Simplifying the game

[61]

How do you as a coach try to simplify the game for your players?

[brophy]

use video cutups to illustrate what we want to see / don't want to see
use only relevant terms (try to avoid cliches with implied meanings / technical jargon)
give the RATIONALE of their assignments (whys, hows, and what fors)
Use lots of encouragement (we want them to develop so we create an environment where they can maintain their autonomy and creativity)

[brophy]

any other ideas?

[cqmiller]

Just simplify verbage with the kids. Make sure all the coaches use the same terms for pass routes, blocking technique, formations, playcalls, etc... The less verbage they must decipher, the easier it will be for them.

[tog]

We try to simplfy verbage and to simplify rules down to the barest essentials to get the job done. Then we get into nuances with the kids that can handle them. The ones that can't, we get them to just do it a base way, and leave it at that.

We also try and make our blocking rules organic. meaning, the steps and the progression rules (based on where the defender is) go hand and hand and the kids don't have to think about anything else, execpt, oooh look, there is a guy right there, this is what i do, and it allows them to just GO

[brophy]

One other thing - in keeping it simple....

I find that (this helps with myself) is AVOID 'EXCEPTIONS' - within your base offense/defense - outline as many ABSOLUTES to your rules as possible.

If a kid has to think that, "okay...I carry THIS receiver vertical if THIS happens, but do NOT carry the receiver if THIS happens....unless it is a game played on an evening ending in "Y" and 2 hours after eating..." He'll never be able to get a grasp on the basic premise you're teaching.

[coachm]

cqmiller said:

Just simplify verbage with the kids. Make sure all the coaches use the same terms for pass routes, blocking technique, formations, playcalls, etc... The less verbage they must decipher, the easier it will be for them.

Absolutely. Kids must be able to understand it. If you get by the language thing (easily), they can give the maximum effort with the minimum thought.

[swarm2ball]

Coaches should keep in mind when they go to clinics that if they can take just ONE new wrinkle that can be REALISTICALLY implemented during the season, then it was a successful clinic.
I find the most interesting conversations are between the breaks, when coaches are talking about the previous speaker and how they can add in those coverages, or add in those new fronts, or add in those new plays, ect. We have made this game so darn hard, and I find myself checking in with my interests and saying to myself, "is it a NEED or DESIRE?"

[blb]

Having a written philosophy of offense and defense helps. Then, when you self-scout, you can see if you are doing what you really believe in, or not. Also, as others noted above, a standardized, easily understood system of terminolgy is absolutely vital.

"Do the ordinary extra-ordinarily well."
"If you can't repeat it, you can't execute it."
"There's no sense trying to more than you can do well."
"Simplicity times repetition equals execution."
"Execution is everything."
"Simplicity, security, consistency."
"Out-fundamental 'em, not out-smart 'em."
"Don't coach caution into a good player - a confused player won't play well."

I have never lost a game because I did not have enough plays.

[tog]

brophy said:

One other thing - in keeping it simple....

I find that (this helps with myself) is AVOID 'EXCEPTIONS' - within your base offense/defense - outline as many ABSOLUTES to your rules as possible.

If a kid has to think that, "okay...I carry THIS receiver vertical if THIS happens, but do NOT carry the receiver if THIS happens....unless it is a game played on an evening ending in "Y" and 2 hours after eating..." He'll never be able to get a grasp on the basic premise you're teaching.

brophy, we call those

GOZINTAS

like jethro bodine used to talk about

we try and limit the gozintas as much as possible

[brophy]

Gozintas for your sleestacks

[thurman]

Our HC is as simplified as they come.. A play would be.. I Toss Left.. No numbers.. No strength calls.. He believes in the TE always being left unless a flip call is called.. I flip Toss Right.. I guess thats about as simple as you can get..

This past season I had all new kids on the O-line.. Even if you went back to the spring game.. the only person who was on that O-line that started this year was my center.. and he was playing tackle.. I had 2 sophomores, a freshmen, and 2 first year seniors.. so the first game was each of their first varsity action ever..

So.. in order to have fundamental time and be able to teach assignments.. I created cheat sheets for plays and put them in arm bands.. Pass on one arm and Run on the other.. It seemed to help a lot.. The hard part was going back each week and re-creating the dang rules in Powerpoint based on the front we were playing..

[spreadattack]

Good advice in this thread all around. My (probably unhelpful answer) is simply to make sure you and your coaches have the attitude and don't come across like you're trying to be rocket scientists. I mean we know football can be somewhat sophisticated at times, even tricky with fronts, coverages etc, but compared to most things it never really gets that challenging, even at the Pro level. As long as you stay focused on the basics and reinforce to the kids that all this is masterable and doable; that the important thing is to learn their assignments, the basic "whys" and then just go out, have fun and hit some people then football really becomes a simple game.

I know I'm as guilty of anyone of "intellectualizing" football--hell I have a website devoted to it--but it's really a pretty simple game and remind your players and yourself of this and no one should feel overwhelmed.

[voslos]

Put all the thinking on the coach and not the players. This past season I changed from a concept based pass play to a passing tree to make things easier on the kids. They struggled the year before with the concept based system. All the pressure was now on me as a coach to adjust.