Carryover from drills to game

That is the bain of all coaches on the high school level. The lower the level, the more difficult it is to get the kids to transfer practice to game. The only thing I can say is try to make all your tackling drills as much like game situations as possible without gettting people hurt. I don't like getting guys hurt in practice, but occassionally you have to go full out. I also like to go "THUD" in team drills. I tell the defense they have to get a full wrap or the play continues. Anyone diving or going low on a teammate is in trouble. That way they have to get in the runner's face and wrap. Just a few ideas. Hope they help.

Lou,

I totally agree with your Head Coach! No truer adage in my book than the one that says "you play like you practice". You go light in practice, you play light in the game! I think coaches today are way to cognizant of the injury factor than they need to be. This attitude filters on down to the players who hold back in practice because they are afraid of getting hurt. FOOTBALL IS A PHYSICAL GAME FOR PHYSICAL PEOPLE AND THE TEAMS THAT PRACTICE ALL OUT SEEM, IMO, TO BE THE ONES WHO WIN!!! Now obviously if you are small school with 20 kids on the team, you can not afford to lose even one. BUT, YOU WILL FIND THAT IF YOU TURN THEM LOOSE TO GO FULL BORE IN PRACTICE THEY WILL FARE BETTER THAN IF YOU MOLLY CODDLE THEM!!! A high schooler who has been hit no harder in practice all week than he is in "thud" for example, goes out on game night and the first play of the game his oponent knocks the dog manure out of him is in for a rude awakening in my book. HE USUALLY ENDS UP BEING INTIMIDATED THE WHOLE NIGHT, WHERE IF HE HAD BEEN REALLY MIXING IT UP IN PRACTICE IT WOULD BE NOTHING NEW! Just my opinion as always.

Coach Easton