How Do you Rebulid a Program

Age-old problem. It's just like the "chicken & the egg" (which came first?)! In THIS case it's what comes first - the winning OR the tradition"?

Three things must happen:

#1 A good & POSITIVE staff
#2 Good enough players
#3 "Just WIN, baby" (as Al Davis put it).

Once you have the first two indgredients, & START to win, the tradition will BEGIN to fall into place! I don't think you can do without ANY of the 3!

I was asked to rebuild SIX programs in my 40+ years in the game. The following coaching advice from the great Bud Wilkinson (won 3 National Championships & 47 straight games at the U of Oklahoma) HELPS!

COMMON COACHING ERRORS AND HOW TO AVIOD THEM

By: Bud Wilkinson

GENERAL COMMENTS: The best coach is the one who makes the fewest mistakes; the one who does the best teaching job; the one who is the best organizer. Writing the X’s & O’s is not the most important thing. There are 22 variables in a football game. Coach must be a salesman to the extent that when his team loses, they don’t blame him or the offensive and/or defensive system, but rather themselves.

ERRORS IN TEACHING METHODS:
FIRST = FAILURE TO USE TIME EFFICIENTLY. Failure to recognize the time factor available to get the job done. Planning makes for valuable use of time. Too long on any one thing produces boredom. When boredom comes in, learning goes out. Football players have a short attention span. Hold to time schedule.
SECOND = FAILURE TO EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF THE DRILL. Tell the boy WHY he is doing what he is trying to accomplish and he will do a better job. Explain WHY, then show HOW.
THIRD = IMPROPER TEACHING PROGRESSION. You can’t teach a boy how to block until he has learned stance. If he hasn’t learned stance, he doesn’t know how to step out of the stance into the block.
FOURTH = TOO MUCH VERBAL INSTRUCTION ON THE FIELD. How much can boy learn from your verbal instruction with his helmet on, he’s breathing hard, he aches, he’s stunned, etc. Do WHO and WHY in chalk talk. Teach assignments before hitting the field. Correct on the field. Teach – no! (HOW is taught on the field – not WHO & WHY).
FIFTH = TOO MUCH DEMONSTRATION BY COACH. How much you know is not important. How much player knows is.
SIXTH = BEING ON THE FIELD TOO LONG. Better to have a team eager to play rather than physically tired. How long to practice is a judgment factor. Cut down as season goes along – not going to change mechanical ability late in season. Only one rule never violated at Oklahoma. If one coach on staff feels practice too long, we must cut it down. More boys play poorly because they practiced too long than boys playing poorly because they didn’t practice long enough.

ERRORS IN TACTICS AND STRATEGY:
FIRST = TACTICS AND VICTORY. You get very few victories on tactics. Victories come if you can out block, out tackle, out fundamental your opponent. Red Sanders quote: “Intimidate them physically”! Outmaneuver – no. Defeat – yes.
SECOND = CLEAR CUT PHILOSOPHY A MUST. Decide on an offense and defense that will suit your personnel then stick to it. Depth of morale can be determined by a kid’s reaction to a loss. If morale deep, they’ll blame themselves. If morale shallow, they’ll blame you.
THIRD = TOO MANY PLAYS AND DEFENSES. Subtract the number of different plays used in the game from the total number of plays you practiced. If this number is too large you better get rid of some plays. It is difficult enough to know when to run off- tackle, but if you have four ways to run off-tackle, you will never get the right play. Beauty of Split-T was it’s very limited number of plays!

ERRORS IN JUDGMENT:
FIRST = BE REALISTIC ABOUT PLAYER’S ABILITY. Don’t just put an X or an O on the board. Put up the boy’s name. Immediately his limitations affect the offense or defense you put up. Whale of a lot of difference between Dick Butkus and Humpty Dumpty.
SECOND = WHEN CHIPS ARE DOWN, BEST PLAYERS ARE IN THE GAME. It is a mistake to be able to play blue chippers only one way. Say best kid you have can only go on offense. Say opponent has ball for 45 minutes. These are 45 minutes he cannot help you.

ERRORS IN OFF FIELD RELATIONSHIP:
FIRST = RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER FACULTY MEMBERS. The environment that exists has a lot to do with winning or losing. If they are with you, your job is easier. If they are against you, you’re in trouble. Work on a program of how to win friends and influence faculty members.
SECOND = ORGANIZE A MOTHER’S CLUB. Get mother on your side by pointing out to her what he can get out of football besides winning games.
THIRD = PRESS, TV, AND RADIO. Straight up fact of life that the great majority of people get their impression of you from what they read in the paper, see on TV, or hear on radio. Their jobs depend on info. Get it to them to make their jobs easier. Get these people on your side. Let them know what you’re doing. They will interpret what you’re doing in the way you want it interpreted if they are with you.

ERRORS IN DEVELOPING MORALE (MORALE IS TO THE PHYSICAL AS 4 IS TO 1).
FIRST = FOOTBALL BEGINS WITH MORALE! Once you get morale, it is easy to maintain. How to get it is a problem.
SECOND = HOW TO LOSE MORALE. Do what you said you’re going to do. Don’t say we’re going to practice 1 ½ hours and go 2 ½ hours. Training rules – if you’re not going to enforce them, don’t have them.
THIRD = MORALE STEMS FROM DISCIPLINE (ALL Discipline begins by being on time).
FOURTH = TREAT PLAYERS AS A PERSON. If he feels you are interested in him only as a football player, he won’t go all out for you. If you are interested in his academics, his personal problems, etc. and he knows this, he’ll go all out for you. Convince him that football is good for his future.
FIFTH = One year, Knute Rockne had 2 QB’s. Under great athlete, team failed; under mediocre QB, team succeeded. Why? Captain’s reply – “the great athlete is trying to show how good HE is. The TEAM is trying to make the average guy look good”.

COACH IN YOUR OWN WAY:
FIRST = DON’T COPY! Note clinicians and their personalities. ALL different ways of being successful. Plan carefully in the off season. Can’t take golf lessons between the 8th green and 9th tee.

CONCLUDING REMARKS: The man who is best organized and does the best teaching job, is the best coach.

Thanks, Lou! Here is something else I've posted before that ia applicable to this topic:

PRACTICE AND TEACHING PHILOSOPHY


1. Goal is to out practice our opponents.
a. Practice harder
b. Practice smarter
c. Practice with game day intensity

2. You Must Get Your Position To Believe That You Are The Best Coach And Teacher In The League. If The Players Don’t Believe, We Won’t Win.

3. We Must Be Great Teachers.
What you see on video is what you have coached.
You are a teacher! Your teaching is evaluated by your player’s performance. Profs can have A, B, C, D, F students. We must have all A’s. Keep things simple. Don’t over coach. Find the best way to teach. Teach fundamentals. Our goal is that each player masters the fundamentals at his position.

4. We Know What Must Be Taught – Staff Growth. Improve Schemes, But Have A Philosophy And Sell It To The Players.

5. Utilize Teaching Aids.
Change up procedure of meetings
Must use them
Video Breakdown (find a way to use it).
Marking Boards – accuracy of diagrams is critical – 75% of learning is visual.
Practice and Scrimmage Video
Training Video



6. Great Enthusiasm (Not Cheerleading) - 3/1 Theory (3
Positive 1 Negative).
Explain to athlete we criticize performance and not to take it personally. Find things to be positive about.
80% of your communication and motivation should be positive! If this is not true, then change!

7. Must Be Consistent.
All players must be team players and abide by the Team Covenant.
Consistency in everything.
Praise and criticize – all players. Players will notice any inconsistency in your player interaction.
Coach toughness. Coach toughness. Coach toughness. Coach toughness. Coach 100% effort every play. Every Play Every Day! - Play Hard Players must be on time every scheduled meeting or practice. Attention to detail.
Demand players to compete in everything they do. (6-second player)

8. Hard Workers On Field. Coaching.
Coach every play! Coach every play! Coach every play! Coach every play! Don’t stand in one spot. (Hands in pockets, arms folded not permitted in our program.) Get to where the action is.
If coach stands around, so will players. No clinics on field. That’s why we meet and have walk-thru. Coach will run drill to drill just like the players. Players must run on the field - never walk.
Players don’t lay on the ground. Demand enthusiasm, intensity and knowing assignment.

9. Control The Hitting - Tag-off, Play Ball Live-Tag Off,
Thud, Live.

10. The best coaches in the country take their players
performance personal. OUR COACHES TAKE THEIR PLAYERS PERFORMANCE PERSONAL!

Coach;

I'm rebuilding a program as well... as my first HC job.

I am focussing on doing things the right way - not wins. Wins will (HOPEFULLY) come as a by-product of doing things the right way.

I stress the 3 E's

Effort
Execution
Enthusiasm

We instituted a morning workout program that begins the monday after the local championship game. Three days per week for about 75 minutes. We focus on personal & team improvement, and accountability to the team. We stress hard work, maximum effort, and positive support. We measure our improvements using a combine type system that I got and modified from another coach on this board - each player gets point for a 40, pro shuttle, obstacle course, bench, long jump, vertical jump, etc. This way we get to measure the total package. Players get points and are put into clubs - originally we were going to give t-shirts but we've gone to boards because of funds.

Our program is also involved in developing educational materials to be used at ALL local high schools on the topic of steroid use. Again... doing things the right way.

We always stress making good choices - and doing the right thing - on the field and OFF the field. I personally suspended 7 starters for 2 games this year for making a very poor choice days before the game with our BIG rival - and this may have cost us the game in what would have been a huge win for our football program. But I believe the choice I made will pay dividends later.

Run the team as a family - remember, people have consequences for poor choices in a family - but they are also forgiven when they mess up.

This year we'll also be trying to participate in a 7 on 7 tournament - even though we'll likely be outmatched - to get experience against great competition. Our linemen will be going to a Big Man camp as well at a local college.

Nothing will go as planned - but whatever you do BE POSITIVE in all aspects. There is a tendancy in coaching to over-criticize and under-praise - BREAK that tendancy!!!

Remember your power as a coach is huge - what you say to your players can remain with them for a LONG time - make sure it's positive. Fill their tanks... INVEST IN THEM - and show them how to invest in themselves, and each other.

This is MY plan... it's what I believe in... and how I will do things.

Blackfly,

Do you have rules sheets or coaching responsibility sheets that you use? I am looking to find a HC job in the near future and I believe any job you take is a rebuilding process since you need to turn the program into your own. Any help you can give me would be appreciated. You can e-mail me at mevancho@wilsonareasd.org

Thank you in advance.

BlackFly,

I may need to contact you again in about 4-5 weeks, but we will see how things shake out first.

I took over our program here at Capistrano Valley Christian. They used to be a perenial playoff team but I am the fourth head coach in four years. They were 0-9 last year and just 3-7 the year before.
We were picked by our league coaches and the local newspaper to finish last in our league of 5 teams!
We ended up 5-5 this year, third place in league and a birth in the playoffs where we got waxed in the first round!
The last school I was at was 1-9 the year before I started there as an assistant. Then we went 5-5 and then 10-2.
Here are a few things that I have seen in both programs that were quick, one season turn arounds (one as an Asst. and one as the HC): (They are obvious things and not earth shattering but I am just addressing the topic here!)
1. Work ethic - the work ethic of the former program was very poor and the standards weren't very high. Kids were allowed to practice, workout at their own pace, not at a pace set by the coaching staff. Instilling a strong work ethic will lead to success on Friday nights in your execution of play.
2. Expectations - Here at CVCS, the kids were used to losing over the last couple of years. I told them at the first meeting that I have gone to the playoffs every year as an HC and that it would not change this year! Many kids came up to me afterwards asking if I REALLY thought that we could go to the playoffs! We started talking about going to the playoffs and winning right away! Don't shy away from that. The kids must know that you, as the coach trying to turn around a program, values winning. My kids here bought into that right away!
3. Systems - Last year this team ran the spread with a kid that shouldn't have been a QB and virtually no linemen! They threw more than 20 interceptions! I think that many times coaches get so caught up in their "own" systems that they hurt their teams if those systems can't work. If you love to throw the ball and that is "your" offense, maybe you can't do that with the athletes you have in that program. That was the case here so we ran the double wing and that led to great success here this year. Just using a system that we knew would work with this group of guys was huge. They bought into it quickly because they knew what they did last year didn't work! Have a system, preach the heck out of it and get that buy in from the kids QUICK!
4. Praise the heck out of each and every kid in the program all the time! Make sure they know how much you appreciate them sticking with the program to make a difference! They will thrive off of that praise and the attitute permeates througout the program. But, it all starts up top! Talk to the kids like they are world beaters and they will beat the world! Talk to them like they are a last place team, and they will surely achieve!!!!

Those are just a few of the things that I have seen in my last two jobs - both turnarounds. Hope something helps. If you have any more specific questions, email me - cfore@cvcs.org.

Coach Fore

I just finished my second year as a head coach at a inner city program that had struggled over the past 15 years. My first year we went 3-7 but last year we went 8-2 and almost beat the team that lost in the state championship game. Next year we return 9 starters on offense and 7 on defense so we expect to be really strong. I will list a few things that I think helped us turn around our program.

1. Coaches are on the same page and are unselfish and positive. We had to get rid of three coaches after my first season. We only had four coaches on varsity in 2006 but we trusted each other and were positive with our guys. When programs are down they are usually made of individuals that have not had a lot of success in their lives. They need to be reminded about what great things they are accomplishing and what they are capable of on the daily basis.

2. Need to incorporate a year round strength and conditioning program. If your players are not participating in another sport they need to be in the weight-room with their team. Conditioning is important but team chemistry is more important in my eyes. We lift and condition hard for about 75 minutes, we stretch for about 15 at the end of or workout, and then we have fun as a team for about another 30 minutes. We do a variety of things that A. Help us to get to know each other on a personal level. B. Take us out of our comfort zone. C. Build trust with each other. We will play team dodgeball, 3 on 3 basketball tournament where coaches play as well, have dance circles were each player creates a dance which is hilarious especially when guys like me get up there and have no dance skills whatsoever. We also have a game we play like the show teamates that aired on ESPN a couple of years ago. Players guess how other players will respond to both funny and personal questions.

3. Coaches need to be personally involved in their players education. We contact teachers and always give our players the vision of what they can do if they have good grades. We have had ten players that were between 1.5-2.5 GPA students when I got the job that are now above 3.0. Our top 4 of our top 5 players going into next season have a 3.5 or higher and one has a 4.0. This is very important for us because it demonstrates discipline, builds self confidence, and demonstrates the benefit of focus and hard work.

4. Always recognize great efforts at the end of every practice and game. We round up our players at the end of practice and games. We ask them who stood out today and players will raise their hand a say who and what they did that stood out. We will recognize 5-15 players every day. I have found that it is more powerful to have a peer say that you made a great hit, block or run than the coaches. No matter what happens on the practice field or game our players come away feeling good about themselves after this session.

5. Make sure practices are fast paced and high pressure. Effort is rewarded at all times. Group offensive snaps are going 20 seconds after the whistle blows. Hustle to the huddle and to the LOS is very important. Team offensive snaps are started 35 seconds after the whistle blows from the last play. We are getting as many reps as possible. For every play that does not get off in time we run a 50 yard dash after that session. On defense we start each session with 10 50's to work off. Players eliminate these by extra-efforts. If a coach spots a player that gave extra effort in an individual, group, or team drill he shouts it out to the DC and he eliminates one 50 yard dash. We also always practice double whistle on defense on all group and team settings. Once the ball carrier is stopped or tagged off we blow one whistle once evryone on the defense gets to that spot where the guy made the stop and is chopping their feet we blow the second whistle and that play is over.

6. Before games we provide a relaxed, focused atmosphere. We are prepared to play and I don't think high school players need to get fired up before a game. We fire them up during practice and we keep them calm before and during games. We have played our best football when we are relaxed and confident and that is something that I have done differently the past three seasons as a coach and it seems to have gotten better results.

Greg 
We don’t spend the whole weekend together trying to formalize a game plan. For a couple of reasons”





We are a small program so which players are available from the previous game has a big impact on which offensive plays are available







We feel it takes days of film review to really find the chinks in an opponent's armor.







We need to evaluate how our speculations, actually formulate on the practice field Monday and Tuesday.







The game plan time schedule is to be narrowed post Tuesday’s practice and solidified post Wednesday’s practice







To increase the longevity of the coaching staff; coaches are given homework, so as to put less stress on their time and home life.







Full coaches meetings tend to counter productive and poor time management due to: too many eyes on one play; too many opinions, based limited information; too many games to scout; late Friday, early Saturday so by Saturday afternoon mental and physical fatigue is becoming a factor; etc.









Friday Night - Video Coordinator submits game film to be tagged to Hudl; share film with coaches sometime that night, once tagged



Saturday - Coaches are responsible to review game film before 8am meeting



8am: Coaches Meet To Review Game Results: Video coordinator complete scout film exchanges; send to hudl for tags; share with all coaches.



12am; Coaches lunch meeting(Injury and Personnel Evaluations): general scout film review of next opponent



2pm: Coaches Homework breakdown and grades previous film by position and next opponent personnel by position.







Sunday Coaches Schedule









Coaches Homework is due







Position Coaches Grade positions from previous game film and telstrate(+ or -) on Hudl for position players to review







Position coaches continue breaking down next week's scout film; primary goal is to evaluate opponents personnel by position





9am to 11am: Phone or electronic mail communication and feedback with Coordinators: Scouting Observations; Personnel Evaluations and Scheme Suggestions



2pm: Defensive Coordinator and Head Coaching meeting



5pm: Offensive Coordinator and Head Coaches meeting



Note: Position Coaches are welcome but attendance is not mandatory







Monday:



Offensive Coordinator - Quick Fix any major breakdowns from previous week: prep offense with baseOffensive plays vs opponents base defense and intro Wrinkles and or emphasis(Sets,Shifts Motion, Play Adjustments)



Hand Scouting Report



Defensive Coordinator - Quick Fix any major breakdowns from previous week: prep defensive set adjustments(Formation, Shifts, Motions); Introduce opponents favorite plays.



Hand Scouting Report



Tuesday



Offensive Coordinator - Individual skill emphasis; Inside run vs Opponents base defensive fronts; 7 on 7 Script; Team Script



Defensive Coordinator- Individual skill emphasis; Group 7 on 7 top play - DL defend blocking Schemes; Practice Default defenses.



Coaches meet to narrow down and game plan



Wednesday



Offensive Coordinator - Group blitz Pick up - skill Rpo/Screens; Team and 7 on 7 Script;



Begin scaling Down play sheet



Defense Coordinator: Group: Defend run - DB’s I on1’s; Default Defense; Situation Defense



Thursday



Situations offense and defense; hand out final game plan



Friday - OC and DC final walk through

Francisco
There are 4 phases of a Football Program that the coaching staff needs invest time and effort into properly developing:





-Off-season Strength & conditioning



- Spring Football



-Summer Strength & Conditioning



- Fall Season Practice & Competition





In many respects, the off-season strength & conditioning period is the start of a new preparation cycle for the football program because of its natural position in the calendar year. The Football program goes on recess when the season ends in November until school returns from winter break in January. During this recess period, the coaching staff collaborates on the development of a new plan and schedule for the upcoming cycle of program activities. To facilitate this process, we conduct post-season exit interviews with the student-athletes to empower them with an active voice in the program's direction. We take the information from the exit interviews into account while analyzing the results of last year's plan to identify what worked and what needs improvement. The schedule and plan for the new iteration of the Football program should clearly define the structure and goal for all phases but maintain enough flexibility to make adjustments as needed to maximize the development and success of the student-athletes.





It goes without saying that our assistant coaches are expected to be fully committed to the spring and fall football seasons. These are in-season periods where the entire team and staff are expected to be in attendance. During the Off-season Strength & conditioning period, most of our assistants coach other sports and many of our student-athletes also participate in winter/spring sports. Assistants who are in-season with another sport must commit to being in attendance for workouts at least one day a week. Those assistants who do not have other sport responsibilities are expected to help run the off-season program. Student-athletes who are in-season with another sport must fulfill their responsibilities to that sport and are expected to complete their core lifts when possible. Those who do not have other athletic responsibilities are expected to be in attendance at training sessions. Consistent attendance expected from players and coaches for the Summer Strength and conditioning period.





Offense





The coaching staff developed an Offensive System around the following criteria:





1.Keep things simple for our student-athletes to minimize the learning curve

2.Attack opposing defenses with a fast tempo and multiple formations

3.Build Spread-RPO concepts on top of a Power/Counter foundation

The Run and Pass concepts were designed to show the same basic pre- and post-snap looks and keep position assignments the same across all formations. The goal is to ensure our players can execute the scheme with speed, accuracy, and precision in order to keep defenders on their heels—forcing them to think more and play slow, while we think less and play fast. Our Option and RPO concepts were designed as Tag calls that could be inserted into an existing play call, rather than install as completely separate plays. Structuring our offensive scheme this way eliminated the need to devote practice time toward installing and drilling different concepts. The Tags system allows us to work and focus on these concepts with the Quarterbacks during individual periods and within the scope of our regular practice schedule.



Our Offensive Mantra is: “We are a heavy R.P.O. Team— Run Power Often!”





Defense





Defensive Football is comprised of two distinct parts:



•SCHEME

•STYLE

Our defense has been designed to eliminate scoring opportunities for our opponents. First and foremost, we will not allow our opponents to run the football. While many opposing teams will spread the field, most offenses we will face are still predicated on running the football. By stopping the run, we force a team to be one-dimensional. We will dictate the game to the offense through our ability to effectively match up and react to all formations and personnel groupings.





While the scheme may be similar to many other teams and may seem very simple, we will take pride in our STYLE of play. Our style of defense is dependent on each defender committing to a selfless, aggressive manner of play. Hustle, Effort, Aggression, and Toughness (HEAT) must infiltrate every repetition and every drill throughout the course of the year. Diligence in our daily preparation will give us the self-confidence to dominate our opponent physically and mentally throughout the season. Our individual commitment to one another will ensure that we will never, ever, ever quit. Our play will be represented by relentless Hustle, maximum Effort to get to the ball, fierce Aggression, as well as mental and physical Toughness.





Special Teams





Our special team units WILL set the tone for The Mater Academy Football Program. We will accomplish this by playing with great INTENSITY, EXECUTION of assignments, and use the FUNDAMENTALS our coaches teach. We will develop our special team units into one of the best in the county through great preparation and effective use of practice time. To achieve success in this phase of the game, we will apply maximum effort in the following areas:





Mentally: The mental side of our success will be determined by how we prepare each week, to build the confidence we need on game day. This confidence will allow us to execute our assignments and give us the field position advantage throughout the game.





Physically: The physical aspect of our success will be determined by our willingness to hit and strike an opponent. As stated above, we will set the tone with our special teams and we will achieve this success by being the most physical special teams unit in the county.





Emotionally: Our special teams' units will play with emotion. We will have an intense burning desire to create and make big plays for our team. These big plays will happen when we play with great effort and pride.





Leadership





The purpose of The Mater Academy Football Leadership Program is to facilitate student-athlete success in the classroom, on the field, and out in the community through positive character development. The coaching staff will accomplish this by teaching our student-athletes the proper habits, skills, and qualities that contribute to the development of strong, positive character. The Leadership Academy is a critical component of Mater Football’s off-season program, which begins the first week of January when school resumes after winter break. The Leadership Academy classes will be held every Wednesday afternoon until the spring football season begins in May. Instruction will begin promptly at 2:45pm, and finish around 4:15pm. The Leadership Academy will focus on one concept each week and provide instruction and activities on the skills related to that concept. A variety of resources will be utilized to effectively deliver instruction on the skills and qualities that are important to the success of the Football Program. Student-athletes will receive a binder where they will maintain the material that is covered in the Leadership Academy. After spring break, the student-athletes who have excelled in the Leadership Academy will be selected as members of the Mater Football player’s council and have an active voice in deciding the direction of the program.