Are we asking too much of our players for spring ball?

This is the underlying truth to all of the issue. So many go overboard these things not because it makes the players, or our teams better. But because if we don't someone will convince our players (or more likely their parents) that going overboard will get them a better chance at college.


And this isn't to write that there is no value in Spring Ball, summer workouts, 7-on-7 (I believe there is). Rather there is a line where more becomes detrimental.  

Spring Ball doesn't equate to success in the fall. The only reason I have a hard opinion on that is because we quit doing it all together about 6 years ago and have managed to still be successful.

Agreee. On a typical year, we do less than others but it’s by choice and I like to think we use our time wisely and our effective with the things we do. But, not doing anything when others are is a recipe for disaster….

It's hard around here to find programs that aren't going M-F for 3-4 hours in the summer + 7on7 Sat's ALL SUMMER. I love football, blah blah, I don't want to lose my summer and then work over 60 hours a week for peanuts all fall and hate my job/life. 

Yes! You are asking too much. You dont need that much time for spring. Organize better. Mornings and afternoons for 6 weeks??? You’re going to cost yourself players—or worse, they just won’t show up for this.

If you cant install in a few spring weeks, summer workouts and fall practice then you’re either doing too much or you’re not organizing to do it efficiently.

Whatever you do, if it doesn't work you'll get fired so you might as well do it your way. 

I am not sure what if our team is doing it the right way, (clearly not based on some of those answer I got). I just think that what do we have to lose, we tried the relaxed 8 spring ball practices, we lost. We tried doing shorter practices we lost, we let the kids leave for work to try and retain players, we lost. The first improvement we made in 4 years was when we forced the kids to come to school 6-7 am for spring workouts and yes we lost a few players but at least the kids who bought in got a lot better and we saw a big improvement (beat our rival, went to playoffs). To me, I see a lot of coaches finding ways to cut corners but I feel like at our school we have been forced into a corner because we are tired of losing and we have done the chill approach. The worst thing that can happen is we lose. No one has to agree, I just think that we won't know unless we try and do things different. I am also not in the decision making chair as far as scheduling goes but I am going to buy into the program and set an example for the kids and try and instill a fun competitive culture while we do it.

There seems to be some false dichotomies at play here- 'you lost with 8 spring ball practices, ergo 42 practices/workouts must be the key to winning.' Maybe something in between would have worked, why such a need for a giant shift in the amount of practices/workouts?

Additionally, could there be specious reasoning at play? Maybe you would have lost that first year even if you did 40+ workouts. I doubt all the variables have remained constant, so you cant just assume it was making the kids come in early for spring workouts that was the sole reason for winning. 

Furthermore, you imply that practicing fewer hours is 'cutting corners'. I would say its far from it, in fact I would argue it is the opposite. Most, anyone can get all their work done in the amount of time you propose, it takes a lot more work to be efficient and get the coaching done in less time while still not: burning the kids out.

Look at the highest level of play, where so many teams give their athletes time off to recuperate, to stay healthy, to perform at their best. I doubt you would argue that is them 'cutting corners'; I think youd accept that as them trying to keep their athletes at peak levels of performance, both mentally and physically. Most of us here are writing that your amount of forced work time does not allow for this.

I’m not sure coaches are trying to cut corners but in my case I try and find anything I can to cut out that doesn’t help us win. If I felt like 4 hour practices were best to win then I would be on board all day.

What I gather from your posts is that nobody is doing any critical thinking on your staff. You’re all just doing what others do or putting in more work because that’s what’s causing you to lose.

To be real I have never been on a staff that didn’t work hard enough and I’ve been on a couple that tried to do too much and everyone hated life.

While it’s not your decision I respect that you are going all in with your HC, but remember kids are a lot better at things they like

Related to this topic- I just saw a spring schedule for Palmetto High school ( I am assuming Florida) posted on social media.
Meetings 2:35-2:55 practice 3:05-5:45 Mon -Thursday, one full Friday practice (1st week plus a Saturday practice the next day at 9:15 am) 1 Friday “game situation” practice, 1 Intrasquad game on a Friday nigh, one Friday game vs opponent

Schedule runs from April 25- May 20th

In Florida we get 18-20 practices in spring with a scrimmage. Everyone starts on 4/25 but have been involved in 7 on 7 league since January. Most counties get a full game of some type and play on Friday. Hillsborough county is one that plays a half on Thursday. I'm pretty sure practices, meetings, zooms, etc are not allowed on weekends. This just may be in our county though. There are times when schedules seem long because teams need to wait for off campus coaches. Schools like Palmetto get out super early so they need to manage it somehow. That is not a place you let kids go for an hour or two and ask them to come back.

I'm a 25 year vet and it is also different for me. Circumstances change with the wind.

24/7. Florida also allows students to attend the school of choice as long as transportation is provided.

Do what you believe. However, there are many outcomes worse than losing a football game.