Interview Tomorrow

Impress in your interview, that you HAVE A PLAN. In regards to getting more kids out for the program, have a 3 pronged recruiting attack.

#1. Immediate: Kids in high school. Obviously, have a meeting with kids that have/will play. Present your philosophy, etc. and have them be your "recruiters" to get friends/classmates out that can help the program. Don't leave it all to them, you need to be walking the halls to earmark the boys that are not out for football. Go over how you would try to influence these young men to come out. If you're going to be a teacher in the building - maybe as simple as inviting prospects to your room before or after school to meet. Walk the halls, GLAD HAND - monitor the cafeteria - AND get to know the head of the PE department. He/she will be able to at least pinpoint the athletes for you. If you're not teaching in the building, set up specific times that you can meet, etc. Make your presence known and ally yourself with teachers/administrators in the building.
#2. Short Term: Your middle school kids. Arrange visits at your feeder schools. If you have a feeder program, put your arm around those coaches now. Get them to run your system/scheme - but don't talk down to them if they've been there awhile. Host a clinic for the coaches, cater in lunch and have your staff have sessions on scheme, drills, fundamentals, etc. Pass out football t-shirts, clipboards, game passes, etc. Also, in summer have a middle school football camp. RECRUIT your future. Give them a camp football t-shirt, certificate, etc. Make them feel wanted. Attend as many as their games as you can - if your school hosts the games - make sure you are there. Also, try to attend a middle school basketball game or track meet - let them see you - let them know you are there for them. This not only lets them know you care, but you can identify the young "studs" coming up.
#3. Long Term: Elementary school ages. Host a summer "future (school mascot) camp". Run it like your middle school camp. Get to know the Pop Warner teams/coaches in your area that will feed your school. Introduce and get to know those coaches - especially the one(s) that will be there long term (not just for the son) and make him an ally of your program. Give them t-shirts, offer them a free game pass to one of your games, etc. Also, get to know the little league baseball/basketball people in your area - it's NEVER to early to identify and recruit. Have your school host a "Middle School/Elementary School football Night" and have all the young boys introduced at halftime or before the game. They can all wear their jerseys, etc. (Your AD should love it as it should help the gate/attendance, too!)

Along with that - build excitement for your program by being visible in your school/community. Volunteer for school events, have your AD host a "Meet the Coach" night where you can speak, present them your ideas, philosophy, etc. Show the people that you care, and mostly: Work it - Work it -Work it - that's what it's all about.
Hope this can help you. Good Luck tomorrow!
tm

Coach Gray:
As far as boys in the building - and I hate to say this - for some of them, it's probably too late if they're not going to be on board. I faced the same situation, and we took our lumps the first couple years, but I worked the h*ll out of those younger kids (middle school/elementary) and now we reaping the rewards of those efforts and I'm at a school with zero football tradition. Stay with your plan.
tm

Not too sure I would work the h*ll out of my elementary kids, I want to make sure they are enjoying the GAME.