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Post by s73 on May 27, 2014 18:43:38 GMT -6
Coach, With all due respect, you may feel that way right now b/c you are winning quite often. Sometimes it takes a downfall to fully appreciate success. I have had 2 -3 seasons in a row like you talked about where things were going well and I got really comfortable. Then, talent dries up for a couple seasons and some anxiety sets in b/c the "light at the end of the tunnel" seems a long ways off. Just saying, enjoy it b/c success can be fleeting at times. I've had more seasons as a coach that we haven't went to the playoffs than we have. Losses still don't bug me. It's a game. I reflect and try to think of what we can do better, but there's no reason to be a grouch and sulk all weekend. It's over. Let it go. Flush it and move on to the next thing. Want to teach your kids how to not forget bad plays and not move on and TO focus on the last play, which generally leads them to screwing up the current play? Show them through your own actions and by forcing them to sulk after the game on buses and such. If you sulk on certain plays and games, or force them to, they won't be able to flush bad things and move on to the next play. I'm generally more angry/sullen after certain types of wins than I am most losses. Coach, I think you are making assumptions that aren't the case. Big difference between licking my wounds over the weekend away from the team and what you are describing above. As for not getting over it immediately? I care about our success. What more can I say? You have a way of doing things as do I. I think it's simply different strokes for different folks. Makes neither one of us right or wrong. As for having more seasons not in the play offs v. being in the play offs, were all of those as a HFC? Makes a big difference when you are the focal point of a lack of success v. when you are an assistant and things aren't going well. JMO though.
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Post by s73 on May 27, 2014 13:10:52 GMT -6
Our last couple years, our only losses have been in the playoffs. Two years ago we just played like garbage. Most of my after the game time was spent analyzing how to prepare the team better, not really sulking. This year we only lost by 8 points so it was a little more in game management thought after the game. Three years ago when we lost in the playoffs I was just happy to have gotten there so after we got bounced in the first round it didn't take much time at all. Individual wins or losses don't really effect me to terribly bad. Regardless of how bad the loss or how great the win was, I'm usually over it by the time I wake up the next morning. My family doesn't need to suffer just because we lost or won a stupid HS football game. I've yet to lose sleep over a football game. Just seems dumb to to me. Coach, With all due respect, you may feel that way right now b/c you are winning quite often. Sometimes it takes a downfall to fully appreciate success. I have had 2 -3 seasons in a row like you talked about where things were going well and I got really comfortable. Then, talent dries up for a couple seasons and some anxiety sets in b/c the "light at the end of the tunnel" seems a long ways off. Just saying, enjoy it b/c success can be fleeting at times.
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Post by s73 on May 27, 2014 12:14:05 GMT -6
Is it just the big ones that hurt? Or do the small ones sting just as bad? I've always been from the school of "Losing bothers me way more then winning makes me feel good." Losses ruin my weekend. My wife and I are season ticket holders for the local college and I don't ever want to go a Saturday after a loss. I hate going to the grocery store so I don't have to see a parent or anyone in the community after and talk about it (I hate it after wins too, just not as bad. Thats why I go at like 8 am Sunday morning). I realize that it may be counter productive, but after a loss, I'm on Hudl all night watching film, wondering what could I have done differently. I mean, sleep doesnt come till after Thanksgiving anyway, but nights after losses are always the worst. What are some things you do to combat that can't get to sleep feeling? That inner disapointment you feel? I go through the entire checklist in my head, over and over (Where we just out matched? Did we not prepare the players well? Fail to execute? etc). I hope these nights don't come this fall for any of us, but whats the best way you've learned to mentally shut down for a bit (if at all)? Personally, I have been in games where the other team is maybe just flat out better, so losing those if I'm truly being honest, maybe isn't quite as tough as losing to a team you can or should beat. Losing those are really tough to swallow b/c I am most likely at fault when that happens. I should also mention, that beating teams that are flat out better than you also is about as gratifying as it gets (doesn't happen often, but sure is fun when it does). With that being said, I have a "weekend sulking clause" that says we better be over it by Monday b/c it's time to go. Now the truth is, many times I'm not over it, but I try to channel some frustration into added determination for the next opponent. That's basically about it for me.
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Post by s73 on May 27, 2014 6:24:04 GMT -6
As a grandson of 2 WWII vets (one wounded in the neck and survived, if you can believe that) one thing I'm pretty sure war and football don't have in common is I can't see too many WWII vets getting this worked up about much of anything, let alone a little bit of name calling. I'm pretty sure they had bigger fish to fry.
PS - Before anybody "jumps in my foxhole" this is meant to be humorous.
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Post by s73 on May 26, 2014 14:26:33 GMT -6
Wondering how long you practice and during that time how much time do any of you dedicate to team O and team D ?
Trying to decide if I want to spend more time in group rather than team.
Thanks.
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Post by s73 on May 19, 2014 19:41:03 GMT -6
Socialus Awkwardicus
This is the guy who talks so much football that he doesn't realize that their are actually people outside of the program that don't really care all that much. This guy has been seen discussing football in technical terms in the faculty lounge, the main office and even during class. But the true determinant for this guy is the dreaded coaches couples night out.
That's right, this is the guy that when the HFC puts together a night out for the staff and their wives, this guy ALWAYS steers the conversation back to football. He's a oblivious to the fact that the wives want 1 night away from FB (including his own). Furthermore, his hardened exterior is impervious to all attempts at subject change. He will plow through all of that futility to reach his quota of 3 hours of football talk per evening.
The really awkward part is when a fellow staff member feels the heat from his better half and makes a strong effort to push the conversation 180 degrees to involve the women folk but SA shoots that down by summoning the waitress over and communicating to her in some cheesy FB jargon - "Miss, I'm glad I could intercept you, it's late in the 4th Q and I'm going in for the score, I'm out of time outs and I need 2 more beers to get me to paydirt".
The waitress politely chuckles (b/c she wants her tip), while the rest of the coaching staff makes silent eye contact w/ one another and the women folk silently pity this poor bastards wife.
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Post by s73 on May 17, 2014 8:16:12 GMT -6
Don't know about political but this sure is WEIRD. Many years ago as assistant we had a dad who didn't like the way we were "utilizing" his son in the program (but we were winning at the time so, not much he could do). But he was the quiet snake type. Always pleasant to your face but running his hole behind your back. You know the kind I'm talking about. Alright, here it is, TWILIGHT ZONE TIME. The dude wrote a "fictitious novel" based on his boys HS experiences. The boys name was altered slightly as was mine and the rest of the staffs but we were all in the book. He wrote the book as if his son was a fictitious character but he addressed several concerns "his son's character" had about the direction the program was going. And the fictitious character knew that "if the coaching staff could just get out of the way" that the "hero of the story" could take the program to the next level. The character also battled through several difficult obstacles he had to "deal with" through out practices. Mostly "over bearing coaches" who wouldn't allow him to "spread wings" and "take over. After all, what were they afraid of? Being exposed that it's the players and not the coaches who are the true heroes in this program". Everyone on staff received a copy in our faculty mail boxes. It was almost 200 pages long. This story is completely true. Is it available for purchase? That chit is hilarious!! I believe that story cannot be topped(granted it got published) "Shockingly" it did not go to print. I'm sure the poor spelling and grammatical errors didn't help:)
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Post by s73 on May 17, 2014 7:27:03 GMT -6
Don't know about political but this sure is WEIRD. Many years ago as assistant we had a dad who didn't like the way we were "utilizing" his son in the program (but we were winning at the time so, not much he could do). But he was the quiet snake type. Always pleasant to your face but running his hole behind your back. You know the kind I'm talking about.
Alright, here it is, TWILIGHT ZONE TIME. The dude wrote a "fictitious novel" based on his boys HS experiences. The boys name was altered slightly as was mine and the rest of the staffs but we were all in the book. He wrote the book as if his son was a fictitious character but he addressed several concerns "his son's character" had about the direction the program was going. And the fictitious character knew that "if the coaching staff could just get out of the way" that the "hero of the story" could take the program to the next level.
The character also battled through several difficult obstacles he had to "deal with" through out practices. Mostly "over bearing coaches" who wouldn't allow him to "spread wings" and "take over. After all, what were they afraid of? Being exposed that it's the players and not the coaches who are the true heroes in this program".
Everyone on staff received a copy in our faculty mail boxes. It was almost 200 pages long. This story is completely true.
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Post by s73 on May 13, 2014 9:18:23 GMT -6
I've kind of think disciplining your players is (like most things in life) situational. One kid requires a discussion w/ the old "I'm really disappointed" Richie Cunningham approach, another requires conditioning and then some just suffer from a medical condition I call "numb nuts" . These guys usually just get cut loose. I think in our position, we have to be able to "read kids" and their behavior as well as we judge talent. To me, it's kind of the same thing. One plus in helping out is that it helps you to identify those "numb nuts" before they have a chance to hurt your program. Absolutely agree 100%. I think another point not being made in this thread is that working w/ teachers is a 2 way street. I mean, if Mrs. Teacher wants your help w/ Johnny Football in her classroom and you blow her off, don't be surprised if it doesn't come back to bite you down the line. I know I've traditionally been wiling to help w/ FB kids being strokes in the classroom. As a result, I usually get a heads up when a kid is struggling academically and can be in danger of losing eligibility, etc. I just think if we treat the HS like an island, we may get awfully lonely. JMO.
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Post by s73 on May 13, 2014 8:32:25 GMT -6
I've kind of think disciplining your players is (like most things in life) situational. One kid requires a discussion w/ the old "I'm really disappointed" Richie Cunningham approach, another requires conditioning and then some just suffer from a medical condition I call "numb nuts" . These guys usually just get cut loose.
I think in our position, we have to be able to "read kids" and their behavior as well as we judge talent. To me, it's kind of the same thing.
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Post by s73 on May 12, 2014 16:35:40 GMT -6
As the HC I live by one rule- When something good happens it we or us. When something bad happens it's I or me. I used to do that to. But then I read Tubby Raymonds book on the Delware Wing T and he made a case that while intentions may be good, Using this type of approach can still be slippery b/c you still separate yourself from the team. He feels you win as a team and you lose as a team. Just a thought.
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Post by s73 on May 9, 2014 5:53:38 GMT -6
If you don't talk about winning, how do you explain to kids (and parents) WHY it's important to lift weights in January, run in June, go to camps and 7-on-7s in July, practice hard and efficiently, be disciplined, etc.?
John Wooden BITD was the coach who professed to never talking about winning. But he had some of the greatest players in the history of College Basketball.
Pretty sure Lombardi, Bear, Woody, and others mentioned the final score and its importance from time to time.
Even at the HS level, coaches get fired for not winning.
At our initial Team Meeting we talk about our competitive (on the field) goals. Every Sunday I tell them what we have to do to win this week's game and why it's important to us in terms of season's goals, and remind them after practice Monday and Thursday, and before game Friday. We always tell our kids that's it's our job to provide them w/ opportunities to reach the top of their potential. It's their job to reach that potential and play to the best of their abilities as a team week in and week out. If together, we can do this, then the wins should take care of themselves. Do your job.
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Post by s73 on May 1, 2014 21:18:16 GMT -6
How about the "I'm going to make it way more complicated than it needs to be guy".
This guy pours through the playbook and then comes up w/ something to add that makes things way more difficult for kids to learn yet adds absolutely no tactical advantage.
An example might be you have packaged passing concepts that have names and the kids already know all of the names and what they mean and what their route is based on the name. But IGTMIWMCTINTB guy says let's build a route tree so we can add numbers to the routes that the kids already know by name so they have to learn a name and a number for the same route.
Love this guy.
PS - Tips on spotting this guy: He's usually a 3-4 year guy who is starting to come out of his shell and "wants more responsibility" so he can "put his stamp" on the program.
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Post by s73 on May 1, 2014 6:02:39 GMT -6
I just have a hard time pinning the blame on "sports related injury" when so many other factors can play into it. Car wrecks, hitting your head while working on your house, falling when you were little learning how to walk, wrecking your bicycle as a kid (cause you know we didn't have helmets back then), high fevers as children, diet, wrecking a 4 wheeler, etc. Anyone who has raised boys...how many times did they hit their head pretty hard growing up? I simply do not see how any kind of consistent baseline could possibly be established with the infinite differences of those individuals life experiences. It seems that these guys are taking a group of guys who all have dementia and are then looking for a common denominator and they point to sports related injury because that's something they have in common. I bet they have all hit their head from wrecking a bicycle too. I mean 64 and 96 are both divisible by 8 but they are also divisible by 2, 4, 16 and 32. That's all I'm saying. Coach, if you read my most recent post in this thread, I explained how this is handled. Any scientific experiment will account for what you're referring to. They're called extraneous variables. In other words, things you're not testing for. This study wanted to know the effects of sports-related brain injuries, so they would have potential participants go through a screening process, whereby anyone who'd suffered a previous brain injury, for whatever reason, would be eliminated from the sample. The only other option for handling this would be to factor it into the results. Brain injuries caused by hitting your head on concrete during a bicycle accident look different than repeated and sustained blows to the head over long periods of time. A neuroscientist would, under normal conditions, be able to tell the difference. However, it is still more likely that these participants would be removed from the sample. Ultimately, different types of injuries may lead to the same result (dementia, major depressive disorder, Alzheimer's, PTSD, etc.), but they would take a different route in getting there. Recently, I posted an article about applying statistics and analytics to football. I walked through the basics of the experimental process and some of the burdens researchers have to meet in order to reach what are considered significant results. If you take a look at it, it may help to explain the process a bit better. For me, one of the things that gets lost in all of this is personal choice. The parents, and at some point later in life the individual gets to make the choice of whether or not they want to trade the risks of football for the experiences of playing the game. I for one suffered a very serious injury that as I age has more and more caused me a great deal of soreness and pain. Yet, I would do it all over again in a heart beat. That is my choice. Educate RESPONSIBLY and then get out of the way. Let people decide. Don't like seeing legislators who've never played the game trying to control how we practice and play this game based on some study they read somewhere. JMO.
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Post by s73 on Apr 28, 2014 5:45:26 GMT -6
There was a study presented at the Alzheimer's Association conference a few years back (I can't remember the name of the paper), which found evidence that surveyed US football players who'd suffered a sports-related brain injury were significantly more likely (at an almost 3:1 rate) to experience signs of dementia by about 61 years of age. Another study presented at the same conference found similarly significant results among elderly veterans, who'd suffered a traumatic brain injury. They were more than twice as likely to suffer from dementia by age 55 than a veteran, who'd not suffered a traumatic brain injury. The study of elderly veterans was rather wide-ranging, too. They compared the medical records of almost 300,000 veterans, which is a rather sizable sample. As for rates of suicide, I've never heard that rates of NFL'ers outnumber those of the general population. There was a study, however, looking at the increased rates of suicide among soldiers, who had suffered repeated brain injuries. Yet, as I'd referenced in my earlier post, peripheral symptoms of traumatic brain injury, such as major depressive disorder and PTSD, can certainly lead to suicide. Coach, not calling you into question, but I do have an issue w/ some of this study that you've cited. I personally have A LOT OF TROUBLE following a SURVEY of US football players. First off, where are they finding these "60 something" football guys to survey in the first place? Secondly, are their really that many 60 something FB guys out their taking this brain injury survey to provide a large enough sample to make it reliable? Sorry coach, not trying to be a jerk, but something smells a little fishy here. The other issue I have with this study is you cited soldiers w/ repeated brain injuries. Not so sure their are many of those out their either. I have a bit of military history in my family and experience tells me that most soldiers who get a brain injury are usually taken out of the line of duty. Again, I just find it difficult to believe their is a huge sampling of these guys out there as to make the sample reliable. I have a concern that some of these medical professionals may be more concerned w/ making a name for themselves than actually being completely accurate. I mean, it would be a pretty big deal to be introduced at a lecture as "the guy" who changed American football. Again, JMO.
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Post by s73 on Apr 27, 2014 20:25:30 GMT -6
There's a lot of good research available in this area these days, if you care to look it up. More and more, it's beginning to center not on concussions received from a single hit but rather on the increased likelihood of sustaining peripheral symptoms later in life. I understand and have read much of the research and even spent several hours at a conference listening to a specialist discuss this very thing. My concern is that we have many athletes play contact sports for years with seemingly no consequences and others playing contact sports for the same length of time w/ multiple symptoms. So my question is: Is it the sport or is it the noggin? Why can some guys handle it and others can't? It's my belief that much more research needs to be done & it needs to be centered around ALL contact sports before we start to declare some more dangerous than the rest. Again, JMO.
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Post by s73 on Apr 27, 2014 15:32:42 GMT -6
All great points. I would also like to add that it seems as though very few of these cases of guys taking their own lives "due to traumatic brain injuries" seems to occur during their careers but rather afterwards. Not saying that getting hit in the head helps or isn't serious, but personally I feel that in SOME CASES these guys taking their own lives may have more to do w/ the fact these guys are no longer a part of the spotlight at the age of 35 years old. Secondly, why are we not seeing the same issues with boxers? First off Ali has Parkinson's which has never been proven to be connected to physical trauma (MIchael J Fox has same illness) so let's get that out of the way. What about Tyson, Holyfield, Sugar Ray, Hagler, Duran. All of these dudes had LONG careers where you know they had to have had multiple concussions, yet I don't hear stories about them killing themselves. What about George Foreman going through wars in the 70's and then resuming his career again in the 90's and winning a title at the age of 46? Like Silky said, their's more evidence in our older relatives that football is a relatively safe sport than their is evidence that it is not. JMO of course. I started the thread basically as a joke and because I was about halfway through a bottle of Jim Beam. But to say, "why are we not seeing the same issues with boxers" ignores basic facts. Hell, it is so common for boxers to be effed up after their career that there is a name for it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pugilistic_dementiaHolyfield is still relatively young and he is already slurring his speech. Would not be surprised if he ends up much worse. Also, I wouldn't be referencing Mike Tyson as an example of clean mental health! ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) Many good points. However, Tyson was crazy before his career. Holyfield has always spoken poorly, just go on you tube and listen to him talk. Foreman has never been sharper, bigger in his 40's -50's and 60's then he ever was in his 20's. I got 3 words for you "George Foreman Grill". I would say the old noggin is working pretty well. Sugar Ray and Roy Jones are all pretty eloquent speakers & RJ even helps w/ Big George to broadcast fights. Likewise, like you said their are many boxers who are a mess, some from their careers, some b/c they were always a mess. The main point I want to make is this: I have a friend who runs marathons and he is 50. If I run a couple of miles my feet and knees are SCREAMING at me. I'm only 43. My back hurts the next morning from the pounding. Running is probably not a great source of exercise for me b/c for some reason my joints don't respond well to it. For my friend the benefits are undeniable. I view FB and even boxing the same way. Some guys can play FB for decades (Brett Favre) with seemingly no issues. Others have head issues w/ many fewer hits. Bottom line: they're risks and benefits in multiple sports. I don't think FB should be singled out like it is.
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Post by s73 on Apr 27, 2014 13:25:28 GMT -6
All of this is overblown by the media. Just think of all the college and NFL coaches. Most of them played college and NFL before we had concussion awareness and they are all fine. Think of all the coaches on this board, think of your uncles, dad, and grandfathers who played football. Just think how the media would be reacting if former Tennessee women's coach Pat Summit had played football. There is no doubt that her dementia would be ridiculously overblown and football would be blamed. Concussions are serious. We need to treat them as such. But with our new protocols, helmets, and tackling technique, football is much safer than the media is portraying. All great points. I would also like to add that it seems as though very few of these cases of guys taking their own lives "due to traumatic brain injuries" seems to occur during their careers but rather afterwards. Not saying that getting hit in the head helps or isn't serious, but personally I feel that in SOME CASES these guys taking their own lives may have more to do w/ the fact these guys are no longer a part of the spotlight at the age of 35 years old. Secondly, why are we not seeing the same issues with boxers? First off Ali has Parkinson's which has never been proven to be connected to physical trauma (MIchael J Fox has same illness) so let's get that out of the way. What about Tyson, Holyfield, Sugar Ray, Hagler, Duran. All of these dudes had LONG careers where you know they had to have had multiple concussions, yet I don't hear stories about them killing themselves. What about George Foreman going through wars in the 70's and then resuming his career again in the 90's and winning a title at the age of 46? Like Silky said, their's more evidence in our older relatives that football is a relatively safe sport than their is evidence that it is not. JMO of course.
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Post by s73 on Apr 26, 2014 18:27:36 GMT -6
One thing we've always done for toughness is point to a former player who had it and challenge kids to meet or exceed his toughness. We had a kid who was a 164 lbs. and played MLB for us and OT. While playing both ways this twerp was one of the best blockers and tacklers we had on back to back playoff teams (yes he started both ways 2 years in a row) as well as all conference. He recorded 117 tackles in one season. We feel this is a pretty good example to use as a measuring stick for toughness. It's tangible because you can measure the fact that he was undersized at both spots, played both ways and still lead our team in tackles. That's pretty tough IMO.
We simply tell our kids if you are tired of hearing about kids from the past then replace them as examples for us to talk about.
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Post by s73 on Apr 24, 2014 5:57:57 GMT -6
This may sound weird at first but here me out. I love football but lately I've been wondering if it's a little unhealthy. I am honestly thinking about football or something related to it more than half of the day. If I have paper in front of me I need to be drawing stuff out. Does anyone have anything to add or experience? Maybe some tips to distract myself from it for awhile or be more constructive with my thoughts? Thanks I'm advance Coach, I have been coaching for just shy of 20 years. When I first started I didn't know what I didn't know. So I would only think about the plays that the program I was assisting was running. Then I went to my first clinic and the OCD began. I could not believe how many frickin' ways their was to run or pass or try to defend this stupid looking oblong thing. But FOR ME... the OCD started to calm itself (not leave mind you) as I became a HFC with my own identity. I still have it (OCD), just more controlled now b/c it is pointed in one direction. I am not the "kid in the candy store" any longer searching for stuff. I know what I want to do and now I am just trying to improve on it. So my focus has narrowed a great deal. I suspect their are others who have followed this same path, I also suspect that's why guys who have been doing this for a long time don't like to change or jump on the next fad b/c they know how tedious and "OCD" the process is to finding your identity. This has been the case for me anyway.
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Post by s73 on Apr 19, 2014 12:08:11 GMT -6
We do the following: Warm up - 10 Offensive Fundamentals all levels together - 15 Defensive Fundamentals all levels together - 15
Offense Practice Indy - 10 Group - 20 (half line run on Tuesdays & Pass on Wed.) Team - 25
Special Teams 15
Defense Practice Indy - 10 Group - 20 (ILB DL Inside Run / OLB & Db's = Perimeter run on Tuesdays & 7 on 7 & pass rush on Wed.) Team 25
That's 2h 45 M I think this is a reasonable amount of time to practice when you have kids going both ways. Also, we practice our V/S together to maximize coaching numbers and improve continuity from level to level.
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Post by s73 on Apr 18, 2014 13:02:20 GMT -6
We have all levels coach fundamentals together to begin practice. For example, our head freshman coach is the DC for that level and he and my Varsity DB guy run all DB fundy drills together at the beginning of practice for all levels.
My Varsity DC and Frosh assistant coach LB fundy's together for all levels My sophomore HC works OLB My sophomore assistant and myself drill all DL in the program.
Similar set up for Offensive fundamentals
Then Varsity & Sophomores break down & practice together the rest of the day while frosh go off alone. My frosh HC is also one of my older and more experienced guys. This has led to a lot of continuity for us.
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Post by s73 on Apr 16, 2014 6:27:10 GMT -6
OK looking for other perspectives. We have a kid who is a junior, he was caught by his parents with weed his sophomore season. They punished him and we as a team did also. We ran him and he was suspended from a game. Then right before spring he and some friends were caught smoking up town. The parents came to the coaches and agreed that him being on the team was a good thing and not the problem. We suspended him for the spring game, kickoff classic and two regular season games. No problems. Kid is never a problem, good kid great parents. Well he was dating a crazy bi*** of a girl who has been graduated. He broke up with her, then out of the blue yesterday an anonymous phone call comes into the school telling them he has weed in his truck in the passenger door panel. They check and sure enough its there. The kid swears she set him up and now some other kids are saying she is bragging about it. Anyway the kid got arrested. Luckily the sheriff is looking into the claim that it was planted. We had already told him if he is caught again he is done no questions asked. If it can't be proven its his what do we do as a staff. We want to be fair but we are not going to let him break the rules. Just a awkward situation. Looking for outside perspectives. It bogles m ming that you guys don't have an athletic code that handles this for you. On our 3rd code violation they are gone by DISTRICT POLICY, hence taking the decision and more importantly the DRAMA out of my hands. I think your district/ administration is doing you a disservice by not having a plan in place. If the cops uncover he was set up (find that VERY hard to believe, you should start calling him OJ) then he's clear and free.....until the next time. Good luck.
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Post by s73 on Apr 2, 2014 9:35:28 GMT -6
I think one thing to consider, if the AS is unwilling to hire a S/C guy go to the higher ups and ask if they will pay for you to get your CSCS. What can they possibly say if you offer to get your CSCS in the interest of "professional development" and helping student athletes? All it is is a test. My district paid for mine & it was $500. A lot cheaper than hiring a new position. THen ask them to advertise it once you pass the test on the school website. Now you can advertise yourself as a credentialed S/C coach. I know it doesn't really mean much but it seems these parents are hung up on these types of things.
THe other thing I would suggest as a solution to the space/ $ issue for your weight room is to invest in body weight lifting. YOu can purchase a couple of weight vests that aren't real expensive. You mentioned 3 dumbbell racks, you can use the platforms for whatever lifts you deem important and then use the DB's for multiple other stations. An example might be use the platforms for deadlifts and then the DB's use to do dB varaitions of squats (DB squats/ jump squats/ 1 legged squats). Now you have 10 stations instead of 5.
YOu also mentioned various benches scattered through out the room. Maybe consolidate the space by reorganizing the benches into better proximity w/ the platforms. Now you have let's say 15 stations.
MAybe you could hand out a workout packet for the football team and "anybody else who wants to participate". Usually, that doesn't lead to many other kids so that cuts down on numbers. Now you can use your stations for your guys and tell the other students who don't want to participate in the "school program" that they will have to work around you guys.
Bottom line is I think their are ways to make it work if you think outside the box. THe other thing (in my experience) is in order to affect change in a tough situation, you inevitably will have to "crack some eggs and ruffle some feathers". It's unavoidable when change occurs. These are some things I have done in similar circumstances . Good luck.
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Post by s73 on Apr 2, 2014 9:09:19 GMT -6
some thoughts let it go about the AD if the community has so much money, start fundraising for new weight room equipment talk with parents/team about the importance of lifting with each other as a team building, shared bond, brotherhood, chance to develop leadership... that's our biggest problem with a kid who is our best player and should be our team captain/a D-1 kid... as a player he is great, in season he is there... summer he is there... but all winter/spring he works out with one of his older brothers... one is a former player/coach here and a trainer at a really nice gym, the other plays at the local JC and he will work out with the older brothers i know he is lifting, i just wish he was in our weight room to be a leader... he will only be a junior next year and is one of the best players in our county in cases where of wealthy schools I have heard of schools hiring a "S&C coach" to come in and run the program... see if parents would be interested in that, if they are gonna pay anyway, they can all chip in together and everyone can benefit I like the S&C part of your comment. At the end of our (less than stellar) season, our HC had a parent meeting to basically let them vent all of their frustrations about what came up during the course of the year. Hiring a strength and conditioning coach was one of them that they wanted. I don't know what has come from that point as of yet, but it was enough to make me consider going to the NASM to get my strength and conditioning training certification. I'm about to graduate college to be a teacher, but I think that could be a great way to work my way into the school's system. One thing that we used to have was an elective course in which student-athletes would be able to substitute their P.E. classes with weight room work. They got rid of it because of funding/payroll issues like the year I entered. Never understood why, because I personally, especially as a coach not actively working in the school, would take 15$ an hour to supervise our weight room throughout the day if it entailed my players getting better.
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Post by s73 on Apr 1, 2014 6:00:29 GMT -6
I am curious how many of you are finding kids dropping out of football? Recently we had a couple decide to "focus" on different (non contact) sports. "Concussions" are one reason, "job" is the other. I didn't think numbers were going to drop at all - now I wonder if I am wrong. Coach, Our numbers have been down w/ kids coming into the high school as freshman. This has been a trend the last 2 seasons. Hopefully turns around some this upcoming season as we have a more accomplished group coming in. But the past 2 years our numbers for our incoming frosh. have been BAD. Not sure if it's concussion related or a problem at the MS level. My guess is, a little of both.
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Post by s73 on Mar 31, 2014 16:37:11 GMT -6
For what it's worth, I have a rule that if you ask me to describe my program I should be able to do so from top to bottom right off the top of my head w/o losing your interest. I should be able to, in a timely manner tell you my philosophy about offense/ defense/ special teams and off season weight training w/o you drooling or drifting off into unconsciousness.
If I cannot, I'm doing too much. JMO.
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Post by s73 on Mar 29, 2014 15:41:48 GMT -6
I think many HS coaches fall into the quantity v. quality of time spent on FB. "I must be coaching well b/c I spend so much time on it".
I do not mean to offend anyone who breaks down all of those statistics. I think some people are more analytical than others and know how to use some of that stuff, but I also think some guys use it w/ no rhyme or reason b/c they aren't sure what they're looking for.
For me, I have tried to coach by the mantra of "smarter not harder" for more than a decade now & since I began doing that, my program has been significantly more successful. JMO, but I think a lot of that stuff is to make you think you doing more than what you are, but in reality is just a "filler". Again, no offense, JMO.
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Post by s73 on Mar 23, 2014 7:37:33 GMT -6
IMO 2013 If he's that sports minded, maybe you can make a proposal to have S/C classes through the PE dept. & athletes get first crack at enrolling into them? Then maybe the kids can lift M-W-F and do some sort of plyo / running / agility program on T-Th? That way everybody has to be on board b/c it's part of the curriculum. Maybe present a couple of schools that do this and are successful. Then you could always open weight room after school for kids who couldn't get the class or as something "extra" for the seriously hard workers? Just a thought. That's coming. I believe I have a four day a week model so I should see some athletes there. The boss said "you need the right kids in there. " as I had explained that in some schools these types of classes turn into "alt ed dumping grounds" That is absolutely true. Have to have a school w/ a manageable enrollment. Any school that is slightly over crowded and the classes become huge, as well as non athletes get put in their b/c some numbnuts failed PE last semester. We see some of that but have managed to make it work.
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Post by s73 on Mar 22, 2014 7:48:21 GMT -6
Than just propose what you think is best, seems like there is no convincing needed. 2 days in season, normal workout out of season. Maybe set up some parameters for game day lifting? That's the skeleton I have to base from. IMO 2013 If he's that sports minded, maybe you can make a proposal to have S/C classes through the PE dept. & athletes get first crack at enrolling into them? Then maybe the kids can lift M-W-F and do some sort of plyo / running / agility program on T-Th? That way everybody has to be on board b/c it's part of the curriculum. Maybe present a couple of schools that do this and are successful. Then you could always open weight room after school for kids who couldn't get the class or as something "extra" for the seriously hard workers? Just a thought.
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