HC- do you appreciate suggestions/imput/ideas

feel the same sls

I think the assistants need to feel comfortable to make suggestion, but to also realize that timing is everything, and to not suggest the McNab to T.O. play when it's 3rd and 15 and were on our own 10 with under a minute to play! I still use this line with my assistants every once in awhile (a head coach who is still a great friend used it on me frequently)... speaking AS the head coach - Gentlemen, this is only a suggestion, but I want you to keep in mind WHO is suggesting it.

every suggestion is measure with how it can be tied in with the playbook.

If you can't take the time to assimiliate your suggestion to the playbook (terminology, base formations,etc) then you really haven't thought it out.

Also, you'd better have an answer for how it adjusts to everything we will see from our opponents.

Time, Teaching, and Execution all have to be juggled to make any play work (understand how long it would take to implement your suggestion).

Great point phantom. Other wise the playbook gets crammed with suggestions and exceptions and instead of a playbook you have a grab bag. Also need to note how the "suggestion" effects other plays in the series or scheme.

True, but that's probably what most suggestions are about, especially in-season. To answer the original question, our boss is very good about taking suggestions and open to change if you can prove a point. Would he be willing to change from our Pro-I to a spread? Not chance. Then again, we know the guy so none of us would be dumb enough to suggest it.

As a head coach I really appreciate suggestions from assistants and they have really helped us.

The best suggestions have not been about plays or defenses.

Instead the best suggestions from the other coaches have been about use of personel and reminders during the heat of the game. For example having an assistant coach remind you to go on a long count because he notices that the defense is over anxious. It may seem like a little thing but in a critical game this year our soph head coach reminded us to go on two and they jumped and we got a critical first down. On the next play we broke a long touchdown run and blew the game open. Those are the suggestions that make a difference.

My experience is that your input and ability to make recommendations is earned.

I joined a new staff a last year and they weren't interested in hearing any of my ideas. I needed to learn their approach and systems and coach my group,. Totally understandable. I had come from a more successful program where I had coached freshman the past couple of years. Most of my experience was with MS level.

I had a good year coaching my group at Freshman, kids got better, coaches could really see them get better, the kids had a great experience, freshman coach liked my input and game prep suggestions. Parents liked the way i worked with their kids.

This off season I revised my old defense playbook that I used with my old team and shared it with the DC and HC. They liked it, last year they struggled on defense. They adopted the playbook and just changes a few names.

I spent some time this off seasons mapping all the fronts we saw
last year. Next week I meet with the OC to evaluate all of our blocking schemes in the playbook.

So what I am saying that in most cases your ability to make suggestions and more importantly have your suggestions get proper consideration, is earned. If you do your job well and are a good soldier, understand who the boss is, I think you earn the opportunity to influence the program. It's like the only Stephen Covey concept "area of influence" vs. "area of control". If you do a good on your "area of control", your "area of influence" tends to widen.

Another key factor is timing! When i was Head Coach I hated hair brained ideas on the sideline. Or "hey I saw this play". There is a time and a place for suggestions.

Our HC encourages input from the assistants. not x's and o's during the season (during a game is rediculous to me), maybe a wrinkle here and there during the offseason. But, in a game, our HC has all of our duties listed out for giving input. what is the front, how many in the box, is this player getting reached/logged/etc., is the reverse there, etc. There is a job at the bottom for all of us that says, "find useful information." Anything that isn't on our list, but could be used in our playcalling to exploit a weakness that we didn't get on film or picked up as the game flows.

This past season I had our HC blow up at me on the head sets- we had a guard that plain and simple he sucked. He couldn't block anyone. We are in the red zone and run a play that just gets blown up and he asks what had happened and I told him "Nate sucks" that's what happened. LOL, he blew up screaming in the head sets not to bad mouth the kid he was all we had etc. After he calmed down I told him I'd need not do that if we'd remember that when we are calling plays in critical situations- he got the point (we'd hd the converstion before). In some situations there's no time to wait for a better time and no point in beating around the bush. A good AC speaks his mind it's up to the HC to listen and evaluate the info. I'm not going to get into an argument in front of kids or something but I'll be damned if I'll stay quiet with the outcome still in doubt.

What about things such as personnel, practice structure, discipline, offseason calender, awards, team philosophy....everything seems to be pointed at x's and o's here.

champ--aj said they had previous conversations about the topic, presumably during the week. Obviously based on the HC reply, there wasn't a suitable replacement, therefore I don't think aj was so horribly guilty (other than he could have been heard by others,) that in the heat of the moment the HC screwed up and forgot that there was a definite need to run to the OTHER guard in crucial situations. Again, according to AJ, this was discussed.

No deference should be paid to the HC, especially one that doesn't pay attention to detail. The HC doesn't suffer a loss more than the AC's

I would bet a round of beers that this fact was not noted on the HC call sheet--most likely the HC didnt have a situational call sheet.

I beleive it is good that your players hear another voice at times. Just make sure the assistants are on the same page as you.

I am open to any suggestions from my assistants even during the year. I have a few reasons for that.

1. It shows that they are thinking about football and not just one of those guys wearing a tshirt with the school's name on it.
2. I do not know everything. Even though you know what the assistant suggested is not a great idea it still makes me think that I could improve my strategy or teaching in that area.
3. How do people learn? By asking questions or making suggestions!!

I am the Head Coach and I will make all final decsions but I feel it is imperative to have staff that wants to work and learn and if you could study their suggestions and incoprorate them into your offense, defense, pregame, or practice you are encouraging them to keep working.

Most of my staff nows though before they make a suggestion they are to bounce their ideas off each other so if it is something that the rest of the staff does not agree with it probably will not fly with me.

As a HC I would like to think that i am open to suggestions. I think that you hire your assistants to help you do the right thing for the program. One thing that does drive me crazy is when someone wants to give input or second guess after a coordinator or myself has made a decision. For example, if it is March and wetrying to decide whether or not to cut in our 3 step game, or what to charge for our summer weight program, etc. I want as much input as the guys can give. Once we make that decision I want it to be a unified front. I don't need any of the assistants giving input after the decision has been made (until we get to the point of evaluating what we are doing). Not sure if that makes sense . . .

coachbw--what you said makes a TON of sense. Take input...come to a decision, and that is that till it is time to reevaluate again. That is something I think that all HC's should tell their staff..especially the younger guys. "Hey guys..i want input but, once we make a decision, we make a decision. "