Could Use Help

I'm no expert. I'm not a Head Coach..only a lowly O'line coach for our varsity and JV. The head coach obviously on your team isn't worried about wins and losses for your JV squad, since he took your two best players. Keep working them, and doing what you know is right. When its their time to go up to varsity they will know how to react in those situations. Our JV squad is 7-0 atm but they could just as easily be 0-7. It wouldn't bother us in the least because these young guys are getting playing time. As they mature physically, they will be better, mentally as well. Just keep working them hard, and let them know success comes with a price, hard work in the off-season. Probably a good lesson for them too coach, i'm sure going 0-7 isn't fun for them. The ones that love football will be better for it. This kind of season will weed out your undedicated players.

If your program is like most programs, the goal of the JV coaches is to prepare the players for varsity. Secondary goals include winning. You have to consider your team an extension of the varsity. So, when they take players to fill their gaps, it is a natural part of the process.

Winning should never be 'demanded'. This is HS football, not the pros. Winning is a by-product of things that you control - weight training, work ethic, focus, scheme, etc. So, focus on the things you control, not winning. That being said, the kids will take your lead. Be intense and competitive. Play for a win, but take losing as a part of the game.

When you have a team that is 0-7 and might be a little demoralized, you should focus your energy on the players. Make the game fun for them. Grinding them might be your initial reaction, but what good will it do? Will you win your last 3? Will a few kids quit or give up? Will the grinding make them play harder?

My suggestion is to renew your staff. Decide that you want to finish the last few weeks positive. Insert a new trick play or two. Install a new blitz. Run a West Point drill. Just do something that is fun for the kids - something that gives them enthusiasm. Remember that the kids will take your lead . . .

- Reduce negative coaching - coaches only make corrections and give praise. No cursing, no name-calling, no outbursts.
- Improve coach's interactions - instruct your coaches to have fun with each other. Joke with each other in front of the kids.
- Improve the coach's intensity. Instruct your coaches to coach-up the scout team as well as your O or D.
- Change/install a reward system. Helmet stickers or whatever you use. Add additional ways for the kids to earn praise.
- Let the kids know how proud you are of their effort. Challenge them to improve it. Set achieveable goals for your next game.

I have been in your situation. Never give up on the kids, the team, or the season. They will know if you slack off.

As for the other coach, class is not something that all coaches have. . . get used to it. You might think about talking to the teams that his team plays next. Do you have endzone tape, or something else you can trade with them? You know 'a enemy of my enemy is my friend.' If that is the type of program that they run (the varsity acts like a bully too?). . . you may want to leave it alone and just get after them next year. If the JV coach is out of line with the varsity, then you might have the AD's or HC's talk. In any case, there is not much you can do.

We have a coach like that in our local area. He is classless. But, he is also young. He has run the score-up on teams. He leaves his starters in the game for the full game, even when up by large margins. He takes two films for each game. His main copy, which is taken from the press box and shows the entire field, and his trade copy, which is taken from the front row of the stands and only shows the OL. He has relied on players coming to his program from outside the schools' boundaries. He had his years of winning just because he had better players. The cycle has changed and he no longer has the better players. It can take a while, but things do change. Keep up the faith.

Thanks for the feedback.

What is the West Point Drill? I don't have that one in my notes or maybe I call it by another name. I was going to do the Circle of Life today.

The West Point drill is known by a lot of other names, so you probably already know it. Two blockers and a runner on one side, two defenders on the other side. Treat it like a goalline play. The defenders shed and tackle, the offense tries to score. Use OL or DL as the RB so you keep injuries down.

You can also do 1-on-1 with 2 players. They just getoff and try to drive the other guy. Make sure to set the matchups yourself, so you don't endup with a DB vs. a OL.