers are form out of town and "flying solo" invite them to eat with you during the break!

Did anyone ever take football coaching class in college?

I took it, and my college coach was the teacher, he covered everything from how to keep the wife happy, to bio rhythms of the players, scouting, time management.

He talked very little about scheme. We had to make our own playbook with our philosophy, scheme, defense, and special teams.

Our playbook was our grade and he tore it apart and was very thorough about telling us what he liked and didn't.

Most of the guys in the class were players, so it was an extra hour of film study most days, but the longer I have been coaching the more things he taught in the class are starting to make sense 20 plus years later.

Several of my teammates and countless former players of my old college coach have won state championships, or have went on to be successful college coaches themselves.

I asked him once how many of his former players have coached in a state championship, he had no clue how many. but it was dozens.

I agree. When you're young, clinics are a great way to get exposed to a LOT of football. When you're experienced you may get one great thing, one nugget, that helps you a lot. It may just be a throwaway line that gets you thinking.

Actually learning about football is a chain of events. Almost everyone has hit on one or two links of the chain. Most everything starts at clinics.

Clinics allow you to obtain a broad based knowledge, picking up a nugget or two along the way. Most important part of clinics however is the development of relationships with other coaches of similar interest. From this smaller interest group, you are able to go visit or get together and discuss things that will really benefit you and your program.

As you approach the mid to end of your career, you will look back and see how nicely it all fit together.