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Post by mahonz on May 20, 2010 15:05:07 GMT -6
Now I understand why this place is a ghost town on the weekends.
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on May 20, 2010 14:44:23 GMT -6
It's why Mike Mahonzs program did a complete turnaround- he didnt hire great x and o coaches, his son hired great managers who knew how to manage and motivate. ...and Jr just about went insane during the process. He had no football fun at all last year. He changed the culture of a very large org and made plenty of enemies along the way. I think things will continue to improve and hopefully stick in the future. Low numbers…or even high numbers is poor management by the Administration. Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on May 18, 2010 14:25:09 GMT -6
Joe
I cant take any credit for being a Saint in the matter.
I was the OC and loved to pass the football. My son just happened to be really good at it but I started catching grief from the peanut gallery behind my back. If you are a coach…HC / OC or DC people will think you have a hidden agenda if your son plays a high profile position regardless.
Plus he couldn’t stop calling me Pops on the field so it was time for me to cut that umbilical cord and let him prove himself on his own. He did but I was upset that people can be so obtuse. Coach Hawkins at CU has failed miserably as the Header…because his son was the QB.
Whats funny now is...all of my grandkids except one is playing t-ball. I know nothing about baseball except Id rather have a root canal than watch a baseball game...but we do it for the kids. Anyway, as far as Im concerned, all of their coaches are idiots so Im now one of "those" people in the peanut gallery complaining about nothing !
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on May 18, 2010 12:22:48 GMT -6
Joe
It is tough. My son started playing when he was 7 as the center. He then started playing QB when he was 10. By the time he was 12 I stopped coaching on his team because he was the QB. He went on to play D1 college football as a QB. He only was able to red shirt before he suffered an injury outside of football that ended his dream.
The thing about dads coaching their sons is you never really know what’s up until they get to HS. Then you know. So many think that Jr. is so much better than they are…which is fine. You want your kids to have success and it is impossible for any parent not be their kids biggest fan.
My son and I now coach together. That is a lot of fun. We hire dads to be assistants but rarely place them in a position to coach their own son. That still does not fix the problem because they still have a tendency to get into your ear. It takes a full season for them to realize that whatever contribution their son is making…be really happy about that and enjoy the moments because time will fly by.
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on May 16, 2010 15:00:29 GMT -6
Seems Airr just needs to vent a little.
How many of you have to mow 20 acres as part of your job description?
That’s going above and beyond if you ask me….plus how could you not take a peek at how your boys are doing without you if you were indeed a family before.
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on May 12, 2010 10:21:16 GMT -6
Mike I know your boy used a lot of this kind of stuff to turn your program around Dave When he was hired as the Director he only had one demand for the Executinve Board...run his football program like a business. We are a multiple sport association. He immediately fired 7 or 8 head coaches. We had 32 teams at the time. He also forced 4 more to collaspe into 2 teams and co-exist. He hired coaches with a business background so everything you talk about in your origional post was already natural to them. The x's and o's were secondary and if any quality canidate was lacking in his football knowledge he got great support. Plue he hired early ( April and May ) rather than the old way of handing some willing dad that can pass a BG check a clipboard the week before pre season. He fielded 33 teams in 3 divisions in 7 age groups. 75% made the playoffs and 8 made it to their respective championship games with 5 winning and 3 losing. Of the 5 that won, 2 were new HC's. Also the complaints from our members were cut by more than half during the season. It pays to hire a professional person that can organize. The coaching skills will come more naturally to a person like that. Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on May 11, 2010 14:19:30 GMT -6
Dave
Spot on !
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on May 3, 2010 17:31:45 GMT -6
SB III has to rate pretty high on the upset list.
Certainly the biggest in all of sports has too be in hockey when the USA defeated the USSR in '80.
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Apr 25, 2010 23:33:26 GMT -6
As Broncos season ticket holder # 9890, I will try not to come across as a fan on this whole Tebow thing as that is not the spirit of this forum... and for good reason.
[glow=red,2,300]WOOOO FLIPPIN’ HOOOOO !!!!![/glow]
My 2 cents.
Coach Mike ;D
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Post by mahonz on Apr 19, 2010 19:20:20 GMT -6
I need some help from some of you really smart guys sorting some things out that are directly affecting our youth organization.
Our league is celebrating 65 years. There are 15 cities (areas) that all participate in this league. Its unlimited weight and captured middle school football in the early 90’s when the school districts killed these programs due to a budget crisis. We are quietly gearing up to take on freshman football due to our school district now being $40M in the red. It’s going to happen, just don’t know when.
The culture in Colorado as far as football goes is pretty lame compared to some of the serious states. It is not a religion here and has created a huge issue for our youth league.
As long as I can remember, I started coaching youth sports in 1983, there has never been a youth Spring tackle football league in Denver other than a few attempts at NFL 8 man leagues that were all one and done.
Two years ago an 11-man spring league started up and now they are doing pretty well. In the league I coach in if you as the coach participate as a team in the off-season then coach gets suspended for 365 days. The spirit of his rule is silly and not worth explaining but is written and many have been suspended for simple things like having a film study at a birthday party in May, for example.
All areas maintain strict boundaries and kids play where they live. Some even articulate to the proper High School.
Now there are two new youth leagues that are starting up this fall and will also offer a spring league. The league I coach in is now being pressed hard to re-write its Off Season Participation Rule. Both of these leagues invited our Executive Board and Board Members to meetings this off season to discuss whatever. Before any of the deep thinkers on our Board…like me…could even talk about it, our newly elected President basically told them to get bent and stop contacting us.
Currently the kids in our league can do whatever they want but the coaches cannot as mentioned. The coaches are getting tired of this “ We own you” mentality. These new leagues are well funded and offer everything we do not… like no boundaries….meaning they are one entity with one bank account and one philosophy and we are 15 separate entities faking as one that get along about as well as Congress. This league has never had any real competition and is acting like an 800-pound Gorilla that is untouchable, which they have been forever.
I am in the…. I am worried camp and we all had better lighten up as a league right now or some of our best coaches are going to leave…then the kids…then we fold. If one of these leagues gets rolling this league I coach in will have to start up its own spring league to compete.
Those that are completely against even giving these leagues any credit keep citing CHASSA that does not allow any off-season contact. They cite the fact that the NCAA has 20-hour practice weeks during the season and that the NFL does not have contact during its off-season at all. People listen to these arguments because they feel year round football is not acceptable even though it’s beginning to happen right in front of their completely closed eyes.
Philosophically I do not agree with youth tackle football in the spring because I think kids should experience a little bit of everything if they can before they eventually get pegged to do one or two sports well in High School. But that’s just me and I won’t press my personal thoughts on the masses.
As administrators at the youth level it is not our jobs to be the parent. It is our job to serve the needs of the community and give that community the best possible product at a fair price.
So my question is, how do High School program operate in the off season in states like Ohio, Texas, Florida and the like where football is a religion. How does High School football operate in any other state? Are any of you allowed full contact in the off season?
How does the NCAA deal with its off-season participations? No need for any NFL feedback as the claims some are making are simply obtuse observations from the under educated.
I coached youth spring ball in Arizona about 10 years ago. The culture in Arizona was very different than Colorado. I always attributed that to the weather. Now I believe I was way off and completely wrong because the culture in Colorado is changing and many are really fighting it.
Thanks for reading this. If you need more specifics…I can continue.
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Mar 29, 2010 15:20:07 GMT -6
Hey fellas, Once again I have found solace on this site, and I want to thank you guys for taking the time to read and respond. I felt I was right in my decision making all along, but I needed to be sure from some coaches who don't know me. Everyone in my "circle" says I'm doing the right thing...but still...you know how it is. I am attempting to meet with the president today after work...he lives right around the corner from me. I feel as though I did a lot of my talking to him yesterday out of betrayal and anger...and now that I've had a day to digest this whole situation he and I need to talk more about it so he knows exactly where I'm coming from. Thanks again for the honest support. You guys are great. The 24 hour rule is a two way street. Good luck. Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Mar 29, 2010 12:46:08 GMT -6
Coach
A President that hires you as the Header and then wont back you is the real issue.
Your associate that went crying to the President needs to be fired by you immediately and if he takes a few players with him then so be it. They are a part of the problem.
You need to provide your parents a contract at the beginning of the pre season that states all of your team rules…one being no communicating with the coaches until 24 hours after a game. A line of people ready to complain after a game during a 17-win season is absurd. People complaining about positions should be a violation of their contract. Violate the contract and there must be consequences so clearly list those consequences.
If the player agents dont like your contract then they can leave right then and there.
Politics only exist in youth sports if you allow it. So don’t allow it with a specific set of rules that all participants understand before you even get going.
A well thought out contract will also keep the player agents from complaining to the President. At the same time follow your own contract and make dang sure you are always fair to the kids.
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Mar 7, 2010 9:46:27 GMT -6
I lived in Phoenix for 10 years...that dry heat statement cracks me up, I tell people to turn their oven on to 115 and stick their head in and see how long they last.
Still there are many things I miss about the desert. I worked in Tucson for a year and lived right along the desert...rats the size of cats is about the only problem we had….or maybe they were Giant Killer Shrews?
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Feb 3, 2010 11:28:27 GMT -6
I have been coaching youth ball…2nd – 8th grade since 1983 with a 4 year stunt in there at the HS level which I did not enjoy. I also coached semi pro ball in a very well organized league for 7 years and did enjoy that very much.
If you are a student of the game then you get the respect you deserve. Learning requires asking dumb questions. When this site first started there were plenty of dumb questions and many of those came from me. Not one coach flamed on me. Matter of fact the flow of info via e-mail was staggering.
That doesn’t happen anymore.
Now if you spend a little time you will find a discussion on the topic in question at least. So maybe asking dumb questions is a sign of laziness anymore.
This site has become an encyclopedia as well as a forum for discussion. It seems though…the same questions are asked numerous times which would irritate me but I am not a major poster so I have no place to say so.
I appreciate the youth section here. There are other forums geared toward the youth coach that are far more active but I enjoy the HS coaches view on many topics. That has huge value.
Football is football so it is interesting to read about all of the different philosophies. My philosophy is to teach the kids the greatest game on Earth so that half of them will continue on and play HS ball. Winning helps that along. Those who don’t play to win are completely missing the point of sports.
How do you win at the youth level…teach sound fundamentals within a tight regiment. Do that and you can indeed play all of the kids without being concerned.
Finally, coaching requires some semblance of an ego. Coaching can be very empowering. You dictate a lot of things to the masses. I think you would fail if that didn’t drive you just a little bit. Its just too bad so many abuse that power.
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Dec 12, 2009 12:57:44 GMT -6
Huge in Colo too considereing 2 of the 5 divisions are recently dominated by the Private schools. ( football)
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Dec 6, 2009 21:57:06 GMT -6
Dave
That was probably the best defensive effort I have ever seen at this level ....especially considering that the Texas O played a good portion of the game in Nebraska territory and the Nebraska O played a good portion of the game in Nebraska territory.
Should help recruiting a ton.
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Nov 16, 2009 13:35:49 GMT -6
I have to agree with jhanawa here - teaching those things is no more difficult than teaching a trap scheme, or the QB footwork & ball handling in DW, or timing up a Jet/Fly sweep scheme, or the spinner series in SW, etc, etc - IF the coaches know what they're doing (just like anything else). I disagree. Some of those things are harder to teach than others to a degree that's equally effective. The trouble with pass protection is that the weakest link determines the strength of the chain. With run blocking, you can get away with some pretty poor execution away from the POA much of the time, and if you have a bad particular matchup in a particular game it's not going to kill your whole running game. Pass blocking, anyone's breakdown can be deadly. With run blocking, there's only a few things your target might do, and most of them will take him out of the play anyway. Pass blocking, your opponent might have any of several moves -- not that he's likely to have been coached in several, only that you'll meet different opponents and some of them will have different moves that they might not even have been coached in -- and many of them won't take him out of the play but lead him right to your passer. Your line sets, and then you see your better blocker is wasted against their bear crawler, and you can't move them around. Coaching up players in a spin series, etc. is simplified by the fact that you've selected just a few players to do it. Bob Speaking strictly about the youth level….I believe pass blocking is the easier teach because you don’t have to drive anyone…just influence them…and its not going to kill you when they stand up to execute their block like so many like to do. Like one poster insinuated…pass blocking is like getting slowly run over. Now if your QB is squeezing the football…that will be his death. Most problems with pass blocking that I have experienced are the QBs fault. When faced with really good pass rushers…slide or max protect. Then you can typically get a good double team on the problem defender. Also I can honestly say…when in super spread mode I have never seen a bear crawler. The real match ups are typically the OTs vs the DEs and keeping the walk up or delayed defender out. I had a very average OL this season. Our 5 wide stuff was really good because the OL could manage that scheme. They could get a hand on their defender regardless for 2 seconds. Yet our run blocking…yuck. Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Nov 16, 2009 11:16:12 GMT -6
I played HS ball in the early 70’s. Back then the schools could declare what division they would play in but had to play in the same division for all sports. We were a private school and a BB powerhouse so we played in the highest division in order to recruit the blue chippers.
This did nothing for football. Our varsity squad had 30 players and some of our opponents had dual jersey numbers on their sideline. We ran the Tiger Ellison offense and did very well. We couldn’t play defense at all but would score 40 per game. I played H back before the H back position was really invented…or at least given a name.
The idea of playing football in space always stuck with me so when given the opportunity with a youth team I went all in. Took me about 3 seasons to figure it out since the internet was not yet invented ( or affordable) and the spread was not yet the offense of choice on the clinic circuits. So info was pretty non-existent except what I learned in HS.
The first thing I learned was that youth defenses cant play good coverage’s because they are geared for and practice to stop the run. I could run the same pass plays 3 or 4 times in a row with success…just like a running play.
Then I discovered that kids cant read defenses so I would call the primary from the sidelines and gave the QB 3 seconds to release the football period. I created a mental clock in his head and told him which receiver to throw to. No progressions…just throw.
It became apparent…after getting a few QB’s killed… that I need a couple athletes on the line and that the DE’s and the MLB were the three most destructive positions. So I widened the splits to push the DE’s away and have both G’s pinch into the C as they hinge protect. This closed off the A gaps for the middle blitz. At this level twists are nearly non-existent so the linemen can learn to track their man without confusion.
So the most athletic linemen are the tackles, least the guards and the center is one mean cuss because the defense will attempt to abuse him.
I teach the tightest inside slot to be the hot route for any overload. I go over all of the scenarios that would tag him hot and practice the heck out of them. When a youth DC sees a 5 wide empty the knee jerk reaction is to jailbreak the QB. If you can make them pay for that just once…its stops….because they usually leave the tight slot uncovered.
For my system I teach the QB to bail after 3 seconds but never outside. He always takes a B gap path because its open 9 out of 10 times. I also like to keep things balanced…3x2, 2x2, 2x1…rather than going to the heavy overloads. This allows for better combo route design which I prefer. I also avoid hitches or curls that require the receiver to stop. Teach the QB to anticipate his target without focusing in on timing and you get better results with the little guys. Stress yards after the catch and teach the QB to stand tall and deliver…trust the men around him and anticipate….and by all means get used to and wear rib pads.
Move the chains. Too many coaches get greedy and end up going 3 and out. If you can complete 4 and 5 yard plays the defense will do one of two things…play soft or start blitzing. You don’t have run go routes all the time.
This is the most important aspect of a pass heavy team as the coach. Stay with it. Game one a kid may drop 5 passes because its scary for him. By game 3 he will be catching everything. Any good youth passing team will train up 2 receivers and use the others as minimum players to get the primaries open. BUT…you will soon realize that after many weeks of practice…those minimums can run good routes and catch footballs too. Don’t forget to design you monuments per your age group. An 11 year old QB cannot complete a 15 yard bench route unless he is some kinda phenom.
So the formula is…lesser linemen at G…every pass is gone in 3 seconds…no rolling out…avoid stop routes but still move the chains….a few minimum players can play one receiver spot and one mean kid at C. Notice how the QB is not factored in….because that position is relatively easy to fill. You just have to pick the right one…the one with ice water running through his veins. Doesn’t have to be fast nor does he have to have a cannon for an arm. Accurate and cool.
The younger they are the more you run…the older they get to more you can pass….but still spread out the defense by formation. Eventually you will force your opponent to pull a stud DT so they can play and extra backer or pull a starting backer that is a tackling machine but cant cover a house for a backup CB that hasn’t been tasked to cover anyone all season.
Think about this…a MLB against a power running team has to defend about 15 square yards of turf…against a team that is running spread formations that area just about triples. Also think about how much you are making the defense run…from the NG to the FS…are they used to playing grass basketball? If you go all in as a spread team consider the tempo because you are at an advantage here.
Finally, completing a pass is no different that running the football…still have to execute all facets to gain yards. I find running the football a bit easier out of a spread formation…but that may be because Im not smart enough to teach a DW blocking scheme really well.
My 2 cents....
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Sept 17, 2009 21:47:45 GMT -6
As a long time youth OC its amazing how well a defender will do because he wont do his job. Ever run a trap against a DT that just stands up? Well he ends up making the tackle while your trap man runs his perfect block on air while wondering where his man is that coach assured him would be right here. So...no more traps on this day after you just spent the entire week perfecting them.
Kids will ruin the best laid plans and its why we love what we do. Sometimes you just have to step back and chuckle.
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Aug 24, 2009 12:59:17 GMT -6
Im with a new team this year in a division I know nothing about....so...0-8 to 11-0.
Should be an interesting year.
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Aug 19, 2009 8:45:45 GMT -6
We were all young and dumb once... I hate this rationalization of cases like this. Yeah, I was young. But I didn't smoke weed or drink. Why don't you just buy him some stuff yourself if this is your attitude? Coach You never did stoopid stuff in HS? I wasn’t a druggie either but I used to go drag racing all the time. Amazed I didn’t kill somebody. Like another poster pointed out….he didn’t have to inform his coach but did. Too me that is a stand up kid. Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Aug 18, 2009 11:36:39 GMT -6
We were all young and dumb once...
Let it go... BUT let him know he just had a warning shot fired right over his head. Next time it may ruin his career. His choice.
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Aug 4, 2009 20:27:29 GMT -6
Coaches, Im a special teams coach on a semi-pro football team. I often am aproached in regards to coaching youth football. I am a young coach and after coaching at my current level am not sure how I would deal with parents, playing time complaints, ect. What is the reality of coaching youth football and having patients with kids and parents coaches, ect? Coach V I coach both levels...real simple at the youth level because at the semi pro level the parents are the players...so...as you know...you can never get away from the whining ! At the youth level you can tell the parents to go complain to a tree if you want....although not advised but you get the picture. Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Jul 22, 2009 1:02:12 GMT -6
We perfer smaller teams. 15 to 18 per. This year we will have 4 3rd and 4th grade teams and 3 at 5th and 6th grade. That being said, we do play in a league with multiple divisions. Coach Does not matter what you prefer...Coach G is about to get hit by a freight train loaded with $hit if he does not come up with a plan right now. Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Jul 22, 2009 0:57:54 GMT -6
Besides keeping players and parents happy, you also have to consider the coaches. If you don't have enough coaches, you can't platoon no matter how good that would look. However, you can still have 2 "clone" teams (not squads) if you practice together. If you do have enough coaches, see if someone wants to be head coach of a separate team or if they would rather coach platoons. Bob Never really had that problem finding coaches. More players... more dads that need a job. Just have to train them up a bit before and during pre season. Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Jul 22, 2009 0:54:56 GMT -6
MIke. Seems like a lot to do, when the simple option is to split the team in two and let them all play on both sides of the ball. Here, the guys that covet huge team numbers do so in the hope that the more kids they get, the chance increases that a Barry Sanders type player will be buried in their somewhere. A local team ( with no mmp rules) suited up from 40-60 kids each season on one team the last 8-10 years. With lots of kids never seeing the field in real games. They still consistently lost, to teams of 18 no cut kids LOL. Of course they refuse to play us or even scrimmage my raggedy lot of 22-25 kids, ( 19 in 2007) It happens. Dave Once I was forced into this system kicking and screaming...I quickly realized I loved it. How do you think I am able to do some of the stuff I do that has never really lent itself to youth ball. This year I will be part of a team that will have around 20. It will be different for me. Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Jul 21, 2009 16:26:43 GMT -6
or league has decided to go with 1 team of 37 5th graders instead of splitting them into 2 teams of 18 and 17. we play our games against other neighboring towns. just wondering if you think it can work with 1 team. kids pay $225 get into the league. i envision problems with playing time. Here is my answer to the exact same question on another forum....Alex
Let me attempt to expand your mind a little as I was forced to do so many seasons ago while in your same situation for the first time….now I would take 40 if they would let me….they don’t.
Specialization….or 2 platoon your team. The more kids you have the closer you will get to a 100% platoon system and it does not matter if you have a 25 play minimum rule.
You have 31 kids. That is an excellent number. Split them almost in half with 15 playing defense and 17 playing offense. In the back of your mind you can still play maybe 2-4 as two-way players…probably as linemen….but only if you fall short on talent.
You need six coaches to get the system going and pull this off.
At least 60% of your talent…but maybe as high as 70%…. goes directly to the defense. You want 11 on the field at all times that are stud muffins while your offense finds their groove. The offense can hide minimums as they get their rhythm going. The defense cannot.
Offense is all about specializing anyway and getting really good at their jobs so its always a more difficult teach. Defense is all about reacting and attacking so it’s a much easier teach. So now you have 17 players on offense to fill 11 spots but you will be teaching all 17 nothing but offense for the entire season. It is amazing to watch what happens to a kid you tagged as a probable backup. Over the coarse of 6 weeks if he is learning the techniques of one position everyday and then working on those skills as a starter in the games he will get quickly get pretty darn good at his job.
The 30 -40 % of the talent that goes to the offense will play select positions per your offensive system. For me that is always Center, one OT, a QB and a TB. All other positions can be taught with just a little natural ability but that is up to you.
As your defense is off the charts good all season long because all they do is learn defense all season long…. your offense will catch up in time for your playoff run. Now you have at least 25 above average football players platooning while your opponent is stuck in youth mode playing his best 11 and struggling to play the kids he didn’t want on his team in the first place because he is lazy.
We have won many games over the years in the 4th quarter and have been accused by many for not playing our minimums. We don’t have any minimums so its always sour grapes because they lose while playing their minimums in bunches because they have to.
If for some reason you are dealt a large group of kids with two left feet then you can start working your platoon system in reverse and have a handful of two-way players to fill any immediate needs. In all of my experiences with this…mathematically….you should be OK except for linemen. They are rare so a few may have to go both ways in the really tight games. That is if you play talent on the line and are not stuck in youth mode whereas all duds pretty much get stuck on the line.
Your parents will be happy because you now have no minimums…just rotators. The D backs up itself…the O backs up itself by using rotators and teaching your talent multiple positions. Let me rephrase that…your parents that realize that their son is average will be happy…that one dad that thinks his 9 year old is the next Devon Hester may complain to no end. Id rather have him complain than the 6-9 that you will have complaining when you cant get their sons 8 measly plays during a close game because you don’t trust them.
Finally, and this is the most important point... your O and D group can be run daily...meaning every day is offensive day and everyday is defensive day. Your EDD's are now way more intense because you are pitting starters against starters always. Linebackers are working their tackling drills against running backs learning how to avoid or break tackles. Blocking drills are live instead of on bags or sleds with the d-line working on defeating blocks all at the same time. Receiver drills are against starting DB’s working on their trade. You can see how fast things come together when you finish up each practice session with 20 minutes of team...starters on starters…all coaches off the field….rapid fire plays while filming. Fix whatever’s broke during O and D the next day. Those 20 minutes alone are worth 1 full game to the players, experience wise.
Kids are kids and they will do whatever you take the time to teach them….within reason.
Something to chew on…I always cringe a bit when a coach wants 16 players because he is worried about a MPR.
Coach Mike And my follow up response when asked what I do with the nose pickers...Alex
We all have those kids that only love their football uniforms and not much else.
So what to do with them? I always create an offense that is designed to play 10 man football. Many coaches do this and then ignore them.
We use them as serious weapons and they know their roles.
These kids will play a split end position and learn how to run a perfect fade route and a perfect slant route. Then they will learn how to never drop a pass. Then they will learn how to stalk block or at least know when to get in someone's way. Then they will practice those things for the next 90 days.
What happens in the games is really cool.
The defenders realize that they are defending a creampuff before long. Then they cheat...they cant help it unless they are a creampuff also.
The next play after they cheat is a huge play or a TD scored by our creampuff. Their parents are dancing on the sidelines because on most any other team what just happened would never happen and they know it.
Also...and this is key...when the creampuff makes a big play his teammates are estatic for him for a couple of reasons...they didnt have to leave the fileld and give up any of their playing time for this to happen and they are happy that a kid that probably has no business playing football just had a great experience.
I ususally take 3 players and play them all at this position. I task them to create their own rotation so they take full ownership. They become important.
Look at it this way....
Your Grandma signs up to play for your team.
What the heck are you going to do with her? Anyone with two hands and two feet can catch a pass and / or shield a defender for a second or two without making any contact what so ever.
You... and many others say that instead....you are going to play a particular defense so Grandma can learn how to bearcrawl right into pure mayhem.
Not going to happen.
Coach Mike And my answer to a PM from a coach on how to pull it off as far as practice orginization....Hello Mike,
I read with interest your post on having a team of say 30 and playing all your kids.
I expect to have this exact situation on my hands for the first time. So, I will be a real rookie at managing this many kids.
I have been thinking about how to get everyone playing time your concept makes perfect sense. I don't want to have to find a few plays to get a MPP in and I am confident enough in my coaching staff that we can make most MPP players into a solid starting player.
So.. I am in total agreement with you conceptually. Here's my problem... How do you break up the drills and keep the defensive players straight with the offensive one.
Is it all about having the coaches assigned to a defensive or offensive position?
Any thoughts or practice plans that you could share would be immensely helpful. I am very organized person and it sounds like you are too. I just need to know how to organize my practices so no one is standing around, etc.
Thanks Mike! Ted
Ted
How we organize the system is pretty simple. The 6 coaches are split, 3 for the O and 3 for the D. One runs the line, one the backs/ backers and one the receivers / d-backs. All specialized groups practice together for EDD’s with their coach but against and with the opposing specalized group. All drills are position specific so the running backs are not learning how to rules block and the safeties are not learning how to rip or swim, for example. Then we all separate into O and D groups and learn the systems and practice on air. Then we finish up with team. We create an exact daily regiment so before long the kids know what they are doing before they do it.
How you organize you practice depends on your system.
Agilities – 12 minutes.
5 kickoffs / 5 kickoff returns. These are not specialized but you want defenders on KO and offensive guys on KR but we will mix this up to work best for the team. We never play minimum type players on these teams. Always the best 11. 12 minutes.
5/ punts and 5 punt returns. A punt is an offensive play and a punt return is a defensive play so these teams are specialized. 12 minutes.
5 extra point kicks if the kids are old enough. We try to start his early because a kick is worth two in our league and a run / pass one. 3 minutes.
Water break. 5 minutes.
EDD’s
Water break. 5 minutes.
O/ D Group
Water break. 5 minutes.
Team. 20 minutes
Breakdown
The only thing that varies it the amount of time spent for EDD’s and O/ D Group. If we are playing a really good team that week we will extend O/D group and shorten EDD’s so that we can set up to run scout during team rather than running our own systems. During scout team the coaches stay on the field with the backs coach always playing QB and calling the scout plays. When we run team with our own systems the coaches are always off the field so it becomes more like game day.
How you separate talent in the beginning once again depends on your systems. We always have a pre season conditioning combine the first three days of practice. Each coach is looking for talent. On the 4th day we have a little mini draft between the coaches and discuss each player in depth and how it affects the formula. Generally 60% of the best talent goes directly to the defense but always takes a few less than half of the total roster amount.
So if you have 32.
15 play defense and 17 play offense.
On defense you have 11 starters and 4 rotators. The rotators are split so that 2 play d-line, one plays linebacker, one plays d-back. Then your starting MLB will also learn the OLB positions, nose guard will learn d-tackle, corners learn the safety position so they can all back each other up.
On offense you have 11 starters with 6 rotators and why I always take the 3 least athletic kids and play them at a SE position as starters that go on their own rotation. This woks great. Now you have 3 rotators for 10 positions, two for the line and one for the backfield. Then all backs learn all back positions, one linemen learns the center position, a TE learns the FB position and so on so they all back each other up.
When an injury occurs or a kid has to miss a game…you shuffle your talent and plug in a rotator as a starter. If you fall short on talent then maybe your FB is also your MLB or some of your linemen play both ways.
Coach MikeAnd my answer to the coaches that think platooning somehow lessons the experience of playing youth football....Coaches
Our league is unique because I can coach the same core of kids for 7 seasons.
So we give each player the option to change sides of the football every August if they are a returning player.
I agree that kids should be exposed to both sides of the football yet 90% decline.
One of the QB's I coached for a couple of seasons told me...coach I get to play defense everytime I throw a pick. He was ribbing me for even asking because he threw about 1 pick every 3rd game.
Coach Mike Hope this helps. We love big rosters and so do the players agents. Never an issue.
Good Luck.
Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Jul 20, 2009 12:05:17 GMT -6
Our freshmen team will be playing a school with a coach on it that I coached with at a previous school. He has my playbook. IMO it doesn't matter, its about execution, not them knowing our plays. Really, it might be to our advantage with them having it, lots of stuff in there for them to worry about...LOL What about audibles falling into the wrong hands? Thats about my only worry. Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Jul 20, 2009 9:54:55 GMT -6
It's not illegal to hurdle an opponent whose head is on the ground. Bob Still…if OJW teaches his backs to go over him…opens himself up to the hurdling rule. Which is easier to see in an instant….leading with the helmet …or hurdling ? That would be my concern since both are judgment calls and he has yet to see this kid get flagged. Coach Mike
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Post by mahonz on Jul 20, 2009 9:13:33 GMT -6
The playbook you start out with is not always exactaly what you end up with...so handing out portions of your playbook works well....like a receiver tree or blocking assignments, for example.
Handing out a full playbook has been a waste of paper for me. I design them for the coaches...not the kids so there is some stuff in there that could melt the players brains.
Although if a player does ask I will give him one. Some do.
Coach Mike
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