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Post by touchdowng on Mar 24, 2007 22:32:48 GMT -6
I'd like to hear from some vets (I've been doing this 25 years) or even some younger guys who have learned from others about some great motivational strategies you use during the off-season.
I'm talking about something that has stood the test of time. Seems like we are always building a different mousetrap every couple of years, or so, just to keep the kids motivated to work during the off season.
We are experiencing great success with our off-season and now is the time to find some new tricks, not when things get sluggish.
We are doing the reward Tshirts and record boards. We are providing solid recognition on our website. We have 3 committed coaches working with our boys after school. Experience tells me that pretty soon, we'll need to come up with some new bells and whistles to keep the boys focused.
What do you do?
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Post by fbdoc on Mar 25, 2007 12:03:53 GMT -6
I think one of the most important things to do is simply stay in contact with them. Obviously your off season program allows you to do this. We are a small school and the large majority of our kids do 2 and 3 sports so their "conditioning" time is spent in their current season practice. I help with Track so I get to work with those kids but I spend a lot of time seeing them in the halls and classrooms just to keep them thinking about football. We try to meet at least once a month to talk about schedule, camp, and other items - this year the booster club is getting us new uniforms and helmets so were designing a new helmet logo so that has created a lot of excitement and interest. It sounds like your have the lifting and the running taken care of. Look to add a few extras and you should be very happy.
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kr7263
Sophomore Member
Posts: 228
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Post by kr7263 on Mar 25, 2007 12:30:48 GMT -6
I like to build in special days to get out of the weight room and do something fun. 7on7 razzle dazzle, football dodgeballl; football tag. Or if you have access to someone with knowlege in rugby. Do simple strongman competition (throwing things, stacking things, lifting unusual things) for food prizes (get the local pizza place to donate a pizza). Do a team building exercise - titanic; team juggle; A Frame; If you have access to a pool & lifeguard - pool olympics (make up crazy contests and have the kids judge each other) again for food prizes. Our kids know they have to meet a certain attendance, GPA and % of improvement (we want our team bench and team squat to improve each testing period). These days are rewards for the majority who have done what it takes.
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Post by touchdowng on Mar 25, 2007 15:39:30 GMT -6
kr
those are good ideas. sometimes it's easy to forget that the vast majority of our kids do the game simply for fun....
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Post by spartancoach on Mar 25, 2007 17:02:25 GMT -6
Once a week, usually Saturday afternoon, we do mat drills, and run them a bit over the top. Parents and boosters are invited to observe. About 6 circuits of extremely high energy, high intensity, music so loud you have to scream to be heard. Afterwards, the booster club cooks burgers and dogs. Kids can't wait for the drills the next week.
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dcwar
Sophomore Member
Posts: 102
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Post by dcwar on Mar 25, 2007 20:54:39 GMT -6
FBDOC- great post. We are in a similar situation school wise, and you would not believe the mileage I get out of going to their other sporting events, concerts, school functions. These kids just want someone to take an interest because many are not getting it a home.
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Post by superpower on Mar 26, 2007 7:54:51 GMT -6
Build meaningful relationships. Eat lunch with your players. Get to know them away from football and the weightroom. When they see that you care about them as young men, they will be willing to do anything for you.
"They won't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
I read SEASON OF LIFE by Jeffrey Marx yesterday, and it is about a high school football program that is based on relationships. They have been highly successful with this approach. I would recommend this book to every coach in the country - very powerful.
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