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Post by irishdog on May 29, 2014 7:39:01 GMT -6
Any loss is tough, but some are harder to take than others. When I was a much younger coach I took every loss personally. I didn't sleep, I didn't eat, I was a grouch, and I drank…a lot. As I "grew-up" and I "matured" as a coach I learned to not take a loss personally, or so seriously. I also learned that sometimes your Jimmies aren't as good as the other guy's Joes. And I also learned that if my forte was rebuilding programs there would be a bunch of losses until things got turned around.
Of the losses only two were the hardest to take. Got homered in a semi-final state playoff game after apparently scoring the winning TD in the last minute of the game, only to have it taken away by the officials because they said my back moved when their DE jumped offside (Yeah, that's exactly what they said!).
The other loss was an ugly blowout loss to the top ranked team in our division who basically poured it on us. We had only won 1 game, I was an assistant, and had to restrain one of our other assistant coaches from going after the opposing HC after the game.
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Post by irishdog on May 22, 2014 7:22:04 GMT -6
I wonder if that's the same thing he told the L'ville team when he took that job? Strong did it his way then, they won, and he's doing it his way now. They will win. |
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Post by irishdog on Apr 14, 2014 14:35:52 GMT -6
It's a tough call. Kids make choices. Some good, some bad. Sounds as if this particular kid makes too many bad choices and it has finally caught up to him. IF he has truly broken off the relationship with the girl then he should be commended for making a good choice, and IF the police find he was indeed set-up, and they along with the school administration exonerate him he needs to know that it will be the TEAM'S decision as to whether they want him back as their team mate or not. If the outcome is otherwise just follow the school's policy.
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Post by irishdog on Apr 11, 2014 7:50:29 GMT -6
Like anything else these days it will cost you money. The NFL is all about money. So they decide now to react to the negative publicity football has received lately by stepping forward as the champions of teaching football to our youth? After we have had to suffer through years and years of watching NFL players' futile attempts at tackling? Really? Looks like another money grab to me.
Sorry guys, I don't need the NFL (USA Football) charging me fees to learn how to coach football, coach proper blocking and tackling technique, effective hydration procedures, etc. etc. I've been doing it right for years, and never charged my services to the school, to the players, or the parents. Aside from that most state high school associations already mandate their coaches are required to be certified to coach.
This endeavor may help pre-high school football more than high school football, but I'm still skeptical. On another thread in this forum a lot of coaches voiced their displeasure with the AAU getting involved in football. I see this as an even more serious threat, especially to high school football as we have come to know it.
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Post by irishdog on Apr 7, 2014 12:15:29 GMT -6
In the last 10 years I haven't met a HS basketball coach, or a HS baseball coach I could trust. Used to be the HS football coaches were also the basketball or wrestling coaches in the winter, and/or then became the track or baseball coaches in the spring. And when the HS HFC got older he became the golf coach! Aahh, the good ol' days!
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Post by irishdog on Apr 6, 2014 18:47:32 GMT -6
This discussion goes back to one that occurred the other day in these forums about attrition rates of the players. If they're beginning earlier and playing year-round, think what that'll do to attrition rates. Amen to that! |
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Post by irishdog on Apr 5, 2014 10:26:07 GMT -6
How is AAU Football any different than PW or AYF? If I remember right...AAU is actually a better deal than PW or AYF because they do not discriminate against the big kids and do not allow older lighter HS age kids to play. Is this a Middle School level problem? We have no Middle School Sports where I live so I dont understand the problem. How does AAU hurt HS Sports? How about…BURNOUT? OVERKILL? FALSE HOPES? ENTITLEMENT? POOR COACHING? Just to name a few. Why do you think HS football coaches look upon basketball with such disdain? We don't want what AAU did to basketball to happen to football. |
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Post by irishdog on Apr 4, 2014 16:10:01 GMT -6
I am currently the DC at my current school. A head coaching job just came open that I am going to look into and see where it goes. It is a school with a lot of football tradition but has been down the last several years and really just doesn't have the talent in the pipeline to compete for state titles. My current school, however, is loaded with talent and has a great chance to win a state championship next year.
So let me ask you this: All else being equal, would you rather be a coordinator of a 9-1/10-0 type team or the head coach of 4-6 type team but make 50-60% more money? That my friend is the million dollar question. Since you asked, if it was me, and I really liked what I was currently doing, and my family and I were happy, but reluctant, I'd stay put. If my family encouraged me to fulfill my dreams regardless...I'd try to become a HC. |
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Post by irishdog on Apr 4, 2014 15:45:33 GMT -6
I think you also have to take into account how extreme our society has become. Everything is taken way too far. Just have to watch that program Friday Night Tykes to get my drift. Teaching youngsters how to play football by itself isn't a bad thing. It becomes a bad thing when adults take it to the extreme.
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Post by irishdog on Apr 3, 2014 14:27:07 GMT -6
Face it gentlemen, we are dealing with a different breed of cat these days. Many of the reasons stated in all of the above posts carry a lot of weight, however when it comes right down to it I wonder what the ratio is of the number of parents who aren't afraid to let their boys be boys, as opposed to those parents who are either afraid to, or are trying too hard to make them something they are not?
I would also be interested in seeing the percentages of boys who start competing at sports (not just football) at an early age (say 5 or 6 years old), and how many decide to not play anymore by the time they get into their junior year of HS because they're just burned out?
Can't speak for all of you, but back in the day (late 60's) I started playing competitive sports when I was an eighth grader! I played stick-ball, or backyard football with my buddies occasionally, but didn't play Little League, or Babe Ruth league, or Pop Warner, or AAU anything. Just played on my eighth grade JHS baseball team. I "discovered" football as a freshman in HS and couldn't get enough of it (almost to the detriment of my school work!), and obviously have never had enough of football going into my 40th year of coaching.
We live in a different world today. Households where both parents work, households with only one parent, an internet, hand-held technology, hand-held discipline, no discipline, etc. etc. Our young people are having to grow-up way too fast.
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Post by irishdog on Mar 31, 2014 20:43:25 GMT -6
Many years ago I met with my coaches on Sunday evenings at my house at 6 for about two hours. It was necessary because we just didn't have the technology back then. Not anymore. With HUDL it has become much easier for our coaches and players to watch film on their own, AND, it gives the staff the much needed down-time needed away from the grind to enjoy being with their families, go to church, or do what they please. We do meet on Saturdays. Coaches are in at 8 to finish up laundry, and watch the previous night's game film. Players come in at 9 (injured players follow-up with the trainer), and they do a light run/stretch/lift - shower, and at 10:30 we watch the necessary parts of the game film with the players for about 30 minutes, and let them go. The staff will watch the opponent film briefly, jot down position notes on their personnel, and then discuss our own personnel. We're usually out of there around 12:30. By Monday the coordinators know what to expect and it is presented to the team at practice. Monday practices are fundamentals (blocking and tackling), show the big picture of the opponent, and conditioning. We meet as a staff after Monday practice to go over Tuesday's practice plan. We practice offense on Tuesdays (half hour of D Team at the end of practice). We practice defense on Wednesday (half hour of O Team at the end of practice). Thursday we practice both (half hour each of team) and a 30 minute game script to cover special teams (Thursday practices are only 90 minutes long - helmets only). During the week the OC, DC, and myself watch the opponent game film with the team during our activity periods, and also encourage them to watch the opponent on their own. With HUDL it's really nice because you can see who has been watching the film, and who hasn't! This format has worked well for us and find no reason to change it anytime soon.
dog - if you want people to read-respond to your posts:
Break them up into paragraphs.
Very difficult to read a big block of text (I don't even try) especially white font on black background.
Thanks, will do. |
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Post by irishdog on Mar 31, 2014 15:31:34 GMT -6
Why not? And do you meet on Saturday instead? Many years ago I met with my coaches on Sunday evenings at my house at 6 for about two hours. It was necessary because we just didn't have the technology back then. Not anymore. With HUDL it has become much easier for our coaches and players to watch film on their own, AND, it gives the staff the much needed down-time needed away from the grind to enjoy being with their families, go to church, or do what they please. We do meet on Saturdays. Coaches are in at 8 to finish up laundry, and watch the previous night's game film. Players come in at 9 (injured players follow-up with the trainer), and they do a light run/stretch/lift - shower, and at 10:30 we watch the necessary parts of the game film with the players for about 30 minutes, and let them go. The staff will watch the opponent film briefly, jot down position notes on their personnel, and then discuss our own personnel. We're usually out of there around 12:30. By Monday the coordinators know what to expect and it is presented to the team at practice. Monday practices are fundamentals (blocking and tackling), show the big picture of the opponent, and conditioning. We meet as a staff after Monday practice to go over Tuesday's practice plan. We practice offense on Tuesdays (half hour of D Team at the end of practice). We practice defense on Wednesday (half hour of O Team at the end of practice). Thursday we practice both (half hour each of team) and a 30 minute game script to cover special teams (Thursday practices are only 90 minutes long - helmets only). During the week the OC, DC, and myself watch the opponent game film with the team during our activity periods, and also encourage them to watch the opponent on their own. With HUDL it's really nice because you can see who has been watching the film, and who hasn't! This format has worked well for us and find no reason to change it anytime soon. |
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Post by irishdog on Mar 31, 2014 8:30:44 GMT -6
As a HS coach I think a lot depends upon the bell schedule, coaching staff availability, and your own distance from school. In one school we didn't get out until 3:20, a couple of my coaches were teachers who needed to be in their classroom after school for 30 minutes, and a couple of others were off-campus guys, so…we lifted in the mornings and started practices at 4:00. In another school we were dismissed at 2:40, and all my coaches were teachers (except two off-campus guys who had flexible schedules) so it was a no-brainer for us to lift immediately after school, and start practices at 3:30. And finally at another school I lived more than 45 minutes away so early-morning workouts were out of the question. No matter where I coached we were always able to make things work well depending upon our circumstances. Only one thing never changed…NO meetings on Sundays!
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Post by irishdog on Mar 30, 2014 9:27:36 GMT -6
Don't laugh, but at the behest of our captains I purchased sleeveless t's instead of regular t's in our spirit pack. Since its so doggone hot down here many of the players always roll their sleeves up, or ask permission to cut the sleeves off their t's anyway, so…before I ordered them I made sure the entire team supported it (which they did), and now we have sleeveless t's (except the coaching staff - we're mostly older guys who have "lost" that youthful look so we have regular t's!).
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Post by irishdog on Mar 27, 2014 16:33:03 GMT -6
Texas: State is divided between public schools (UIL), and private schools (TAPPS) so the rules are different.
UIL 6A and 5A schools (largest classes) can opt to have spring practice or not. If they have spring practice they cannot officially start fall practices until the second week in August. If they don't have spring practice they can start fall practices the first week in August. Spring practice has been eliminated for UIL 4A schools and below. TAPPS schools have the option to have spring practice or not, regardless all TAPPS schools start the first week in August. However all TAPPS schools have a mandatory dead week the last week of July before fall practices start in August. Both UIL and TAPPS schools have an acclimatization period (3 days and 4 days) prior to contact practices in August. UIL limits the number of scrimmages based upon practice start date in August. TAPPS schools can only have two scrimmages. Both associations closely follow the NCAA rules regarding the structure of two-a-day practices (1-2-1-2-1), and on a two practice day cannot have contact in one of the two practices, with a 2 hour break in-between the practices. All UIL and TAPPS schools play 10 games with a bye. Playoffs start the third week in November, and the UIL state tournament championship games are played the second weekend of December. TAPPS state championship games are played the first weekend of December. At least that's how I have seen it over the past three years.
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Post by irishdog on Mar 22, 2014 17:36:28 GMT -6
So how often does everybody's staffs meet? When and for how long do you watch film with players? Ive been on staffs that have met for as long as 16 hrs on the weekend to about 1-3 hours. Weve watched film on sundays or mondays. Im looking for a more productive way to do film. Sometimes I hate watching the entire game...it takes sooo long. We are a small school so splittling up into position groups to watch is not an option. The staff will meet on a weekend getaway the weekend prior to camp to prepare and organize the pre-season schedule. Pre-season camp (the old double-sessions days) we meet every day as a staff to discuss practice and go over practice for the next day. We film all our practices so our kids will watch about 30 minutes of practice film each day in between practices. In-season - the coaching staff meets briefly before each practice to make sure everyone is on the same page. The staff will meet on Saturdays from 8-Noon. We evaluate our game film, and make sure the HC/OC/DC will be able to view the opponent scout film on HUDL over the weekend on their own time. With HUDL we are able to make the game film available to all the players to watch on their own time. On Saturdays we only show them the parts of the game film we believe are necessary for them to see and to learn from. The HC/OC/DC meet on Monday after practice to coordinate the game plan while the other assistants show about 30 minutes of the opponent scout film to the players. While we encourage our players to watch the opponent scout film on HUDL, we are not naive enough to believe all of them will, so… the HC/OC/DC will watch opponent scout film with the players during activity period (about 30 minutes worth on Tuesday and Thursday). After each practice our players will watch about 15 minutes worth of practice film to help them better understand the concepts we're trying to teach. WE DO NOT MEET ON SUNDAYS!! Those days are strictly set aside as FAMILY days for the coaches to do with how they please.
During the off-season the only times the staff will meet will be to organize and prepare for the strength training schedule, organize and prepare for the spring practice schedule, and organize and prepare for the summer schedule. |
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Post by irishdog on Mar 21, 2014 11:04:27 GMT -6
To answer the question, YES, I have cut-down on a few things and have completely cut-out a couple of others. Changed lifting in the summer from 4 days per week to 3 days per week in the AM (it's not the amount of hours you work, it's the amount of work you put into the hours). Since we're a run-oriented offense we dropped out of a wide-open 7 on 7 league (that played two games every Tuesday night in June and July, and got into another league that plays one game per week the last two weeks of June and the middle two weeks of July. Went to shorter spring practices (hour and a half) focusing more on teaching of fundamentals, cut-out scrimmages from spring practice completely, and offer weight training to spring sports athletes early in the AM. I also have eliminated one full gear practice on the days we have double sessions and replaced it with an uppers only, limited contact practice. We do a 1-2-1-2-1, 2-1-2-1-Scr format for the two weeks of camp. On the single practice days we are in full gear-full contact for 2 1/2 hours. It's still a grind for the kids because we demand 100% at every practice. I have a 10 minute "make-up" period at the end of each practice if we don't get 100%. I just tell 'em you can pay now, or you can pay later. It's up to you, always has, always will be. Yes, Less IS More!!
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Post by irishdog on Mar 17, 2014 12:59:27 GMT -6
Week 1 we watch cut-ups of our game film from the previous season. Week 2 we watch Week 1 practice film. State only allows a 10 day window for spring practice. Typically takes an hour (30 minutes for run and 30 minutes for pass). It has been a great formula for us since most of the guys we have for spring practice are the ones who can really benefit from improving their knowledge, and their fundamentals. Most of our really good athletes are playing a spring sport.
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Post by irishdog on Mar 17, 2014 11:07:37 GMT -6
I've always been at small schools. Same issues with spring practice. With no seniors our numbers go down from 50 to 38. Out of the 38 a number of them are either playing baseball, lacrosse, or running track which leaves us with around 25. So...during the spring we will lift the spring sports kids early in the morning before school starts. After school our schedule goes like this:
Monday - Weights (1 hour)
Offense - Run Fundamentals (1 hour)
Tuesday - Film (1 hour)
Offense - Pass Fundamentals (1 hour - includes 7 on 7 & linemen competitions)
Wednesday - Weights (1 hour)
Defense - Run Fundamentals (1 hour)
Thursday - Film (1 hour)
Defense - Pass Fundamentals (1 hour - includes 7 on 7 & linemen competitions)
Friday - Weights (1 hour)
O Team and D Team (30 minutes each)
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Post by irishdog on Feb 26, 2014 10:16:58 GMT -6
I incorporate a "Challenge Friday" into our strength and conditioning program. The challenges range from what I call "Car Wars", "Bar Wars", "Mat Wars", "Ball Wars". Car Wars=teams of two (mix linemen and skills) pushing a small car 25 yards for time (every once-in-a-while we'll push a truck). Bar Wars=teams of two (mix linemen and skills) hanging onto a towel hung over a pull-up bar for time. Mat Wars=teams of two (mix linemen and skills) in tug'o'wars on wrestling mat. Finally, Ball Wars=teams of six playing dodge ball against one another in double elimination tournament. Other than that HS players have enough going on in their lives to burden them with more.
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Post by irishdog on Feb 25, 2014 11:59:04 GMT -6
My program is all about respect. I don't allow vulgarities of any kind, nor do I allow taking the Lord's name in vain at ANY time. If they cuss at themselves in practice or a game for making a mistake I just tell them to watch their language. If it becomes a habit it becomes disrespectful, and I meet with the player and let him know if it continues he'll be held accountable. If they direct a curse at anyone I'm all over that immediately because it IS disrespectful, and goes completely against what we're about.
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Post by irishdog on Feb 20, 2014 10:26:35 GMT -6
Being on campus helps out a lot. Where I was at last year I was one of 3 on-campus coaches so we had film in position groups at lunch 3 to 4 days a week. We felt like doing this eliminated the need for weekend film sessions for the players. SAT/SUN No players, coaches tag/watch film (from home), begin planning via conference call Sun evening MONDAY (Shells) Review previous game Defensive film at lunch Lower body lift 7th period (2:30-3:30) Review previous game Offensive film 3:45-4:30ish Monday Gassers/Penalty/Loaf Conditioning till about 5:15 Walkthru for about 15 mins, off field by 5:30 HC & Coordinators meet to finalize scripts after practice TUESDAY (Full Gear) Next opponent film at lunch Start practice 7th period Defensive practice (KO/KOR halfway through) 3:00-5:30 **Our DC was notorious for going way over schedule WEDNESDAY (Full Gear) Next opponent film at lunch Upper body lift 7th period 2:30-3:15 Offensive practice (PAT/Punt/PR halfway through) 3:30-5:30 Include 2-min drill, 3rd downs and goal line situationals THURSDAY (Helmets only) May do film depending on if we felt the players needed it Start practice 7th period Special teams 2:45-3:15 Defensive Walkthru 3:15-3:45 Offensive Walkthru 3:45-4:15 Head into locker room Team Pow-Wow 4:45-5:30ish FRIDAY No lunch film (unless players request it on their own, happened maybe once) Team meal 7th Period Special Teams callouts in street clothes Watch JV game/travel Very similar to what my practice week looks like. Slight differences: SAT - team in for light stretch and workout (1 hour). MON - V Weights (40 minutes - Core lifts only) - JV Study Table Team O/D Review and Preview - Uppers - Remove SP's for conditioning Conditioning - "The Game" 4 sets of 20 yard sprints 12 each (timed- B's & E's - Linemen) (12 represents the minutes of each quarter) 30 sec recovery time between sprints
(20 yards represents the length of each play) must meet time each sprint (adjust times to ability)
(4 sets represents the number of quarters in a game) 3 min between "quarters"
(MON practices last between 1.5 to 2 hours)
TUE - JV Weights - V Study Table
Practice emphasis on D - 30 min. Team O at end of practice - Full gear
(TUE practice length on the field appx 2 hrs.)
WED - V Weights - JV Study Table
Practice emphasis on O - 30 min. Team D at end of practice - Full gear
(WED practice length on the field appx 2 hrs.)
THU - Film - 40 minutes
Game simulation script - Helmets only
(THU practice length on the field appx 1 hour)
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Post by irishdog on Feb 17, 2014 12:07:40 GMT -6
Actually, most of this topic can be avoided if the head coach does his due diligence during the interview process. A meaningful interview with a prospective assistant coach, or lower level coach will give him the impression that you consider the position important, and his place in the overall scheme of things will be viewed critically by you. If you're just trying to get the job filled, you'll end up getting jobbed by the filler. With all due respect, how long is your line of potential assistant coaching candidates? Mine isn't out the door. So developing individual coaches and the staff as a whole were and continue to be extremely critical factors to the success of the two programs I have led as head coach. Like you I've never experienced having guys knocking down my door for jobs. When I would get applicants I would screen them first, and bring in the one or two I wanted to meet. I asked the basic questions, but spent most of the time describing the program, the expectations, time commitment, and structure. By the end of the interview I knew if I had a coach or not. It made for developing individual coaches less time consuming, and helped me focus my efforts more on staff development. On a couple of occasions as a HC I had only four assistants (two paid) for two levels, but both of those staffs to this day were the best I ever worked with. |
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Post by irishdog on Feb 13, 2014 12:37:25 GMT -6
Actually, most of this topic can be avoided if the head coach does his due diligence during the interview process. A meaningful interview with a prospective assistant coach, or lower level coach will give him the impression that you consider the position important, and his place in the overall scheme of things will be viewed critically by you. If you're just trying to get the job filled, you'll end up getting jobbed by the filler.
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Post by irishdog on Dec 30, 2013 10:29:47 GMT -6
I tell my players the only way they can get hold of me is either A). come see me; or B). call me. I want to see their faces, and hear their voices. As far as the young coach is concerned I would advise him that if he expects the players to respect him as a coach, he needs to be their coach first. If they see him as a "buddy", they will treat him as such.
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Post by irishdog on Dec 30, 2013 9:01:15 GMT -6
I guess I have a little bit different perspective than many of the other posts here. I don't have a strong desire to coach in a "pseudo-college" setting. If I wanted to do that, I would have stayed in college coaching. When I made the move from college ball to high school, it was because I wanted a better life balance. While football is definitely prioritized higher in other parts of the country, I love the value placed on teaching here in Minnesota. I feel like coaching is really a supplement to what I do here and that it fits naturally within several other core pieces of my life. I wasn't able to find this balance when I was coaching at the college level, and from the stories I have heard, I think I would quickly burn out in a Texas, Alabama, etc. setting. If I didn't get burned out, I think I would become bored with football being such a huge part of what I did with my time at work. I actually really enjoyed the time I spent coaching at a Wisconsin High School as well. They have some unique regulations over there where I think you can only have 4 or 5 days of football specific activities over the summer. Although it is minimal, nobody that you play is doing more than that to gain an advantage on you. Like I said, I can understand the appeal of some of the football states and a younger me would have loved it, but from a family perspective now, I really like this part of the country. Great point. And I agree with it 100%. I spent 7 (out of 40) of the most wonderful years of my coaching/teaching life in Minnesota. |
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Post by irishdog on Dec 29, 2013 11:17:24 GMT -6
Hands down, without a doubt, coming from a guy who has taught, coached, and been an administrator on the west coast, east coast, upper midwest, midwest, and south…TEXAS is HS football heaven.
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Post by irishdog on Oct 11, 2013 9:51:06 GMT -6
I always felt that practice time depended a lot on the circumstances I was in. Most of my career was spent in small schools, small numbers, so player retention was always a major factor for me in scheduling practices, scrimmages, and games. When I had an inexperienced/young group we would practice a little longer, and when I had an experienced/older group our practice times would be shorter. About 2 1/2 hours with an emphasis on teaching fundamental skills with the inexperienced kids, and about 2 hours with an emphasis on developing techniques, and reviewing fundamentals with the experienced kids.
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Post by irishdog on May 25, 2013 11:02:18 GMT -6
If you're the DC use whatever works best for you, and the easiest for your kids to learn. If not, it doesn't hurt to know all the different ways technique alignments are used. It may help you get a job.
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Post by irishdog on May 20, 2013 16:57:12 GMT -6
Many guys who are either nearing retirement (like myself), or retired from HS coaching, are being offered college jobs at all levels. Coaching experience, knowledge of the local HS scene in helping effectively recruit quality players, maturity in helping mentor the younger coaches, and not necessarily needing a high-paying job all contribute to hiring HS coaches at the college level. I was fortunate to get offered a "full-time" (9 month) contract at a D3 school. Fits my needs, and fits the program's needs.
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