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Post by natenator on Jan 7, 2015 10:59:21 GMT -6
How do y'all do it?
I coach rep ball in the summer of which is pay to "play" (bit of a misnomer since it is rep ball) which actually starts around February/March. As you can imagine there are a lot of things that can compete with kids (15/16 year olds) playing football.
Keeping the game fun for kids, I think, is paramount to keep them coming back I think as we're not a dominate winning team, (middle of the pack) so they aren't playing because they know they'll win championships.
I know we won't win or compete for championships but we as a coaching staff try to coach them as though they can/are which can sometimes appear to get in the way of having "fun".
We only get 2 practices/week so we have a lot to cover in those two practices thus is all business. We encourage them to watch video (sometimes assign homework to force them to do it). I do classroom sessions with my defense early on pre-season so that we spend less time teaching on the field and more time doing. This can, I'm sure, create a sense of the game not being "fun" anymore.
If I joke around with them and try to keep things somewhat loose it can mean becoming sloppy in what it takes to be "good" on the field. If I take a hardline on excellent and commitment then kids may not have much fun.
How do you all balance that out? I really struggle with this.
Thanks!
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Post by justaballcoach on Jan 9, 2015 14:24:49 GMT -6
Ultimately winning is the most fun thing they can do and will cure all ill. But I think being personable with them and forming a relationship where they know there are times to go and times you can be more lighthearted is important.
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Post by groundchuck on Jan 15, 2015 5:23:35 GMT -6
We as a staff are guys who really enjoy being "there" and having fun ourselves. So we bring a passion to practice. When you bring passion and enthusiasm hopefully that rubs off on the kids and the practice. We try and keep things up tempo. I know that is a phrase that gets thrown about a lot these days but it is true. We run everything, we shout positives (and negatives), and the kids can tell we genuinely want to be there and care about them. Celebrate successes. That doesn't mean throw a party when a kid makes block but be excited. It is not just about winning. We try and add elements of competition whenever possible........add music. Don't get me wrong, we jump their {censored} when needed and sometimes football (and life) are not fun.
You can definitely take a hard line on excellence while having a good time at practice.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2015 5:35:52 GMT -6
How do y'all do it? I coach rep ball in the summer of which is pay to "play" (bit of a misnomer since it is rep ball) which actually starts around February/March. As you can imagine there are a lot of things that can compete with kids (15/16 year olds) playing football. Keeping the game fun for kids, I think, is paramount to keep them coming back I think as we're not a dominate winning team, (middle of the pack) so they aren't playing because they know they'll win championships. I know we won't win or compete for championships but we as a coaching staff try to coach them as though they can/are which can sometimes appear to get in the way of having "fun". We only get 2 practices/week so we have a lot to cover in those two practices thus is all business. We encourage them to watch video (sometimes assign homework to force them to do it). I do classroom sessions with my defense early on pre-season so that we spend less time teaching on the field and more time doing. This can, I'm sure, create a sense of the game not being "fun" anymore. If I joke around with them and try to keep things somewhat loose it can mean becoming sloppy in what it takes to be "good" on the field. If I take a hardline on excellent and commitment then kids may not have much fun. How do you all balance that out? I really struggle with this. Thanks! for me personally, Going to practices is fun. I don't care how many games you play in practice, or how many jokes you tell, if the kids are not getting better as players, they are not having fun. Watching kids not only get better, but watching kids watch other kids get better is fun. And you can have discipline and fun at the same time. This is football, not the military, not boot camp.
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Post by coachfloyd on Jan 15, 2015 6:54:46 GMT -6
If there is something funny at practice I laugh. If there is something to get mad about I get mad. I just be me all the time. i like to have fun but I also am OCD about things being done the right way. They can definitely go together.
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Post by natenator on Jan 15, 2015 7:19:38 GMT -6
thanks for some replies fellas.
Think we're going to start having music at our practices as one way to keep things fun and light for the kids. I remember back to my football and hockey days and some the moments I really remember are being in the locker room, music blaring, and just being a dude.
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Post by blb on Jan 15, 2015 7:33:41 GMT -6
Be positive but demanding.
It is possible to chew azz with a smile on your face.
Kids are suckers for the soft sell - praise, compliments - and will strive mightily to receive them.
On the other hand, they are also human beings, who are intrinsically lazy. As far as that goes, you will get what you tolerate.
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Post by Coach.A on Jan 15, 2015 12:03:10 GMT -6
As you know, I'm familiar with the league you coach in...have you ever considered not starting practice until closer to the season? The first games are at the end of May. Starting in February is just way too soon in my opinion and it will burn the kids out. Some of the players just finished their high school season in mid November.
We don't start until April. We are the smallest population base in the entire league and we've been very successful in the league. I think if you hold off a bit and give kids time to recharge, you might find them more excited and enthusiastic when club football rolls around.
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Post by natenator on Jan 15, 2015 14:26:37 GMT -6
That's a fair point Coach.A and will be considered for next year. The only challenge I face is at the JV level I'm dealing with a certain portion of players who are usually new to the game (either first time ever or fresh out of their first HS season who might not have played that much. What I'd like to see our club do is have weekly fundamental skill development 'camps' that is shirts, shorts, and shoes and runs from mid-jan to mid-march with a two week break and then pre-season starts in April. That way try get a decer break from the actual grind of a high school season but remain active and we can continue to work on their skill development. We're not starting anything until early march this year so will see how that pans out. Some programs start next week!
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Post by tothehouse on Jan 15, 2015 15:15:50 GMT -6
Not necessarily physically pushing your players...but having some kind of skit or act each week. Players can make fun of each other, coaches, etc. I've seen this kind of stuff really help a team. One year we had a kid who was so pissed at one of his teammates he pissed all over his football equipment after practice. Really caused a major shift in the system.
So...of course...homecoming was coming. And during the skit for the week a couple different players acted out where the "player" who pissed...was asked to the prom by the other "player". It basically diffused the situation because everyone was laughing so hard. Guys were at each other's throats and then these two dudes were laughing together how funny it was.
Being relaxed, etc. can make your on field performance increase as well.
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Post by redandwhite on Jan 22, 2015 13:54:22 GMT -6
We started playing music during practice on Wednesdays this past season and kids loved it. Coaches took turns putting together playlists and had to use a mixture of stuff they liked and stuff the kids listen to. Players loved it. We also took the time to do some type of silly contest on Wednesdays - Dance Contest, TD Celebration, 2 Truths and a lie, etc. Highlight was first playoff week each position group had a player impersonate their coach. Hilarious.
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Post by natenator on Jan 22, 2015 14:12:06 GMT -6
I like the coach impersonation idea. Think I will steal that Trying to get a dunk tank for a club/team bbq that we do with tickets to dunk the coach. Kids would pay a mint to get my a$$ in there haha
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Post by rabbitdundied on Jan 30, 2015 19:32:23 GMT -6
Football is fun because of the team. Make them compete in any and everything. Make them complete tasks as a team. Make them work as a group. Praise the group and correct the player. Make it about us not me. The U.S. military knows what it is doing when it comes to building teams. They have no good reason to make soldiers march in close quarters unison other than it forces them to depend on each other and become part of a team to succeed. Take their space away from them and force them to stretch and work in close quarters with each other. They have to play in close quarters so they need to be comfortable. Make them work on command and force them to pay attention to detail. Help them to succeed as a team and slowly make the challenges more difficult. You don't have to make it hard to teach them this discipline. You can make it as hard as you want but mental toughness can be taught anytime and teamwork time is more about the team than it is about the individual being mentally tough.
I am not saying this is the right way or the only way but this works.
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Post by vincelombardi on Jan 30, 2015 20:37:24 GMT -6
As you know, I'm familiar with the league you coach in...have you ever considered not starting practice until closer to the season? The first games are at the end of May. Starting in February is just way too soon in my opinion and it will burn the kids out. Some of the players just finished their high school season in mid November. We don't start until April. We are the smallest population base in the entire league and we've been very successful in the league. I think if you hold off a bit and give kids time to recharge, you might find them more excited and enthusiastic when club football rolls around. Would have to agree with steelhawk here and try and start a little later. Not only will it help the kids it can help the staff from getting burnt out as well. Some of our coaches coach Club and then coach high school. It can become a blur at times.
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Post by Chris Clement on Jan 31, 2015 15:01:10 GMT -6
A March break camp sems better than a weekly practice.
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Post by vincelombardi on Jan 31, 2015 15:05:59 GMT -6
tough to get kids to commit to march break camp. Ive coached JV and SR both have had lots of kids constantly on march break trips.
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