I stood looking the young men in the face, sweat pouring down in the August heat. The one's who did not make it staring back at us through the chain link fence and making nasty comments. I could see that because so many had left it was wearing on the faces of those who were there. I asked them "How many of you would like to work and make a lot of money someday?".
To which all of them raised their tired hands slowly in the burning heat. I said" Ok, that's good, but how many of you would like to win the lottery instead?". The hands of the young men flew to the air with a quickness almost startling. I smiled, as I felt the beads of sweat running down my back, me too suffering some in the relentless South Florida sun. I then proceeded to ask the young men before me "How many of you know somebody who works and has made a lot of money?"
Quite a few of them raised their hands with wrinkle foreheads as I could tell I was getting the better of their anticipation. I then asked, with a cocked smile "Now, how many of you know someone who's won the lottery?". Not a single soul raised their hand. "Nobody?" I quipped. "Nobody knows somebody who's won the lottery?". To which I added "That there men, is what I"m trying to tell you, nothing in this old world is handed to you. Nothing you want to achieve will EVER be handed to you."
"On a football field, what you want must be worked for, just as the money the people you know have worked for." They all had this look of resolve amongst them, as if "yeah, coach is right". I reiterated the point by stating "A worker's job is to get paid for working, and his pay is money, a football player's job is to win football games for practicing harder than his opponent, and our pay is wins gentlemen...our pay is wins."
A slight breeze out of the south began to blow as an old Ford rambled along the roadway beside us, the young men looking at their coach began to realize, nothing in this world is for free, and if they wanted something bad enough, they were going to have to earn it.
The silence among them was golden, the coach was proud, and looked long and hard into the eager faces before him. For it is so true, that people more and more want something handed to them, want something for nothing, or feel they are entitled to something. To which I ask..."How many of you know somebody who's won the lottery?"
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Buying video equip
1. What are you going to do with the material once you have shot it? Do you want to review it and then archive it?
If you want to archive it then you have to figure out on what medium. For example, you can get a camera that uses tape, SD Memory, some use optical disc (like mini-dvd) and others have built-in hard drives. Tape is cheapest these days. But SD Memory is probably the future. A large internal hard drive means you won't have to swap media after every game but it does mean you will have to dump all that data to your computer at some point (necessitating the need for a large hard disk in the computer as well).
My personal thought is to avoid tape at this point. I think non-linear media is the way to go now so an SD card is must in my book.
2. How important is quality?
Most manufacturers are making High Definition cameras these days but you can still buy nice Standard definition cameras as well. For your budget I would opt for a nice High Definition camera. Not only will the image be much clearer but the aspect ratios on these cameras are usually wide (and anamorphic) so you get to see much more of the field. As mentioned in another post, even if you later convert these high definition images to standard definition so that you can put them on dvds, that image can still be superior.
3. Do some research first. It might hurt for a minute but if you are gonna spend some dough on a camera get a well qualified and reviewed piece of equipment. Here are the essential links:
This is THE definitive site for camcorder reviews. You won't need another.
b. www.projectorcentral.com/home.cfm
If you are considering a projector to review your games on this is the site to use.
c. Find recommended sites to buy your camera from. There are a lot of rip off online camera sites that advertise low prices but are trying to upsell you something else. Be wary!
www.amazon.com is a pretty safe bet and usually has competitive/best pricing.
d. A few more links
For cables - www.monoprice.com
For flash memory - www.newegg.com
For general computer/parts/memory - www.pricewatch.com
Finally, I am in the process of researching a camcorder myself. I want a camcorder with a hard disk and SD memory as well and top notch quality. Based on extensive reviews the Canon VIXIA HG20 looks like a good one for me. It can be bought at Costco for ~$599.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
How dangerous is football
COPY OF EMAIL TO PARENTS REFENCED IN THE POST ABOVE
Hello parents and players,
Since we have had to change some of our off season scheduling by the new state rules and since I have had several parent questions on safety, I have done a little research into the reasoning behind some of the rules that have changed.
Some things that I have found out relating to football (and some other sports and activities)
1. How dangerous is football?
a. (from the Seattle Times) It's probably safer than kids getting in a car and driving on the highway," said Dr. Frederick Mueller, who heads the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research at the University of North Carolina.
Statistically, anyway, there's no comparison.
According to numbers compiled by Mueller's center, the death rate for football players at the high-school level last year was 0.13 per 100,000 (there were no deaths last year in college football).
The death rate for male drivers between the ages of 15 and 24 years old, meanwhile, is 48.2 per 100,000, according to numbers published in 2001 by the University of Maryland Medical Center.
"What I don't want people to do is all of a sudden stop playing football," said Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, the chief of neurosurgery at Harborview Medical Center and the University of Washington. "It's dangerous, but so is riding a bike, driving a car and simply living."
Ellenbogen's 11-year-old son plays football and the doctor says he "worries much more about kids riding bikes without helmets" than his son's safety during a football game.
Mueller's numbers indicate, in fact, that per 100,000 participants, football has a lower death rate than hockey, gymnastics, lacrosse and baseball, and much lower than competitive skiing.
b. (from NFHS) Injuries for high school and college cheerleaders have more than doubled since the early 1990s, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, with the estimated number of emergency-room visits spiking from fewer than 12,000 in 1991 to about 28,000 in 2004. And no other sport comes within shouting distance of cheerleading in terms of major injuries, such as spinal and head trauma, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, which is based at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Of the 101 catastrophic injuries sustained by female high school and college athletes between 1982 and 2004, 55 percent resulted from cheerleading—more than every other sport combined. Dr. Frederick Mueller, director of the center, puts it plainly: "There's no doubt that [cheerleading] is the most dangerous women's sport."
SOME WOULD SAY CHEERLEADING IS THE most dangerous sport, period. Recent statistics from the National Collegiate Athletic Association suggest that it may be even riskier than football, the sport it was created to support. Last year, the NCAA's Catastrophic Injury Insurance Program found that 25 percent of its claims for college student-athletes since 1998 have resulted from cheerleading. "[That is] second only to football, and football was not that far ahead of it," says Juanita Sheely, NCAA travel and insurance manager. When you consider the ratio of college cheerleaders to football players—about 12 to 100, estimates Sheely—that 25 percent figure is shocking.
c. (from NFHS) Over the past three years of study according to the National Federation of High School reports on sports medicine the highest incidences of major injury per 100,000 participants have been in cheerleading for women and soccer for men.
d. (from NCCSI) HEAT RELATED CONCERNS
A major concern in football fatalities has been the number of indirect deaths due to heat stroke, both at the college and high school levels. This number is unacceptable since heat stroke deaths are preventable with the proper precautions. Every effort should be made to continuously educate coaches concerning the proper procedures and precautions when practicing or playing in the heat. In the Annual Survey of Football Injury Research – 1931-2006 there are recommendations for safety during football activity in hot weather. New regulations by the National Collegiate Athletic Association for volunteer summer conditioning programs and pre-season football practice went into effect during the 2003 season and it will be very interesting to see how they effect heat related injuries at the college level.
TABLE 4:
HIGH SCHOOL FALL SPORTS
INDIRECT INJURIES PER 100,000 PARTICIPANTS
1982-1983 - 2005-2006
MALE / FEMALE
SPORT FATALITIES NON-FATAL SERIOUS
CROSS COUNTRY 0.37/0.22 0.00 0.00
FOOTBALL 0.49/0.0 0.00 0.01
SOCCER 0.39/0.13 0.00 0.00
WATER POLO (1992-94) 1.63 0.00 0.00
2. MOST OBVIOUS CONCLUSIONS
a. HEAT AND CONDITIONING - It is of primary concern based on all these numbers to be sure that the players (in any sport) are in condition and have time to acclimate to the heat. This is real information that indicates that the off season and summer conditioning are essential for the players safety. Heat injuries account for a greater and greater percentage of total injuries in high school sport. Conditioning, and to some degree weight training, are the
primary methods to reduce the rate of occurrence.
b. Football is NOT the most dangerous sport. According to many studies, soccer and cheerleading (on a national basis) have moved past football in per capita serious injury at the high school level. (Just look at the heat related catastrophic injury table above) There are more injuries in football, and there are more people playing it at the high school and jr. high levels nationally, but on a per player percentage football is not the most dangerous high school sport.
c. Many more serious injuries occur when teens ride in cars than do when they play any sport. In real life, it is more dangerous for a teenager to be in a car, then it is for them to be on a football field, or a soccer field, or a basketball court, etc.
d. Continued education of coaches, parents and players is the key to playing as safely as possible.
e. IT IS MY OPINION that our coaches at our school do an awesome job across the board in these areas. We can all improve the conditioning of our athletes as a whole, and you parents can help too. But I don't believe for a moment that a big part of the reason we have avoided catastrophic issues in our sports programs is that God has blessed us all with coaches who are working hard to teach our students how to play the games the right way.
If anyone has any questions, please let me know.
PLEASE - have your kids participate !!
God Bless
Hello parents and players,
Since we have had to change some of our off season scheduling by the new state rules and since I have had several parent questions on safety, I have done a little research into the reasoning behind some of the rules that have changed.
Some things that I have found out relating to football (and some other sports and activities)
1. How dangerous is football?
a. (from the Seattle Times) It's probably safer than kids getting in a car and driving on the highway," said Dr. Frederick Mueller, who heads the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research at the University of North Carolina.
Statistically, anyway, there's no comparison.
According to numbers compiled by Mueller's center, the death rate for football players at the high-school level last year was 0.13 per 100,000 (there were no deaths last year in college football).
The death rate for male drivers between the ages of 15 and 24 years old, meanwhile, is 48.2 per 100,000, according to numbers published in 2001 by the University of Maryland Medical Center.
"What I don't want people to do is all of a sudden stop playing football," said Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, the chief of neurosurgery at Harborview Medical Center and the University of Washington. "It's dangerous, but so is riding a bike, driving a car and simply living."
Ellenbogen's 11-year-old son plays football and the doctor says he "worries much more about kids riding bikes without helmets" than his son's safety during a football game.
Mueller's numbers indicate, in fact, that per 100,000 participants, football has a lower death rate than hockey, gymnastics, lacrosse and baseball, and much lower than competitive skiing.
b. (from NFHS) Injuries for high school and college cheerleaders have more than doubled since the early 1990s, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, with the estimated number of emergency-room visits spiking from fewer than 12,000 in 1991 to about 28,000 in 2004. And no other sport comes within shouting distance of cheerleading in terms of major injuries, such as spinal and head trauma, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, which is based at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Of the 101 catastrophic injuries sustained by female high school and college athletes between 1982 and 2004, 55 percent resulted from cheerleading—more than every other sport combined. Dr. Frederick Mueller, director of the center, puts it plainly: "There's no doubt that [cheerleading] is the most dangerous women's sport."
SOME WOULD SAY CHEERLEADING IS THE most dangerous sport, period. Recent statistics from the National Collegiate Athletic Association suggest that it may be even riskier than football, the sport it was created to support. Last year, the NCAA's Catastrophic Injury Insurance Program found that 25 percent of its claims for college student-athletes since 1998 have resulted from cheerleading. "[That is] second only to football, and football was not that far ahead of it," says Juanita Sheely, NCAA travel and insurance manager. When you consider the ratio of college cheerleaders to football players—about 12 to 100, estimates Sheely—that 25 percent figure is shocking.
c. (from NFHS) Over the past three years of study according to the National Federation of High School reports on sports medicine the highest incidences of major injury per 100,000 participants have been in cheerleading for women and soccer for men.
d. (from NCCSI) HEAT RELATED CONCERNS
A major concern in football fatalities has been the number of indirect deaths due to heat stroke, both at the college and high school levels. This number is unacceptable since heat stroke deaths are preventable with the proper precautions. Every effort should be made to continuously educate coaches concerning the proper procedures and precautions when practicing or playing in the heat. In the Annual Survey of Football Injury Research – 1931-2006 there are recommendations for safety during football activity in hot weather. New regulations by the National Collegiate Athletic Association for volunteer summer conditioning programs and pre-season football practice went into effect during the 2003 season and it will be very interesting to see how they effect heat related injuries at the college level.
TABLE 4:
HIGH SCHOOL FALL SPORTS
INDIRECT INJURIES PER 100,000 PARTICIPANTS
1982-1983 - 2005-2006
MALE / FEMALE
SPORT FATALITIES NON-FATAL SERIOUS
CROSS COUNTRY 0.37/0.22 0.00 0.00
FOOTBALL 0.49/0.0 0.00 0.01
SOCCER 0.39/0.13 0.00 0.00
WATER POLO (1992-94) 1.63 0.00 0.00
2. MOST OBVIOUS CONCLUSIONS
a. HEAT AND CONDITIONING - It is of primary concern based on all these numbers to be sure that the players (in any sport) are in condition and have time to acclimate to the heat. This is real information that indicates that the off season and summer conditioning are essential for the players safety. Heat injuries account for a greater and greater percentage of total injuries in high school sport. Conditioning, and to some degree weight training, are the
primary methods to reduce the rate of occurrence.
b. Football is NOT the most dangerous sport. According to many studies, soccer and cheerleading (on a national basis) have moved past football in per capita serious injury at the high school level. (Just look at the heat related catastrophic injury table above) There are more injuries in football, and there are more people playing it at the high school and jr. high levels nationally, but on a per player percentage football is not the most dangerous high school sport.
c. Many more serious injuries occur when teens ride in cars than do when they play any sport. In real life, it is more dangerous for a teenager to be in a car, then it is for them to be on a football field, or a soccer field, or a basketball court, etc.
d. Continued education of coaches, parents and players is the key to playing as safely as possible.
e. IT IS MY OPINION that our coaches at our school do an awesome job across the board in these areas. We can all improve the conditioning of our athletes as a whole, and you parents can help too. But I don't believe for a moment that a big part of the reason we have avoided catastrophic issues in our sports programs is that God has blessed us all with coaches who are working hard to teach our students how to play the games the right way.
If anyone has any questions, please let me know.
PLEASE - have your kids participate !!
God Bless
Monday, April 20, 2009
ReBuilding Programs
Coach, here is a copy of posts made by other users on this site and other sites on rebuilding a program, hope it helps! and sorry for the super long post!
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don't think there is a magic bullet here. But of the 3 programs I've been in, we've had to turn around. The #1 thing we had to install was discipline. Even today, 3 years later at this gig, discipline is still the #1 thing we have to work on.
I agree with making yourself available. Odds are the kids are in need of some consistency. So be there, always be there. You're the HC, so anytime anything football related is going on you should be there and find a couple of assistants who are the same way. I think it commitment bleeds through from the coaches to the kids.
Also, something I've found helpful especially with weights...if they are absent call them, speak to them and find out why. If you can't reach them by phone stop by their house. If they need a ride, go get them...if you can remove all their excuses, then it boils down to "want to" and that makes your decisions much easier later.
1. Assess the situation.
2 Determine what needs should be met and when.
3. Make a plan to accomplish your goals.
4. Start immediately to build relationships with the players, starting with the oldest first.
5. Sell your vision- get them looking forward instead of backward. Sell your expectations.
6. Instill pride through discipline and hard work.
7. Recruit the hallways.
8. Don't compromise your principles, even if it means going 0-10.
9. Change attitudes and make a difference in your players' lives.
10. Work hard and have faith in yourself - It may take years.
Turning a program around is all about psychology and changing the attitudes people have. The raw demographics of schools in a given geographic area are usually more or less the same. It's how you handle them that determines who comes out, who works hard, and who becomes good.
As dcohio said, what's frequently at the heart of this is a lack of discipline, and that's from both the coaching staff and the players. Usually, programs with no tradition are very poorly organized, as you're discovering, and their execution sucks on the field because their fundamentals suck because their discipline sucks. Losing breeds a losing attitude from the players. They see football as mostly just a club and a hobby. They're used to settling for less--they think that's all they can ever have "just because"--so they simply don't care as much as you need them to.
That's the mindset you've got to change. You've got to get them optimistic, confident, and enthusiastic. Make it clear now that a new era is dawning. That will help spark the work ethic. When they see themselves getting bigger, stronger, and faster they'll be sold. But discipline has to be instilled--ideally from self-policing senior leadership--before you'll ever have a team instead of a group of self-interested athletes.
There are some things you can do that are fairly easy and can be done right now: meet with your rising seniors to encourage senior leadership and responsibility. Make sure you have a booster club set up to raise money to improve the facilities. Then paint the locker room, weightroom, etc, and make a team building exercise of it. A few cans of paint are cheap, while a spiffed up locker room and weightroom will really help send the message that the program is now in a state of renewal.
You've also got to establish the right relationship with your players early on. Be optimistic and show that you care about them as people outside of football--go to basketball and baseball games, recruit the halls, etc., but also make sure that you conduct yourself as an authority figure. Obviously your own personality comes into play here, but that's the basics of it.
Do you get spring ball there in FL? If you do, make sure to have spring practice. If admin will allow it, cap it off with an intra-squad exhibition game during school hours so the kids get to play in front of their classmates. Have the students pay $3 or so to get ouf class and watch the game in the afternoon. In addition to being a good fundraiser, this really does help to get people excited about football and talking about it during the summer.
It also gives you a golden opportunity to evaluate talent. A tip I got from an article by Bo Schembechler is to meet with each of your kids privately after spring ball and tell each one of them where they stand now and what you expect from them over the summer. That's when you really sell the summer strength and speed stuff.
1. Cut the cancers - players and coaches.
2. Set the bar as high as you are willing to go.
3. Lift, lift, lift - it is the only thing that really matters in your first two years.
4. Recruit a staff that will be loyal - you may even ask the admin. to open every position and have them all re-apply. It won't do any damage because they are already unsure about you, your philosophy, and don't trust you - believe me, and these other head coaches will tell you the same thing.
5. Work real hard getting to know the current 7th and 8th grade kids because that is really your first team - hold a youth camp in the summer and an intro. to lifting camp in the winter.
6. Don't be afraid to walk away from it if the administration won't let you hire your staff, lift year-round, and place demands on kids and coaches.
7. Recruiting the halls? I personally don't think it works and, in fact, in fifteen years of coaching, I have never had a kid stay with it who didn't do it on their own. They know were you are if they want to be a part of it.
8. Have total control over the fund raising so that all money goes directly into your account - not a parent group that you have to ask for it.
9. Look for retired successful former head coaches to join your staff - go seek them out and they will love the opportunity.
10. Remember, you don't win with great athletes, only the right kind of kids and coaches, so don't be afraid to make hard decisions regarding the people and stick to it.
Also, in our second year, we instituted varsity team dinners on Thursday after 'walk thru' practice. We have a local restaurant donate a nice pasta dinner and a local bakery donates a large sheet cake for dessert. We have the use of the school cafeteria, my wife organizes the dinners and she 'recruits' selected mothers of players to volunteer and help every year. This has been a great bonding scenario and it makes our varsity players feel special.
We are old school and we get after it pretty good in practice -- sell your players on the fact that nobody is working harder than they are. Our motto is "we want to be the most physical team on our schedule." If we can get to that level, we believe we can compete with the more talented teams we play. We believe team chants, etc. do no good once somebody busts you in the mouth, so we believe the best bonding occurs on the practice field, in the weight room, etc. where mutual sweat and blood brings us together.
By the way, our program has gone from the laughingstock of our area to the most wins in a 4 year period in school history (built in 1923), back-to-back conference championships and playoff berths. It can be done -- be passionate and be willing to work your tail off. There is a quote I have on my mirror that I took from a coaching article where a coach (can't remember who) asks himself, "Did I do everything I could today to make my football program better?" I try to live by this.
By: Bill Collar, Head Football Coach, Seymour High School WI
Post Plays - Use large pieces of tagboard to post plays on the wall in the locker room. This way the players can look over assignments before they go out to practice.
Word of the Day - Have players pick a word of the day at the end of practice. This will be one of the areas of major emphasis for the next day's practice.
Senior Captain - Give all seniors the opportunity to lead flexibility exercises for the week. Those players will also be captains for the game that week.
Never Practice Pre-Game Drills - Don't waste time with a complicated pre-game warm-up. Stretch out and loosen up but don't wear the team down with a great deal of running and chanting. Never worry about winning the pre-game.
Charts and Goals - Much has been said at past clinics about team goals and motivational charts. These, along with inspirational sayings, can be very motivational. Many players also like helmet decals that go along with the team goals.
P.M.A. - Always promote a positive mental attitude. There is no place for negative thinking or lack of confidence in football. Encourage an "I Believe" attitude. Remember, the other team consists of eleven players. Attempt to separate any tradition or past experience from an opponent who normally is really tough. Do not accept "I'll try" as an answer -- "Do It!"
Make Good Use of Video - Use the video session as a positive learning experience. Don't allow it to deteriorate into a "bitch" session. Have players pick out "big hits" and outstanding blocks. This is the time to give the offensive line the credit it deserves.
Assistant Coaches - Make good use of the assistant coaches. Take advantage of their strengths and be able to delegate responsibility. Avoid unnecessary meetings and long video sessions. Keep in mind their family life and lack of substantial pay. Be sure to give them credit and a pat on the back occasionally.
Work Vs. Time - Be sure to realize the difference between work (activity directed to some purpose or end) and putting in time but not accomplishing anything constructive. Grading video can sometimes fall in this category.
Team Togetherness - Consider getting the team together on Thursday evenings at a player's parent's house for a meal and possible film session. The coach can kick this off by hosting the first outing. Evaluate getting together at a church prior to the season and explain to the players how you feel about them, the team, training rules and the coming season.
Optional Video Night - Pick a night during the week (we used Sunday) when the game film will be shown and snacks will be served at the head coach's house. Players are welcome to stop by for individual video review and learning session.
Unique Event - Each season plan at least one unique event to help fire up the school and community. This may range from having motivational buttons printed to having fireworks during the football game.
Shirts and Hats, etc - Many of us help promote school caps, bumper stickers, shirts, trunks and other methods to put football on display. At times it gets to be a big hassle but it sure is good to see more football shirts around school. Give players the opportunity to purchase their game jersey.
"Bitch" Session - Periodically at practice schedule a "bitch" session where anyone can speak up and bring an issue before the group. The team will decide whether it is a legitimate complaint.
Support School Activities - The football coach should back all school activities. Make it a point to attend plays, band concerts, sporting events and as many extracurricular activities as possible.
Team Improvement - The key to improving the quality of the team is to take the below average and average players and move them up to average and above average. The exceptional players will always be good and don't have the improvement potential of the poorer players.
Identify Quarterbacks Early - Meet with junior high physical education teachers to identify top quarterback prospects early. Work to get the most skilled student leaders at this key position.
Locker Room Quality - Provide music, school colors, slogans, name plates, goal charts and pictures to brighten up the locker room area.
Exchange Ideas With Other Coaches - Meet with area coaches in mini-clinics to exchange ideas. Have X and O sessions to determine strengths and weaknesses of offense and defense.
The Perfect Play - Emphasize to the team that four perfect plays will win the game. When you have a perfect play run it over and over again on film and stress that everyone accomplished his assignment.
Rule Session - Make transparencies from the illustrated rule book and go over these with the players. Be sure they understand all the rules that apply to their position.
Agility Stations - Scheduling four five-minute agility stations early in the practice is an excellent way to work on movement and conditioning. Include one with little movement to provide a breather.
Cadence Drill - Use the quarterback to start drills as much as possible. Work on getting off the ball together daily. This can be done by clapping in unison on the correct count.
"NEVER" practice on Sunday, have a mouthgard penalty, wait for anyone, having many players standing around, leave the field with hard feelings, chew the team out after a tough game, or criticize other coaches.
Give Credit to the Opponent - We can help one another after a tough game by giving credit to the opposing team and the coach. Too often a quick comment after the game comes out sounding wrong in the paper the next day.
Bench Conduct - Be sure to go over proper bench behavior before the first game. Explain what a player should do when you call his name and how he should go about entering the game.
Night Off - Later in the season consider giving the team a night off practice. Use the time to go over video or lift weights. This break in routine will often help pep up future practices. This can be a good move after a really tough loss.
Stay Loose On Game Day - If the coach is all up tight the players are more likely to be too tight. Attempt to keep every game of equal importance to avoid up and down play.
Recognize the Individual At Practice - When a player makes an outstanding block or tackle or some other great play in practice, give him immediate recognition through a big clap or some other method.
Signal Drill - Instead of running team sprints, run signal drill sprints. This makes conditioning a reinforcing experience. The team can work on proper alignments, spacing, stance, starts, cadence, sprints and ball handling.
Keep Drills Short - Most learning takes place early in the drill. Encourage players to do it right rather than just doing it. Select drills that have actual carryover value to the game situation.
Practice Schedule - Have an organized practice schedule, get it to the assistant coaches early in the day and follow it.
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don't think there is a magic bullet here. But of the 3 programs I've been in, we've had to turn around. The #1 thing we had to install was discipline. Even today, 3 years later at this gig, discipline is still the #1 thing we have to work on.
I agree with making yourself available. Odds are the kids are in need of some consistency. So be there, always be there. You're the HC, so anytime anything football related is going on you should be there and find a couple of assistants who are the same way. I think it commitment bleeds through from the coaches to the kids.
Also, something I've found helpful especially with weights...if they are absent call them, speak to them and find out why. If you can't reach them by phone stop by their house. If they need a ride, go get them...if you can remove all their excuses, then it boils down to "want to" and that makes your decisions much easier later.
1. Assess the situation.
2 Determine what needs should be met and when.
3. Make a plan to accomplish your goals.
4. Start immediately to build relationships with the players, starting with the oldest first.
5. Sell your vision- get them looking forward instead of backward. Sell your expectations.
6. Instill pride through discipline and hard work.
7. Recruit the hallways.
8. Don't compromise your principles, even if it means going 0-10.
9. Change attitudes and make a difference in your players' lives.
10. Work hard and have faith in yourself - It may take years.
Turning a program around is all about psychology and changing the attitudes people have. The raw demographics of schools in a given geographic area are usually more or less the same. It's how you handle them that determines who comes out, who works hard, and who becomes good.
As dcohio said, what's frequently at the heart of this is a lack of discipline, and that's from both the coaching staff and the players. Usually, programs with no tradition are very poorly organized, as you're discovering, and their execution sucks on the field because their fundamentals suck because their discipline sucks. Losing breeds a losing attitude from the players. They see football as mostly just a club and a hobby. They're used to settling for less--they think that's all they can ever have "just because"--so they simply don't care as much as you need them to.
That's the mindset you've got to change. You've got to get them optimistic, confident, and enthusiastic. Make it clear now that a new era is dawning. That will help spark the work ethic. When they see themselves getting bigger, stronger, and faster they'll be sold. But discipline has to be instilled--ideally from self-policing senior leadership--before you'll ever have a team instead of a group of self-interested athletes.
There are some things you can do that are fairly easy and can be done right now: meet with your rising seniors to encourage senior leadership and responsibility. Make sure you have a booster club set up to raise money to improve the facilities. Then paint the locker room, weightroom, etc, and make a team building exercise of it. A few cans of paint are cheap, while a spiffed up locker room and weightroom will really help send the message that the program is now in a state of renewal.
You've also got to establish the right relationship with your players early on. Be optimistic and show that you care about them as people outside of football--go to basketball and baseball games, recruit the halls, etc., but also make sure that you conduct yourself as an authority figure. Obviously your own personality comes into play here, but that's the basics of it.
Do you get spring ball there in FL? If you do, make sure to have spring practice. If admin will allow it, cap it off with an intra-squad exhibition game during school hours so the kids get to play in front of their classmates. Have the students pay $3 or so to get ouf class and watch the game in the afternoon. In addition to being a good fundraiser, this really does help to get people excited about football and talking about it during the summer.
It also gives you a golden opportunity to evaluate talent. A tip I got from an article by Bo Schembechler is to meet with each of your kids privately after spring ball and tell each one of them where they stand now and what you expect from them over the summer. That's when you really sell the summer strength and speed stuff.
1. Cut the cancers - players and coaches.
2. Set the bar as high as you are willing to go.
3. Lift, lift, lift - it is the only thing that really matters in your first two years.
4. Recruit a staff that will be loyal - you may even ask the admin. to open every position and have them all re-apply. It won't do any damage because they are already unsure about you, your philosophy, and don't trust you - believe me, and these other head coaches will tell you the same thing.
5. Work real hard getting to know the current 7th and 8th grade kids because that is really your first team - hold a youth camp in the summer and an intro. to lifting camp in the winter.
6. Don't be afraid to walk away from it if the administration won't let you hire your staff, lift year-round, and place demands on kids and coaches.
7. Recruiting the halls? I personally don't think it works and, in fact, in fifteen years of coaching, I have never had a kid stay with it who didn't do it on their own. They know were you are if they want to be a part of it.
8. Have total control over the fund raising so that all money goes directly into your account - not a parent group that you have to ask for it.
9. Look for retired successful former head coaches to join your staff - go seek them out and they will love the opportunity.
10. Remember, you don't win with great athletes, only the right kind of kids and coaches, so don't be afraid to make hard decisions regarding the people and stick to it.
Also, in our second year, we instituted varsity team dinners on Thursday after 'walk thru' practice. We have a local restaurant donate a nice pasta dinner and a local bakery donates a large sheet cake for dessert. We have the use of the school cafeteria, my wife organizes the dinners and she 'recruits' selected mothers of players to volunteer and help every year. This has been a great bonding scenario and it makes our varsity players feel special.
We are old school and we get after it pretty good in practice -- sell your players on the fact that nobody is working harder than they are. Our motto is "we want to be the most physical team on our schedule." If we can get to that level, we believe we can compete with the more talented teams we play. We believe team chants, etc. do no good once somebody busts you in the mouth, so we believe the best bonding occurs on the practice field, in the weight room, etc. where mutual sweat and blood brings us together.
By the way, our program has gone from the laughingstock of our area to the most wins in a 4 year period in school history (built in 1923), back-to-back conference championships and playoff berths. It can be done -- be passionate and be willing to work your tail off. There is a quote I have on my mirror that I took from a coaching article where a coach (can't remember who) asks himself, "Did I do everything I could today to make my football program better?" I try to live by this.
By: Bill Collar, Head Football Coach, Seymour High School WI
Post Plays - Use large pieces of tagboard to post plays on the wall in the locker room. This way the players can look over assignments before they go out to practice.
Word of the Day - Have players pick a word of the day at the end of practice. This will be one of the areas of major emphasis for the next day's practice.
Senior Captain - Give all seniors the opportunity to lead flexibility exercises for the week. Those players will also be captains for the game that week.
Never Practice Pre-Game Drills - Don't waste time with a complicated pre-game warm-up. Stretch out and loosen up but don't wear the team down with a great deal of running and chanting. Never worry about winning the pre-game.
Charts and Goals - Much has been said at past clinics about team goals and motivational charts. These, along with inspirational sayings, can be very motivational. Many players also like helmet decals that go along with the team goals.
P.M.A. - Always promote a positive mental attitude. There is no place for negative thinking or lack of confidence in football. Encourage an "I Believe" attitude. Remember, the other team consists of eleven players. Attempt to separate any tradition or past experience from an opponent who normally is really tough. Do not accept "I'll try" as an answer -- "Do It!"
Make Good Use of Video - Use the video session as a positive learning experience. Don't allow it to deteriorate into a "bitch" session. Have players pick out "big hits" and outstanding blocks. This is the time to give the offensive line the credit it deserves.
Assistant Coaches - Make good use of the assistant coaches. Take advantage of their strengths and be able to delegate responsibility. Avoid unnecessary meetings and long video sessions. Keep in mind their family life and lack of substantial pay. Be sure to give them credit and a pat on the back occasionally.
Work Vs. Time - Be sure to realize the difference between work (activity directed to some purpose or end) and putting in time but not accomplishing anything constructive. Grading video can sometimes fall in this category.
Team Togetherness - Consider getting the team together on Thursday evenings at a player's parent's house for a meal and possible film session. The coach can kick this off by hosting the first outing. Evaluate getting together at a church prior to the season and explain to the players how you feel about them, the team, training rules and the coming season.
Optional Video Night - Pick a night during the week (we used Sunday) when the game film will be shown and snacks will be served at the head coach's house. Players are welcome to stop by for individual video review and learning session.
Unique Event - Each season plan at least one unique event to help fire up the school and community. This may range from having motivational buttons printed to having fireworks during the football game.
Shirts and Hats, etc - Many of us help promote school caps, bumper stickers, shirts, trunks and other methods to put football on display. At times it gets to be a big hassle but it sure is good to see more football shirts around school. Give players the opportunity to purchase their game jersey.
"Bitch" Session - Periodically at practice schedule a "bitch" session where anyone can speak up and bring an issue before the group. The team will decide whether it is a legitimate complaint.
Support School Activities - The football coach should back all school activities. Make it a point to attend plays, band concerts, sporting events and as many extracurricular activities as possible.
Team Improvement - The key to improving the quality of the team is to take the below average and average players and move them up to average and above average. The exceptional players will always be good and don't have the improvement potential of the poorer players.
Identify Quarterbacks Early - Meet with junior high physical education teachers to identify top quarterback prospects early. Work to get the most skilled student leaders at this key position.
Locker Room Quality - Provide music, school colors, slogans, name plates, goal charts and pictures to brighten up the locker room area.
Exchange Ideas With Other Coaches - Meet with area coaches in mini-clinics to exchange ideas. Have X and O sessions to determine strengths and weaknesses of offense and defense.
The Perfect Play - Emphasize to the team that four perfect plays will win the game. When you have a perfect play run it over and over again on film and stress that everyone accomplished his assignment.
Rule Session - Make transparencies from the illustrated rule book and go over these with the players. Be sure they understand all the rules that apply to their position.
Agility Stations - Scheduling four five-minute agility stations early in the practice is an excellent way to work on movement and conditioning. Include one with little movement to provide a breather.
Cadence Drill - Use the quarterback to start drills as much as possible. Work on getting off the ball together daily. This can be done by clapping in unison on the correct count.
"NEVER" practice on Sunday, have a mouthgard penalty, wait for anyone, having many players standing around, leave the field with hard feelings, chew the team out after a tough game, or criticize other coaches.
Give Credit to the Opponent - We can help one another after a tough game by giving credit to the opposing team and the coach. Too often a quick comment after the game comes out sounding wrong in the paper the next day.
Bench Conduct - Be sure to go over proper bench behavior before the first game. Explain what a player should do when you call his name and how he should go about entering the game.
Night Off - Later in the season consider giving the team a night off practice. Use the time to go over video or lift weights. This break in routine will often help pep up future practices. This can be a good move after a really tough loss.
Stay Loose On Game Day - If the coach is all up tight the players are more likely to be too tight. Attempt to keep every game of equal importance to avoid up and down play.
Recognize the Individual At Practice - When a player makes an outstanding block or tackle or some other great play in practice, give him immediate recognition through a big clap or some other method.
Signal Drill - Instead of running team sprints, run signal drill sprints. This makes conditioning a reinforcing experience. The team can work on proper alignments, spacing, stance, starts, cadence, sprints and ball handling.
Keep Drills Short - Most learning takes place early in the drill. Encourage players to do it right rather than just doing it. Select drills that have actual carryover value to the game situation.
Practice Schedule - Have an organized practice schedule, get it to the assistant coaches early in the day and follow it.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Wing T Blocking
g From the early 1950's period when the Delaware wing-T came into pminece with the University oif Iowa winning the National Championship, these were the blocking rules. THey will apply to 90% of the defenses you run against.
Terminology:
Holeman- the man whose inside gap(the hole) through which the runner will run
First man inside- first lineman inside the hole man
First man outside- first man outside the holeman
Second man outside- second man outside the hole man
These labels will chanage as the running lane changes with the play calls.
Hole man rule: I lok to my pos(inside man) If there is a man on him I lead block on him.
If there is no man on him, I influence the man on me(feinting a reach block) and block out on the first man.
First man inside says: If there is a man on me I will post block that man. If there is no man on me , I will block down on the first man inside.
First man outside the hole man says: I always crack back on the first linebacker in or across the hole
Second man outside the holeman says: I always block on the first linebacker outside the hole.
You have an offside pulling lineman to trap the player that remains.
These will cover tackle to takle plays trap plays and the sweep.
When you run the sweeps, the near HB j blocks on the defensive perimeter man. The TE moves upfield and blocks inside out on the CB, the backside End tries to get to the Safety for a cutback, The onside guard will pull deep around the end outside in on linebaker flow, Backside guard will shallow pull to pick up blitzing LB in the ABC gaps then move upfield sealing to inside. And the tackle reaches the man on or near.
It sounds like a lot, but with oral repetition it can be mastered and you can confront any defense with a sense of organization that does not change
In a balanced line
The center will only be first inside
The guards will only be holemen,
the tackles can be holemen and first outside,
the ends can be holemen, first outside and second outside.
When you start with the optionss its open season. Are you going to leave amn unblocked, two men unblocked, triple option, speed option. That is really the HC's call. Just watch listen and learn. We have all been there.
Terminology:
Holeman- the man whose inside gap(the hole) through which the runner will run
First man inside- first lineman inside the hole man
First man outside- first man outside the holeman
Second man outside- second man outside the hole man
These labels will chanage as the running lane changes with the play calls.
Hole man rule: I lok to my pos(inside man) If there is a man on him I lead block on him.
If there is no man on him, I influence the man on me(feinting a reach block) and block out on the first man.
First man inside says: If there is a man on me I will post block that man. If there is no man on me , I will block down on the first man inside.
First man outside the hole man says: I always crack back on the first linebacker in or across the hole
Second man outside the holeman says: I always block on the first linebacker outside the hole.
You have an offside pulling lineman to trap the player that remains.
These will cover tackle to takle plays trap plays and the sweep.
When you run the sweeps, the near HB j blocks on the defensive perimeter man. The TE moves upfield and blocks inside out on the CB, the backside End tries to get to the Safety for a cutback, The onside guard will pull deep around the end outside in on linebaker flow, Backside guard will shallow pull to pick up blitzing LB in the ABC gaps then move upfield sealing to inside. And the tackle reaches the man on or near.
It sounds like a lot, but with oral repetition it can be mastered and you can confront any defense with a sense of organization that does not change
In a balanced line
The center will only be first inside
The guards will only be holemen,
the tackles can be holemen and first outside,
the ends can be holemen, first outside and second outside.
When you start with the optionss its open season. Are you going to leave amn unblocked, two men unblocked, triple option, speed option. That is really the HC's call. Just watch listen and learn. We have all been there.
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