Helmet Stickers for Intangibles

[joebev]

Hi, I am looking to start using helmet stickers to reward players this upcoming season. However I do not want to reward players for doing "their jobs" (touchdown runs, passes, interceptions, etc.). I want to reward intangibles - effort, hustle, down field blocking, etc.). I'm also going to incorporate off-season rewards for participation in weight room, other sports, plyos, community service, etc. I'm hoping I could get an idea on how other programs are rewarding their players for going the extra mile so everyone can earn stickers and not just the superstars.

Thanks

[groundchuck]

We also give stickers.
Players earn stickers if they play multiple sports. They also earn two stickers each time they make the A honor roll and one sticker for quarter they make the B honor roll. We also give them out for summer wt room, fundraiser participation, winning competitions in practice etc.

[fantom]

Mar 26, 2015 14:03:41 GMT -6 groundchuck said:

We also give stickers.
Players earn stickers if they play multiple sports. They also earn two stickers each time they make the A honor roll and one sticker for quarter they make the B honor roll. We also give them out for summer wt room, fundraiser participation, winning competitions in practice etc.

All of these make sense because they use tangible criteria. If you start giving tangible awards for intangibles like effort and hustle you may put yourself in the line of fire (and I'm talking to the OP here not you Chuck). How do you explain to Mom (and maybe eventually the AD, principal, and super) how Johnny got a sticker for hustle but her kid didn't? 

[mholst40]

We give them out daily for extra effort in practice and for our scout team player of the day.

Weekly we give them out for game day performance.
- Score on special teams (every member of that unit)
- Blocked Kick
- Special Teams Player of the Game
- Defensive Player of the Game
- Offensive Player of the Game
- Takeaways
- Pancake blocks
- Cut blocks (OL only)
- Wins (entire team)

I also hand them out for turning in game film evaluation forms the Monday after a game.

[groundchuck]

We expect constant hustle so why reward that? But I have awarded a sticker or two for "hustle beyond what's expected.". We had a 300 pound DT smoke a slot on a bubble four years ago. He ran a long way and that was a sticker play.

[coachklee]

Mar 26, 2015 17:49:25 GMT -6 groundchuck said:

We expect constant hustle so why reward that? But I have awarded a sticker or two for "hustle beyond what's expected.". We had a 300 pound DT smoke a slot on a bubble four years ago. He ran a long way and that was a sticker play.

After having done them, I don't think I'd do them again.

However it was for big plays like this one.

Or the RB who made the completely unblocked DT & MLB miss & still gain 10 yards.

Or the OL that drove his combo, slid off to backer who he pancaked & then found the CB running the pursuit angle to seal the TD run.

Or the press coverage DB that drove his TE back so far that he also took out the lead back & pulling G to leave both the ILB & OLB unblocked to clean up the play.

Or the All-Conference 260 lb DE almost getting a punt downed at the 1 thanks to great hustle.

IMO, make sure you are rewarding the outstanding efforts that are truly above & beyond.

I do also recommend the scout O/D players of the week. Really emphasizes how important those guys are to the success that happens on Friday night!

[coachg13]

Posted this in another thread:

Here's something that the school I'm at now does that I had never seen before - and the kids like it so much I'm taking it with me to my new HC job.

Instead of individual stickers, we take scalps.

After each win, when we're circled up on a knee, our coaches pass out the stickers and we put the opposing teams sticker on the back of our helmets together. Also give out region champs stickers, rivalry stickers, etc. All stickers are completely team oriented. It takes a little effort to get all the stickers for the different mascots at first, but when you order the sheets you have enough for a few years, and you can often repeat mascots. Our guys love it.

[coachplaa]

Each coach gives a practice player of the day. And we give them out on Wednesday for grades. One if all C's or better. Two for straight A's.
We don't do anything for games.

[groundchuck]

We also rewarded for practice/scout player of the week. During Fall camp we did practice player of the day.

[Rooster]

Special Teams

(player)

100 % on extra points
Punt inside 15
Good Snaps (Minimum of 2)
2 or more special teams tackles
Block kick/punt
Decleating block (must be in front of the play)
Tackle inside 30
Kick Return past 50
Punt Return +20 yards
Recover onside kick
Special Teams Touchdown (All 11 players on field)


Offense

(Player)
Pancake
Hustle Block
Block to spring big play
QB 65% completion
Big play (20 + yards)
Break 3+ tackles in a game and no fumbles
1+ Truck Stick
100 yard rusher and his offensive line (minimum 10 runs)
Get tackled carrying out a fake or draw 2 defenders
Allow 0 sacks (QB and Line, minimum 10 plays)
Rush for 250 (Line and Runners)
Score 35+ (Entire Team)

Defense

(Player)
Interception
Pass Deflected
Defensive Line Batted Ball
Forced Fumble
Fumble Recovery
5+ tackles
1+ tackles for loss
Hustle Play
Form Tackle (Hit wrap run feet)
Hold opponent to less than 100 yards rushing (Defensive team)
Hold opponent to less than 150 total offense (Defensive Team)
14 points or less (Entire Team)

OTHERS

All A's and B's
Practice player of the week
Get more lifting days than were required
GAME CHANGER



Rooster

[ylspecial]

In the past we doled out decals, after a win, based on meeting Team criteria: Offensive, Defensive, and Specs Goals.
Ie: Offense = 300+ yards/game. Defense = <100 yards rushing/game etc... All players who played a snap on any of those teams got the number of decals earned. Every player got one decal for the win.

This year, our lone "extra" decal will be earned throughout the off-season and summer. The only decal earned will be by those who participate in 92% of all off-season workouts.

[Deleted]

I equate groundchuck's concept to Xbox Live Gamer Points. You earn stickers for certain achievements.

I also had the idea of giving stickers out for perfect attendance, honor roll, high honor roll, participation in other sports and clubs, community service, no discipline referrals, tardies, anything that can be track and measured but is not football related.

[funkfriss]

Couple of thoughts:

As for the OP, I agree with fantom. Everything should be measurable. To me, that even excludes Practice POD. Things like attendance, lift increases, grades, competitions, etc.

I do agree, I'm not a big fan of stickers for individual numbers b/c I don't want players focused on that. Rewarding some "emphasized tactics" might be better (going for strips, blocking 2 players on a play, wrong arming a puller, breaking a tackle are just some ideas).

Lastly, I'll never forget hearing Bobby Bowden go off on generic game goals (> 100 yds rushing, force 3 TOs, etc.). His point was why have the same goals against both the best and worst teams on your schedule? Is holding Washington St. under 100 yds rushing the same as holding Auburn under 100 yds rushing? Make goals specific to your game plan. If your objective is to disrupt a team's passing game this week, make a goal of at least 8 touches on the QB. If your opponent has a good pass rush make a goal of 0 sacks. To me that keeps kids focused on the game plan and what will make the team successful this week.

[Coach Lindsay]

I currently award two types of stickers: "Hit Squad" and "84's Club".

Hit Squad is simple, players who have proven, time and again that they can make big hits, whilst not selling out tackles.

The 84's Club is all about effort. I showed my players a video (YouTube "Ben Watson tackle") and explained that everyone needs to treat every play like Watson Does on one Rep late in the AFC Championship game.

Players have responded really well to both, as I have more big hitters and way more effort than I did all last season.

Bristol Apache Defensive Coordinator
Facebook\Twitter\Instagram
Search: @bristolapache

[joebev]

Thank you all for your feedback; lot of great ideas. I do agree with all that warned about rewarding what cannot be measured, but we are looking at it from the same perspective posters coachklee and groundchuck mentioned; going above and beyond the expected. I also really like that Bobby Bowden story! Thanks for sharing.

[pvogel]

I like "second effort".

It covers a lot and is a somewhat evident thing. Second effort means exactly what it sounds. Breaking tackles and getting extra yards after contact. Blocking multiple people and doing it downfield. Stuff like that.

[coachd5085]

Just remember that precious little in football happens in a vacuum.

[coachpsl]

I would like to see a poll on how many teams actually reward helmet stickers.