Post by Coach Campbell on May 9, 2013 14:16:30 GMT
How to Teach Players to Give Competitive Effort!
Written by Brian Ferguson
Going into week three of the season I feel like I have been on an emotional rollercoaster. It all started out with a bad taste in my mouth after our first two days of practice. The players were making mistake after mistake. They were not mentally into practice or meetings. Our players' weekly preparation was a representation of what was going to happen to us on Saturday, and then game day came. Not only did we get beat in every phase as an offensive unit, but we were powerless and unable to compete. As coaches, we knew exactly how our opponent would play, we knew their defensive fronts, their blitzes and what type of coverage they were going to use. Our offensive scheme was built to beat the base defense our opponent was using, but we would get conquered play after play. The play and formation was given to beat the defense and then we would line up and snap the ball and get dominated. The problem was not the scheme, but our weekly preparation.
As I sat behind my desk the day after the game to review the game film I am overwhelmed with the task at hand. Each and every day I coach the proper fundamentals of football, I give explanation, demonstration, practice, praise/correction, and repetition but the players are still not performing on game day and for that matter during practice. I am confused and humbled by the players' performance. At this point I have no idea how to get the most out of my players. My first thought was I have to be harder on the players, I need to make them work harder, to drill more, to put more pressure on each of the players. Then I come to the realization that what they need to do is give better effort and compete.
Effort with Competition is Productive Effort
The English dictionary defines effort as a vigorous or determined attempt, the result of an attempt. In every form of life people are giving effort, I can see it every day on the football field. Players run full speed down the field on a kick off, offensive linemen try to make a block or linebackers attempt to tackle a ball carrier. Is this productive effort? Productive is having the power to produce. As an athlete effort without production is useless. So many football players start out giving effort, but don't finish the task. The same player that gives effort on the kick off team running down the field but, does not make the tackle is not productive. His effort then becomes unproductive. Competition is an inward desire to strive for a goal that cannot be shared, to be the best at the given task. The competitor will give great effort with the determination to get the job done. The football player that can give effort combined with competition will produce productive effort.
Planning for Competitive Effort in Practice
The development of a fundamentally sound practice plan is the difference between winning and losing. Our preparation during the week was lacking in the competitive effort which in turn showed up on game day. Developing a game like situational competition in practice will increase the competitive effort in practice. The following are examples of how to develop competitive effort in practice.
1. First and Goal on the 10 Yard Line: The number one offense vs. the number one defense will compete. The offensive goal is to score a touchdown, while the defensive goal is to stop the offense from scoring.
2. Two Minute Drill: The number one offense vs. the number one defense will compete. The coach will place the ball on a given yard line. He will then tell both units what the game situation is. Example: the score is 21 — 23 the offense has two time outs left with 1:08 left on the clock. The ball is on the minus 35 yard line. The offense and defense will perform the two minute drill.
3. First Down: The number one offense vs. the number one defense will compete. The offense will have three downs to pick up a first down. The defense will try to stop the offense from getting the first down.
4. Third Down Conversion: The number one offense vs. the number one defense will compete for a first down. The coach will give a third down (3rd and 8). The two units will compete for the third down.
Drilling for Competitive Effort in Practice
While initial effort counts, the football player that can give great effort and finish the play is the player that will have competitive effort. The average football plays last between four and six seconds. The football player that can compete and give effort for six seconds will have competitive effort. When setting up your drills make sure that each player finishes the drill with the same effort they started the drill. Running backs should finish each drill with a ten yard burst. Offensive lineman should finish each of their blocks with a push. Defensive backs should bust out of their back pedal and sprint for 5 to 10 yards. Set each of your fundamentally sound drills to last between four to six seconds, and critique each player's competitive effort in each drill.
Final Thoughts
The players need to do more than just give initial effort, the top players will give effort the entire play, and they will finish the job at hand. Grade each and every player in practice, demand that the players compete each and every day. Create a competitive environment where players that improve their slash move up the depth chart. While evaluating your football players on the field, you must constantly grade the athlete as a competitor! Is he a three second, four second or five second competitor? We are looking for a six second competitor. We as coaches can coach and teach competitive effort through practice planning and drill preparation.
Written by Brian Ferguson
Going into week three of the season I feel like I have been on an emotional rollercoaster. It all started out with a bad taste in my mouth after our first two days of practice. The players were making mistake after mistake. They were not mentally into practice or meetings. Our players' weekly preparation was a representation of what was going to happen to us on Saturday, and then game day came. Not only did we get beat in every phase as an offensive unit, but we were powerless and unable to compete. As coaches, we knew exactly how our opponent would play, we knew their defensive fronts, their blitzes and what type of coverage they were going to use. Our offensive scheme was built to beat the base defense our opponent was using, but we would get conquered play after play. The play and formation was given to beat the defense and then we would line up and snap the ball and get dominated. The problem was not the scheme, but our weekly preparation.
As I sat behind my desk the day after the game to review the game film I am overwhelmed with the task at hand. Each and every day I coach the proper fundamentals of football, I give explanation, demonstration, practice, praise/correction, and repetition but the players are still not performing on game day and for that matter during practice. I am confused and humbled by the players' performance. At this point I have no idea how to get the most out of my players. My first thought was I have to be harder on the players, I need to make them work harder, to drill more, to put more pressure on each of the players. Then I come to the realization that what they need to do is give better effort and compete.
Effort with Competition is Productive Effort
The English dictionary defines effort as a vigorous or determined attempt, the result of an attempt. In every form of life people are giving effort, I can see it every day on the football field. Players run full speed down the field on a kick off, offensive linemen try to make a block or linebackers attempt to tackle a ball carrier. Is this productive effort? Productive is having the power to produce. As an athlete effort without production is useless. So many football players start out giving effort, but don't finish the task. The same player that gives effort on the kick off team running down the field but, does not make the tackle is not productive. His effort then becomes unproductive. Competition is an inward desire to strive for a goal that cannot be shared, to be the best at the given task. The competitor will give great effort with the determination to get the job done. The football player that can give effort combined with competition will produce productive effort.
Planning for Competitive Effort in Practice
The development of a fundamentally sound practice plan is the difference between winning and losing. Our preparation during the week was lacking in the competitive effort which in turn showed up on game day. Developing a game like situational competition in practice will increase the competitive effort in practice. The following are examples of how to develop competitive effort in practice.
1. First and Goal on the 10 Yard Line: The number one offense vs. the number one defense will compete. The offensive goal is to score a touchdown, while the defensive goal is to stop the offense from scoring.
2. Two Minute Drill: The number one offense vs. the number one defense will compete. The coach will place the ball on a given yard line. He will then tell both units what the game situation is. Example: the score is 21 — 23 the offense has two time outs left with 1:08 left on the clock. The ball is on the minus 35 yard line. The offense and defense will perform the two minute drill.
3. First Down: The number one offense vs. the number one defense will compete. The offense will have three downs to pick up a first down. The defense will try to stop the offense from getting the first down.
4. Third Down Conversion: The number one offense vs. the number one defense will compete for a first down. The coach will give a third down (3rd and 8). The two units will compete for the third down.
Drilling for Competitive Effort in Practice
While initial effort counts, the football player that can give great effort and finish the play is the player that will have competitive effort. The average football plays last between four and six seconds. The football player that can compete and give effort for six seconds will have competitive effort. When setting up your drills make sure that each player finishes the drill with the same effort they started the drill. Running backs should finish each drill with a ten yard burst. Offensive lineman should finish each of their blocks with a push. Defensive backs should bust out of their back pedal and sprint for 5 to 10 yards. Set each of your fundamentally sound drills to last between four to six seconds, and critique each player's competitive effort in each drill.
Final Thoughts
The players need to do more than just give initial effort, the top players will give effort the entire play, and they will finish the job at hand. Grade each and every player in practice, demand that the players compete each and every day. Create a competitive environment where players that improve their slash move up the depth chart. While evaluating your football players on the field, you must constantly grade the athlete as a competitor! Is he a three second, four second or five second competitor? We are looking for a six second competitor. We as coaches can coach and teach competitive effort through practice planning and drill preparation.