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Post by fbdoc on May 6, 2007 16:09:24 GMT -6
As we enter our 2nd week of Spring Football, I got to thinking about how we do everything we do and then remembered a couple of colossal mistakes from my own past that fortunately I learned from. Thought this might be interesting so I'll start off.
As a young HC (2nd team) I read in a clinic manual about a coach who had is juniors lead warm ups as a way to develop leadership. The seniors were in the back of the lines to "help" the younger kids as a way to foster brotherhood. Little did I realize that this particular group of seniors had been obsessing about being in front for the previous 3 years and despite by explanations and intentions, proceeded to undermine me from the back of the lines! The lesson, consult with team leaders before making radical changes. Anyone else?
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Post by senatorblutarsky on May 6, 2007 21:56:40 GMT -6
The lesson, consult with team leaders before making radical changes.Or little changes... one year when we (I) tried to change our helmet paint to the metallic finish (same color mind you), the seniors panicked and we almost had a mutiny. Tradition is important here, but I never thought that would be a big deal. Anyway, we kept 'em the same (went 7-4). We changed the helmets the next year to the metallic finish (and went 11-1...) but we discussed it then prior to making the change. Somehow I think the 7-4 team might not have won a game if I had gone ahead with the change (they thought so anyway) .
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Post by wingman on May 7, 2007 12:40:33 GMT -6
To each his own but my advice to a young HC starting out would be don't have too many rules because you leave yourself no flexibility.
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Post by jjkuenzel on May 7, 2007 16:02:12 GMT -6
One big mistake I have seen is that when you are struggling on O or D, the answer is not to put in a new offense or defense. Maybe add a few things here and there to help, but don't scrap what the kids already know. They may not be very good at it, but at least they know it.
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Post by dubber on May 7, 2007 16:05:42 GMT -6
Kids learn and are motivated differently........biggest lesson to learn
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Post by phantom on May 7, 2007 17:16:24 GMT -6
One big mistake I have seen is that when you are struggling on O or D, the answer is not to put in a new offense or defense. Maybe add a few things here and there to help, but don't scrap what the kids already know. They may not be very good at it, but at least they know it. That is a very common mistake. Pretty much everybody does it. I have. Sometimes it's because we're not good enough or not getting the scheme so we throw in the towel. Sometimes our ego gets in the way and we try to "outcoach" the coach of the superior team with the Ampipe defense. It rarely works either way. If you have a philosophy and a scheme that you know and believe in, stay with it.
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Post by riverrat on May 7, 2007 20:57:00 GMT -6
My biggest mistake as a d.c. is trying to coach all kids the same.. I have learned from some good mentors that you must figure out what makes each kid tick (physically and emotionally) and change your coaching methods to fit his needs. You must coach to individual differences just like a regular classroom teacher.
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Post by PSS on May 8, 2007 7:26:37 GMT -6
My biggest mistake as a d.c. is trying to coach all kids the same.. I have learned from some good mentors that you must figure out what makes each kid tick (physically and emotionally) and change your coaching methods to fit his needs. You must coach to individual differences just like a regular classroom teacher. Very good point. Every kid has a different learning style and as a coach you have to teach each on a different level. You can't reach them all with the same "language" so to say. Some take extra time after practice while others pick it up right away.
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Post by kloranc on May 8, 2007 9:32:07 GMT -6
I think that jjkuenzel makes a good point. I learned the hard way that sometime it is better to "add by subtraction" with a young team. I tried to add new wrinkles that just got the players more confused. I then cut things back to the basics, and we started playing a whole lot better. We managed to win our district after starting the season 0-4.
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Post by airman on May 8, 2007 19:23:36 GMT -6
I hear this bit of sage advice from a old coach, every time you change your offense or defense your seniors become freshman all over again.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2007 19:47:46 GMT -6
Good one, airman. I go back to City Slickers when Curley says, "all you need is one thing. It's up to you to figure out what that one thing is."
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Post by airman on May 8, 2007 19:50:13 GMT -6
Good one, airman. I go back to City Slickers when Curley says, "all you need is one thing. It's up to you to figure out what that one thing is." there is a book called "that some thing" it is a motivational classic. can be found on naphill.org when you know what that some things is, you have found the key to life. sort of like what curley said.
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