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Post by Defcord on Oct 20, 2019 17:39:24 GMT -6
What are you guys doing late in the year to keep guys motivated?
I am not a “culture” guy but I want to get the most out of my guys. I am that point in the year when I am tired so I know they are too.
We are in position to make the playoffs for only the third time in school history so our kids are excited about football but there’s a little bit of sluggishness here and there.
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Post by aceback76 on Oct 20, 2019 17:46:34 GMT -6
Just fight against "complacency" (whatever it takes)!
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Post by silkyice on Oct 20, 2019 18:03:04 GMT -6
Shorten practices.
Let lineman do something with the ball besides snap it.
Add in a trick play or new blitz. And call it early in the game.
Maybe even give them a day off. I haven’t done that except on off weeks, so take that for what it is worth. Ha
Have a team dinner after practice or snack. Go to a movie as a team.
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Post by bucksweepdotcom on Oct 20, 2019 19:20:07 GMT -6
I think shorter practices are great late in season. (For everyone)
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Post by Defcord on Oct 21, 2019 5:46:59 GMT -6
Shorten practices. Let lineman do something with the ball besides snap it. Add in a trick play or new blitz. And call it early in the game. Maybe even give them a day off. I haven’t done that except on off weeks, so take that for what it is worth. Ha Have a team dinner after practice or snack. Go to a movie as a team. I am not the head coach, but I have the power to add in a blitz. My DBs have been asking to add a corner or safety blitz so that's something I could do to get em fired up. |
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Post by coachcb on Oct 21, 2019 6:53:23 GMT -6
How short are we talking with practice?
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Post by coachlesko on Oct 21, 2019 8:03:11 GMT -6
Just a couple ideas, take em or leave em:
Challenge position coaches to come up with a new fun drill to do during INDY. Still position and technique related, but maybe something a little competitive and fun:: I used to have a 1v1 drill for corners with a little plastic basketball hoop to work man coverage feet. Lightened the mood some but there was still work getting done.
In general, get away from EDDs (or maybe just one) and let the kids "just play ball" during a few minutes during practice.
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Post by fkaboneyard on Oct 21, 2019 8:33:38 GMT -6
I am not the HC so there are limits to what I can do. In indy time I go through what we need to go through as quickly as possible and then we split into 2 teams. We have some kind of competitive game where the winning team members get a candy bar. Monday thru Wednesday, I choose two kids who "won the day" at the end of practice. One is a lineman, one is a scout team player. My wife shows up at the end of practice with two number 1 combos from In-n-Out and they go to the two winners. You've never seen so many kids want to play line or scout team. I thought I would get pushback from parents - "I don't want my kid eating that crap before dinner..." but the kids absolutely go crazy for it. More than once I've had a kid tell me before practice, "Coach, my mom is making tuna casserole for dinner, I gotta win the day."
If I could shorten practice a day a week I would but that's not my call.
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Post by buckeye7525 on Oct 21, 2019 8:46:40 GMT -6
How short are we talking with practice? I’ve listened to some interesting stuff from Joe Daniel on his podcast talking about a 90min practice. Really intriguing. |
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Post by Defcord on Oct 21, 2019 8:51:32 GMT -6
Just fight against "complacency" (whatever it takes)! That "whatever it takes" part is where I am looking for some ideas. Especially, and I didn't mention this in my original post, as an assistant coach. |
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Post by aceback76 on Oct 21, 2019 8:53:30 GMT -6
Just fight against "complacency" (whatever it takes)! That "whatever it takes" part is where I am looking for some ideas. Especially, and I didn't mention this in my original post, as an assistant coach. This will VARY quite a bit. Winning season? Losing season? Playoff possibilities? Depth of squad MORALE? ETC. ERRORS IN DEVELOPING MORALE (MORALE IS TO THE PHYSICAL AS 4 IS TO 1). FIRST = FOOTBALL BEGINS WITH MORALE! Once you get morale, it is easy to maintain. How to get it is a problem. SECOND = HOW TO LOSE MORALE. Do what you said you’re going to do. Don’t say we’re going to practice 1 ½ hours and go 2 ½ hours. Training rules – if you’re not going to enforce them, don’t have them. THIRD = MORALE STEMS FROM DISCIPLINE (ALL Discipline begins by being on time). FOURTH = TREAT PLAYERS AS A PERSON. If he feels you are interested in him only as a football player, he won’t go all out for you. If you are interested in his academics, his personal problems, etc. and he knows this, he’ll go all out for you. Convince him that football is good for his future. |
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Post by Defcord on Oct 21, 2019 9:05:44 GMT -6
How short are we talking with practice? I’ve listened to some interesting stuff from Joe Daniel on his podcast talking about a 90min practice. Really intriguing. I listen to the podcast sporadically. I can't remember...when he was coaching and running 90 minutes was he two platooned. I have been places where we were platooned and getting it all in 90 would be pretty easily done. But I have also been places where all kids and coaches work on both sides of the ball. I can't imagine getting it all in plus special teams with this format. I do like the less is more concept towards the end of the year though. |
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Post by aceback76 on Oct 21, 2019 9:21:23 GMT -6
Monday & Tuesday = 2 hours/15 minutes.
Wednesday = 2 hours.
Thursday = 90 minutes.
You CAN shorten EACH of those by 15-30 minutes late in the season IF you can get everything done.
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Post by gccwolverine on Oct 21, 2019 9:40:31 GMT -6
Monday & Tuesday = 2 hours/15 minutes. Wednesday = 2 hours. Thursday = 90 minutes. You CAN shorten EACH of those by 15-30 minutes late in the season IF you can get everything done. Thats about what we are (way shorter on thursday). Are you 2 platooned or not? We have 6-8 guys going both ways and have to practice O and D separate O first then D or vice versa and even at 2:15 feels like you're shorting somethings when you're structured this way. Bigger rosters with full platoon can get in and out much quicker and get more done. |
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Post by aceback76 on Oct 21, 2019 9:48:09 GMT -6
Monday & Tuesday = 2 hours/15 minutes. Wednesday = 2 hours. Thursday = 90 minutes. You CAN shorten EACH of those by 15-30 minutes late in the season IF you can get everything done. Thats about what we are (way shorter on thursday). Are you 2 platooned or not? We have 6-8 guys going both ways and have to practice O and D separate O first then D or vice versa and even at 2:15 feels like you're shorting somethings when you're structured this way. Bigger rosters with full platoon can get in and out much quicker and get more done. We don't two platoon "blue chippers" in HS ball. We need the BEST ones on the field. Otherwise, if two players at a position are EQUAL, we may two-platoon THEM. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2019 10:47:12 GMT -6
At this point in the year, we try to be mindful of there sacrafice and effort. They have made it this far, they are doing things the right way.
I bring in gatorade once a week. Pizza here and there. I am a little more open on things. In january, it reverts..but at this time of year, mad respect for kids on team.
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Post by StraightFlexin on Oct 21, 2019 10:58:12 GMT -6
Do you use music during practice? I find it energizes the kids and coaching staff (I purposely selected music to stop the dance off sessions). I would always start practice off with a different competitive drill. We emphazed competition at everything so it just fit right in and started the energy from the opening bell. Demand energy and enthusiasm during stretching. If that doesn't happen, have them do it again (I would not recommend putting this in midseason).
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Post by MICoach on Oct 21, 2019 11:52:39 GMT -6
How short are we talking with practice? We're usually about an hour and 45 minutes for practices early in the season. By the second half of the regular season usually shortened to around an hour and 20. Some of the time we'll do film after school on Monday then just be on the field for an hour. But we also have a heavier pre-game practice than most programs (full pads with inside and O/D team). |
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Post by gccwolverine on Oct 21, 2019 13:05:30 GMT -6
How short are we talking with practice? We're usually about an hour and 45 minutes for practices early in the season. By the second half of the regular season usually shortened to around an hour and 20. Some of the time we'll do film after school on Monday then just be on the field for an hour. But we also have a heavier pre-game practice than most programs (full pads with inside and O/D team). Whats your practice structure with that timing? |
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Post by tothehouse on Oct 21, 2019 13:23:29 GMT -6
Maybe pick a Wednesday and do a practice at night. Give them time to get homework done and chill after school. Then get it on at night. Keeping practice tight and to the point.
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Post by MICoach on Oct 21, 2019 17:01:54 GMT -6
We're usually about an hour and 45 minutes for practices early in the season. By the second half of the regular season usually shortened to around an hour and 20. Some of the time we'll do film after school on Monday then just be on the field for an hour. But we also have a heavier pre-game practice than most programs (full pads with inside and O/D team). Whats your practice structure with that timing? Full practice would be loosely something like this: 0:00 - Team Sled or Pre-Practice formation recognition/offensive screens 0:10 - Dynamic Stretch 0:20 - D Indy 0:30 - D Group 0:40 - D Team 1 0:50 - Special Teams 1 0:55 - Special Teams 2 1:00 - O Indy 1:10 - O Group 1:20 - O Team 1:35 - Another O or D Team depending on the day 1:45 - End of practice Later in the season is more team-heavy and we will intermix offense and defense throughout to keep both sides tuned in (we're semi-platooned). A shorter day usually cuts out O Indy time and some special teams, which we mix in during/between team periods. Something like this: 0:00 - Pre Practice as noted above 0:10 - O Team Pass 0:20 - D Indy 0:30 - D Group 0:40 - D Team Pass 0:50 - O Group 1:00 - O Team Run 1:05 - Special Teams 1:15 - D Team Run 1:25 - End of Practice If we start pre-practice at 3:15 that gets us out by 4:45. We script all of our offensive team periods so if we get through plays effectively/quickly in those periods it will cut a couple minutes out sometimes too. EDIT: As we are somewhat platooned we will steal indy time where we can too. During D Indy I will take O-Line that do not play D-Line, which includes 5 of our top 6. Additionally our QB/WR coach will take offensive skill players that don't play D during that time and work gameplan specific things. We play multiple teams that run similar defenses and offenses to us so it often lets us get double reps in group/team which is a time saver as well. |
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Post by option1st on Oct 21, 2019 19:47:57 GMT -6
Assistant Coach but these are things I've seen
-Start practice with a competitive drill that gets everyone going
-Shorten Practice, spend more time watching the other team/film of your practice team period
-Our stadium is downtown but we practice behind our school. Towards end of year, take team for practice on game field
-Maybe go helmet and shoulder pads on a traditional full gear day
-I've seen the HC lighten up and crack some jokes
- I think music would help
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Post by MICoach on Oct 22, 2019 6:34:15 GMT -6
Assistant Coach but these are things I've seen -Our stadium is downtown but we practice behind our school. Towards end of year, take team for practice on game field We started doing this when I was in high school out of necessity - same deal where our stadium was downtown but practice was at our athletic facility out of the city. All practice fields were mud by playoffs, and our "game" field for lower levels at athletic facility was basically on a swamp so once the October rains started coming we practiced in the stadium under the lights a couple times. I remember thinking it was awesome when I was 17. |
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