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Post by chorizo on Sept 27, 2006 12:02:25 GMT -6
I am a freshman defensive coach. Our team is off to a 3-1 start.
We have 33 on our squad. In the beggining coaches agreed to develope kids and try to play as many as possible and utimatly platoon O and D. We are far from our goal
The problem is some are starting to smell an 8-2, or 9-2
season and 7 play both ways ! It would be more but I am starting to use first year kids for Dline and DB and they are comming along. I will start a new SS this week.
The last four weeks 30 kids played in each game on defense. The offensive guys are still feeling like they dont have reliable backups to play more kids.
Heres the deal. The offensive coaches are getting the best 11 and wont let go and play the others.
I think 8-2, 7-3 is duable and win league with total platooning O and D.
Guys I love to win I know we are lucky to have several talented players. My problem is the defense is doing all of the development and its tough with all the substitutions.
Now the core of the D is LB and they dont want to play O line any more!
Do th LBs have a bad attitude if they only want to play defense?
Shouldn't after nine weeks we have more offensive lineman?
Do I sound like a snivler?
I really respect you guys. What do you think?
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Post by brophy on Sept 27, 2006 12:11:56 GMT -6
spin control.
1) this is freshmen football - winning is great, but develop the kids, make it fun, get everyone involved.
2) Focus on the kids you get, let the offense worry about the offense.
3) the COACH can control attitudes about what the kids do. Even if you don't believe it, speak highly of every position on the team. If you aren't there; Fake it 'till you make it. Keep selling playing time and development whether it's on "your side" of the ball or not.
4) I understand the frustrations of the season and the tunnel-vision we all get wanting to see our fruit of our efforts. Just stay focussed on the big picture and communicate with your staff and your players, take a step back and regroup.
5) don't worry - be happy ...lmao
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Post by chorizo on Sept 27, 2006 12:20:03 GMT -6
Spin control, fake it till you make it, big picture
Thanks Brophy. good advice
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Post by brophy on Sept 27, 2006 12:23:40 GMT -6
the other thing is ...you have to acknowledge that it is much easier to pick up a defensive assignment and be confident, than it is conversely on offense...you have to allow the offense plenty of time to gel and get their rhythm. This is true from pee wee to pros.
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Post by coachcalande on Sept 27, 2006 12:27:09 GMT -6
our policy is this...DEFENSE IS A REWARD. our kids have to learn an offensive position before they can play defense. period.
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Post by groundchuck on Sept 27, 2006 12:33:51 GMT -6
At my school we play all the kids at the 9th grade level. If you played offense the first half then you go D the 2nd half. And the units are broken down pretty evenly. Everyone will play.
But in a game like our 9th grade had a few a few weeks ago they needed to score in the 4th quarter to tie and win it in OT (which we did) we played our best 11 on O and D for the final quarter and in OT. Still all the kids played plenty of reps but in the crucial situaitons we go with the best.
I think you can accomplish both winning and getting everyone quality reps at the 9th grade level.
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Post by brophy on Sept 27, 2006 12:39:20 GMT -6
when we decided to go two platoon a few years ago and tried to take a page out of Bob Reade/Vic Boblett in that Every player in the program has a primary and secondary position as a Freshman. They ALL learn offense and defense (special teams are the treat). If your primary (fr) position is DE and your secondary position is FB. You'd play primarily DE the first half (maybe spot duty at FB) then in the second half switch it so you would hardly play DE and mostly FB. This way, they figured, it got everyone involved in the games (and in practice) and everyone had fun. unfortunately, our all our freshmen coaches went nuts and had their own agenda....lmao  |
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Post by groundchuck on Sept 27, 2006 13:13:11 GMT -6
Good way to do things. when we decided to go two platoon a few years ago and tried to take a page out of Bob Reade/Vic Boblett in that Every player in the program has a primary and secondary position as a Freshman. They ALL learn offense and defense (special teams are the treat). If your primary (fr) position is DE and your secondary position is FB. You'd play primarily DE the first half (maybe spot duty at FB) then in the second half switch it so you would hardly play DE and mostly FB. This way, they figured, it got everyone involved in the games (and in practice) and everyone had fun. unfortunately, our all our freshmen coaches went nuts and had their own agenda....lmao |
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Post by cc on Sept 28, 2006 8:24:26 GMT -6
Its not how many games you win but how many players you have that go onto play for the next level (varsity etc) and play well...
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Post by coachjd on Sept 28, 2006 9:12:26 GMT -6
all 9th graders should get an opportunity to play. Play how much??? I guess that should be determined how hard they practice and well they know their assignments. I have seen too many 9th graders quit and by the time they are 11th or 12th graders they walk the halls looking like a manchild and dominate in another sport. All kids mature at different rates. Keep the 9th grade kids excited about playing football. At the end of the season they should not want the season to be over. You don't want them to feel like the season was a grind.
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Post by groundchuck on Sept 28, 2006 9:36:05 GMT -6
That has been the way we do things here for 35 years. A few years ago a couple of new freshman coaches came in. They did not want to do it the way the program wanted it done. Kids quit. Now we are having one of our worst starts in recent memory. Part of the reason is we have played some very very good teams, but also we lack depth. There are kids walking around who could help us. Can't totally blame those guys it seems even in good programs now kids are falling out b/c they don't want to make sacrifices. But some more depth would help us right now. BTW we have new freshman coaches now.
You just can't play everyone evenly regardless of how hard they work in practice. Our kids know if they work hard during the week, and know thier assignments they will see considerable PT in the freshman games.
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Post by coachcalande on Sept 28, 2006 9:50:26 GMT -6
...ok, someone has to say this...might as well be me...and it just another side of the coin...been undefeated AND PLAYED EVERYONE ALOT at the same time and kids still quit. have had kids that ran for 1800 yards in 8 games not even show up for final game. have had kids disappear in mid year during undefeated runs, have had kids that started on both sides of the ball and play special teams too not go out for high school...sometimes the hs teams stink and the kids just dont want to play anymore. or they dont like the coach or they want to play baseball or focus on basketball whatever...i say play as many as you can, develop as many as you can, teach EVERYONE in practice nad play the most deserving kids without hurting the team. you try to keep one kid happy adn youre likely to make 45 others miserable. I look at the 20 kids on a certain varsity team i know...missing from those 20 are several very good players that a certain coach i know had as 9th graders. they simply stated that they didnt like the coach. it happens.
let me offer one small example of the flaw in the "play everyone" concept...
a) player a comes to every practice, is slow, weak, and basically a non entity any time he is on the field, cannot physically do his job. its almost a guaranteed td if he is expected to make a tackle and its a guaranteed lost yardage play if hes expected to make a block...
b) player b comes to MOST practices, has difficulty with grades, is unreliable with his assignments but is a physcial specimen. you try to use playing time to motivate him but he loafs at the next practice
c) player C does not want to play, his parents want him to have more playing time to "learn" the game but he doesnt practice enough to learn anything due to faking injury after injury adn asthma attack after asthma attack. cannot complete a warm up lap. afraid of contact, has no clue what "strong side" or "split side" means when on defense and has no idea what "trap" means on offense despite being at every practice...
d) player d is a physical specimen. bigger and stronger than most of the other kids. not bright, socially challenged, lacks discipline, often forgets his gear but he will hit ya. cant seem to remember his gym clothes so hes failing gym and two other subjects, often spends time in the principals office and is reputed to be a dope dealer. the principal wants him on the team for discipline and leverage...kid never learns his plays, has to ask someone on every down.
e) player c comes to every practice, every open gym, is on the honor roll or at least gets his assignments done. very reliable and a team captain candidate. knows every assignment on both sides of the ball and typically ends up busting his hump to make up for the lack of effort of both players a and b...SHOULD HE EVER HAVE TO SIT THE BENCH FOR THOSE KIDS? I SAY NO.
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Post by brophy on Sept 28, 2006 10:09:45 GMT -6
e) those are the type of kids that could coach themselves
a, b, c, & d ) teaching and motivation issues.......that's why they pay us the 'big bucks' (most of the places I've been, for every "e" player there are 35 kids dumber than a bag of hammers that we have to work with)
the only reason a kid shouldn't play is if he is a danger to himself or others (not having a clue)
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Post by coachcalande on Sept 28, 2006 10:12:52 GMT -6
I hear ya broph...suppose you have a core of say 15 kids that are rock solid and another 25 kids that just want to wear the uniform ya know. sometimes it takes them two years in the program for the light bulb to go on ...that much I know. keeping them around has little to do with playing time and alot more to do with the relationship to teh coach and his friends. just my two cents.
let me add...I play the hardest workers. physical ability doesnt even matter. ill find some time for them. they may not start but if they have heart and attend all events and work hard...they will play. i wont play the heartless selfish types, but i will coach them up every practice. i have one example from yesterday as a matter of fact, we have a huge kid, a monster. strongest player on our team. bad grades, lacks discipline and is unreliable in both attendance and knowledge of assignments. the principal wants him on the team...hes got four unexcused absenses and i promised the team yesterday "he doesnt play another down, its not fair to you"...ill stick by that no matter what. i told the kid "you can stay on teh team, you will run your bellies, you can scrimmage in practice, but you will not play again this year". i have too many kids that are doing every thing we ask and its tough to give playing time away to those that dont. now, not everyone will agree wiht me...all i can tell you is that my kids have gone on to play for 4 time state champs, and now on to play for a perennial play off contender (after 21 years without a play off appearance)...
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