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Post by justafbcoach on Sept 8, 2020 9:11:59 GMT -6
I had a question. I'm a first-time OC at the HS level. In a no-huddle, higher-tempo offense, do you prefer the box or the sidelines? Any advice would be appreciated.
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Post by chi5hi on Sept 8, 2020 11:17:00 GMT -6
I prefer the sidelines but with a HUNH offense the press box is doable.
The thing is...since the communication between the box and the sideline is the same...just reversed, if the comm goes down you have no way to get the plays on the field!
And I have experienced the comm go down!
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Post by pvogel on Sept 8, 2020 11:47:18 GMT -6
I prefer the box. Big time. It removes emotion. Everyone gets so wound up and high strung (especially the last couple HCs I've worked for. Good guys, very passionate. But their strength is also a weakness at times). Gives you a nice, zen-like clear mind and focus. The field looks like a chess board. And that is really nice for freeze calls.
But it is nice to talk to the players and even to control that mad atmosphere. But you REALLY need someone up top you can trust and someone that is a good communicator. But when I'm in the booth I just have a coach give his headset to the QB between series and I talk to him through that. Works well.
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RnS-OC
Sophomore Member
Posts: 117 
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Post by RnS-OC on Sept 8, 2020 14:43:02 GMT -6
Another factor is the temperament of your kids - do they need your presence on the field?
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Post by kylem56 on Sept 8, 2020 18:17:04 GMT -6
I think it depends on a few things
1) How good is your help? Do you have a guy in the box you trust to communicate to you exactly what you need to know?
2) As someone else previously said, each team is different, when I was a HC, I had years where I needed our DC on the field because those kids needed him down there and other years he could call from the box cause he saw better and the kids were more experienced
Personally as an OC, I prefer the box. It takes all the emotion out of playcalling, I can see much better, and think much better.
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Post by realdawg on Sept 8, 2020 19:56:28 GMT -6
As mentioned it depends on many factors. Help is a big one. Also are your kids playing one way or two ways? As mentioned up too you are removed from the emotion of the game. Which sucks in a way. But helps you think level headed. You also can see everything that’s happening much easier. But do you have people on the field that can make the adjustments? Do you have kids on the sideline to coach or are they playing on the other side of the ball?
Story....two years ago I was DC. I was hell bent on being on field. Had a young guy up top. He knew football. But got caught up in the game. And missed some stuff. Like personnel subs that the game plan was built around. HC chewed out tails for it. And deservedly so. Also, I didn’t have a ton of kids on the sideline to coach. Many of them were involved in our O.
So this past year I decided to go up top. If we were gonna get chewed by the HC it was gonna be my fault. I could see everything. I made better calls Bc of it. I made better adjustments Bc of it. And our coaches on the field were good enough to relay our adjustments to the kids.
Not saying it’s for everyone. But it worked for me.
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Post by justafbcoach on Sept 9, 2020 10:26:33 GMT -6
Thank you all for the information/advice. I really appreciate it. You guys are awesome!
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Post by breakerdog on Sept 22, 2020 16:21:46 GMT -6
I had a question. I'm a first-time OC at the HS level. In a no-huddle, higher-tempo offense, do you prefer the box or the sidelines? Any advice would be appreciated. If you are in a cold weather state, take the booth. |
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Post by pvogel on Sept 23, 2020 3:50:54 GMT -6
I had a question. I'm a first-time OC at the HS level. In a no-huddle, higher-tempo offense, do you prefer the box or the sidelines? Any advice would be appreciated. If you are in a cold weather state, take the booth. Unless they put you up on top or on a scissor lift... that can be worse! |
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Post by coachcb on Sept 25, 2020 9:01:18 GMT -6
I prefer to be on the field when calling an offense. But, that is assuming that a) the staff keeps their chit together b) is watching their position and c) paying attention to the defensive responses they're responsible for.
I don't want to hear "BLOCK SOMEBODY!". I want to hear "#33 made the tackle on that play coach, looks like Billy missed his wrap block."
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Post by coachscdub on Sept 25, 2020 9:29:17 GMT -6
I have done both.
As has been mentioned plenty already, the biggest advantage to being in the booth IMO is seeing the entire field from a better angle. Depth/Alignments/Fronts etc are all easier to see from the booth. The biggest downside for me is not communicating directly with the kids, and the QB, between drives or even during drives.
I have coached from the field the majority of time and i would say that i think the type of offense you run dictates the need for the booth. For example last year we ran the 'spread' a lot of 2x2 and 3x1, i think being in the booth would've helped me see the field and the matchups a little easier. For years i ran a DBL wing/Unbalanced I offense, i only needed to ID one thing 'are they a fence or a stack team' and i could ID that from the sideline so i didnt have a need to go up.
I would say if we had a sideline replay system that would probably negate my desire to go up as i would be able to get that info between drives and make changes yea not as great as an immediate ID, but it gets me the best of both worlds.
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Post by Chris Clement on Sept 27, 2020 13:26:11 GMT -6
Assuming there aren't any logistical concerns, like a shortage of coaches to keep the sideline organized or something like that, when I'm calling plays I want the solitude to make my decisions with the best process I can. I don't want 500 people making suggestions. I have all the information I need arrayed just the way I want, I have my most trusted lieutenant on the radio, I might have a second, and I shut out all the chaos of the sideline where people let emotions take over and read deep narratives into every random event. Give me the booth.
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Post by justafbcoach on Sept 27, 2020 18:07:52 GMT -6
I went down onto the field for week one. I think it helped the kids because we scored like a minute into the game but then had to weather some mistakes. I think being there to help the kids see and adjust what we needed was major for them, especially in our first game together. Very fortunate to come out with a win!
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Post by jlenwood on Sept 28, 2020 4:21:41 GMT -6
Assuming there aren't any logistical concerns, like a shortage of coaches to keep the sideline organized or something like that, when I'm calling plays I want the solitude to make my decisions with the best process I can. I don't want 500 people making suggestions. I have all the information I need arrayed just the way I want, I have my most trusted lieutenant on the radio, I might have a second, and I shut out all the chaos of the sideline where people let emotions take over and read deep narratives into every random event. Give me the booth. ^^^^^This^^^^ Another benefit to being in the box is that I liked to take notes and use a sheet to keep track of what the opponent did on certain D&D during a game (I was the DC), so I needed some desk space. You can't efficiently do that on the sideline imo. If I need tot alk to a kid, I had an assistant get him on the headset between series. I LOVED being on the sidelines during games as a position coach, but to be the coordinator I needed the solitude. Also, sometimes there is food up there! |
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Post by fantom on Sept 28, 2020 7:39:38 GMT -6
In the booth you can see the situation for yourself. You don't have to wait to find out if it's 1st down or 4th and 1 while the booth guy is yelling "Hit somebody".
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Post by nicku on Sept 28, 2020 9:42:11 GMT -6
My first year coaching, I was on the field. My second year, in the box. Third year, on the field again. My fourth year (this year) I am in the box, and I hope I stay there for a long time. I love the energy of being on the field but I just cannot see anything down there as an assistant, let alone as a play caller.
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Post by jlenwood on Oct 1, 2020 5:29:36 GMT -6
In the booth you can see the situation for yourself. You don't have to wait to find out if it's 1st down or 4th and 1 while the booth guy is yelling "Hit somebody". Or telling you one mil-a-second before the snap "They're gonna run (fill in the blank)" as if I was supposed to be able to change a play call. |
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Post by nicku on Oct 1, 2020 7:40:58 GMT -6
In the booth you can see the situation for yourself. You don't have to wait to find out if it's 1st down or 4th and 1 while the booth guy is yelling "Hit somebody". One of the other highly important duties in the box is to tell the coaches on the field which calls the refs screwed up so they can complain to them about it. "He's holding. He's HOOOOLLDDIIIIING." |
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Post by breakerdog on Oct 1, 2020 8:26:01 GMT -6
Assuming there aren't any logistical concerns, like a shortage of coaches to keep the sideline organized or something like that, when I'm calling plays I want the solitude to make my decisions with the best process I can. I don't want 500 people making suggestions. I have all the information I need arrayed just the way I want, I have my most trusted lieutenant on the radio, I might have a second, and I shut out all the chaos of the sideline where people let emotions take over and read deep narratives into every random event. Give me the booth. ^^^^^This^^^^ Another benefit to being in the box is that I liked to take notes and use a sheet to keep track of what the opponent did on certain D&D during a game (I was the DC), so I needed some desk space. You can't efficiently do that on the sideline imo. If I need tot alk to a kid, I had an assistant get him on the headset between series. I LOVED being on the sidelines during games as a position coach, but to be the coordinator I needed the solitude. Also, sometimes there is food up there! One thing that was a huge game changer for me was having a second in the booth filming each snap with an iPad. When the defense is on the field, you can review the drive and see what's really going on. It's a semi low tech version of Hudl sidelines. |
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Post by wolfden12 on Oct 5, 2020 18:41:49 GMT -6
How you handle being in the box calling plays and the HFC switches over and giving any/all business before, during, and after plays?
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Post by fantom on Oct 5, 2020 20:29:51 GMT -6
How you handle being in the box calling plays and the HFC switches over and giving any/all business before, during, and after plays? Same way as if he did it when you're on the field. |
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moose18
Junior Member
"If it didn't matter who won or lost, they wouldn't keep score"
Posts: 284
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Post by moose18 on Oct 6, 2020 10:23:18 GMT -6
In the booth you can have snacks
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Post by justafbcoach on Oct 6, 2020 11:02:19 GMT -6
I have done both games from the field and I've liked it. I have two OL guys so I have the more trusted one in the box so and he can communicate with the other on the field. In between drives, I meet with the WR/RB coaches in a quick huddle while the two OL dudes talk to each other. I listen in on their talk and relay any info to the QB. It's worked out well and eliminated a lot of chatter.
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Post by aceback76 on Oct 6, 2020 11:35:27 GMT -6
2 Situations I experienced in calling plays:
1. As Head Coach calling the plays (& coached QB's as well) I wanted to be on the sideline (to communicate face-to-face with the QB).
2. As an "OC" in College, I preferred to be in the Press Box.
PS: UNLESS the play caller is the Head Coach or the QB Coach, I recommend the Press Box.
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Post by aceback76 on Oct 12, 2020 9:09:28 GMT -6
Remember: Half the time the QB is on the sideline, and we must not WASTE this time. We want his QB Coach with him at this time (not in the press box) to formulate an intelligent evaluation within your original game plan!!!
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Post by wildcatslbcoach24 on Oct 12, 2020 20:19:51 GMT -6
I had a question. I'm a first-time OC at the HS level. In a no-huddle, higher-tempo offense, do you prefer the box or the sidelines? Any advice would be appreciated. If you’re not the HC, I generally would advocate being in the box for both OCs and DCs. Let’s you see the whole game, pick up on subs, and better view of line play. |
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Post by pvogel on Oct 14, 2020 5:28:00 GMT -6
Remember: Half the time the QB is on the sideline, and we must not WASTE this time. We want his QB Coach with him at this time (not in the press box) to formulate an intelligent evaluation within your original game plan!!! I generally agree. But I've enjoyed talking with the QB on the head set. It's easy and simple. And with Hudl sideline we can literally look at a play together. |
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Post by aceback76 on Oct 14, 2020 7:49:35 GMT -6
Remember: Half the time the QB is on the sideline, and we must not WASTE this time. We want his QB Coach with him at this time (not in the press box) to formulate an intelligent evaluation within your original game plan!!! I generally agree. But I've enjoyed talking with the QB on the head set. It's easy and simple. And with Hudl sideline we can literally look at a play together. I like to "look him in the eye" (I can "read" a lot of things that way)!!! Some head sets go on the blink, etc. |
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Post by vicvinegar on Oct 14, 2020 10:27:15 GMT -6
2 Situations I experienced in calling plays: 1. As Head Coach calling the plays (& coached QB's as well) I wanted to be on the sideline (to communicate face-to-face with the QB). 2. As an "OC" in College, I preferred to be in the Press Box. PS: UNLESS the play caller is the Head Coach or the QB Coach, I recommend the Press Box. Actually coached with a guy who was the HC/DC and stayed in the box. Obviously you have to have a strong staff and he did. He won a couple state championships, so it seemed to work for him. Each their own I guess. |
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Post by aceback76 on Oct 14, 2020 10:30:00 GMT -6
2 Situations I experienced in calling plays: 1. As Head Coach calling the plays (& coached QB's as well) I wanted to be on the sideline (to communicate face-to-face with the QB). 2. As an "OC" in College, I preferred to be in the Press Box. PS: UNLESS the play caller is the Head Coach or the QB Coach, I recommend the Press Box. Actually coached with a guy who was the HC/DC and stayed in the box. Obviously you have to have a strong staff and he did. He won a couple state championships, so it seemed to work for him. Each their own I guess. That is true (each their own). If the HFC or OC want to be in the "box", that's fine, but I DO want my QB Coach WITH the QB on the sidelines (face to face communication is ALWAYS better than a phone call - look someone in the eye when talking with them). A BIG rule on our offensive staff is that only ONE coach is allowed to talk to the QB, so that should be the one on the field! |
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