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Post by tiger46 on Feb 3, 2015 10:22:34 GMT -6
There are more bad youth football coaches than there are good ones. No surprise there. There are also more bad HS football coaches than there are good ones, too. No surprise there, either. I'm also outraged by what I see on this show, but I don't think your comment is fair. Admittedly, outside of our city, I don't get to observe much youth football but I know there are more "good coaches" then bad coaches here. By "good coaches" I mean coaches that know how to be positive role models and treat people with respect. Don't let this TV show suck you into the same trap as the masses. The types of coaches featured in this show are a small minority, but unfortunately they attract higher ratings (like a train wreck), and therefore are provided with a national platform to display their antics. Coach, Admittedly, my remark was rather flippant. But, if you read the rest of my post I think you'll see that I am pro youth football- obviously, since I'm a youth football coach. I don't buy into the philosophy that kids shouldn't play youth football because I do not believe that the point of playing youth football is to groom them for HS football. There are more beneficial reasons for a kid to play youth football; including learning to be responsible and dependable, positive role models, no pass/no play (at least for our players), work ethic, etc... I know that there are HS football coaches that are actually involved in youth sports, also. I'm not trying to judge anyone. I think it may even make an interesting poll on these boards to have the HS coaches poll their team and find out what percentage of them played youth football. It would also be interesting to know what positions they played then as compared to their HS positions and, where they are on the depth charts at their positions. As for youth football ruining players for HS football, any HS coach could easily remedy that. All they have to do is put their money where their mouth is. Kick everyone on their current roster that played youth football off of their team. I mean, really clean house! Make it known far and wide, that no one that plays youth football will be welcome in their HS program 3>10 years from now. Yeah.... let's see how well that works out for them. Yes, I'm just being a trolling jerk about that last part. Don't anyone take it too seriously. Lol!
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Post by tiger46 on Feb 2, 2015 20:35:19 GMT -6
This subject and thread always crops up. There are more bad youth football coaches than there are good ones. No surprise there. There are also more bad HS football coaches than there are good ones, too. No surprise there, either.
Even the best of HS and youth coaches are not perfect. But, there are a lot of very good ones. He11, I can see more poorly coached football teams than well coached football teams every Friday night and Saturdays of every season on every level if that was what I was into doing. I do tend to get amused at a bunch of coaches that should know better, being so influenced by a 'reality' (<--snicker) TV show. It's quite easy to visit a youth football board- I'd recommend DumCoach, for starters- and get involved with the youth coaches that do things right. Heck, there are even clips provided. Woohoo!
Perhaps, everything that I've ever known to be bad in youth football happens at HS level, also. There's almost no greater proof of that than being on this site and reading some of the threads about administrators, principals, AD's, HC's, AC's, player agents(parents), players, techniques, recruiting, etc, etc...
Participation in HS football is not the holy grail of sports achievement. There are way better reasons for children to participate in youth football.
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Post by tiger46 on Jan 1, 2015 20:17:16 GMT -6
Lol! This thread made me look up my profile to see when I joined this site. Date Registered: Oct 19, 2006 at 2:41pm.
Like Mahonz, I'm a youth coach. I started coaching youth football in 2005. So, I'm about journeyman level, I guess. This site has been a wealth of information for me. It really is a gold mine.
Thanks, Huey!
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Post by tiger46 on Dec 8, 2014 18:29:41 GMT -6
Congrats!
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Post by tiger46 on Dec 1, 2014 15:38:43 GMT -6
Along with what indianacoach and azcoachbrown posted... I'm a youth coach. But, this should be important to any and all levels: Actually, know what and, how much, your players actually know. You can go to all the clinics and speak all the jargon, etc... that you want. If you have not translated and broken it down in a way that your players actually understand their jobs then you've only wasted your time. Anyone remember this thread. It's humorous. But, it emphasizes the point. coachhuey.com/thread/35220/increasing-player-football-advice
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Post by tiger46 on Nov 30, 2014 17:12:01 GMT -6
Ted,
Maybe some coaches are getting confused with the definition of "war game" and 'warfare'. Obviously, one is not the other. I think it would be difficult to legitimately exclude American football as a war game. But, there will be no substantive debate on the worth of applying military strategy to football until the distinctions between war game and warfare are understood.
BTW, I think dodgeball is a great war game, also. But, I'm not trying to hijack the thread.
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Post by tiger46 on Nov 24, 2014 16:38:09 GMT -6
"...when there is a live enemy opposite, who is reacting to undo everything being attempted, with his own mind and his own strength."
-- Edward Luttwak, "Strategy: The Logic of War and Peace", pp. 2-3.
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."- Mike Tyson
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Post by tiger46 on Nov 24, 2014 14:38:38 GMT -6
Whenever I go to HS games, I get so sick of the Bleacher HC's/Football Experts in the stands that I always try to find one of these three areas to sit: 1.) Student section(good) 2.) In the middle of a bunch of women(better) 3.)An empty section away from everyone else(best).
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Post by tiger46 on Oct 23, 2014 0:06:19 GMT -6
Today, one of our former players dropped by practice to see how our team was doing. He's 19. He played on our first championship (11>12yr olds) team. We've had other former players drop by at our practices. We've had former players show up at all of our games this season. That seems to happen every season.
I can't possibly say what participating in youth sports meant to those kids. But, obviously, it means something to them or they wouldn't be stopping by and asking questions and visiting with coaches. My experiences may be different since I'm from a small town. But, I remember what it was like to win our little league baseball championship. I also remember what it felt like to lose the championship the following year. I am not the only one. Players from both teams talked about the little league baseball and basketball games and other sports at various levels about as much as we did HS football during our 20 year reunion.
Competitive kids love competing. No one can impose their own values over how/what a kid feels about participating in sports at any certain age. HS football isn't nearly as important to kids as HS football coaches think/want it to be. We probably all played some HS sport, or another. Loved playing but there were always other things going on in our HS lives. Hell, I'd have ran over every one of my coaches with my car on game day just for the chance that a girl would let me get to 2nd base with her later. That wouldn't have made me any different than most any other teen-aged boy that I grew up with. IIRC, keg parties ranked pretty high with us, also.
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Post by tiger46 on Oct 22, 2014 6:32:06 GMT -6
Asking about youth football in a forum mainly frequented by HS coaches is going to give you a pretty skewed point of view and opinions about youth sports in general. Trying to gauge whether youth football is beneficial or harmful by asking a bunch of HS coaches is kind of futile.
I've been a youth football coach since 2005. I've coached players from 7yrs old to 13yrs old. I'm almost at the opposite end of the spectrum from fballcoachg- almost. There are definite cons to youth football. However, 'burn out' is not one of them. First of all, no youth coach or player owes any HS coach or HS football program j@cksh1t. If a kid decides he no longer wants to play by the time he reaches HS, so be it. That's his decision. That does not mean he was not taught properly or, that a good work ethic was not instilled in him. I'd prefer that my former players continue on to enjoy playing the sport after they leave our organization. However, that's just not ever going to be reality. I'd much rather that all of our players go on to have academic success than some short-lived HS gridiron glory. Unfortunately, that's not a reality, either.
I have players run the whole gamut when they reach HS. Some don't play. Some play but, they suck. Some are average players. Others become stars. Currently, two of my RB's from 2007 are starting varsity RB's at two different HS's. In contrast, I saw one of their teammates from 2007 - a stand-out WB/CB and straight 'A' student- walking down the sidewalk looking like a homeless bum. He had dropped out of school. It really saddened me. He was one of the boys that I was sure we had 'reached'. He had a jacked up homelife, to be sure. Another of their teammates also no longer plays. But, this past summer, he walked miles to and from work just to help supplement his family's meager income. He is a very good kid. I'd be proud if he were my son. I coach his younger brothers.
As for the argument about players size differences, that also doesn't hold much water. There's all sizes of youth & HS football players. League rules really come into play on that front at youth level. And, not every league is the same. Some players learn to deal with it. Others don't. For instance, I personally don't agree with older/lighter rules. That is because any youth coach with half a brain will choose a smaller, older experienced player over a larger younger player almost any day of the week.
I've also went to 7th grade games. I live across the street from one of the Jr. Highs. I am quite confident that we've coached several teams (11-12yr olds) that would beat the ever-living crap out of either of the teams on the field. I've also had teams (two seasons) that I think a few Sr. citizens with no pads or prior experience could have beaten in a pick up game.
As for development; I remember the father of one of the RB's I mentioned earlier telling me that his son didn't like football and was scared to get hit. He was partially correct. His son was scared to get hit. But, he loved football. He had just never been properly taught. It took us two seasons to develop him into a RB.
I also coach O-line. O-line and DB's are probably the two most over-looked, under-coached groups in youth football. I had six of the greatest youth O-linemen I could ever ask for last season. Three went on to play 7th grade football. Another moved away and plays on another team. I still have two left. All starters. I coached them for 4 years. They did things as a unit that I don't see 7th grade O-lines doing; including wedge, proper pass blocking, run blocking, understood blocking schemes, made calls at the LOS, pull, g block, cross block, pick up stunts & blitzes, cover wide splits, etc... None of this was because I'm some super coach. It was because I had them for 4yrs and gradually added in new skills as they became ready to learn them. More importantly, it is because we, as a coaching staff, care enough to go to football forums, buy books & DVD's, learn from other coaches at any level that is willing to share knowledge and convey as much as we can as best we can to our players.
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Post by tiger46 on Dec 6, 2012 7:28:21 GMT -6
Our Rookie team (7-8yr olds) went 4-2. They lost in the play-offs. Our Jr.'s (9 & 10yr olds) went 4-2 regular season. Won in the play-offs. But, lost in the Championship game 7-0 to the undefeated team in our league. We should have been an undefeated team. The blame is all on me. I am the HC of the Jr. team and I failed to correct the mistakes that I knew my OC was making this season. However, those boys went from a team that lost every game last season(they only scored one TD all of last season) to a team that made it to the Championship game this season. Believe me when I say it took a lot of fast talking and soft shoeing to get parents to bring their kids back to the team this season. They are a great group of kids. Our Sr. team (11- 12yr. olds) went undefeated and pretty easily won it all. Not really much to talk about there. When you have an over-abundance of size, speed and talent you should win championships. Ever notice how stud players make us coaches look good? I mean really, as a coach you know you have an overly talented team when a kid nick-named 'Speedy' is only about the 4th fastest kid on the team and isn't even a starter on offense. Those young men made us look like Buddy Ryans and Vince Lombardis.
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Post by tiger46 on Sept 10, 2010 8:17:44 GMT -6
We emphasize technique more than big picture on both sides of the ball. But, as far as 'big picture' goes... Defensively, we coach up attitude and aggressiveness. I stole some things about attitude from a link that I saw here some time in the past. Some HS team really coached up their WR's on taking pride in blocking. Their WR's don't just stalk block. They crush people. I try to transfer that attitude to all aspects of my team- but, especially to the defense. My players hold up their hands with crossed forearms and scream, "X 'em OUT!" They're highly encouraged to bring the pain when they tackle. Obviously, not every player on my team really is a big hitter. But, most of them think that they are. For the offense, I concentrate more on the O-Line to carry the 'big picture'. I have two pieces of garden hose. The hoses are marked at 3yrd, 5yrds & 10yrds. The O-line is taught that they haven't even started blocking until after they've moved their opponent back 3yrds. Anything less than 3yrds is failure. 3yrds is adequate. They get no praise for that. 3+yrds, and they get to watch me go berserk cheering and congratulating them. The O-line is also responsible for team unity. If any RB is slacking, hitting the wrong holes, whines about blocking or, just has a bad attitude in general, the O-line is authorized (and, expected) to have that RB removed and replaced. No questions asked. There are no appeals to the coaches, either. If a RB wants to participate again he has to bring his appeal to the O-line. And, he has to tell them specifically what it is that he's going to do to perform better. That has served us well in getting rid of any feeling of inferiority from the O-line and any prima donna BS from the backfield players. RB's are required to be enthusiastic blockers when they're not carrying the ball. They are taught to be downhill runners. They don't juke much. They don't dance around. They hit the holes hard and they try to punish anybody who tries to tackle them. If they fail at any of these things, they're replaced. Those are the 'big picture' things that we work on. We're not totally there, yet. We have a lot of work ahead of us. We're far from a team of all-stars. But, we keep at it.
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Post by tiger46 on Sept 8, 2010 2:36:51 GMT -6
Coach, If any one of the other much-more-wise-than-I-am coaches were to chime in, I'm sure that they'd give you pretty much the same advice: You've got to coach up your coaches.
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Post by tiger46 on Aug 27, 2010 10:38:02 GMT -6
Coachwood,
I'm not sure if you should've gone ballistic. I'm not sure that you should not have. Your player calling you a *N* is a lack of respect. He may not have meant to slur you racially. But, it is still a show of disrespect.
You are not his *N*, buddy, hommie, dog, cuz, fam or, anything else along those lines. You are not his peer. You are his coach. You are in a position of authority and you deserve respect. It is as at least as bad as if he walked up to you and called you by your first name.
I also bet that if you were to find someone in position of authority in his gang and have that person tell your player what to do your player wouldn't turn around and make a comment like he made after you told him what he should be doing.
As for the shirt itself, when I was in football everyone was issued two gray half-shirts. We were expected to maintain them and return them at the end of the season. Maybe you could get him a shirt or let him earn one. That may go a long ways towards mending fence with the kid if there is any need to do so.
As far as a potential threat to your family, do whatever you think you need to do to protect them. I am not in your situation. So, I won't try to be an internet tough-guy and tell you to try to be some vigilante.
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Post by tiger46 on Aug 12, 2010 16:37:33 GMT -6
Dave,
I've got one, also. 9yrs. old and I think he weighs about 45lbs.- I kid you not. The only difference is that the kid on my team has decent foot speed. He's also A.D.D. Everything else is about the same as you described.
He did not want to play on our 9>10yr old team. He wanted to stay down with our 7>8yr old team. Neither did I want him to be on my 9>10yr old team. He's just not ready for it. But, our league forbids older/lighter rules.
I've promised not to ignore him. So far, I have him playing as a stand-up NG. His only job is to stunt anywhere that he wants to. On 'O' I'll put him in at left split end so long as we're not going to run or pass that way.
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Post by tiger46 on Aug 8, 2010 18:46:58 GMT -6
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Post by tiger46 on Jul 21, 2010 23:14:51 GMT -6
"A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon."- Napoleon Bonaparte
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Post by tiger46 on Jul 18, 2010 10:38:34 GMT -6
GL, Bob!
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Post by tiger46 on Jun 14, 2010 17:09:01 GMT -6
Weirdly enough, I've never found that teaching a particular method of tackling automatically eliminates all other forms of tackling. In other words, it's okay to teach more than one form of tackling, imo.
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Post by tiger46 on Jun 7, 2010 23:33:56 GMT -6
Always do it the way Dave says. Whatever he says is at least 100x better than anything I've got.
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Post by tiger46 on Jun 6, 2010 15:25:32 GMT -6
And here starts my problem This team has not won anything, and getting other parents to help out (no one offering yet). I should have made the point. How does one coach implement plays? I get the part if you can break up the two parts and cover Backs and Linemen. Has anyone tried to teach this with no other coaching help? I have one dad that is going to help but he does not have the time to go over film or DVD's. I just think he wants to coach his son. [/quote]
I've installed it alone. If you end up having to coach alone you’ll have to coach a lot of things on the fly- especially for the backs. Get your block/tackle drills, chalk & talk done.
First, make sure you choose your Center candidate. Preferably, you'll have two kids that can play center. They each need at least 50 snaps per practice. Decide what type of snap technique you want to use. Pair them off near where you'll be coaching the O-line. Have them hone their skill & accuracy with a laundry bucket, armless lawn chair, or something similar. After they get good at that, they can take turns snapping to each other. i.e... 10 snaps with 2nd Center at TB position so the 1st Center gets used to hitting that target. 2nd Center then moves to FB position. 10 more snaps. Switch centers. Other Center snaps 10 & 10. Switch again. You don't have to worry as much about snaps to the BB position. Those snaps are made with the BB sniffing the Center's tailpad. Not as difficult to get those right. But, do have the Centers practice some of those, also. BTW, that's 10 good snaps before switching. That's why you have to have them nearby with their backs turned to the O-Line action. It's essential that you monitor the centers. Check their snaps, spacing, etc... Don't just send them off to a dark corner of the practice field! You don't have an offense without them. If they feel that you don't think what they're doing is important they won't treat it as important, either.
If you only have one Center, have one of the players that you have designated as a back retrieve the ball from the bucket and/or take snaps while you teach O-line. I used the TB & FB since they were the ones that would be receiving snaps in the games. Only one at a time would work with the Center. The other was with the rest of the team learning plays until it was time to switch. You can have the BB switch in, also. Use a hand shield to replace the Center while you teach the O-line. Install the plays just as DC and the other coaches said. The next important position is your RG. He does all the pulling. He has to know where every play goes. Size is nice. But, I much prefer smarts, toughness & quickness for that position. While teaching the RG how/where he was pulling, I put the backs in key defensive positions (i.e... to run 16 Power, set backs up at D-line positions after the O-line had already practiced on air.) so that the O-line & RG got an idea of what was going on.
The backs will almost self-teach themselves due to the snaps they’ve taken with the Centers and reps they’ve gotten at O & D. In fact, I used to ask the whole team, “How do you run the ball for our team?” They’d answer, “Follow the RG’s tailpad!” Specifically for the backs, I would have one take snaps with the Center(s) while others were in the backfield learning what they do as the O-line got more reps. I’d make sure the other two backs were in key defense positions that the backs would block. If your team has low numbers, make sure that the key defensive position corresponds to which back is in the line-up. i.e... If my BB was taking snaps, I didn’t worry about placing a player at DE when practicing 16P. If the BB was in the line-up, I made sure that someone was placed at DE. Rotate the backs from O to D while the O-line gets reps. If you’re not practicing wedge, you can also use the SE and LT in defensive positions. But, I wouldn’t use them too often.
You can bring over a/the Center(s) whenever you think they're ready. Don't bring them over too soon. Bad snaps are a distraction to the offense when you're rep'ing plays. Make sure you rotate them.
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Post by tiger46 on May 27, 2010 23:48:50 GMT -6
mhcoach, I tried to schedule meeting before and after practices. Never could get enough interest. Heck, I even tried before and after games. Didn't work well when I and the other coaches were the one providing rides, etc... Text messages would only be slightly better than computers. The parents had cell phones. But, they'd get cut off regularly. Constantly deal with new numbers and/or disconnected numbers. They also move around a lot. I had one player that moved and changed phone numbers several times in the two years that I coached him. I was the one providing him with rides to practice. Everytime he'd move, I'd have to track down where he lived. We just concluded a free two-day camp. We had 28 kids show up. We had another 10 missing because they no longer lived in the same place and we have yet to track them down.
But, it was not my intent to make a 'woe as me' post. Other coaches have found ways to deal with these issues. So, I think I can, also. I just need to find the right mix of strategies.
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Post by tiger46 on May 24, 2010 10:38:37 GMT -6
I've tried the mandatory parent meeting. Two parents showed up. Weekly emails are not a good vehicle of communication for me, either. Not one player on my team last season owned a computer. I'm sure some may have had access to email through their school. Most parents didn't have jobs that used or required email, either. Things that I'm thinking of trying this season: 1. Mandatory Meeting. By that, I mean if a parent misses the meeting, I'll use their contact info to schedule a meeting at their house. They will sign their parent contracts at that meeting or, decide that they do not want their child to participate in our football program. 2. Player contracts with outlined acceptable reasons for missing practices. 3. Buddy system with rewards. I'm thinking of raising funds to buy two $100 gift certificates to Best Buy, Wal-Mart, whatever.... The kids will be paired. Each pair will gain points for each practice they attend. i.e... If both show up, that's 2pts. If one shows and the other doesn't but, he was in contact with his buddy and knows why the other didn't show up, that's still 1pt as long as it was an acceptable reason. If the reason was unacceptable, that's 0pts. If he doesn't know where his buddy is or why he didn't show up for practice, that's -1pt. At the end of the season the pair that earned the most points get the gift cards. (Obviously, any missed practice should be cleared by the coach. But, I'm trying to give extra incentive for players to care about one another. Also, it may pressure their parents into bringing them to practice.) 4. Making a weekly newsletter to be handed out at first practice of each week. It will definitely include any honor roll and/or school awards. I can also paste in photos of the players. It will have a 'Football Question of the Week' such as 'How many yards does the offense need to gain to earn a first down?' We cover those type of things in practice. The question of the week will help reinforce what we practice. I think a game review with color commentary could be entertaining to the players. i.e..."With 3:20 left on the clock in the 3rd Qtr., the Tigers broke through the opposing team's defense behind the bruising blocking of #65 Robert Jackson(pulling RG), who pancaked the opposing team's LOLB into the dirt, breaking open #15 Jimmy Jett, who galloped for a 20yrd TD!" I may include things like game stats & player stats per game. I hope this will get around the issue with lack of emails and foster more pride and effort in school and football participation. Besides, players like reading about themselves. 5. Creating smaller, cheaper versions of HS Football players signs for players to display out in their yard if they live in a house. Or, they can hang them on the balconies if they live in an apartment. i.e... 'Home of Joe Smith #20. G.E.A.Y.A. Tigers' Again, always appreciate any helpful solutions.
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Post by tiger46 on May 24, 2010 7:04:18 GMT -6
Can anyone cite any specific things or actions that they take to ensure that they're on the right track in good team management? I have had problems with low numbers, parents not being committed, etc... The best season that we've had was three years ago when my wife and I were paying player fees, burning gas in two trucks and a whole lot of other things to get players to practice and games. Other coaches were going that extra mile, also. But, it seems like there must be a better way to get more participation from parents and players. Our main problem has really been with parents. I hate thinking about some of the horror stories from dealing with some of those people: prison dads, drunk moms, worn out grandparents, druggies, baby daddies, baby mommas. You name it; we've dealt with it- and, not always particularly well. I could use any advice.
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Post by tiger46 on May 19, 2010 9:29:37 GMT -6
Youth coaches deal with this all the time. These are just some ideas on the subject.
First of all, define the problem: A.) Is he shying away from contact? Or, B.) Is he using incorrect technique when making contact? i.e.... running straight up, hitting with head down, arm tackler, etc...
If he's shying away from contact, it's a confidence problem. I'd start with what coachwoodall posted. You can also add in having the players get on their knees and tackle from there. That will help with form, fit & hip explosion. Progress to a standing position and then, eventually to placing tackle dummies behind the hittee while the hitter tackles him to the ground. Hitter shouldn't have to be more than 1yrd away. Sumo drills will help teach him to be physical.
If the player is using incorrect technique- in this case- making contact with his body in a straight-up position, I'd let him practice at getting his shoulders lowered and head up until it became a muscle memory thing with him. Whether he's offense or defense; never tell him that he's learning to take a hit. He's always learning to deliver the hit. You want him to learn to use a 'half-man' technique when hitting through the defender. Don't allow him to hit dead center. Teach him to lower his shoulder pad and strike either the left or right chestplate (half of the man) of anyone trying to tackle him. In these cases, gauntlet drills with players in two rows hitting him with handshields and tackle dummies will usually get him to improve. He won't be able to make it through without lowering his shoulders and keeping his head up. If he's knocked down, make sure that his teammates let him back up before going at him again.
There are receiver drills that mimic this, also. WR catches ball. Someone with handshield hits him immediately after catching the ball. You can use this, too. Just back the player with the handshield off a few yards. Let your shy TE catch the ball, turn, take about 3 steps before delivering a shoulder strike (half-man) into the player with the handshield.
RB drills that make the runner break through the line are helpful.
As for defense, defense requires all of the above plus one added element- aggression. It's a little harder- but, far from impossible- to teach aggression. Defensively speaking, I tend to place good, fast technical tacklers(not necessarily hard hitters) at CB. I place good, fast and aggressive tacklers (hard hitters) at Safety.
You know the player better than I ever will. But, it sort of sounds like he's more of a RB/CB than a TE/FS.
EDIT: OOPS! Almost forgot. Teach the he!! out of blocking. Blocking is hitting! O-line block drills, RB block drills, WR stalk block drills....whatever. Make him very good at whichever ones you want him to learn. There are way more blocks and attempts to defeat blocks per game than there are tackles. Emphasize blocking. Personally, I'd go with RB block drills & WR stalk/open-field block drills. You will see a world of difference in his game play once he is a confident blocker!
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Post by tiger46 on May 7, 2010 8:20:48 GMT -6
The coaches (OC and HC) seem to be totally sold on it. I have to ask. What does "totally sold on it" means in actual terms of their commitment? Did they bring T.F. in to do a clinic? Did they attend some other type of clinic on the system? Did they buy some DVD's? Did they see some highlights & cut-ups and liked what they saw and, said, "F***, YEAH! That's what we're doing next season!" ?
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Post by tiger46 on Mar 30, 2010 16:59:20 GMT -6
As the person that was the smallest player on my team, I can suggest- with much reservation- that you do what my DB coach did for me. He looked me dead in the eye and said, "Get your butt in gear and do your job!" I can't say I was a good football player. I just had the desire to play. I wasn't going to let being small stop me. Personally, I felt that I had to get vicious or get replaced. My other option would have been to sit on the bench and wait for a growth spurt that never really came. So, I did whatever it took to make a tackle. I was never afraid to make a straight on tackle. What I lacked in mass, I tried to make up for with velocity. But, I was probably responsible for more opponents' bloodied shins than any other player. I won't go into what I used to do to WR's. I don't think coaches here would approve. My coach certainly didn't always think too highly of some of my tactics. I was also a pretty good practitioner of what I've heard is called 'spider' tackling. I didn't know a name for it back then. If I could get my hands on the RB I wrapped and locked my arms & legs around him and shook my little body back and forth. It unbalanced the RB and he'd hit the ground or, be severely hindered. My teammates could clean him up if he didn't go down- which wasn't often. I got laughed at a lot- by fans, opponents and even my own teammates. But, I did my job. And, that's what my coach told me to do.
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Post by tiger46 on Mar 26, 2010 17:16:39 GMT -6
It's a bad idea. That form of punishment was largely practiced by the military. And, the military has largely gotten away from that type of punishment. IIRC, officially, the military no longer uses that sort of punishment ever. But, what the big brass doesn't know.... But, even then, it's used sparingly. I'm not a HS coach. I do use group consequences but, never group punishment. I limit how it it used. I make it specific to the situation as much as I can. But, I try to never punish the group for the mistake of one. You can get a better, quicker result by ostracizing the one from the group.
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Post by tiger46 on Mar 17, 2010 0:58:39 GMT -6
Honestly, some of the most linguistically gifted and possessors of extensive vocabularies that I ever ran across were Army drill sergeants. But, when- not if- you pi$$ed one of them off, you already knew from which selection in their libraries their next words were for you. /shrug....Those 'kids' he's addressing are 18 and older. They can learn to cope with it.
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Post by tiger46 on Mar 17, 2010 0:42:59 GMT -6
I know this is going to sound a bit weird. But, as a former soldier (late 80's; some of the last of the Cold War Era soldiers) I find the article a bit disappointing. All of this so-called 'new training' was taught to us. My question would be, "When did it stop being taught"? I went through basic training at Ft. Bliss, El Paso, Tx. We did some of the standard drills talked about in this article. But, we also had to do sprints, lift and carry each other for 100yrds, etc... I didn't even know what a piloti was until I joined the Army. And, there were many days that I wished that I had never found out what they were, either. We did aerobic exercises. Please don't think of that crap you see on TV done by Richard Simmons and a squad of obese people. We did advanced aerobics taught by a certified professional. She- yes, she- used to reduce some soldiers to near tears. Also part of basic training at Bliss was two weeks of desert training. We were put through all kinds of hell out there- including hill assaults, marches, etc... wearing full MOPP gear. As far as BUFFs (Big Ugly Fat *uckers) went, they were put on strict diets, put on road guard duty during marches and made to do way more exercise. I can't think of any one of them that didn't have to go get their BDUs exchanged for smaller ones outside of two weeks. I never had to go into combat. So, I don't want to seem like I'm second-guessing a combat veteran. But, I think the guy may be missing the point behind bayonet drills. Something like less than 2% of combat kills are made with bayonets, iirc. But, part of bayonet training is to psychologically prepare you to kill someone at close quarters- same as hand-to-hand combat. Our Drill Sgts. referred to it as 'cold steel & close quarters' and/or 'being down to brass balls & bayonets'.I can understand his point if bayonets no longer easily fit on soldiers' weapons anymore. But, bayonets fit just fine on the M16 that we carried. And, it would have taken nothing short of killing us to get one of us to surrender it.
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