Where do you fit on the time/knowledge graph?

I am not a one nor am I a six. In some terms I might vew myself as a 4 or a 5, say offensive line play or the wing-t offense, but defense and special teams, I would say I am a 2 or a 3.

Now if this were an HC meter, how well you understand everyrthing that goes with it, well I am a 2.

Interesting. I would say I am a 2 TOPS. I am at that turning point where I am learning a lot, sometimes it seems overwhelming. Yet I know that in comparison I know nothing. I suppose the key would be for someone to continue climbing. I could see where one would cease to learn anything new or perhaps would revert back to lower levels of knowledge (as far as application of that knowledge is concerned).

I would have to say I am probably a 10..

3.5

On my way to coaching supernova!!!

I've been coaching a long time... I guess the best thing I know is how much I don't know - there is so much to learn ... x's and o's why, when, what, how, who, where, motivating, working with others, weights, off-season, recruiting...

i've become one of those old coaches you see at clinics trying to get the most out of each speaker to see if one thing said may make a difference in the program -- whether it is something our program may use or something our opponent's may use.

brophy, that is by far the greatest picture I have EVER seen posted on this site.
Bubba-Ho-Tep....classic.

on the topic, Special Teams (except for kicking technique) I'm a 4-5.
Defense 3-4 focus is on DL and the 3-3
Offense: OL 4-5, wing t 2-3, flexbone 3-4

I would say I'm a 3. I am above-average in offense knowledge. I've spent 12 years as an OC, and I've been exposed to a few different systems. I consider myself a very good RB position coach and an average QB position coach.

I still have a lot to learn about various defenses, and most of what I know is the knowledge that I've gained trying to understand the defenses from the offensive side of the ball (in putting together a game plan). I think I have a great understanding of defenses from a schematic point of view, but in terms of application I have a lot to learn. I consider myself an effective defensive skills coach with either safeties or CB's. I am fairly clueless on special teams, and could never be anything more than a "position coach" for guys like returners, protecters, and gunners. I know NOTHING about coaching specialists (punters, snappers, kickers, etc.). I am not much of a special teams schematics guy either.

For experience, I spent 3 years coaching youth football, 1 year as JV head coach at a small school, 9 years as OC at a big school, and 1 year as OC of a semi-pro team. I've coached every position except ILB, OL, and DL.

To pick up on what Brophy was saying earlier, I have found that there are a few different types of coaches:

1. Coaches like Brophy described (we run what we run). I go a step further and say that there is a SLIGHTLY different subset to this type which is the "I only know what I know" coach. These are guys that, for example, know a great deal about their defense. They know how it aligns to different formations, they know the keys, and they understand how the coverage supports the front, etc. But, they don't understand the "midline option," and they don't bother researching what the "double wing" is trying to accomplish. They only know what they know, and they don't want to immerse themselves in anything else.

2. Pure "position" coaches. These are coaches who don't care at all about what the team does schematically. They're not interested in whiteboards, napkins, clipboards, playbooks, or anything like that. They want to run drills and coach their positions. Most of the time, they only know THEIR position, and they've pretty good at it too.

3. Just the opposite of that is the pure "coordinator." He doesn't care about cones, bags, shields, or tackling dummies. All he wants to do is draw schemes up on the board. He goes to every clinic, but only goes to the schematic clinics. You'll never catch him in a "Teaching Form Tackling" or "Blocking Progressions" clinic. (This is kind of like what I was for a while)

4. Coaches who are truly no more than "fans with whistles." They are usually good "rah-rah" guys, the kids usually like them because they're fun, but all they know is what they see on TV every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. They're usually irritating in coach's meetings and fun on the field, as long as they don't try to do too much. Sometimes you get one of these guys who falls into a VERY dangerous subset, and that is someone who's EGO is 100 times greater than their football knowledge, and they don't see it. Anyone who thinks they know a lot more than they do is a very dangerous person usually.

5. Coaches who come out to read / post on this site....No seriously, the last and most rare coach is the one who is constantly looking to learn, grow, and improve. We ask our players to do this every day, so I've learned that as a coach, that's MY responsibility as well. For example, you may not want to run the 6-2 defense, but you can bet that this coach is going to read about it and watch tape about it because they need to understand what is happening if they face it. These coaches are usually very well-rounded, because they understand that schemes are nothing without teaching the proper fundamentals that match the schemes.

I think that finding good, qualified coaches is unfortunately rare. There are a ton of schools adding programs, but there are very few coaches who are truly dedicated to doing a good job, doing what it takes to improve their staff and their program, and learning and growing all the time. That's why places like this site are SO critical to our profession. The more quality we can generate in coaching, the better off our sport is in the long run.

Unfortunately, it has been my experience that the two axises on the graph are not related.

I don't know where I am on your graph and this is my 27th year in coaching. When I started out, I thought I knew it all - or at least more than the other coaches I was working with. It didn't take me long to realize how much I didn't know! I can tell you one thing however, the longer I coach, the MORE I learn!

I will echo coachD on time does not equate knowledge..

I know plenty of coaches who have been in the profession 30+ years, but couldnt coach their way out of a wet paper sack.. The game evolves.. but sometimes coaches do not..

I would much rather hire a guy with 3 years experience who has a solid grasp or natural gift for the game.. than a guy who has been in it 30 years but cannot grasp modern football.

Is there any thing wrong with a "fan with a whistle". I will be the first to admit I am one as of right now. I have one year coaching middle school and really no playing experience. I also think I am not the average fan with a whistle because I spend most of my time trying to learn the game, but still I would consider my self a fan with a whistle. One thing I found I was really good at this year was motivating and getting everything I could from the kids.

Coach,

"Fan with a Whistle" is more of a colorful phrase than a literal statement. It doesn't refer to experience level as much as it does to approach and attitude.

The "fan with a whistle" is the guy who:

1. comes in to coaching meetings and suggests that you run the Colts offense because it "works really GOOD!"

B. Contributes a halftime adjustment like "we need to throw the ball more!" or "we need to run outside!"

or

iii. Yells things during practice like "c'mon guys, tackle!!"

...it's basically BARELY a step above what you would expect to hear parents yelling at you from the stands. At least, that's the way I define it.

It doesn't, in my mind refer to a "coach," which is why we call them fans with whistles.

Based on what you've said here, I wouldn't worry about being put into that category. If you know enough to ask, you probably aint!!

Other favorites:

"Just hit somebody!!"

"Catch the ball!!!"

"It's the jimmys and joes, not our x's and o's..."

Some of the more advanced ones that I am also fond of (these guys watch a lot of NFL Network):

"We're getting killed off-tackle!!"

"They're trying to spread us out!!"

"We should run the West Coast Offense."

"Why can't we audible there?"

I will go one further. Get a coach who coached for seven years at the bigger school and who was a master at the wing t and offensive line play. Who took kids who you never thought would play and made them into legit starters.

It's like survivor island, you never want to show all of your abilities early on in the game.