Expectations for assistant coaches

Jason Izsa

I’ve been on staffs where all the assistant coaches had to do was follow the head coaches practice plan. The head coach had the plan already in place with drills for the position coaches to run. The offensive, defensive and special team’s script was already implemented and all the assistant had to do was to run the drill and watch their position. I felt like I was just a pawn on the coaching staff and had no input in anything we did. As a young assistant I didn’t want to rock the boat and followed everything to a T. I felt like I was being a good “solider” and following orders. I also have been on staffs where it didn’t matter what drills the assistants were doing as long as the players were active with football drills. I felt like it was unorganized and a free for all. Coaches were doing drills that the players were not going to see in a football game. No one was on the same page and no one was coaching to the scheme. It made it hard for me because I thought I was the “bad” coach because I was trying to coach the drills the right way and teach the players proper technique rather than the players just running at each other full speed and congratulate the player who ran the other player over.

Assistant coaches should be loyal to not only the head coach but to the other assistants, the program and the players. A non-loyal assistant can cause the whole program to go in a different direction. It can be as contagious as a disease. He/she might recruit others onto their side and now the program is separated into two halves.

An assistant should be willing to learn new things and apply them to the program. If the head coach wants to teach shoulder blocking rather than hand blocking than the assistant should teach shoulder blocking. At no time should the assistant tell the players that he is going to teach them his way and not the way the head coach wants it. The players will see right through that and right there they know everyone is not working together. An assistant should be professional enough to ask the head coach how he wants it done and ask for help if needed.

Assistant coaches should want to get better as a coach. They should talk with other coaches, join forums, attend clinics, purchase materials, etc… The amount of information out there is incredible. Assistants should take pride in the program and help with everything and anything the program needs. Accept roles that the head coach might give within reason. An example might be supervising the cleanup crew of the field or locker room or help the players load the bus. Be visible to the players during weight room sessions or after practice in case they need help with something or have a question. Be communicative with the head coach. If you’re going to be late or have to leave practice early let the coach know. Don’t just walk off the field. Give your input when the coach asks for suggestions. Don’t stay quiet and then bash what the game plan for the week might be. We are all in this together. Always be positive. The players don’t want to hear negativity about their play or results of a future game. Take the initiative to help the program, other coaches or players. If you know that jerseys need to be handed out after practice and you see that the head coach is tied up doing something else ask the coach if it’s alright if the jerseys are handed out to the players.

Off the field assistant coaches should be visible to the players, school and community. They should join in with any community service projects, help with youth clinics and practices and be a positive role model. I know your outside life is personal but you still represent the program.

Coaches should take their roles seriously and put their full effort into it. Whether you’re a coordinator, a position coach or a sub varsity coach you should come to work every day wanting to make an impact and get the program better. Take pride in your role. The players will see it and respect it. They will want to play harder for you. Many coaches might look down upon coaching at a sub varsity level. Use it to your advantage, you are coaching the younger players and sharpening your game skills. Never think of it as a demotion, use it as an advantage. Just like the players an assistant is always being evaluated so if you’re not happy with what is going on at the time and you want to move on it’s always good to have a recommendation from your head coach. You should never burn bridges.

Larry Hulen

Assistant coaches are extremely important to the success of a football program. Assistant coaches must be extensions of the beliefs and ideas of the head coach. Responsible, loyal, reliable, and honest are a few of the characteristics or traits of solid assistant coaches that I would want in my program. Assistant coaches must be there to have the back of or take the side of their head coach when times are rough and also when times are great. All coaches must be on the same page in regards to team rules and the consequences that come as a result of breaking those rules. This is in reference to the players. If a player breaks a program rule, every coach on staff should know exactly how to deal with the issue no matter how big or small the infraction may have been. The head coach will ultimately have the final decision with a player for larger infractions but the assistant coach should be confident enough to provide the necessary discipline and reliable enough to relay the information to the head coach.


Loyalty is an important part of a successful program because when a person is loyal to someone or something, they put their faith into it. When their faith is put into it, then they are devoted to it. Faith and devotion is the base of all religion and marital bonds. If loyalty is developed by the assistant coaches for the football program then the head coach can rest assured that his coaches are not cheating or doing things behind his back that he wouldn’t approve of. This includes openly disagreeing with any aspect of the head coach to players, parents, or other coaches. Assistant coaches have the power to be cancerous and the ability to ruin a successful program if they are not loyal.


On the field, assistant coaches are responsible for:

Getting the most out of the players both physically and mentally.
A pre-determined aspect of agilities and warm-ups
A pre-determined part of special teams practice.
Executing effective drills that are based off of the concepts of that day’s practice plan.
Watching the position that they are responsible for during team practice.
Player rotation for their position.
A pre-determined part of conditioning.
Player discipline and team discipline throughout practice.
Making sure equipment is put away and field is clean (use players for this).
Reporting information to the head coach at end of practice.


Off the field, assistant coaches are responsible for:

Getting the most out of the players both physically and mentally.
Monitoring the progress in the weight-room.
Creating and preparing drills that are based off of the concepts of that day’s practice plan.
Watching film as a group as well as individually.
Input for practice plans and off-season activities.
Creating highlight films of the players at their position for college bound athletes.
Player discipline and team discipline when necessary.
Maintaining positive relationships with players, coaches, parents, faculty, and community.
A pre- determined amount of time to work with the local youth population (camps, watching practice, hosting events etc...).
Reporting necessary information to the head coach.

David Pierson

The assistant coach has multiple duties on a football team. They include the on the field duties, off the field duties with players, off the field duties with staff members and other coaches and responsibilities with parents, faculty, administration and the greater community. For instance, an assistant coach is responsible to insure that all necessary equipment is ready for a particular drill. He or she is expected to run a specific drill in relation to an overall scheme. This type of inclusion would require that the assistant coach be fully aware of expectations which would then require that both the assistant coach and coordinator had previously communicated prior to the running of the drill. This is the type of communication and direct action which is required from a quality assistant coach. This is the type of assertive coaching which includes using the coordinators overall philosophy, language, "action words" and other key phrases to convey the expectations of the coordinator. The assistant coach can put his or hers personality into the position, but not at the expense of the coordinator or greater scheme philosophy.

Other assistant duties could include locker room supervision, collection of game night uniforms, assisting other coaches with the taping of athletes prior to practice or a game, supporting managers, supporting film crew, assisting with an injury and other vital issues related to a football program. Assistant coaches are active, moving from drill to drill, period to period engaging athletes and fellow staff members with excitement and dedication to be the best. This includes loyalty even when a coach may disagree with a particular philosophy, scheme, call or other subjective issue.

Other responsibilities include grade checks within position groups and communication with school faculty. This type of inclusion teaches assistant coaches about relationships between players and teachers or other school staff who may have come into contact with a position player. Other relationships include speaking to others in the community with a positive light regarding the program which addresses issues of loyalty. Blind loyalty isn't the expectation, rather an honest perspective without destroying others is expected. 

Chad Johnson
SELECTING A QUALITY COACHING STAFF

Selecting a quality coaching staff may possibly be the most vital aspect when assuming the responsibilities as a head coach. I strongly believe that the head football coach for St. John Bosco High School, should seek out assistant coaches who possess the following qualities:

Coaches who are united in purpose and are eager to bring discipline, integrity, loyalty and a strong work ethic to this proud football tradition. Those who provide a positive and motivational environment where preparation, practice, and hard work generate success on and off the football field.
Coaches must understand their position as role models to young men and must live all aspects of their lives accordingly.They must emphasize the importance and development of fundamentals and techniques necessary for positive experiences in football as well as in life.
Encompass the knowledge and ability to communicate the newest and innovative theories of the game of football in a professional manner.

Assistant coaches must create a consistently exciting and entertaining program that generates enormous levels of support, pride, and tradition for all in our school community to share.

 
It is essential for me in my search for coaches that the football staff model good social behavior, possess a vested interest in Trabuco Hills High School, and conduct themselves in the most professional manner at all times. I strongly believe that the qualities listed above will provide our players with the necessary tools for success in all aspects of life. As the head football coach, my job of selecting individuals to fill the position of assistant coach, will begin on campus here at St. John Bosco High School. I will attempt to fill all necessary coaching positions with teachers/coaches who can relate to and understand the students of St. John Bosco High School best. However, if unable to field all positions with on-campus staff, I would need to seek off campus support, focusing on people dedicated to working with youth, perhaps approaching alumni who may have expressed an interest in returning to coach for their alma mater.

COACHING STAFF POLICIES

A. Coaching Relationships

1. There can be only one head coach; you might not agree with that fact, but it is a fact.

2. Disputes between coaches should never occur in front of the team. That is the reason we have staff meetings.

3. Be prompt for all coaches or team meetings.

4. Second guessing by any coach toward another coach must be avoided at all costs. Express your views during staff meetings only.

5. We will utilize the chain of command. Matters must go through me.

6. Coaches should strive to learn the entire offense and defense. It is the coach’s responsibility to know exactly what changes in techniques are being used by the other members of the staff. Changes must result from joint discussion and decisions of the head coach.

7. Techniques of offense and defense must conform within the philosophy of the overall offense and defense.

8. The main objective of an assistant coach is to lend all his efforts to make the program and team more successful.

9. Remember: We are all in this together.

B. Relations with Administrators

1. Administrators should always work through the head coach; never from the assistant up.

2. Suggestions and decisions should come to the head coach’s attention first.

3. Requests or recommendations will be by the head coach.

C. Relationships with the Squad

1. Praise rather than criticism is a far more effective coaching technique. If players need to be pushed, don’t wait for the head coach to do it. The push, drive, and enthusiasm comes from the assistant coaches.

2. Be realistic and consistent in disciplining players.

3. Be consistent in your relations with players. The players have to know what to expect from you behavior every day.

4. Remember, there is no such thing as democracy in coaching.

5. Treat the team as men, not boys.

6. Always make sure that a player knows that you are for him rather than against him. After practice encourage the player you have been the hardest on in your criticism.

7. Dismissals will come from the head coach. A coach may request a player be dismissed from the team. A conference will then be held with the staff.

8. Quitting: Any player who desires to quit the team must first talk to his position coach and then confer with the head coach.
 

D. Relationships with College Staffs

1. Avoid relating information on opponents and use discretion in discussing game plan or changes in offense or defense.

2. When recommending a player, keep in mind we must retain our credibility at all times.

3. Don’t sell recruiters a phony bill of goods.

4. Help recruiters whenever possible; go out of your way to do so.

5. Sell our program so that they become a friend of the program.

E. Professional Attitude

1. Attendance at clinics should be viewed as a primary tool in improving your coaching techniques. Take notes, and bring back new ideas to discuss with the entire staff.

2. Seek out information to improve yourself as a coach.

3. Promote the program whenever possible.

G. Relationships with Parents

1. As a general rule, parents would rather talk on the phone than in person. The best approach to an irate parent is to talk to that person face to face. Don’t make an enemy, but turn him or her into a friend of the program.

2. Don’t hesitate to refer parents to the head coach, but first inform the head coach of the situation. Don’t allow the head coach to be blindsided.

3. Never comment on the ability of another team member in front of a parent.

4. Make a point, if the schedule permits, visit with the parent at the close or beginning of practice.

H. Relationship with the Faculty

1. Try to develop a good relationship with other members of the faculty. We need their support.

2. Often times, teachers will seek out your opinion on the character or behavior of some player. Many times your comments may crystallize their opinion of the player. Avoid making negative comments about that player.

PHILOSOHPY OF PRACTICE FOR COACHES

1. Coaches are expected to be dressed and in office or locker room one half hour before the team reports to the field.

2. Do not socialize on the field; get your drills ready – bags, dummies, balls, etc.

3. Work with every player who comes on the field. Do not allow them to go unnoticed.

4. Be properly dressed.

5. If you have “jumped on” a player pretty good, be sure to talk with him after practice.

6. Do not allow the team room to resemble a trash dump. Maintain pride in everything we do.

7. Do not run off right after practice. Stay until practice has been discussed and the head coach has given his final comments.

8. Do not accept anything less than perfection. Do not overlook a thing!

9. Hustle the players from drill to drill and from area to area – jog with them.

10. Know where you belong. Be waiting for the players.

11. All players will be properly dressed with chin straps fastened after crossing onto the football field.

12. Only accept “yes sir” or “no sir” from the players when on the field.

13. You can’t “fire up” the players if you are not “fired up” yourself.

14. Don’t be a spectator; you are hired to coach and teach.

15. If it is extremely hot, be cognizant of potential heat exhaustion cases.

16. Strive to improve your phase of coaching constantly.

17. Each player must believe that he is a better performer after every practice session.

18. Strive to make you group the best on the field.

19. Don’t argue or discuss problems on the field with other coaches.

20. Don’t lose your poise or confidence out on the field or any other place.

21. Our practices must be tough mentally and physically. We need to prepare our team for all situations they may encounter in a game.

22. Everything on the practice field must be done with exceptional quickness.

23. Give the players “little secrets” or “cues” to help them.

24. Pay strict attention to the schedule. Do not abuse the time allotted for each segment.

25. Don’t relax during pre-practice, kick game or flex. It is all important or else we would not be doing it.

26. Breed confidence into our team.

27. Players must respect you. This can only be done if they have a feeling for you.

28. Address every coach with Coach ____________, no first names.

29. If we are consistent regarding the time practice is dismissed, then we can always demand that the players report for practice on time.

30. If you are tired, push forward like you would expect your players to do.