Football Minor Programs

Recently, I read a post on line from a Middle School Coach who was peeved at the Head Coach of the High School football Team who wanted him to implement the same systems as he had at the High School Level. His rational was that the players of the middle school were going to eventually end up there anyway so it would benefit the players if they knew the High School system coming in and in the end make them more competitive. The Middle School coach was upset at the idea of this suggestion.

For the most part I can agree with both coaches but not with one or the other. I understand why the Middle School Coach wouldn't want any part of the High School Coaches systems. The point being that they are in Middle School so running the High School system would be probably too complex and unrealistic to do for that level. Keeping it simple, doing it well, while working on fundamentals would be the ideal situation. Players arriving at High School with good fundamentals would be just as important.

The other hand is that while not adopting or mirroring the systems of the High School program the Middle School could use some of the same terminology, some of the blocking schemes, and a few of the plays that aren't too complex for them to handle. That way they would have some foundation when trying to make the jump to High School. Ideally, both coaches would respect each others ideas and come to some common ground.

Guest coaching would be one alternative to introduce some basic schemes and drills or even having a combined practice. This has worked well for me in the past keeping in mind that the age groups stick together when doing the drills. It seems to break the ice between programs and removes the "unknown factor".

Cheers

Team Awards

Like all programs, at the end of the year or season there usually is a team banquet or awards night. Parents and players gather for an evening of speeches, awards, gifts, and presentations. Players are honoured individually in various categories and receive their awards with big grins as parents snap the moment up with their digital cameras and go home happily to celebrate their selection.

One problem though! Not everybody goes home as happy!

Chances are someone is disappointed in the award selections and the whole season just went down the tubes for them.

Its tough selecting individual awards. Especially after preaching the team concept to your players all season. Do it for the team, take it for the team, the team, the team. Team systems, team play, don't be individuals, play like a team!

You see what I mean?

I'm not a big fan. They are nice and everything, but an individual award seems to go against all the principles that you laid in place all season long. You ask them to play like a team and then reward individuals. It doesn't seem fair!

I'm bad for players sharing awards or awarding the team as the MVP Defence or Offence. I also like to get certificates for players for their team service, kinda honors them for their commitment. Still, not everyone goes home happy but hopefully the majority does which is really the only thing you can hope to accomplish

Cheers

Reading into your Loss

Sometimes you will play very well, work hard and execute your systems with limited mistakes, play tough, out-shoot your opponent and still suffer a loss.

Kinda sounds funny doesn't it. This will happen to you and your team  eventually at some point.

Certainly nobody likes to lose a match particularly when your team has for the most part played well ,but it is possible for your team to play well and still come up on the short side of the score.

That's just the way she goes!

The main thing is not to try to read into too much with the loss. Probably the worse thing you can do as a coach is to shake things up at this point. You don't want to send your players the wrong message! Especially if the effort was there and they competed hard within the team system.

Probably the best message to give your team is that losses can happen even if you play hard and play well. The only thing is that nobody said you have to like it and certainly use it as motivation in your next match-up.

Cheers!

Benching Your Players

  Sooner or later, you'll come to your wits end, after endless reinforcement, after endless practices, after endless conversations, after endless pleading, you'll be forced to bench one of your players. Depending on the age group, the "benching" is a message being sent by you, to the player, to basically "smarten up" and "do your job assignment".

With younger youth players, probably missing a shift would suffice and give them a moment to reflect on your message without disrupting too much. The older players probably need to sit a little longer. The most important thing is that they get the message and they understand the benching. Probably, they already know. But sometimes you need to communicate the reason. Don't make a scene when you do it, quietly inform the player of your decision.

Chances are they already knew it was coming.

The benching time is entirely up to you. Bottom line, be fair, but be firm. They have to get the message! The downside is that they could get emotional and make comments. Ignore them and discuss the comments after the game or before the next practice. For the most part consider the benching like a "time-out". Tell the player to reflect on his responsibilities and assignments. Let them think about it awhile. Then, pat them on the back and send them out to try it again.

That's about all you can do.

Cheers