champyun
Junior Member
Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.
Posts: 252
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Post by champyun on May 16, 2007 7:56:28 GMT -6
We are a small school and will be having a young team this coming Fall (mostly Soph's and Freshmen). We are in a very difficult district but should get some breaks with our new alignment after this year. How do you instill a "hang in there" type attitude or perseverence during a building, and possibly the most difficult, season of their HS careers?
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Post by fbdoc on May 16, 2007 8:22:01 GMT -6
Been there before. Don't focus on the W's - focus on playing tough, getting stronger/faster, win this play (one play at a time), oh yeah... the Band of Brothers story! Finally -
"We rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance will develop character; and that character leads to hope." Romans 5:3-4
I've used that one before in your situation. You know that your players are going to suffer in some of their games but use it to develop the toughness and character now, which leads to the hope (expectation) of winning down the road.
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Post by oldwarrior on May 16, 2007 8:32:29 GMT -6
How good are your sophmores and freshmen? will they be getting the ever living snot kicked out of them or will they be competative, sometimes you have young kids that can hang with the older kids. By what you have said it sounds like they may not be able to hang.
one option is to keep as many of your Fish and Sophs on JV as possible and let them have success on that level. Only move up Sophs if you absolutely have to have them because no one else can fill that position. Let them get used to winning on the JV level and let that carry over to the next year. I guess you also have to take into consideration the character of those young kids. Can they handle going through that tough of a season without developing a defeated attitude. It is dang hard to get that type of attitude out once it takes root. I would consider letting the JV be real good and the varsity be real bad for one year. Instead of the JV being ok and the varsity still being bad.
but, I don't know your kids, your tradition, your town......etc I have seen this work for other coaches who are taking over programs that have been losing I don't know if it will work for you
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Post by superpower on May 16, 2007 8:38:39 GMT -6
Been there before. Don't focus on the W's - focus on playing tough, getting stronger/faster, win this play (one play at a time), oh yeah... the Band of Brothers story! Finally - "We rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance will develop character; and that character leads to hope." Romans 5:3-4 I've used that one before in your situation. You know that your players are going to suffer in some of their games but use it to develop the toughness and character now, which leads to the hope (expectation) of winning down the road. Great post. I agree that you have to look for little victories to celebrate. One of the great things about working with young teams is they will grow more than veteran teams, and that can be very rewarding.
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Post by coachjim on May 16, 2007 8:41:03 GMT -6
Been there too, you're biggest obstacle will be the kids that aren't happy about losing and keeping the team together, with them in it.
Hammer fundamentals into them for future success, and for the one's who will gnaw at the morale of your team if you suck, award or acknowledge their individual successes (that were done in the team's interest) whenever they occur. There needs to be some consolation to losing and they won't simply go for the "yay, i'm learning the game so it's worth it" path. Try game balls and other personal/personnel incentives.
Then, work on the character of the team, starting with yourself. Be dramatic about football, not success. It's about the team, not wins. If they bond together and feel this sense of character about their team, they'll return and next year, better.
Good luck coach, if neither of us win a game, at least there's beer.
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coachf
Freshmen Member
Posts: 15
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Post by coachf on May 16, 2007 9:07:25 GMT -6
BE CAREFUL - I went through this last year. It was very tough. I had the kids playing their guts out, but no W's. You could sort of see that at one point in the year they realized they couldn't win, no matter how hard they played. It was tough.
I say be careful because these young guys learn a lot of bad habits when they play too early. I noticed a lot of our kids resorted to tactics of "survival," rather than fundamentals. It is tough to play with proper fundamentals when you know the guy across from you is going to kill you. You really have to keep a close eye on that.
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Post by coachjim on May 16, 2007 9:48:45 GMT -6
Good point and I forgot another one; the parents. Morale and untalented team killer #2. Nip them in the bud with a meeting or letter regarding the humble intentions and goals of the team right from the start.
Regardless, I suddenly feel really bad for you, the parents are going to be brutal, especially HS level. Be prepared for that. I hear them in my dream's sometimes, they're like a twelth player but for the other side.
I read in another post if you keep the stats of the kids, when a parent inquires about how they are being played or your insuccess, you show them their kids stats and insuccess, suggest to practice with them more at home, put it back on them, but regardless, you take a firm stance and be reactionary all season to the parent, Team Obstacle #2, if Obstacle #1 is talent.
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Post by kloranc on May 16, 2007 11:08:17 GMT -6
I agree that you have to find little victories and focus on getting better each week. Surprisingly, the parents were actually realistic about the team and supportive the year I went through this. I think the toughest thing is being diplomatic with the seniors and their parents. I really had to make sure that I encouraged them because they weren't going to be around when things "got better". Luckily our district was down that year, so we went on a win streak in district, made the playoffs, and nearly pulled off an opening round upset. We couldn't have accomplished those things if I had lost the seniors early in the season.
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bigcroz
Junior Member
Go STAGS!!
Posts: 356
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Post by bigcroz on May 16, 2007 15:54:57 GMT -6
I am (was) in this same situation. 2 years ago with a program only 3 yrs old, had 3 sr, 3 jrand 2 sophs. Started 4 frosh most of the season. Prior to the season had a parent meeting and laid everything out for the kids and parents. My parents all sign a parent contract, which lays out the expected actions of the parents. Thos young kids got their heads knocked the first few weeks, but as the season progressed they started giving some licks back. Only won 1 game, at the end of the season, but it was a good building block. Last year started 5 sophs and 1 frosh. Those sophs that had played as freshman were the backbone of our squad. We only won 2 games, however we were in 8 of 9 games(lost by less than 14.) We return our whole backfield which rushed for a combined 3300 yards last year. Now I am not an advocate of playing frosh if possible but it can work if you STRESS FUNDAMENTALS on a daily basis, regardless of the results on the field. I made sure to keep reminding those young guys that they had 3 more years to get their revenge for the whoopins that they took. This will depend on your kids makeup of course, but if you have lemons you need to at least attempt to make lemonade.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2007 19:38:39 GMT -6
Continue to make it important to the kids.
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