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Post by coachnichols on Nov 26, 2007 15:58:54 GMT -6
Let's assume you are in a situation without any support. Bad sports programs (yes, literally ALL of them are bad), bad attitudes, lots of losing, terrible facilities, low socio-economic school and parents, little to NO BOOSTER CLUB, administration who has no clue about what it takes, etc. Pretty much one of the worst situations you can imagine. Everyone outside of the coaches and players just don't really seem to care. My thoughts to combat this: - parent/community meeting to unveil new regime
- newsletters
- weekly booster club meetings
- ask booster club to organize cookout for pre-season scrimmage
- phone calls/visits to homes and businesses to "recruit" parents and community members
- general upgrading of everything possible that involves the program
- anything you could do to build a team spirit (shirts, team building excercises, great off-season program, team retreat, lock-in, movies, etc.)
- show them what it takes to be successful (mainly the admin--take them to a great program and speak with a successful head coach)
I guess what I'm asking is, how would someone who is not Nick Saban, go into a situation and pull a Nick Saban? How do you get everyone fired up about football in a place where absolutely no one gives a d*mn because things seem to be so terrible all the way around that football is just very, very, very, very low on the list? What are some of the things you guys do to garner parent and community involvement? Anything would be helpful. Thanks ahead of time! |
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Post by cmow5 on Nov 26, 2007 16:28:09 GMT -6
I am going through the same thing, but at the middle school level. So when you give coach Nichols some advice please feel free to let me know if the same thing will work at the Jr high level.
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Post by knighter on Nov 26, 2007 17:46:58 GMT -6
promoting football in school and community in the articles section
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Post by coachnichols on Nov 26, 2007 18:58:54 GMT -6
I guess I wasn't thinking so much as promoting as anything at all to get people interested and doing something. Like, you guys actually having the parents do something specific. I guess that is promoting, but I was think more along the lines of what some of you probably put in your portfolio. Fundraisers? Booster Club activities?
I just went and read the article. Great stuff. I'm confident that I can change the attitude of the players, but I'm worried about reaching parents. I know this isn't PC, but how do I try and reach parents who don't speak English well/at all? Parents who drink more than I do? Do drugs? Don't care about school? Are negative about the school because it sucks? The administration has been negative towards them and hasn't included them in other things? Past coaches have been stand off-ish and not included parents/community?
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Post by ajreaper on Nov 26, 2007 19:11:06 GMT -6
Might be as simple as no one has ever asked/invited them to become involved.
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Post by coachbdud on Nov 26, 2007 19:14:51 GMT -6
we have no support either, no one in the community wants to be involved with our kids because they think they are a bunch of criminals. We cant do any real fundraising because there isnt any money in the community to be donated. I wanna do a liftathon among other fundraisers but the kids wont get any money from parents, family, or community because they dont have the money to spend. And the people who do have the money want absolutely nothing to do with our school
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wccoach
Sophomore Member
Posts: 159
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Post by wccoach on Nov 26, 2007 19:51:14 GMT -6
I know this will sound terrible, but many of our players warned the coaches to not get too aggressive trying to get the parents and community involved. We did not listen and had a big problem with crowd control this year. We did not have large crowds, but many of our "fans" showed up drunk/high and we had several fights in the stands between the parents and the opposing teams fans. It was very distracting and some of the players have expressed that playing football was a way to get away from their uncontrolled parents and community thugs. We invited the community in and paid the price. I have never had that happen! The HC brought some of it on himself with a basic lack of discipline with the players and parents. He was all about "fun" and "no restrictions" and he got fired after the season. I am being asked to take over and try to regain control of the program. I am actually thinking about taking the HC job. I have to be crazy!
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Post by cmow5 on Nov 26, 2007 20:43:03 GMT -6
Let me ask what do you guys do with the money (if any) that you raise? I am not talking about what you buy, but do you trust the school with it or do you set up a bank account for the football team. The HC and I are worried the money we raise for the football team will be used for other things.
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Post by Coach Goodnight on Nov 26, 2007 20:49:30 GMT -6
sometimes the craziest people are the best for the job. How about approaching the kids and asking them if they think that their parents might help, if you get some positive feed back then go for it, if not leave those parents alone. The kids will tell you straight up how mom or dad will react to being approached like that. If it is positive then ask them (parents) for input on things they think might be productive or even about some of your ideas and for their help with them. Sometimes it is just a matter of asking the right ones to get things rolling and they usually get you help that will not cause you any problems!!
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Post by ajreaper on Nov 26, 2007 21:41:46 GMT -6
cmow- I have two accounts, one run through our school and I am the only one who can request funds to be dispersed from it and I also have an account at the local credit union (which I am not supposed to have but oh well) which allows me to access money quickly for things that are needed but may not fly by the admin if I went through the school account. For example a donation on behalf of the program to our local pop warner league- important for sure but maybe not kosher by school admin.
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Post by knighter on Nov 26, 2007 21:43:34 GMT -6
i also have a secret account with a friend of the program at the bank...guess that cat is out of the bag now huh?
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Post by Coach Goodnight on Nov 26, 2007 21:43:48 GMT -6
Reaper wouldnt that be kind of unethical? Its kind of like going behind the admins back, or did the school set it up for you to be used in this manner?
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