Post by wildcats542 on Oct 21, 2024 3:03:08 GMT
a head football coach these would be the expectations that assistants would have to meet:
Lead by Example: I believe the best a person can do for the younger generations is do well for themselves to show others a great model on how to be in life. In turn, others can do well for themselves after seeing consistent model. In coaching there's no difference. An assistant coach needs to do everything that he expects from his players, at the bare minimum. If what you preach is not modeled consistently through your actions, then your words hold no validity. Being able to earn the respect and trust with your athletes ties directly toward how they view you morally.
Be Reliable: As an assistant coach there is a need for reliability. A coach must be a person that his fellow assistants, the head coach, and his players can rely on. What that entails is showing up for meetings at the designated time, sticking to your commitments, and showing up everyday for the betterment of the team. This team requires coaches to be there for the athletes as people first. This could mean being there for an athlete as a mentor on and off the field.
Trust/Loyalty: On a team and in life in general the main way to connect is by strengthening relationships. The whole team should be comfortable enough to trust one another. This trust is the glue that holds the relationship together. Coaches need to be able to make bonds with their players. Knowing and understanding them as people before athletes. This takes time and consistency. As a coach we should continue to strengthen our relationships with our players and our peers. Loyalty is a product of trust. Once trust is established in a relationship Loyalty to that is reciprocated in the relationship. The stronger the bond between players and players, coaches and coaches, and players and coaches the greater the loyalty to one another as the trust has already been established. Coaches must trust their players, and vice versa. Once a player trusts and is loyal to you they are eager to learn from you and do their best for the whole of the program. For a player the main reason they play is by being trusted to make the correct decisions on the field. Another form of loyalty expected from the assistant coach is to the program. There should be no other ulterior motives besides wanting to be the best coach they can be for the sake of the players and the program. A coach for himself only is a coach for no one. Trust and Loyalty are vital skills needed to be a successful coach and tem in general.
Passion: In order to connect to fellow coaches and players an assistant must be passionate about his position. A coach should come to work everyday for the simple fact that they love their job, their life, and of course football. Let the excitement be shown through every word spoken. Athletes feed off this energy. It's infectious when a coach as good energy and thoroughly enjoys his job. This speaks volume to all around. Show up everyday with love and enthusiasm.
Prepared: In order to be a coach on this staff there must be a focus on the fine details. Preparation is held in a high regard. The more prepared team usually comes out on top at the end of the game. For a coach knowing your role and being confident in the work being put in weekly is essential. If a coach is prepared it makes it easier to get the athletes prepared. There cannot be any slacking or missing keys on film. Preparation is what wins games and helps the whole team come together when striving for a common goal.
2. Expectations of an Assistant Coach & the Importance of Loyalty
As the head high school football coach I outline the following expectations of my assistant coaches regardless of level (HS or MS) or title on staff…
1. Be the champion for your position!
1. This is probably the number 1 thing I demand from my assistants. I want them to be the biggest advocate for all the players in their position group. I want them to build professional, positive relationships with their players. They are working to build up (confidence, skills, behavior, etc) the athletes in their charge. Let me, as the head coach, be the “bad cop”, they are always to be the “good cop.”
2. No “Yes Men” wanted but must be a good teammate!
1. I tell all my assistants that I intentionally hire people with different personalities, beliefs, and skills for a reason. I want and expect them to see things differently than me. I want fresh, new, exciting ideas. I want different views on problems and many ideas on how to solve them. To me this is the biggest area where an assistant coach adds value to the staff. However, only 1 decision can be made and once it is made “we” as a staff made it. Everyone supports it, buys into, and owns the results that come from it. Undermining, blaming others, or “passing the buck” will not be tolerated.
3. Be Present!
1. I ask my assistant coaches to be present as much as possible. Make an effort to be at off-season workouts, often this were the foundation of player-coach relationships start. There is less pressure and demand on the athlete and the coaches, which allows for a more natural relationship to form. I ask them to go see their players in other activities as well. Go to a wrestling match, basketball game, or track meet. Your presence shows our players that you are invested in their success as a person, more than just their performance on the football field. In season, you are present at everything (practices, meetings, games, etc) and giving your best to the players in your charge (being their champion and coaching your tail off).
4. One Voice, One Message!
1. Finally, all coaches must be on board with the vision and mission of the football program set forth by the head coach. All coaches must be teaching the principles and values that allow players to build habits that lead to success in all areas of their life. These messages are the same from the youth program to the middle school program, and finally cemented at the high school level. All coaches must know the core values of the program and consistently deliver the same messages every time.
5. Be a Servant!
1. We as coaches are here to serve our players and help serve one another. Don’t ignore potential problems with your athletes. Address potential problems early, don’t let things fester. You also serve your athletes by giving them your best every day. Be here on time, be prepared, and constantly give feedback. You must also look for ways to serve each other. If you see a job that needs done, do it. Don’t wait to be asked, take the initiative.
6. Be Passionate!
1. Coach with passion! Let your love of football and your players come through in your coaching. You should also be a football junky! You should let your passion drive your knowledge by gaining new ideas, new drills, or new techniques.
7. Loyalty Is Vital!
1. Nothing deteriorates trust between two people than a breach of loyalty. This is the same between any relationship on this team (player-coach, assistant coach-assistant coach, assistant coach-head coach). As a team it is important we stand together in everything we do. We win together, we lose together. Loyalty is also the key element to allow the flow of open, honest communication and collaboration. Finally, loyalty does not mean a lack of accountability. Problems and negative behaviors will not be overlooked or dismissed using loyalty as a scapegoat.
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DEFENSIVE PRIORITIES
Xavier
For my Defensive philosophy and based on my experience playing and coaching, I believe the most success I have had is with a 4-2-5 hybrid system. With this system, I have found that I can use more Defensive back or linebackers depending (in the most common cases a Nickelback personnel) on the down and distance. This also allows me to have more speed players on the field that provide more pass coverage but does not take away from run stop responsibility. I also like how the 4-2 can allow me to stem in a 3 front as well as well as a 4-3 if needed.
My defense will emphasis players that are:
1. Aggressive- the ability to dominate every inch and every play
2. Reactive- the ability to know how to defeat what is in front of them
3. Disciplined- the ability to control their emotions and make decision for the best interest of the team
4. Accountable - being willing to do what is needed for the team’s success
For the pursuit drill, I will use the rabbit chase drill. The defense will group 11 guys at a time, with 3 offensive players on the other side: 2 fast receivers and a QB. The QB will simulate a snap and drop into coverage. and the Receivers will both line up as RB that will run to the flats for a reception. Once he snaps the D line will get off as fast as they can an take 3 steps up field. After their two steps, they will chop their feet until the QB chooses which side he will throw the ball. Also on the snap, the LB and DB will simulate a pass drop. The QB will throw the ball to the designated receiver in the flat then sprint straight down the sideline. The D-linemen will open their hips and pursuit working flat down the line and transition to an angle to stay in front of ball carrier. The LB and DB will pursuit working downhill at an angle that will allow them to finsih across the face of the ball carrier. The purpose of this drill is to work the timing when to take the right angle on ball carriers and to force ball carriers to the sideline.
For a run simulation, The QB will pass the ball, but instead, he would hand the ball off to one of the receivers and they will choose a gap to run through. The D lineman will then Open hips and coral to the ball. Whichever gap the runner chooses to go through, that Defensive linemen is responsible for stopping the run by working his "wrap up' technique and the entire Defense will coral to the ball through their respected gaps and pursue.
The key points this pursuit drill emphasis is:
1. Recognition and Redirection
2. working flat down to utilize sideline
3. Pursuit angels
4. Working across the ball carriers face
5. Wrapping up
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Defensive Gameplan
Matthew Puente
In our program we run a 4-2-5. It is a little different than the typical 4-2-5 we try to remain as balanced as possible. In our system our outside backers or invert defenders are called dog safeties. These guys are crucial to the entire defense as we ask them to be hybrid defenders. They are usually some of our best and most athletic guys on the team. They can step in like a linebacker and stop the run or they can play in space and help out tremendously in the pass game. They have to be the best of both worlds. Kind of a fortunate and unfortunate thing is this is how our guys are built. We don't have many 6 foot linebackers walking around to clog the middle or speedsters out on the outside able to be lock down corners. But we do have some really athletic 5'7-5'10 buys that are great tacklers and can play in space pretty well. Our defense is built around them and what they can do.
Front 6 - Defensive line & line backers all have gap responsibility. It is their job to clog up the middle and make any tackles that try to come at them. They are making the play in the backfield or forcing the ball carrier to bounce.
Dog safeties - clean up anything that is left over. Outside contain that the front has strung out to the outside. Make plays in space.
Cornerbacks & free safety - play coverage. Free safety also runs the alley and cleans up anything left over.
Our defense is based on getting hats to the ball. Take care of your responsibility first and once we know ball is gone or on the move, get to the ball! Every play at practice must end with 11 helmets to the ball. On passes linemen have to get to the ball and on runs the secondary must get to the ball. We stress effort and urgency, good things happen when we have great effort and get to the ball with urgency.
Rather than a pursuit drill daily we do a change of direction drill that has a pursuit aspect to it. If differs because we do not have different landmarks for different positions. The point of this drill is to have constant movement and get in as many reps with different units as possible. EVERYONE goes through this drill. 1st defense, 2nd defense, jv defense, freshmen defense, and everyone else. There is 1 defense unit on the ball at once facing one defensive coach who is leading drill. To his left and right on the sideline are a coach waiting as well as 2 more coaches 20 yard from them, on sidelines as well. After given the defensive call, on the snap defense gets into their gaps/blitz/drops coach blows a whistle and everyone hits their chest on the ground, they are responsible for popping up as fast as possible. As they are getting back to their feet the coach leading the drill throws the ball to one of the four coaches. Either down the line to left or right or down the field left or right. Every player needs to get their eyes up and find the ball asap and get there. once all players get to the ball, they break it down and jog back. I like this drill because it is a front & stunt review, recognition drill, effort drill, and angles for pursuit have to be used as well. We can get a bunch of reps in fast and get everyone through the drill.
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Defensive Philosophy
Coach Fry
During my time as a defensive coordinator and head coach I have run several different defensive schemes. I started out running a traditional 4-4 and then moved to a 4-3. After a few years, I started running a hybrid 4-4/4-3 scheme that would adjust to offensive personnel. This is when most teams in our league were still running traditional wing t and power i schemes. As teams have moved more to spread offensives I have been running a 3-4/4-2-5 hybrid system. This has allowed our teams to put more speed on the field and get away from traditional molds for defensive positions. Additionally, being a school that lacks depth of offensive & defensive lineman in recent years, this scheme allows for playing less lineman both ways. Finally, by using more linebacker/safety type bodies it allows us to have players have skills to be an edge rusher and potentially cover a slot wr. This flexibility and combination of skills allows us to run many different man and zone blitz concepts.
Defensively, we have four tenets that we live by.
1. Tackling - most of tackling is about heart & desire, be a guy that WANTS to make the tackle
2. Run! Everywhere - your importance to our defense is determined by how close you are to the ball at the end of every play! Play with urgency they have the ball and we need it back…NOW!
3. Be Accountable - know your role, execute your role with maximum speed & aggression. Know your opponent
4. Make the Big Play - don’t wait for the right time or situation to make a play. ATTACK the ball every time the offense puts it into play.
To drill these tenets, I have used a variety of team and group pursuit drills. However, my favorite pursuit drill combines is done in position groups and combines several aspects that we live by. To set up I place 5 trash cans across the LOS to mimic the line. Next, I place 3 step-over bags 5, 10, & 15 yards in front of the trash cans on EACH hash. Then I place a coach with a football at the end of the line of bags. Finally, I have players hold each step-over bag with their inside arm as they stand outside of each hash.
To start the drill I split the remaining defensive players (those not holding bags) into 4 groups: lineman, linebackers, safeties, and cornerbacks. When I call their position group 4 players will line up over each can representing the guards and tackles in their proper defensive stance. When I snap the ball (and reinforce watching the ball), all 4 players will do a grass drill. As they are getting back to their feet I point the football in toward one hash or the other. The first player to arrive at the first bag (at the 5 yard) must tackle it using proper leverage and form. The next player will tackle the 10 yard bag and the third will tackle the bag at the 15 yard mark. The final player will circle the coach and then find a scoop the a fumbled ball (from the coach at the end). After each of the 3 players makes their tackle they must get up and sprint back past the initial LOS (mimics blocking for the player that recovered the fumble). The player that recovers the ball must also sprint it past the LOS. As soon as the group crosses the LOS the next group is called and players are on the ball ready to go.
I love this drill because it incorporates…
1. Running to the ball
2. Not chasing tail (following directly behind another teammate in pursuit)
3. Tackling with leverage
4. Getting a turnover (fumble)
5. Turning the turnover into a big play (getting off the turf to return the fumble)
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Pre-Season Parent meetings
Mario
Below is my mission and vision along with expectations for the coaching staff, parents, players, and community. Starting a new program with open dialogue along with clear and concise communication on both ends is the key to a successful program.
Mission
The Football program is to create an atmosphere and environment where our players will have a better chance to be successful in life through their involvement in our program. This
program will use the game of football to develop the scholars, character, and physical talents of the players involved in the program.
Vision
The Football program has already established itself as a program with tradition.
Following the plan of committing ourselves to preparation, will put our program in the position to take the next step towards being a District and State Championship Team. Through academic success, accountability, and character our program will be able to build champions on and off the
field.
Academic Responsibilities of Coaches
Teach proper time management skills
Maintain constant communication with faculty, staff, and guardians
Praise and reward academic achievements.
Monitor athlete’s grades and classroom behavior throughout the year
Facilitate tutoring/study sessions for student-athletes in need during practice.
Abide by the eligibility standards set forth by the student handbook.
Thoroughly understand any special academic needs of student-athletes.
Administration Expectations
The administration will be expected to:
Provide feedback
Complete a pre and post-season evaluation
Provide a safe and supportive environment
Assist with hiring assistant coaches
Hold coaches to a higher standard
Provide professional development opportunities
Coaches Expectations
All coaches are expected to:
Develop the character of the players you coach. To do so, you must provide a positive
example
Be prompt to all meetings and practices. We can never have kids or parents waiting on
their coach to arrive or release practice. If you are on time you are late, if you are early your own
time.
Be organized for all practice and meetings. Have a plan for what you are doing.
Support your coach and all programs to the public. Disagreements should be kept behind
closed doors.
Be positive with your kids.
Be positive and professional when communicating with players and adults
Coach the fundamentals of your position
Demand 100% effort from all players
Hold your kids accountable when they cannot follow our rules, school rules, or teachers’
instructions.
Assist with all fundraising events Assist with coaching 9 th grade and junior varsity team Required to lock up at least one day a week
Players Expectations
Players are expected to:
Players will be prepared for practice and games with all proper attire and equipment.
Players will be expected to give full attention during training sessions and games.
Players are expected to always work hard to help improve skills and understanding of the
game.
Players should always be courteous of other players and teammates.
It is expected that all players always exemplify and demonstrate good sportsmanship.
Players are expected to be respectful of their coaches, officials and opponents.
Players are required to carry exceptional grades in school while being a distinguished
athlete.
Parents/Community Expectations
Parents and Community members are expected to:
Parents are expected to get players to practice and games on time, as well as pick up
players timely.
All parents are expected to carry proper sideline behavior.
Parents should not yell instructions from the sideline and allow the coaches to properly
instruct.
If late to practice or a game, parents are expected to notify the coaching staff immediately
and ensure their player is properly prepared with attire, equipment and ready to play.
Parents should notify the coaching staff if school grades are below an acceptable level.
Parents are required to fulfill financial commitments to the team and club. If a financial
hardship presents itself, parents are expected to communicate this information to the
coaching staff or team manager.
Parents should be supportive and recognize the value and importance of volunteers, coaching staff, team managers, referees, and officials.
Do not scold or criticize your child after a challenging game. Encourage them and be
supportive.
Be a role model and example to your child by exemplifying good sportsmanship at all
times.
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Leadership is the topic of the day
Being the head football coach the expectations that assistants would have to meet:
Lead by Example: I believe the best a person can do for the younger generations is do well for themselves to show others a great model on how to be in life. In turn, others can do well for themselves after seeing consistent model. In coaching there's no difference. An assistant coach needs to do everything that he expects from his players, at the bare minimum. If what you preach is not modeled consistently through your actions, then your words hold no validity. Being able to earn the respect and trust with your athletes ties directly toward how they view you morally.
Be Reliable: As an assistant coach on the BUHS coaching staff there is a need for reliability. A coach must be a person that his fellow assistants, the head coach, and his players can rely on. What that entails is showing up for meetings at the designated time, sticking to your commitments, and showing up everyday for the betterment of the team. This team requires coaches to be there for the athletes as people first. This could mean being there for an athlete as a mentor on and off the field.
Trust/Loyalty: On a team and in life in general the main way to connect is by strengthening relationships. The whole team should be comfortable enough to trust one another. This trust is the glue that holds the relationship together. Coaches need to be able to make bonds with their players. Knowing and understanding them as people before athletes. This takes time and consistency. As a coach we should continue to strengthen our relationships with our players and our peers. Loyalty is a product of trust. Once trust is established in a relationship Loyalty to that is reciprocated in the relationship. The stronger the bond between players and players, coaches and coaches, and players and coaches the greater the loyalty to one another as the trust has already been established. Coaches must trust their players, and vice versa. Once a player trusts and is loyal to you they are eager to learn from you and do their best for the whole of the program. For a player the main reason they play is by being trusted to make the correct decisions on the field. Another form of loyalty expected from the assistant coach is to the program. There should be no other ulterior motives besides wanting to be the best coach they can be for the sake of the players and the program. A coach for himself only is a coach for no one. Trust and Loyalty are vital skills needed to be a successful coach and tem in general.
Passion: In order to connect to fellow coaches and players an assistant must be passionate about his position. A coach should come to work everyday for the simple fact that they love their job, their life, and of course football. Let the excitement be shown through every word spoken. Athletes feed off this energy. It's infectious when a coach as good energy and thoroughly enjoys his job. This speaks volume to all around. Show up everyday with love and enthusiasm.
Prepared: In order to be a coach on this staff there must be a focus on the fine details. Preparation is held in a high regard. The more prepared team usually comes out on top at the end of the game. For a coach knowing your role and being confident in the work being put in weekly is essential. If a coach is prepared it makes it easier to get the athletes prepared. There cannot be any slacking or missing keys on film. Preparation is what wins games and helps the whole team come together when striving for a common goal.
2. Expectations of an Assistant Coach & the Importance of Loyalty
As the head high school football coach I outline the following expectations of my assistant coaches regardless of level (HS or MS) or title on staff…
1. Be the champion for your position!
1. This is probably the number 1 thing I demand from my assistants. I want them to be the biggest advocate for all the players in their position group. I want them to build professional, positive relationships with their players. They are working to build up (confidence, skills, behavior, etc) the athletes in their charge. Let me, as the head coach, be the “bad cop”, they are always to be the “good cop.”
2. No “Yes Men” wanted but must be a good teammate!
1. I tell all my assistants that I intentionally hire people with different personalities, beliefs, and skills for a reason. I want and expect them to see things differently than me. I want fresh, new, exciting ideas. I want different views on problems and many ideas on how to solve them. To me this is the biggest area where an assistant coach adds value to the staff. However, only 1 decision can be made and once it is made “we” as a staff made it. Everyone supports it, buys into, and owns the results that come from it. Undermining, blaming others, or “passing the buck” will not be tolerated.
3. Be Present!
1. I ask my assistant coaches to be present as much as possible. Make an effort to be at off-season workouts, often this were the foundation of player-coach relationships start. There is less pressure and demand on the athlete and the coaches, which allows for a more natural relationship to form. I ask them to go see their players in other activities as well. Go to a wrestling match, basketball game, or track meet. Your presence shows our players that you are invested in their success as a person, more than just their performance on the football field. In season, you are present at everything (practices, meetings, games, etc) and giving your best to the players in your charge (being their champion and coaching your tail off).
4. One Voice, One Message!
1. Finally, all coaches must be on board with the vision and mission of the football program set forth by the head coach. All coaches must be teaching the principles and values that allow players to build habits that lead to success in all areas of their life. These messages are the same from the youth program to the middle school program, and finally cemented at the high school level. All coaches must know the core values of the program and consistently deliver the same messages every time.
5. Be a Servant!
1. We as coaches are here to serve our players and help serve one another. Don’t ignore potential problems with your athletes. Address potential problems early, don’t let things fester. You also serve your athletes by giving them your best every day. Be here on time, be prepared, and constantly give feedback. You must also look for ways to serve each other. If you see a job that needs done, do it. Don’t wait to be asked, take the initiative.
6. Be Passionate!
1. Coach with passion! Let your love of football and your players come through in your coaching. You should also be a football junky! You should let your passion drive your knowledge by gaining new ideas, new drills, or new techniques.
7. Loyalty Is Vital!
1. Nothing deteriorates trust between two people than a breach of loyalty. This is the same between any relationship on this team (player-coach, assistant coach-assistant coach, assistant coach-head coach). As a team it is important we stand together in everything we do. We win together, we lose together. Loyalty is also the key element to allow the flow of open, honest communication and collaboration. Finally, loyalty does not mean a lack of accountability. Problems and negative behaviors will not be overlooked or dismissed using loyalty as a scapegoat.
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Installing the Kicking Game
EVERYDAY! It does not have to be every phase of special teams at each practice, but we must hit special teams every day to help stress the importance of special teams.
Also this is not a time to just get guys in so they can get some snaps. The best players will play and we will use everyone to be successful on special teams. If there is a non-starter that can do what we need them to do on special teams they can give that starter a break, but we will not just be throwing in kids.
All coaches will coach special teams for multiple reasons. First off it is not a one man job, it requires multiple coaches. We will have one coach leading the different special teams, but all coaches will help out so we stress the importance of phases of the game. For example, OC is in charge of punt team, but we may need a defensive coach to help coach up the gunners because there may be a receiver at that position who never plays defense. He will need to know how to break down, track, and make a tackle.
Break down for special teams:
Kickoff - Secondary coach
Punt - OC
Punt return/block - DC
Kick off return - WR
Field goal/PAT - OLine
Dividing up our special team this way are for simplicity reasons. For example, offensive coordinator is in charge of changing from offensive personnel to punt personnel. He already knows who is on the field and knows what we need to change to have a successful punt. Same with DC, knows what needs to change to have a successful punt return from our starting defense. Kickoff will probably use some starting defensive skill guys so our DB coach will likely be familiar with them. Likewise, the return team is likely to have offensive skill players that our WR coach will know.
Each coach will be required to come into each week with a special teams scouting report. Letting our players know the plan for the week and what we are and aren't going to do. Are we attacking a punt or setting up for a return, pooch kicking or kicking it deep on kick off, or middle or right return for kick off return.
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Rule Changes Coming in 2024
College football realignment 2024, explained: How every FBS conference will look by school
College football realignment 2024, explained: How every FBS conference will look by school
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Will you recognize college football in 2024?
Another round of realignment is here. Texas and Oklahoma will be in the SEC. USC and UCLA are in the Big Ten.
There were more shakeups in 2023. Oregon and Washington are headed to the Big Ten. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are heading to the Big 12. On Friday, the ACC added Cal, Stanford and SMU. Television, the 12-team College Football Playoff, NIL and the transfer portal have changed roster management.
Army became the latest team to move. The Black Knights announced they are headed to the American Athletic Conference on Wednesday.
Sporting News gets your preemptively ready for 2024. Which teams are in those 10 conferences? How many independents are left? How many conference games? Which conferences have divisions? It’s all covered in here (for now).
Here is a look at how college football will look in 2024:
MORE: What 12-team CFP will look like in 2024
How many schools are in the FBS in 2024
A total of 134 schools will compete in the FBS in 2024-25. Sam Houston and Jacksonville State make the jump from the FCS in 2023, and Kennesaw State will join the FBS in 2024.
Which schools compete in the Power 5?
A total of 69 schools will compete in Power 5 conferences in 2024, though the future of the Pac-12 is in doubt. A look at the makeup of those conferences:
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Implementing the Kicking Game
Carl
It's critical for head coaches and kick coordinators to realize that, much like any other facet of football, the success of the kicking game rests on a methodical and organized approach. Let's dissect the roles and obligations associated with putting the kicking game into practice, taking into account player personnel, coach responsibilities, and coaching staff assignments.
Coaching Staff Assignments:
1. Kicking Coordinator (Head Coach):
• Punts, kickoffs, field goals, and extra points are just a few of the things that the kicking coordinator needs to be well conversant with.
- They have to decide when to kick, when to go for it, and how to counter the opponent's approach in addition to creating the overall plan for the kicking game.
- The philosophy and objectives of the kicking game must be explained to the players and coaching staff as a whole by the kicking coordinator.
2. Special Teams Coach:
• The kicking and coverage units' daily drills and skills will be the special teams coach's main focus.
- To hone their skills, they will collaborate closely with punters, returners, and kickers.
- To make sure that players are physically ready for their duties in the kicking game, the special teams coach and the strength and conditioning coach should work together.
3. Assistant Coaches:
• You may give each assistant coach a specific task, depending on how big the coaching team is. For instance, one coach might be in charge of the kickoff squad and another might be in charge of field goals and extra points.
- In order to execute the entire plan and make sure that players are aware of their responsibilities, assistant coaches should collaborate closely with the special teams coach and the kicking coordinator.
Expectations and Implementation:
• Quality over Quantity: Stress that distance is not as important as accuracy and technique. It is imperative that players comprehend.
d the significance of efficiently carrying out their tasks, instead than attempting to accomplish too much.
• Film Study: Urge coaches to watch game tape on a frequent basis in order to pinpoint areas that need work. This will assist in modifying player assignments and strategy in light of the opponent's deficiencies.
• Player Personnel:
• Put accuracy, consistency, and pressure tolerance first for punters and kickers.
- For covering units, consider traits like football IQ, speed, and tackling prowess.
- Concentrate on ball security, vision, and quickness for returners.
Weekly Time Allocation: Every week, allocate a substantial amount of practice time to the kicking game. Daily meetings and drills for special teams may be part of this. Here is an example distribution:
• Monday: Watch the movie again and make plans for the next opponent.
- Tuesday and Wednesday: Special teams rehearse on concentrating on particular methods and tasks.
- Thursday: Review and improve the special teams plays
- Friday: Last-minute preparations and walkthroughs.
- Saturday: The day of the game, when the players carry out the kicking strategy.
Motivation: It is your responsibility as the head coach to teach your coaching staff the value of the kicking game. Explain how crucial plays made by special teams, field position, and changes in momentum may all have a big impact on the result of a game. Urge coaches to instill a sense of pride in their players' involvement in the kicking game.
Recall that attitude and dedication are just as important to the success of the kicking game as skill. To be most effective, coaches and players should have the same grasp of the "want to" and "how to" components of the game.
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Special Teams Considerations
Ryan
Special Teams can be the game-changing component in any game. A blocked kick, a returned kick for a score, or a punt downed inside the five can all change the momentum of a game. Within our practice, we will spend between 20 and 30 minutes on special teams daily. The Special Team units worked during practice depending upon the day's emphasis. For example, On defensive emphasis days, we will work kick-off, punt return, and block, and then when we switch to offense, we will mix in PAT/FG.
Since Special Teams are essential to the game, we will play our best players on these units. Our athletes are expected to keep themselves on these units, and if they need a break, they get their break on offense or defense.
Within our practices, position coaches are responsible for specific groups of players, while the special teams coordinator is responsible for the overall scheme. Below is how we set up responsibilities for each special teams unit.
PAT/FG
TE/FB Coach is an expert in long snapping and works with all long snappers. He will also work with TEs and Wings when we join the entire group.
The OL Coach will work with all offensive linemen to ensure solid protection.
Our QB Coach will work with holders.
We are lucky to have a coach who works with kickers all practice.
PUNT TEAM
TE/FB Coach will again work with long snappers.
Our LB Coach/ Defensive coordinator works with all "Offensive Lineman" on the punt team. These athletes are usually linebackers or very athletic defensive lineman-type kids.
Our DB coach works with all gunners.
Our Special Teams Coordinator works with the Personal Protector. He is responsible for all protections, fakes, and other schematical specifics.
The kicking coach will work with punters.
Kick-off Team
Defensive Coaches will work with all kick-off team members
The kicking Coach will again work with kickers.
Kick-off Return
TE/FB Coach will work with the front four and second two (Our Front six). We run a shield protection with the front four and a trap with the second two.
Our Special Teams Coordinator works with the middle three in our return. These three are the most physical blockers within the return and must make their blocks happen to have any success with the return.
Our WRs Coach works with our returners.
PAT/FG and Punt Block Units
These are part of our defense, and our defensive staff is responsible for these units.
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Character & Leadership
David
A character and leadership program has been associated with some of the most successful programs that I have experienced. I feel it is sometimes assumed that your athletes will have learned physical and moral characteristics from their home or involvement in athletics. I have recognized the assumption as a huge mistake when taking over a program. Not all communities or athletes come with the same experience. Even if you are involved with a community that hold positive leadership and characteristic skills, it is important for the team to understand the vision, mission, and values of the program to have a common purpose. I really do not have any cons outside of time. However even with time, I feel for a program to maximize its time, efficiency and growth there is a need for leadership and character development. Otherwise you will never get the most out of an athlete.
To implement our leadership program I will provide a Fountain Valley Football Handbook at the beginning of the school year for our players to review. The handbook will provide our vision, mission, foundational values and guiding principles in support of have common characteristics and goals.
February- April Weekly Monday Morning 20-30 Minute Meetings
Meeting 1- Introduce Vision, Mission, Values (4) and Guiding Principles (6). Clearly communicate our purpose.
Meeting 2- Communicate and define the Vision and Mission of our program.
Meeting 3- Communicate and define Value 1 (Faith)
Meeting 4- Communicate and define Value 2 (Pride)
Meeting 5- Communicate and define Value 3 (Courage)
Meeting 6- Communicate and define Value 4 (Poise)
Meeting 7- Communicate and define Guiding Principle 1 (Honesty)
Meeting 8- Communicate and define Guiding Principle 2 (Accountability)
Meeting 9- Communicate and define Guiding Principle 3 (Polished Fundamentals)
Meeting 10- Communicate and define Guiding Principle 4 (Brotherhood)
Meeting 11- Communicate and define Guiding Principle 5 (Servant Leadership)
Meeting 12- Communicate and define Guiding Principle 6 (Passion)
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Leadership and Character Academy
Joshua
I believe that teaching leadership skills to my football players is essential. Oftentimes, whether they deserve to be or not, football players are looked at as leaders (or least major influencers) of a school’s culture. Teaching players how to become positive, respectful, and good stewards of the influence is a must. Developing great leaders within the school, translates to developing good leaders on the field. Other positives that come out establishing a leadership academy are that you develop common goals for your team. Common expectations and standards also develop throughout your team as a result of these academies.
Some negatives that come from running these types of programs is that if they are not inclusive enough you can alienate players. Personally, I often in the early stages of my leadership program I will talk to all my players. I often refrain from selecting captains or naming “leaders” until we hit our summer schedule. I like to see which players step up and lead in the winter and spring without formal titles. Another negative is that these programs demand more time from the head coach in the off season. The coach must develop the material and find time to meet with the players outside of other off-season time commitments.
My program usually starts the Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. In combination with teaching our core lifts and getting starting weights for the weight program, I also focus on goal setting. I first teach players how to set individual goals. After our initial round of testing players will set 2 goals; a weight room goal and a position goal, that they will commit to for the next 7 weeks. After individual goals are set, we will then set 3 team goals. All of the individual goals and team goals will then get posted on our “Wall of Accountability,” which hangs in the hallway leading into the weight room (so they have to walk by them everyday). Lessons during this stretch occur weekly during our Monday-Thursday after school lifting. After 7 weeks (matches our testing cycle), players will continue to assess their progress towards their individual goals and; if necessary, adjust or set new goals.
Starting in March our leadership meetings increase to twice a week as we implement 2 morning team meetings a week to go along with our after school lifting. These meetings occur every Tuesday and Thursday from 6-7am prior to the start of school. They include leadership messages, mat drills, and offensive/defensive installation. Also, starting in March I and the offensive coordinator begin our Sunday QB leadership and fundamental training. We open this up to all QBs in grades 6-12. We meet for an hour every Sunday with this group. This phase lasts until the end of May when we hold our spring practice.
After spring practice we jump right into our summer schedule and we begin our focus on getting ready for the season to begin.
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waggle O-Line Rules
The waggle pass play is an excellent play-action passing play that will catch an over-aggressive defense off guard. This play has the QB fake one way and roll out the other way. This is one of the best misdirection pass plays in football. The waggle pass play is utilized on all levels of football.
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Special Teams Organization
As a head coach, I have divided special team responsibilities two different ways in the past. Despite the two different approaches I still make sure all coaches have a stake and responsibility in the kicking game. The first way I have assigned responsibilities is to assign one of my coaches the title of “special teams coordinator.” It was this coach’s job to scout the opponent’s special teams, assemble the kicking game scouting report, and plan out the special teams’ practice time in the practice schedule. With this format, I would then assign the offensive coaches to support the coordinator during “offensive special teams” (kick return, punt, fg/xpt) and defensive coaches to help with the others. The support would involve coaching the breakout pieces of each special team, setting up a scout look, and/or giving input on personnel. I have used this method when I have had a coach with some experience that I would like to start mentoring them as a coordinator. Assigning them as the special teams’ coordinator helps them learn how to plan practice time, build scouting materials, and lead portions of practice.
The second way I have divided special teams was by assigning each coach an individual unit to run. Something along the lines as listed below…
• Head Coach - Kickoff
• Offensive Coordinator (OC) - Punt
• Defensive Coordinator (DC) - Punt Return
• Positional Coach (O & D Line) - FG/PAT
• Positional Coach (WR/S) - Kickoff Return
• Positional Coach (RB/DB) - FG/PAT Block
In this model, I as the head coach assigned which special teams would be practiced each day and the assigned coach would be responsible for planning that portion of practice. The other coaches were all responsible for supporting that coach in any way that was needed for the coach to execute their plan for their allotted time. I have used this way when I have some younger/”newer” coaches on staff and I want to create buy-in and ownership from them. This method makes everyone feel “in charge” of something and helps everyone feel like they have a say.
My philosophy on special teams is that we want to use the best athletes that we have to for each situation. Being a 4A school we are large enough usually to have some extra or younger athletes that we can use on special teams. This allows me to situationally rest some of our key starters at times for a play or two on special teams. However, I present it as a way for those non starters and younger players to earn playing time on Friday nights. They are not simply a fill in for a key player, rather they earned the right to be out there in certain situations. With all that said, when there is a key special team play ALL of our best players will be on the field. We typically practice special teams for 30 mins (out of a 2.5 hour practice) on Tuesday and Wednesday. We also make sure that we review all of our special teams during our Thursday pregame practice as we move through our game day script. We run the teams on and
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History of the Air Raid Offense
In American football the air raid offense refers to an offensive scheme popularized by such coaches as Mike Leach, Hal Mumme, Sonny Dykes, and Tony Franklin during their respective tenures at Iowa Wesleyan University, Valdosta State, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Louisiana Tech, and Washington State.
The system is designed out of a shotgun formation with four wide receivers and one running back. The formations are a variation of the run and shoot offense with two outside receivers and two inside slot receivers. The offense also uses trips formations featuring three wide receivers on one side of the field and a single receiver on the other side.
History
The offense first made its appearance when Mumme and Leach took over at Iowa Wesleyan College and Valdosta State University and had success there during the late 1980s and early 1990s.The first exposure into NCAA Division I-A (now FBS) was at the University of Kentucky starting in 1997. There, head coach Hal Mumme and assistant coach Mike Leach helped turn quarterback Tim Couch into a consensus All-American in 1998, and later a first overall NFL draft pick. Leach then served as offensive coordinator at the University of Oklahoma in 1999 before landing the head coaching job at Texas Tech. Shortly into the early 2000s, assistant coaches started landing head coaching jobs such as Chris Hatcher at Valdosta State, Art Briles (first at Houston then Baylor), Sonny Dykes (first at Louisiana Tech, then at California), Ruffin McNeill at East Carolina, Dana Holgorsen at West Virginia, and Kevin Sumlin (first at Houston, then Texas A&M). Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury (Mike Leach's first quarterback at Texas Tech) ran the offense as well. As of 2016, 7 out of the top 10 college leaders in career passing percentages—all above 68.6 percent—were Air Raid quarterbacks.
Air raid system
The scheme is notable for its focus on passing, as 65–75% of the offensive plays are passing plays. The quarterback has the freedom to change the play called audible based on what the defensive team shows him at the line of scrimmage. In at least one instance, as many as 90% of the run plays called in a season were chosen by audible at the line of scrimmage.
An important element in this offense is the offense does not huddle, also known as the No-huddle offense. The offense gets to the line of scrimmage as soon as the previous play ends. The quarterback then diagnoses what the defense is showing and starts the next play quickly. The quarterback is responsible for the audible play calls most of the time. The quick pace of the offense not only allows a team to come back if they are many points behind, but also tires out the defense and keep them off balance by limiting player substitutions.
Another important aspect of the air raid offense is the positioning or split of the offensive linemen. In a conventional offense, the linemen are bunched together fairly tightly but in an air raid offense, linemen are often split apart about a half to a full yard from one another. While in theory this allows easier blitz lanes, it forces the defensive ends and defensive tackles to run further to reach the quarterback for a sack. The quick, short passes offset any blitz that may come. Another advantage is that by forcing the defensive line to widen, it opens up wider than normal passing lanes for the quarterback to throw through, decreasing the chances of having the pass knocked down or intercepted.
Fundamental air raid play concepts are designed to get the ball out of the quarterback's hand quickly, stretch the defense thinly across the field in all directions, and allow the quarterback to key on one defensive player who is forced to make a decision on which receiver to cover in his assigned area. Air raid plays are commonly designed to beat zone coverages, but they also work well against man-to-man defenses since an air raid offense often employs receivers with better than average speed which gives them an advantage in man-to-man coverage.
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History of the Goal Post
Goal Posts in Early Years
In football’s earliest days – and we’re talking Pudge Heffelfinger, pre-1900 days – a field goal was actually more valuable than a touchdown. Under those rules, Justin Tucker’s field goals would notch 5 points, Tyreek Hill’s TDs only 4. Soon both plays were worth 5 points before gradually moving to modern-day scoring by 1912.
When did goal posts move?
The NFL moved the goal posts to the back of the end zone in 1974.
In the NFL’s earliest days, before the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles existed, the league followed the NCAA rule book. Goal posts were on the goal line. When the NCAA moved them to the end zone’s backline in 1927, the NFL followed suit.
In 1933, however, the NFL adopted its own rule book and placed the goal posts back on the goal line. NFL goal posts stayed there until 1974 when they were moved to the back of the end zone.
Not much happened in terms of design and placement for about 30 years. Perhaps the 30-year gap in development is why goal post history isn’t well documented. The goal posts were basically white, “H” style goal posts made of wood or metal.
1945 NFL Championship Goal Posts
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The goal posts made NFL history at least a couple of times in those years. Goal posts determined the outcome of the 1945 NFL Championship Game, but not in the manner of a missed field goal. The game featured perennial contender Washington against the surprising Cleveland Rams. The Rams hosted the affair and played in sub-zero temperatures (-8 degrees). The quarterback matchup featured the great Sammy Baugh against a breakout rookie, Bob Waterfield.
Baugh threw from his own end zone early in the game. He had a wide-open receiver to his left, and that receiver had a blocker in front of him. Cleveland’s defense featured a 12th man, however. The goal posts knocked down Baugh’s pass. By 1945 rules, that counted as a safety for the Rams.
Baugh suffered an injury after completing only 1 of 6 passes. Frank Filchock took over for the Redskins and threw a 38-yard touchdown pass early in the 2nd quarter to put Washington ahead 7-2. Waterfield countered with a 37-yard strike to give Cleveland a 9-7 halftime lead, the goal post’s safety being the difference.
Each team scored a TD in the second half, the Rams extra point failing in the frozen conditions. The Rams won by a 15-14 tally. The number of writers who may have voted the goal posts MVP is lost to history.
Sammy Baugh’s “Safety” Valve is at the 14-second mark
Disputed Field Goal Extends Uprights
The goal posts also factored in the result of the 1965 Western Division Playoff between the Colts and Packers at Lambeau Field. Vince Lombardi signed kicker Don Chandler away from the Giants, ensuring better accuracy than Paul Hornung and Jerry Kramer had provided. Lombardi may have smiled as Chandler lined up to take a last-second attempt to tie the score against the Colts.
The kick went well over the 10-foot upright. NFL rules to this day state that if the ball goes OVER the upright, it’s still good. The refs called the kick good, much to the dismay of the Colts. Chandler’s kick looked quite ugly and had the goal posts been at the back of the end zone like today, the kick would have been at least 6 feet wide.
The posts sat on the goal line in those days, and it’s impossible to tell from the film whether the ball crossed over the upright. The Colts were sure it didn’t. The Packers sided with the refs, who always have the final say. The game became the second-ever playoff to go into overtime (after the 1958 NFL Championship), and the Packers prevailed.
Packers - Packers - Bart Starr holds for Don Chandler in the Green Bay Packers vs. Baltimore Colts football game in 1965. Negative # 653794 PUBLISHED: 12-27-1965, Milwaukee Journal
Bart Starr holds for Don Chandler in the Green Bay Packers vs. Baltimore Colts football game in 1965. Negative # 653794 PUBLISHED: 12-27-1965, Milwaukee Journal
The disputed field goal caused enough controversy that the NFL extended the uprights to 20 feet starting in 1966 and offset them from the goal line a bit. The extension wasn’t much different than what the league did a few years ago after a disputed Justin Tucker field goal topped the Patriots, and the league extended the uprights to 35 feet.
Joel Rottman’s Claim to Fame
Ever broken the middle prongs out of a plastic fork? Joel Rottman did one day over lunch and visualized a concept for goal post improvement.
Added inspiration came while Rottman drove along the highway and noticed curved street lamps. He designed the now famous “sling-shot” look with a curved base. Rottman, a Florida resident, sold the University of Miami on the idea. The goal posts debuted at the Orange Bowl in September 1966.
Jim Trimble, a former Eagles coach who moved to the Canadian Football League, bought into the idea as a partner. He connected Rottman with NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle. Rottman later told the story to the Sun Sentinel: “There was a fellow in the lobby with these orange pylons, but Rozelle wanted to see the goal-post guy first,” Rottman laughed. “He said, ‘Oh, God, we’ve had a committee working on this thing for three years and want to put it back from the goal line to the end line. You show me a picture with 20-foot uprights instead of 10, and I’ll give you a list of all the owner’s names.”
Slingshot Goal Posts Make Their Debut
The goal posts made their NFL debut in 1967, with all teams bought in. Super Bowl 2 (played at the Orange Bowl in Miami) was the first Super Bowl to sport the new posts. Rottman sold his idea to the Rose Bowl for the 1971 “Grandaddy of Them All”, but with one stipulation.
The Rose Bowl didn’t want to spend $1,775 on goal posts only to see them torn down at the end of the game. Rottman guaranteed his goal posts would endure. When jubilant fans spilled onto the field after Jim Plunkett led Stanford to a 27-17 victory over Ohio State, they were in for a big surprise.
Rottman coated the goal posts with motor oil. Not even the brilliant Stanford kids could figure out ways to topple the slippery goal posts.
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Why Did the NFL move the Goal Posts?
In 1974, the NFL moved the goal posts from their offset position to the back of the end zone. Although player safety was a concern, much of it was to discourage long-range field goals. In 2015, the league experimented by narrowing the goal posts for the Pro Bowl. No word on whether the narrower goal posts will become standard.
What was the first Super Bowl with goal posts at the back of the end zone?
Super Bowl IX, played after the 1974 NFL season, was the first Super Bowl played with goal posts at the back of the end zone. The Steelers defeated the Vikings, 16-6.
Last Super Bowl with Goal Posts on Goal Line
Super Bowl VIII was the last Super Bowl with goal posts on the goal line. The Dolphins won their second straight Super Bowl by defeating the Vikings, 24-7. Super Bowl 8 determined the champion for the 1973 NFL season. Miami running back Larry Csonka was voted the MVP of Super Bowl VIII.
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Extra Points – Further Reading
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History of the Goal Post
The History of NFL Goal Posts: Excitement And Danger
Once upon a time the uprights were on the goal line, where receivers used them as picks and the collisions were many.
The cover of the Dec. 14, 1964 issue of Sports Illustrated features an iconic image for a bygone era of the NFL. Charley Johnson, the 26-year-old quarterback of the St. Louis Cardinals, lunges into the end zone. A Browns defender hurls his body over him, and a Cardinals lineman is sandwiched underneath the pile. Chunks of grass fall onto the mangling of limbs at Busch Stadium. And right in the middle of it all is the ultimate occupational hazard: the goal posts.
Most young NFL fans probably don’t know this—and the details certainly surprised this millennial reporter—but the uprights were on the goal line until 1974. And up until 1967, there were actually two metal poles to contend with, as the uprights were shaped like an ‘H.’
“It affected the game quite a bit,” says Johnson, who retired in 1975 and went on to become a chemical engineering professor at his alma mater, New Mexico State.
Using the goal post to his advantage, Charley Johnson sneaks into the end zone.
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Sports Illustrated
When the NFL was founded in 1920, it used the ‘H’ design for its uprights and placed them on the goal line. In 1927, the league moved the posts back 10 yards, to the back of the end zone. The reasoning? That’s what the NCAA did. At the time, the NFL simply followed the college rulebook. But that was short-lived. In 1933, the NFL finally wrote its own rulebook. And in an effort to increase field goal attempts—the general feeling was that there were too many ties—the NFL moved the uprights back to the goal line.
As Ben Austro, author of the popular NFL officiating blog “Football Zebras” notes: “a receiver could use the goalpost as a pick, just as they did with the umpire.”
• 1967 WEEK: The Greatest Player Who Never Was
“The goal line goal post was part of offensive strategy,” says Don Criqui, the famed broadcaster who began calling NFL games in 1967. “It was an extra blocker on goal-one runs and crossing patterns. Receivers Lance Alworth of the Chargers and Bernie Casey of the LA Rams were two of the best I saw at using the goal post to screen defenders on pass patterns. Goal line goal posts brought excitement and danger.”
Adds Johnson: “In the passing game, receivers would grab ahold of the post, spin around, and go the other direction pretty quick. I also used it a couple times on quarterback sneaks, like in that photo in Sports Illustrated, where I could use the goal post as a screen and go on the opposite side of the nose tackle.”
If a pass hit the metal uprights, it would automatically be ruled incomplete. This was famously applied in Super Bowl VII when, in the fourth quarter, Washington quarterback Billy Kilmer missed a wide-open Jerry Smith in the end zone and bounced the ball off the post. The Dolphins won, 14-7, though it should also be noted Kilmer was intercepted three times that day.
“Oh, it happened all the time,” says Johnson. “If you were on your 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-yard line, you drop back and there’s a good chance you’d hit it . . . and usually when I threw it, I did.”
• 1967 WEEK: Brawls, Booze and True Believers—The Saints’ Wild First Season
A new wrinkle was introduced in 1967. Joel Rottman, a retired newspaper distributer and a hobbyist inventor, was having lunch at the Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montreal with his friend, Alouettes coach Jim Trimble. After staring a bit too long at his fork and imagining what it would look like if the two inside prongs were knocked out, Rottman blurted out an idea: what if the football goal post modeled a fork’s shape? According to a 2010 account in the Florida Sentinel, Rottman believed “slingshot” goal posts would be more aesthetically pleasing—and a bit safer. Rottman brandished his new invention at Expo ’67, the world fair held in Montreal, and earned a meeting with NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle.
SI
In the years to come, the kicking game became too commonplace. In 1973, a record 543 field goals were made on 861 attempts—an average of five per game. Field goals accounted for 23% of the scoring that season, compared to 15% in 1969, the NFL’s last year before the AFL-NFL merger. Owners wanted more touchdowns. When players returned from the 1974 strike, they found the goal posts in the back of the end zone, which did the trick to curtail the kicking game. In 1974, only 335 field goals were made—or 15% of the scoring.
It created more offense, too. As Paul Brown told SI in 1974: “The whole end zone is open for pass patterns now; the goalposts were, in effect, another safety man when you got inside the 20. You couldn’t run or pass around them. And it was hard to punt or pass coming out of the end zone.”
For the last 42 seasons, the NFL hasn’t found a reason to revert—and it likely never will given the safety issues.
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Passing Game Install New
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Kade Sundheim Offensive Guard & DL Available
This young man has a lot of potential and is athletic also plays on the Varsity basketball team. Very coachable
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COACHES' STAFF GUIDE:
Developing a 2 ½ hour Practice Schedule
The High School Football Practice Philosophy is a structured and disciplined approach that prioritizes efficiency and excellence. It emphasizes punctuality and adherence to practice timelines, ensuring that every moment is utilized for improvement. The core principles of deliberate preparation and perfect effort underpin this philosophy. Practices are divided into segments to allow coaches to focus on different aspects of the team, recognizing the complexity of the game. Special attention is given to all phases in the game, with the belief that daily practice in is essential for player retention and game preparation.
Football Practice Philosophy
Practice philosophy begins with starting on time and ending on time. There are no wasted opportunities to improve and get what is needed to get done. Football practice philosophy centers on the core principles: deliberate preparation and perfect effort. Practices are structured within two and a half hours, a guideline the league requires per the bylaws.
Practices should be broken down into segments to allow coaches to focus on different aspects of the team. There are many phases of the game and it’s better to break down into segments for learning purposes rather than trying to teach everything at one time. Within the two and a half hours, the team will practice special teams, defense, and offense. The belief is that all phases must be practiced daily to ensure the players can retain all the information required for the game of the week.
Pre-Practice
Pre-practice begins before official practice starts. The expectation is that QBs and centers are practicing exchanges. Depending on the day, QBs will practice their option footwork or play action pass footwork. Other players will practice ball security, offensive or defensive line first steps, or hitting the sled to get warmed up. Each day provides a different opportunity.
Special Teams
After stretching happens, the PAT/Field goal team will practice a few kicks versus no defense and then a few live. Upon conclusion, there will be some live kicks with the defense trying to block the kick. After PAT/FG, a specific special team will practice, depending on the day.
Defense
Defense is always a focal point. There is a different tackling circuit every day. The tackling circuit is low impact, and bags are used. The belief is players are not used to contact, and the more contact opportunities, there will be less hesitation in a game. Similarly, to a baseball or softball player, getting swings in a batting cage and the daily practice will create muscle memory. The Pursuit drill defines our team, emphasizing no matter what happens, you can control your effort. The defensive practice philosophy is Monday is an adjustment day, giving the team a lot of information about the opponent's players, offensive philosophy, formations, and what defensive checks will be. Tuesday is a running game focus, and Wednesday is a passing game focus. Thursday will be a wrap-up day.
Offense
Offensively, the offensive philosophy is the Flexbone. This offense fits the San Mateo High School personnel. It is an offense that most schools rarely see, giving San Mateo the advantage—the focus point of practicing every player versus every front every day. The offense doesn't care who the opponent is. The offense has to prepare for any junk defense that may show up per week. The days are broken into play tracks such as Inside Veer or Midline. Monday is inside veer, base block dive, and belly. Tuesday is the midline day, mid-double, and mid-triple. Wednesday is the pass emphasis day. Half Line is used instead of a traditional team concept. Coaches are used as the reads, and coaches force the QB to make a read, forcing the QB to pitch more than keep. The idea is to get the QB used to pitching the ball regularly so that in the game, it's seamless.
Conclusion
Practice philosophy revolves around deliberate preparation and a perfect effort. These principles are the foundation of our coaching approach and the key to our success on and off the field.
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Interviewing and Program Building Considerations
365 Day Step by Step Four Phase Football Program and Organizational Plan
A successful year-round football program is characterized by a holistic approach to player development, emphasizing skill enhancement, physical conditioning, and team cohesion. With a dedicated coaching staff, tailored training regimens, and a focus on safety and well-being, this program prioritizes the long-term growth of athletes. Periodization ensures a well-structured year, allowing players to progress systematically from the offseason through the preseason and into the competitive season. The program nurtures leadership, mental resilience, and a positive team culture, extending its impact beyond the physical aspects of the sport. In a successful year-round football program, dedication, commitment, and a player-centered approach combine to create an environment where athletes thrive and excel, both on and off the field.
Running a successful year-round football program in college requires a involved approach that encompasses several key elements. First and foremost, it's important to have a dedicated coaching staff with a deep understanding of the game, modern coaching techniques, and a strong commitment to player development. In the college environment, player safety and well-being should be paramount, with comprehensive injury prevention measures and medical support in place. Periodization of training is essential, with structured off-season, preseason, and in-season phases designed to enhance skills, physical conditioning, and game strategies. This planning should be adaptable to cater to individual player needs, considering the diverse positions and skill sets on the team. Furthermore, college football programs should provide a well-rounded experience, integrating academic support, life skills training, and community involvement to prepare student-athletes for success beyond the gridiron.
In addition, effective communication between coaches, players, and support staff is critical. Regular film study and analysis can help players grasp game tactics, make informed decisions, and continuously improve. Also maintaining a positive team culture and fostering leadership within the squad are vital components of success. Successful college football programs should also seek opportunities for competitive engagement, such as intercollegiate games and showcases. Ultimately, a thriving year-round college football program combines rigorous training, comprehensive player support, a commitment to safety, and a focus on holistic player development to achieve success on and off the field starting with the offseason.
The offseason is a critically important phase in any football program. It's during this period that athletes have the opportunity to lay the foundation for their success in the upcoming season. While the football season itself is the time for competition, the offseason is when players can focus on individual skill development, physical conditioning, and team cohesion. It's a time for honing techniques, building strength and agility, and addressing weaknesses. Beyond the physical aspects, the offseason also plays a pivotal role in fostering team camaraderie and a positive culture. This is when leaders emerge, and players can strengthen their mental resilience and commitment to the sport. In essence, the offseason is where championships are won, as the hard work, dedication, and preparation put in during this period directly impact a team's performance when it matters most. Coaches also play a very important role in have a successful program year-round. Part of that is developing a bond with the athletes and recruiting has hard as you coach. Coaching can be challenging but anything worthwhile is. Coaches should be approachable and adaptable to new things and coaching styles. Successful coaches are those who can learn new skills, who are flexible enough to change old ways when change is needed, who can accept constructive criticism and who can critically evaluate themselves (Martens, R 2004).
Coaches play a pivotal role in shaping the success of an offseason in a football program. Their guidance, leadership, and expertise are instrumental in ensuring that players make the most of this critical phase. Coaches provide the necessary structure and direction for offseason training, setting clear goals and expectations for individual player development and team progress. They design tailored training programs that address the specific needs of different positions, emphasizing skill improvement, strength and conditioning, and mental toughness. Coaches also facilitate the development of a positive team culture, promoting accountability, teamwork, and leadership within the squad. Their influence extends beyond the physical aspects of training, as they provide mentorship and instill a sense of commitment and work ethic in their players. Ultimately, the impact of coaches on the offseason is instrumental in determining a football team's readiness and performance when the competitive season arrives. Also having a good relationship with the athletes will build a successful year round program.
Team building is another way to build a successful year-round program in football. In a college football program, team building begins from the moment players step onto the field. It involves building trust, camaraderie, and a shared sense of purpose among teammates. Players learn to communicate effectively, both on and off the field, and to work together seamlessly to achieve common goals. Team building activities such as trust exercises, group challenges, and community service initiatives help players develop a deeper understanding of one another, creating a sense of brotherhood that is crucial for success in a physically and mentally demanding sport like football.
Lastly, to have a successful year-round program everyone has to follow the lead of the head coach and his vision. Jerry Campbell said “There can only be one head coach. The policies and decisions I make affect the entire program and are made with one purpose in mind, and that is to win the Frontier Conference and National Championship.” The head coach serves as the team's chief strategist, decision-maker, and motivator, setting the overall vision, philosophy, and direction. Allowing the head coach to take the lead fosters consistency in coaching, strategy, and leadership, which is crucial for player development and team success. It also enables players to focus on their roles and responsibilities, trusting that there is a guiding force at the wheel. When players, assistant coaches, and support staff trust in the head coach's leadership, it creates a sense of purpose and cohesion that is essential for success in competitive sports. Ultimately, letting the head coach lead allows the team to work cohesively and maximize its potential.
References
Campbell, J., “From Interview to Assistant to Head Football Coach" JCFB Multimedia Instructional Guides.
Martens, R. (2004 or 2012). Successful coaching. (3rd or 4th ed.). Champagne, IL: Human Kinetics.
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Coach Campbell
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In Season 7 Day Organization
Game Planning:
1. Study the Opponent:
o Analyze game footage of the upcoming opponent to understand their strengths and weaknesses.
o Identify key players, their playing styles, and any patterns in their strategy.
2. Define Offensive Strategy:
o Develop a game plan that leverages your team's strengths against the opponent's weaknesses.
o Consider ways to align and motion to another formation to gain leverage against your opponent's defensive tendencies.
3. Defensive Strategy:
o Create a defensive game plan that aims to counter the strengths of the opposing offense.
o Analyze their preferred plays and formations to design effective defensive schemes.
4. Special Teams Planning:
o Develop strategies for kickoffs, punts, and field goals.
o Consider trick plays or special team formations that may catch the opponent off guard.
5. Game Situations:
o Plan for different game situations, such as red zone plays, two-minute drills, and goal-line situations.
o Ensure players are familiar with various scenarios and know their roles in each situation.
6. Practice Execution:
o Implement the game plan during practice sessions to ensure players are comfortable with the strategies.
o Fine-tune plays and address any issues that arise during practice.
Staff Assignments:
1. Head Coach:
o Oversees the entire team and ensures that the coaching staff is aligned with the overall game plan.
o Makes strategic decisions during the game, including play calling and adjustments.
2. Offensive Coordinator:
o Develops the offensive game plan in collaboration with the head coach.
o Works with position coaches to ensure that players understand their roles in executing offensive plays.
3. Defensive Coordinator:
o Develops the defensive game plan and coordinates with position coaches.
o Makes in-game adjustments based on the opponent's offensive performance.
4. Special Teams Coordinator:
o Plans and coordinates all aspects of special teams play.
o Works with position coaches to ensure players are prepared for special teams situations.
5. Position Coaches:
o Focus on the development and preparation of players in specific positions (e.g., quarterbacks, running backs, linemen, etc.).
o Provide feedback and make adjustments during practices and games.
6. Strength and Conditioning Coach:
o Ensures players are physically prepared for the demands of the game.
o Works on injury prevention and rehabilitation.
7. Assistant Coaches:
o Assist with various aspects of the game plan, practice sessions, and player development.
o May have specific responsibilities, such as coaching a particular position group.
8. Scouting Coordinator:
o Coordinates the collection of information on upcoming opponents.
o Works with the coaching staff to prepare scouting reports.
9. Game Day Operations:
o Assign roles for managing logistics on game day, such as communication, equipment, and sideline organization.
10. Medical Staff:
o Includes team doctors, athletic trainers, and physiotherapists.
o Responsible for player health and injury management.
Weekly Game Planning Procedures:
**1. Initial Game Review (Friday Night):
• Responsibility: Head Coach, Assistant Coaches
• Process: Review the game footage from the previous game. Analyze offensive and defensive strategies, player performance, strengths, and weaknesses. Identify key areas for improvement.
**2. Injury and Health Report (Saturday):
• Responsibility: Head Athletic Trainer, Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Process: Gather information on player injuries and health status. Communicate with medical staff to determine player availability for the upcoming week.
**3. Scouting and Opponent Analysis (Saturday-Sunday):
• Responsibility: Defensive and Offensive Coordinators
• Process: Study the upcoming opponent's recent games. Analyze their offensive and defensive schemes, key players, and strategies. Identify tendencies and areas for exploitation.
• Player packet developed and ready for hand out monday morning
**4. Player Evaluation and Individual Improvement Plans (Saturday):
• Responsibility: Position Coaches
• Process: Review individual player performances. Develop specific improvement plans for players based on the previous game's performance. Address technique, skills, and mental aspects.
• weight lifting adjustment based on injury and game
**5. Practice Organization (Monday):
• Responsibility: Head Coach, Assistant Coaches
• Process: Organize and plan team practices for the week. Coordinate with position coaches on specific drills and exercises to address weaknesses and enhance strengths.
**6. Final Walkthrough (Thursday):
• Responsibility: Head Coach, Position Coaches
• Process: Conduct a final walkthrough with players, emphasizing key aspects of the game plan. Clarify any last-minute adjustments. Reinforce the importance of execution and focus.
**7. Game Day (Friday):
• Responsibility: Entire Coaching Staff
• Process: Execute the game plan. Monitor player performance and make necessary adjustments during the game. Provide feedback and make halftime corrections.
Expectations for Staff:
• Communication: Regular and effective communication among staff members is crucial.
• Collaboration: Coordinators and position coaches must collaborate to create a cohesive game plan.
• Attention to Detail: Each coach should pay attention to specific details in their areas, whether it's player performance, opponent analysis, or practice organization.
• Flexibility: Be open to making adjustments based on ongoing assessments and in-game situations.
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Coach Campbell
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Football
Game Planning:
1. Study the Opponent:
o Analyze game footage of the upcoming opponent to understand their strengths and weaknesses.
o Identify key players, their playing styles, and any patterns in their strategy.
2. Define Offensive Strategy:
o Develop a game plan that leverages your team's strengths against the opponent's weaknesses.
o Consider ways to align and motion to another formation to gain leverage against your opponent's defensive tendencies.
3. Defensive Strategy:
o Create a defensive game plan that aims to counter the strengths of the opposing offense.
o Analyze their preferred plays and formations to design effective defensive schemes.
4. Special Teams Planning:
o Develop strategies for kickoffs, punts, and field goals.
o Consider trick plays or special team formations that may catch the opponent off guard.
5. Game Situations:
o Plan for different game situations, such as red zone plays, two-minute drills, and goal-line situations.
o Ensure players are familiar with various scenarios and know their roles in each situation.
6. Practice Execution:
o Implement the game plan during practice sessions to ensure players are comfortable with the strategies.
o Fine-tune plays and address any issues that arise during practice.
Staff Assignments:
1. Head Coach:
o Oversees the entire team and ensures that the coaching staff is aligned with the overall game plan.
o Makes strategic decisions during the game, including play calling and adjustments.
2. Offensive Coordinator:
o Develops the offensive game plan in collaboration with the head coach.
o Works with position coaches to ensure that players understand their roles in executing offensive plays.
3. Defensive Coordinator:
o Develops the defensive game plan and coordinates with position coaches.
o Makes in-game adjustments based on the opponent's offensive performance.
4. Special Teams Coordinator:
o Plans and coordinates all aspects of special teams play.
o Works with position coaches to ensure players are prepared for special teams situations.
5. Position Coaches:
o Focus on the development and preparation of players in specific positions (e.g., quarterbacks, running backs, linemen, etc.).
o Provide feedback and make adjustments during practices and games.
6. Strength and Conditioning Coach:
o Ensures players are physically prepared for the demands of the game.
o Works on injury prevention and rehabilitation.
7. Assistant Coaches:
o Assist with various aspects of the game plan, practice sessions, and player development.
o May have specific responsibilities, such as coaching a particular position group.
8. Scouting Coordinator:
o Coordinates the collection of information on upcoming opponents.
o Works with the coaching staff to prepare scouting reports.
9. Game Day Operations:
o Assign roles for managing logistics on game day, such as communication, equipment, and sideline organization.
10. Medical Staff:
o Includes team doctors, athletic trainers, and physiotherapists.
o Responsible for player health and injury management.
Weekly Game Planning Procedures:
**1. Initial Game Review (Friday Night):
• Responsibility: Head Coach, Assistant Coaches
• Process: Review the game footage from the previous game. Analyze offensive and defensive strategies, player performance, strengths, and weaknesses. Identify key areas for improvement.
**2. Injury and Health Report (Saturday):
• Responsibility: Head Athletic Trainer, Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Process: Gather information on player injuries and health status. Communicate with medical staff to determine player availability for the upcoming week.
**3. Scouting and Opponent Analysis (Saturday-Sunday):
• Responsibility: Defensive and Offensive Coordinators
• Process: Study the upcoming opponent's recent games. Analyze their offensive and defensive schemes, key players, and strategies. Identify tendencies and areas for exploitation.
• Player packet developed and ready for hand out monday morning
**4. Player Evaluation and Individual Improvement Plans (Saturday):
• Responsibility: Position Coaches
• Process: Review individual player performances. Develop specific improvement plans for players based on the previous game's performance. Address technique, skills, and mental aspects.
• weight lifting adjustment based on injury and game
**5. Practice Organization (Monday):
• Responsibility: Head Coach, Assistant Coaches
• Process: Organize and plan team practices for the week. Coordinate with position coaches on specific drills and exercises to address weaknesses and enhance strengths.
**6. Final Walkthrough (Thursday):
• Responsibility: Head Coach, Position Coaches
• Process: Conduct a final walkthrough with players, emphasizing key aspects of the game plan. Clarify any last-minute adjustments. Reinforce the importance of execution and focus.
**7. Game Day (Friday):
• Responsibility: Entire Coaching Staff
• Process: Execute the game plan. Monitor player performance and make necessary adjustments during the game. Provide feedback and make halftime corrections.
Expectations for Staff:
• Communication: Regular and effective communication among staff members is crucial.
• Collaboration: Coordinators and position coaches must collaborate to create a cohesive game plan.
• Attention to Detail: Each coach should pay attention to specific details in their areas, whether it's player performance, opponent analysis, or practice organization.
• Flexibility: Be open to making adjustments based on ongoing assessments and in-game situations.
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Coach Campbell
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Jan 6, 2024 at 11:49am
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Football in Season Strength Training
Football Strength Training (A Complete Guide)
By
Coach Horton
I’ve been working as a sports performance coach with college football teams for almost twenty years, both as a Strength and Conditioning Coach and as a Sports Scientist. I’ve also been fortunate over that time to work with some of the best minds in Strength and Conditioning for football.
In this Football Strength and Conditioning Guide, my goal is to provide you with an outline of everything you should be doing both in the off-season and in-season to maximize your performance on the field.
I’m going to discuss when you should start strength training, how many days per week to train, what exercises to focus on and even how to structure your workouts.
First things first, what’s the best age to start strength training?
When Should I Start Strength Training For Football?
There is a long-held myth by many in the general public that lifting weights will stunt your growth. However, study after study and report after report over the years has completely debunked this myth. The Mayo Clinic even recommends that children as young as 7 or 8 can begin strength training.
In my opinion, youth athletes can begin lifting weights once they have the mental maturity and focus needed to strength train safely. For some athletes, this might be 7 or 8 years old. For others, it might be later.
Can the athlete listen and follow directions? Can the athlete stay focused on a single task? Can the athlete stay engaged throughout a training session?
These are the questions that I would have parents ask themselves about their youth athlete(s). If the answers to all 3 are yes, then you could consider strength training. If not, I would suggest waiting a little bit longer.
What Exercises Should a Youth Athlete Begin With?
Young Athlete Doing a Plank
Youth athletes should stick with the basics. Learning proper technique and form should be the only focus at this age. Exercises like Push-Ups, Pull-Ups, Bodyweight Squats, Lunges and Sit-Ups are all strength training exercises that don’t even require a piece of equipment.
Those simple bodyweight movement patterns will translate over to exercises like Goblet Squats and Dumbbell Bench Press when the athlete is ready.
Again, I can’t emphasize this enough. Technique should be the only priority. Strength will come as a natural byproduct at this age. But, the movements they learn at 7 to 10 years old will carry with them for a lifetime.
Once a football player reaches high school, we can start to get into more advanced training techniques that I’m going to dive into now.
Off-Season Football Strength Training
The tips and advice that I’m going to go through now will apply to most football players from high school and even transitioning into college. But, keep in mind there are always exceptions to all rules and situations.
Days Per Week
High school football players should be training 3 to 4 days per week.
Whether to strength train 3 or 4 days per week really comes down to schedule and personal preferences. One isn’t necessarily “better” than the other.
Personally, I prefer a schedule of lifting 4 days per week, but I know of some very successful college strength programs that lift 3 days per week during certain portions of the off-season and have great success.
The lifts for a 3 day-per-week program tend to be more total body lifts and slightly longer than 4 day-per-week schedules.
Ultimately, you just need to decide which schedule fits your overall schedule better.
Strength Training in Winter
Man, Back Squatting with 315 Pounds
Compound movements, like Back Squat, should make up the bulk of your strength training program.
What should you’re football strength training program be focusing on? Well, in my opinion, it depends on the time of the year.
The next football season is months away, so conditioning doesn’t need to be a priority at this time. This makes winter a great time to develop strength and size.
The strength training program should reflect that.
Overall volume (sets and reps) can be higher to help promote strength and hypertrophy. You’re basically building a new foundation for each athlete that they’ll be able to utilize in Spring Football and then fine-tune over the summer.
Pro Tip: If a football player wants to gain weight, this is the best time to do it. It allows the player months to get comfortable at a new playing weight. Trying to gain weight over the summer when conditioning ramps up is much harder to pull off in my experience.
Coach’s Note: This is all dependent on the individual and/or team as well. For example, a freshman football player who needs to add 25 pounds of muscle and squats 135 pounds should have different training priorities than a senior who is at his desired bodyweight and squats 500 pounds. These are just general guidelines.
Strength Training in Summer
Strength training priorities shift in the summer time. Now, with the season getting closer, conditioning will play a larger part in our overall strength and conditioning plan.
In the weight room, the strength training plan will also shift. The strength and hypertrophy focus of the winter will shift to a focus on power. The sets of five to ten reps will be few and far between and sets of 3, 2 and even singles will play a much larger role.
In-Season Football Strength Training
Football Players on a Football Field
One of the biggest mistakes a football player can make is to stop strength training once the season starts. This is due to multiple factors.
First and foremost, reducing your risk of injury is one of the primary benefits of strength training. However, you can start to lose strength after only a couple of weeks of not training. Strength training during the season will keep your strength levels up and lower your risk of injury.
Second, championships are won in December and January, not August. Not strength training during the season means you will be at your weakest of the entire year when it’s time to play for a ring.
Finally, strength training during the season will help you get a jump start on your next off-season. Instead of spending months just getting back the strength you lost, you’ll be able to start making new gains immediately. Over the course of a 4-year career, the difference this can make is staggering.
Days Per Week
How many days a week you should train in-season depends on the amount of playing time you’re getting on gameday.
I’ll give you an example.
Our players who play a significant amount of snaps on gameday lift two days per week. Both lifts are done early in the week, to optimize recovery before the next game.
Players who play limited snaps will lift 3 days per week. This is generally players who may only be on special teams or specific packages. This extra day allows them to maximize their development without hindering their performance on gameday.
Players who do not play at all on gameday, Redshirts, for example, lift 4 days per week. We use this time in the winter to maximize physical development. Young guys that take advantage of this time period can quickly close the gap on upperclassmen from a physical performance standpoint.
In-Season Priorities
During the season, our strength training priorities shift again. Our time in the weight room is more limited during the season, especially with the two-deep.
We want to maximize that time with mobility work and knee, ankle and shoulder work to help keep joints healthy and functioning well. But, we will also use that time to continue developing strength. We want to maintain, or even gain, strength during the season.
We do this by lowering the overall volume but maintaining the intensity (percentages used) of what would be typical of the off-season.
So, for example, instead of 4 sets of 5 reps for Back Squat at 75%, we may do 4 sets of 3 reps at 75%. This allows us to keep our strength but reduce the amount of ‘wear and tear’ on the body.
What are the Best Exercises for Football Players?
Football Player Doing a Power Clean
I like to think about exercise selection broken down into four different categories:
Olympic Lifts for Power Development
Compound Lifts for Strength Development
Supplemental Lifts for Hypertrophy
Core Work for Core Strength and Stability
Now, Olympic Lifts do not work just power development and Compound movements do not just work strength development – it’s simply their main emphasis.
Coach’s Tip: Regardless of how “good” an exercise is, you should only do exercises that you are technically proficient at. This goes for both coaches and players. If you don’t know how to do an exercise, don’t try to coach it and don’t try to do it. There are always alternatives for ANY exercise. There is no need to get yourself hurt trying to do an exercise you don’t know how to do.
Olympic Lifts
I am a big proponent of the Olympic lifts for football players. Olympic Lifts include the lifts themselves and all their variations. Power Clean, Hang Clean, Hang Snatch, Clean Pulls, Push Presses and Power Jerks are just some of the Olympic movements I like to include in my programming.
Each has their own proper teaching progression. I start simple and continue to add more complexity as players progress. This allows us to minimize the amount of time spent coaching and maximizing the amount of time spent training.
For example, when freshmen first arrive on campus, we do not start with a full Clean right away. Instead, we start with a Trap Bar Deadlift and a Front Squat. Those movements lay the foundation for being able to properly setup and pull weight from the floor and receive the bar in a front rack position.
After a few weeks, I’ll introduce a Hang Power Snatch and a Clean Pull. A football player in my program won’t do a full Clean (starting from the floor and catching in a full Front Squat) until after a full year in the program.
And, by the way, you can get pretty strong doing exercises like Trap Bar Deadlifts and Front Squats – they’re definitely not just for learning technique. This brings me to the second type of exercise that should be a part of your football strength training, Compound Lifts.
Compound Lifts
Compound Lifts are exercises that involve multiple joints and multiple muscle groups. These are exercises like Squats, Deadlifts, Pull-Ups and Bench Press.
If you’re serious about developing strength then Compound Lifts should be a staple in your strength training program. However, no different than Olympic Lifts, you should only do exercises that you know how to do correctly. Trying to Deadlift heavy weight with poor technique is a recipe for injury.
Olympic Lifts and Compound Lifts should take up around 80% (or more) of the time spent in the weight room. These are the exercises that are going to give you the most “bang for your buck”. These are also the exercises that look like actual athletic movements that are performed on a football field.
If you’re spending most of your time in the weight room over in the dumbbell area doing curls and flexing in the mirror, trust me, you’re getting outworked.
Supplemental Lifts
These are your single-joint exercises. Lateral Raises, Dumbbell Curls and Triceps Pushdowns fall into this category. Don’t get me wrong, some of these exercises are the most fun to do, but they should be exactly what their name says – supplemental.
A few sets of Supplemental Lifts are a good way to help develop extra hypertrophy at the end of a workout.
Core Work
Med Ball Side Toss
I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. I think (maybe I’m wrong, who knows) all of us know at this point that having a strong core is important.
Just don’t get bogged down doing Crunches every day and checking the box for Core Work. Training your core comes in many different forms.
Weighted exercises like Weighted Sit-ups and Cable Crunches can build strength by adding extra resistance. Exercises like Planks and Stir The Pot will emphasize and improve core stability. Many medicine ball exercises like Side Throws can add rotational core work as well as develop power.
Hopefully, you get the point I’m trying to make. Challenging your core in different ways is vastly superior to laying on your back and doing bodyweight core exercises every day.
What Order Should Exercises Go In?
Properly organizing your workouts is a big component of maximizing the effectiveness of every set and every rep. Exercises should be ordered in pretty much the same order I just put them in – Olympic Lifts, Compound Lifts, Supplemental Lifts and then Core Work.
In general, exercise order should follow two main rules:
Fast –> Slow
Multi-Joint –> Single Joint
Explosive exercises should be done toward the beginning of the workout when the body, particularly the CNS (Central Nervous System), is fresh. This will ensure that you get the most out of these power-developing movements.
Doing these types of lifts while fresh will also help to reduce injury. Fatigue can be the enemy of technique, so doing the most technical lifts while freshest only makes sense.
After your power movements should be the Compound Multi-Joint exercises. Exercises like Back Squats and Bench Press need multiple muscle groups firing at full strength to get the most out of each movement. Smoking your triceps at the beginning of a workout will create a weak link in your Bench Press, therefore reducing it’s effectiveness.
Final Thoughts
Simply showing up in the weight room and working hard will only get you so far. Yes, you’ll be one step ahead of the guys who just show up and check a box and two steps ahead of the guys who don’t show up at all.
However, to really get an advantage over your top competition, you should be trying to maximize your training every day. Choosing the right days to train, selecting the right exercises with the correct amount of sets and reps and organizing it all together.
If it all seems like a lot to manage, I understand. It’s the same feeling I get when I look under the hood of my car. I know the engine makes the car go, but if you asked me to point out the manifold I’d be in trouble.
My suggestion would be to find a quality strength and conditioning coach and/or program to help guide you through this process. Finally, if you need a strength and conditioning program for football, I have them available in my shop. It’s the same program I wrote to send to incoming recruits to prepare them for a college football weight room.
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Coach Campbell
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Dec 29, 2023 at 11:40am
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How To Prepare a Great Resume
Preparing Your Resume
Your resume serves as the initial indicator of your organizational skills and professionalism. A poorly prepared resume could convey the wrong message to a an interview committee member. A properly constructed resume should have the following contents:
A letter of interest, with a brief statement of your teaching and coaching philosophy.
Resume of no more than two pages (include picture).
Teaching and coaching chronology
“Success” Page: List top accomplishments: Championships, Team G.P.A., and Scholarships.
Three to five references (always include current and recent principal).
Additional Suggestions for Preparing Your Resume
Actively sell your qualifications by focusing on accomplishments and results rather than routine job descriptions.
Final hiring decisions are rarely based on resumes alone; however, the resume should be concise, factual and positive listing of your education, experience and accomplishments.
Be conscious of the continuity of your history. The reader will be looking for reasons to eliminate as many resumes as possible. Resumes with gaps of unaccountable time often reach the circular file (garbage)!
Weigh your choice of words. Select strong action verbs, concrete nouns and positive modifiers for emphasis. Use concise phrases and clauses rather than complete sentences.
Try your resume on another coach that has experience with the interview process or members of faculty that has sit in on the interview process before.
Keep a separate list of references and make them available only on request.
Always send a cover letter on matching paper with specific reference to the school’s needs and your qualifications for the job. A personal letter is always best, so make an effort to get the name and title of individual making the hiring decision.
Remember, your resume is only a door opener. You want a personal interview.
Your Resume Has Only a Few Seconds to Impress - or it will end up in the trash.
A strong resume needs a solid foundation, and no amount of trickery can mask poor organization. Start with these basics.
Contact Information: List your contact information at the top of the resume. Include your full name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address. If you have a personal Web site, include the URL only if the site shows off your skills or applies to your career goals.
Objective: The objectives section gives administrators an immediate sense of who you are and what you're looking for, without forcing them to wade through the entire resume. If you decide to include an objective, stress what you'll add to the company, not what you're looking to take away.
Experience: List your experience chronologically, with your most recent job first. If your latest experience wasn't the most impressive, arrange your list by importance. Include the company name, location, your title and dates of employment. Also, give a brief description of your accomplishments these tips:
Emphasize your most important responsibilities even if they weren't your primary duties.
Use active voice. Strong sentences are those in which a subject performs an action (active voice) as opposed to an action being performed on the subject (passive voice). "I planned an event," creates a stronger impression than "An event was planned by me."
Impress employers with cause-effect relationships and tangible results. Quantify your achievements with percentages and numbers like "increased enrollment 20 percent" and "supervised three-person staff."
Use descriptions to highlight your sense of initiative. Paint yourself as a "go-getter" with strong verbs like "proposed," "launched" and "managed."
Skills/Interests: Today's workers are more tech-savvy than ever, so make sure you mention your technical and computer skills. List programming languages, software programs and operating systems you've used as well as certifications you have. Don't forget "soft skills" like foreign languages and public speaking.
Always include memberships in professional organizations, because it shows you're serious about your career. Mentioning your interests is optional. Listing activities and hobbies can portray you as a well- rounded person, but it can raise eyebrows, too. Be careful what you list. (You should probably keep your passion for professional wrestling to yourself.)
Education: List your most recent education first and work backward. State your degree, major, minor, dates of attendance and the school's name and location. You may also want to add your G.P.A. (if 3.0 or higher).
References: Don't waste valuable space on references. Employers assume you'll provide them upon request.
Finishing Touches
Create several versions of your resume, each tailored to the type of position you're applying for. Writing multiple resumes can be time-consuming, but it's a small price to pay for the job you want.
If you're applying for a specific job, research the position and school district. Pay attention to the job requirements and highlight your qualifications as they reflect the hiring of the school’s needs.
Be concise. Stick to one page. Make sure every word is meaningful.
Choose fonts that are easy-to-read, clean and consistent. Don't use non-traditional or overly creative fonts.
Read, edit and re-read your resume to make sure it's well written, clear and typo-free. Do it again. Then, ask your friends and family to do the same.
If you use an online resume, consider saving a text (".txt") version that will look good on any computer. Send your resume as an attached file and also paste the text into the body of the e-mail just to be safe. Online resumes should also include plenty of keywords, since they may be searched.
Those in favor say objectives are the simplest, quickest way to target a specific position. Those against, charge that objectives waste valuable space and limit you to just one position when you might be qualified for others.
Whether you are pro- or anti-objective, here are tips for writing a resume that will grab the administration’s attention from your objectives these work best for two types of job seekers:
Those who know exactly what job they want, and
Those whose career goal isn't obvious on their resumes.
If you include an objective, place it directly under your name and contact information. An objective typically begins with "to." For example, "Objective: To obtain a position ...”
Your objective should be simple, specific and brief -- no more than two or three lines. It should highlight what you have to offer the company, such as a specific skill or experience. A recruiter is more interested in what you can give the company than what you hope to get from it.
Here's an example of an effective job objective:
Example of an Objective: To obtain a coordinator’s position utilizing my experience and organizational skills.
Review your objective each time you send a resume and make sure it fits the job you're applying for. Just as you should have several versions of your resume, you should also have several versions of your job objective.
Summarizing Your Skills
Not 100 percent sure what job you want? Then you may find a summary statement more effective than an objective.
While an objective focuses on the job, a summary statement focuses on the job seeker.
A summary statement is a one- to two-sentence overview that captures the essence of your skills and experience. It highlights what makes you a qualified candidate as well as what makes you different (and better) than other applicants.
Tailor your summary statement to highlight the experience that is most relevant to the job.
You've found your dream job.
You spot the job posting, craft a winning resume and e-mail it to the person evaluating the resumes. Then the waiting game begins.
After you've sent a resume, it's tempting to sit back and hope the recruiter will call. But -- make no mistake -- you SHOULD follow up. You just need to figure out when and how to do it.
Wait a Week, Recruiters Say
The majority of recruiters (53 percent) say candidates should wait one week before following up, according to a Hot Jobs survey.
Some recruiters prefer you act sooner: Twenty-one percent said candidates should wait less than one week. And others prefer you wait longer: Eight percent said candidates should wait two weeks.
Some even prefer you wait for them to call you. Nineteen percent of administrators surveyed said they preferred to contact candidates, rather than for candidates to contact them.
Your best bet? Go with the majority opinion and wait a week.
Send a Short E-Mail Message
E-mail is a great follow-up tool because it not only lets you remind the recruiter that you've applied for a job, but it also lets you submit a resume again without seeming too pushy.
A week after you've submitted a resume, send the proper contact an e-mail to follow up.
Use these tips to write your follow-up e-mail:
Put your full name and the title of the position you've applied for in the subject line.
Write a professional note that reiterates your qualifications and interest in the job.
Attached your resume again. (Don't make the recruiter have to dig though old e-mails to look for it.)
Include your full name in the file name of your resume.
Don't forget to proofread carefully before you hit "Send"!
Phone with a Friendly Reminder
If you decide to follow up on a resume over the phone, be sure to rehearse what you want to say to the recruiter.
Keep it short and sweet. Introduce yourself and remind the recruiter that you submitted a resume recently. Make sure you state exactly what job you're interested in. You can also ask if they received your resume and if they're still considering candidates for the position.
If you get a recorded message, you may want to call again later. Call a few times in hopes of speaking with a real, live recruiter before resorting to leaving a message.
You also need to know even to put down the phone. Calling recruiters repeatedly isn't going to make them more likely to call you back. It's probably just going to irritate them.
Almost half (47 percent) of recruiters claim that their biggest pet peeve is candidates who keep calling them, according to a Hot Jobs survey.
Should You Just Resend Your Resume?
Have a few weeks passed since you sent a resume, and you still haven't heard from the recruiter? Are you considering simply reapplying for the position?
Don't.
Recruiters usually keep resumes on file, and they'll likely discover that you've already sent one. Worse, they may think that you didn't even realize that you'd already applied for a position.
Only resend your resume to a recruiter when you want to apply for a different position at a company. Otherwise, you should e-mail or call to follow up.
Your Resume Should Address the Following Four Questions
Make Sure You Have The Answers.
Answering the following four questions in a fully persuasive way will greatly increase your odds of developing a winning resume. The questions are the crucial elements of the resume formula. Answering them will not only give you the material you need for building a strong resume, but will also prepare you for networking and interviewing.
What do you want? That is your job target. (Offensive coordinator, etc.) The resume should be built around your job target (whether you include an objective or not) so that prospective employers can immediately see what position you are aiming for.
Why are you qualified to do it? That’s the summary or “Professional Profile” section. This is where you outline the skills and credentials that qualify you for the job. You can break your skills into functional sections or use bullet points to highlight key points. If this section is done properly, it will convince prospective employers that the rest of your resume is worth reading, bringing them to the next question.
Where have you done it? That’s the “Experience” section. The reader needs to know who you worked for, the city and state where they are located, and what you did. Ideally, your job descriptions should include lots of active verbs and focus on keywords and functional skills that are most relevant to your target job or position.
How well have you done it? Listing accomplishments and special projects shows by example that you have contributed to previous schools or employer’s bottom line (educational, athletic and community service accomplishments!).
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Coach Campbell
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Dec 29, 2023 at 11:31am
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The Offensive Line the Heart and Soul of The Offense
The Offensive Line the Heart and Soul of The Offense
It is my belief that the heart and soul of any good offensive football team is its offensive line. An offensive line coach if he is to get the necessary technique and skills developed, he must be provided adequate practice time prior to going into group and team periods to give his players the necessary tools for success. There is no position in football that requires more discipline or technique than being an offensive lineman. The success of an offensive football team hinges on its ability to control the line of scrimmage. To win consistently, you must win in the trenches, and that means playing on your opponent's side of the line of scrimmage and not yours.
My approach to coaching the offensive line is to out execute our opponent's. This is a lot easier said than done! To take this approach and to believe in this philosophy means a great deal of time must be spent on understanding fundamentals and blocking technique as it applies to the type of athlete being coached. I feel that an offensive line coach must understand what he is teaching and how it applies to the offense. Don't introduce a technique or drill if it doesn't apply to your offense and only teach what you know how to fix.
Remember, strive to keep your blocking rules simple and consistent. By keeping your line calls and rules simple, it will give you the coach a better chance to perfect your technique and drills. You want your offensive linemen to be aggressive not confused. Whatever your offensive line starts they must be able to finish.
To be a good offensive line requires more than just discipline or good blocking technique, it requires
"PRIDE" in yourself, your group, and your team. A team with "PRIDE" is a hard team to beat because they are willing to do the "LITTLE THINGS" that most teams are not willing to do. No detail should be overlooked, regardless of how non important it may look on the surface to you as the coach.
The difference between SUCCESS and FAILURE often lies in your ability as a coach to prepare. Prepare your offensive linemen for the unknown; what I mean here is make sure that your system of calls and rules will apply to sideline and half-time adjustments if needed.
Not every offensive lineman that you coach will start, make the all-district or all-conference team, be an all American, play in college, or play in the NFL, but every player you coach can hustle and practice hard and be a good team player. It is your responsibility as their coach to give them the drills and blocking schemes to help them be successful and they must understand that you care about them.
It is my approach, like many other line coaches that we out - execute our opponents, this is a lot easier said than done! My primary goal as I prepare our blocking schemes is that they be simple and that they have a basic rule that can tie them all into one another. Thus, I try keep the rules and line calls simple, it will give us the chance to perfect our techniques and perform them in an aggressive manner.
The more techniques an offensive lineman can learn and master, the easier it will be to cope with various situations. Repetition must be accepted as a way of life for an offensive lineman, success can only be brought about with tremendous confidence in one's ability. Concentration, self-discipline, communication, and the willingness to pay the price are part of being a respected offensive lineman.
Determined, intelligent, and aggressive blocking is an indispensable quality of a great football team, from both a technical and psychological standpoint. It is difficult for a team, to have outstanding morale, confidence, and enthusiasm when it lacks the ability to sustain a great ground game or provide adequate protection for the passer. As an offensive line coach, you must reinforce daily to your players the importance of controlling the football. A goal for any football team should be that whenever they start the game with the football, they must make a first down in both the first and second half of the football game, this sends a message to your opponent that they are in for a long night and builds confidence in your offensive line and their teammates.
“So Goes the Offensive Line, So Goes the Offense
This manual is designed to take you through the early beginning of the great game of football and how offensive line play and the rules that govern got it has evolved in how we coach it today. My manual will introduce terms, definitions, technique and drills which will give you a foundation for which to build your Offensive line fundamentals. The blocking schemes included in this manual are built around the use of zone and man blocking schemes as well as drop back and sprint out passing game protections. A few coaches I meet, say why zone blocking over man blocking rules! This manual will explore both zone and man blocking rules and concepts for the running game with implementation of pass protection schemes and alerts.
I have had the great pleasure to have coached in several different states in this country with each state with its own influences. I have found through my experience that trying to gain advantages by controlling the number of defenders a defense puts in the box can be done by formations, motion and type of offensive philosophy you use that influences the type of blocking schemes that a coach might consider implementing into his offensive approach.
Coaching football is a very complex task. Football is a game that requires physical strength and great psychological conditioning. Thus, a successful offensive line coach must understand about factors contributing to the development of physical strength and football athleticism his linemen possess and the understanding the physical demands interior linemen face. Football is a team sport therefore, an offensive line coach needs to know how to manipulate the psychological factors, which influence individuals to interact for a common goal (moving the football and scoring). Since football is a game of movement, the coach must understand the physical mechanics of blocking with extended arms, hands and forearms which involve zone blocking as well as man rule schemes that contribute to quick body movement. Because football is a game of physical body contact, an offensive line coach needs to know how to create practice and playing conditions that offer the greatest success and safety for his players. Do not force a player to learn a certain technique or skill that he physically cannot do.
Inasmuch as football involves many physical skills in the offensive line, it is necessary for a coach to understand the physical limitations that some players have. It is as important for a coach to understand the techniques for success, as it is to build the size and strength of his players. Only coach what you know how to fix versus worst case scenario.
As we all know for the most part offensive linemen are perhaps the least publicized but, play the most difficult position in football. It is hard to convince some players who are suited to play up front offensively but prefer playing in the defensive line that great stress is applied more today than in the past because of the need to play players with advanced skills such as speed and strength. Therefore, it behooves all coaches to develop a basic philosophy about offensive line play in general and about interior offensive football players.
As an offensive line coach, we must be able to convince our offensive linemen that their job is as important as any other part of the game, and he must constantly stress the value of the offensive line. As line coaches we must be able to talk to our players in a positive fashion about offensive line play a term that I use is to remind our offensive linemen is " So Goes the Offensive Line So, Goes the Offense." What needs to be instilled into an offense and especially your offensive line is the feeling that whenever we get the ball we will score, and we can score only if the offensive line does their job. As I have already mentioned one of my number 1 goals going into a game is to make sure we get a first down on any first offensive series in the first and second half of a football game, this builds confidence in fact that we can move the ball on our opponent.
Coaches must also develop an approach to the game in terms of the kind of football he wants his team to play. Coaches can use either the simple method and try and keep the offensive plays and line blocking to a minimum or he can use a variety of offensive series and blocking schemes. The one answer coaches search for constantly, what is the best play or method of blocking? It usually appears that every coach has a favorite play or blocking style depending upon his philosophy and the type of players he has on his squad. But there is no unanimity as to what the best way is so, only coach what you know how to fix versus worst case scenario. I never underestimate what our athletes can do if I as their coach have a systematic way to teach them thus, I know they will have a systematic way to learn. So, it becomes obvious that a coach must have a variety of ways of doing things and must present his own patterns for the offensive Line.
The following Chapter will give you a Historical overview on offensive line play and how techniques and strategies got its start.
The First Football Game Looked More Like Soccer
If you think that the 1869 rules made the game look more like a soccer match than a football game, you are right. The rules by which Rutgers played were based on the 1863 London Football Association’s rules. Gridiron football developed by combining these rules with rugby football rules to evolve into the collegiate football games we see today.
Your Awesome
Lead by Example: I believe the best a person can do for the younger generations is do well for themselves to show others a great model on how to be in life. In turn, others can do well for themselves after seeing consistent model. In coaching there's no difference. An assistant coach needs to do everything that he expects from his players, at the bare minimum. If what you preach is not modeled consistently through your actions, then your words hold no validity. Being able to earn the respect and trust with your athletes ties directly toward how they view you morally.
Be Reliable: As an assistant coach there is a need for reliability. A coach must be a person that his fellow assistants, the head coach, and his players can rely on. What that entails is showing up for meetings at the designated time, sticking to your commitments, and showing up everyday for the betterment of the team. This team requires coaches to be there for the athletes as people first. This could mean being there for an athlete as a mentor on and off the field.
Trust/Loyalty: On a team and in life in general the main way to connect is by strengthening relationships. The whole team should be comfortable enough to trust one another. This trust is the glue that holds the relationship together. Coaches need to be able to make bonds with their players. Knowing and understanding them as people before athletes. This takes time and consistency. As a coach we should continue to strengthen our relationships with our players and our peers. Loyalty is a product of trust. Once trust is established in a relationship Loyalty to that is reciprocated in the relationship. The stronger the bond between players and players, coaches and coaches, and players and coaches the greater the loyalty to one another as the trust has already been established. Coaches must trust their players, and vice versa. Once a player trusts and is loyal to you they are eager to learn from you and do their best for the whole of the program. For a player the main reason they play is by being trusted to make the correct decisions on the field. Another form of loyalty expected from the assistant coach is to the program. There should be no other ulterior motives besides wanting to be the best coach they can be for the sake of the players and the program. A coach for himself only is a coach for no one. Trust and Loyalty are vital skills needed to be a successful coach and tem in general.
Passion: In order to connect to fellow coaches and players an assistant must be passionate about his position. A coach should come to work everyday for the simple fact that they love their job, their life, and of course football. Let the excitement be shown through every word spoken. Athletes feed off this energy. It's infectious when a coach as good energy and thoroughly enjoys his job. This speaks volume to all around. Show up everyday with love and enthusiasm.
Prepared: In order to be a coach on this staff there must be a focus on the fine details. Preparation is held in a high regard. The more prepared team usually comes out on top at the end of the game. For a coach knowing your role and being confident in the work being put in weekly is essential. If a coach is prepared it makes it easier to get the athletes prepared. There cannot be any slacking or missing keys on film. Preparation is what wins games and helps the whole team come together when striving for a common goal.
2. Expectations of an Assistant Coach & the Importance of Loyalty
As the head high school football coach I outline the following expectations of my assistant coaches regardless of level (HS or MS) or title on staff…
1. Be the champion for your position!
1. This is probably the number 1 thing I demand from my assistants. I want them to be the biggest advocate for all the players in their position group. I want them to build professional, positive relationships with their players. They are working to build up (confidence, skills, behavior, etc) the athletes in their charge. Let me, as the head coach, be the “bad cop”, they are always to be the “good cop.”
2. No “Yes Men” wanted but must be a good teammate!
1. I tell all my assistants that I intentionally hire people with different personalities, beliefs, and skills for a reason. I want and expect them to see things differently than me. I want fresh, new, exciting ideas. I want different views on problems and many ideas on how to solve them. To me this is the biggest area where an assistant coach adds value to the staff. However, only 1 decision can be made and once it is made “we” as a staff made it. Everyone supports it, buys into, and owns the results that come from it. Undermining, blaming others, or “passing the buck” will not be tolerated.
3. Be Present!
1. I ask my assistant coaches to be present as much as possible. Make an effort to be at off-season workouts, often this were the foundation of player-coach relationships start. There is less pressure and demand on the athlete and the coaches, which allows for a more natural relationship to form. I ask them to go see their players in other activities as well. Go to a wrestling match, basketball game, or track meet. Your presence shows our players that you are invested in their success as a person, more than just their performance on the football field. In season, you are present at everything (practices, meetings, games, etc) and giving your best to the players in your charge (being their champion and coaching your tail off).
4. One Voice, One Message!
1. Finally, all coaches must be on board with the vision and mission of the football program set forth by the head coach. All coaches must be teaching the principles and values that allow players to build habits that lead to success in all areas of their life. These messages are the same from the youth program to the middle school program, and finally cemented at the high school level. All coaches must know the core values of the program and consistently deliver the same messages every time.
5. Be a Servant!
1. We as coaches are here to serve our players and help serve one another. Don’t ignore potential problems with your athletes. Address potential problems early, don’t let things fester. You also serve your athletes by giving them your best every day. Be here on time, be prepared, and constantly give feedback. You must also look for ways to serve each other. If you see a job that needs done, do it. Don’t wait to be asked, take the initiative.
6. Be Passionate!
1. Coach with passion! Let your love of football and your players come through in your coaching. You should also be a football junky! You should let your passion drive your knowledge by gaining new ideas, new drills, or new techniques.
7. Loyalty Is Vital!
1. Nothing deteriorates trust between two people than a breach of loyalty. This is the same between any relationship on this team (player-coach, assistant coach-assistant coach, assistant coach-head coach). As a team it is important we stand together in everything we do. We win together, we lose together. Loyalty is also the key element to allow the flow of open, honest communication and collaboration. Finally, loyalty does not mean a lack of accountability. Problems and negative behaviors will not be overlooked or dismissed using loyalty as a scapegoat.
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Coach Campbell
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Feb 18, 2024 at 11:02am
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DEFENSIVE PRIORITIES
Xavier
For my Defensive philosophy and based on my experience playing and coaching, I believe the most success I have had is with a 4-2-5 hybrid system. With this system, I have found that I can use more Defensive back or linebackers depending (in the most common cases a Nickelback personnel) on the down and distance. This also allows me to have more speed players on the field that provide more pass coverage but does not take away from run stop responsibility. I also like how the 4-2 can allow me to stem in a 3 front as well as well as a 4-3 if needed.
My defense will emphasis players that are:
1. Aggressive- the ability to dominate every inch and every play
2. Reactive- the ability to know how to defeat what is in front of them
3. Disciplined- the ability to control their emotions and make decision for the best interest of the team
4. Accountable - being willing to do what is needed for the team’s success
For the pursuit drill, I will use the rabbit chase drill. The defense will group 11 guys at a time, with 3 offensive players on the other side: 2 fast receivers and a QB. The QB will simulate a snap and drop into coverage. and the Receivers will both line up as RB that will run to the flats for a reception. Once he snaps the D line will get off as fast as they can an take 3 steps up field. After their two steps, they will chop their feet until the QB chooses which side he will throw the ball. Also on the snap, the LB and DB will simulate a pass drop. The QB will throw the ball to the designated receiver in the flat then sprint straight down the sideline. The D-linemen will open their hips and pursuit working flat down the line and transition to an angle to stay in front of ball carrier. The LB and DB will pursuit working downhill at an angle that will allow them to finsih across the face of the ball carrier. The purpose of this drill is to work the timing when to take the right angle on ball carriers and to force ball carriers to the sideline.
For a run simulation, The QB will pass the ball, but instead, he would hand the ball off to one of the receivers and they will choose a gap to run through. The D lineman will then Open hips and coral to the ball. Whichever gap the runner chooses to go through, that Defensive linemen is responsible for stopping the run by working his "wrap up' technique and the entire Defense will coral to the ball through their respected gaps and pursue.
The key points this pursuit drill emphasis is:
1. Recognition and Redirection
2. working flat down to utilize sideline
3. Pursuit angels
4. Working across the ball carriers face
5. Wrapping up
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Coach Campbell
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Defensive Gameplan
Matthew Puente
In our program we run a 4-2-5. It is a little different than the typical 4-2-5 we try to remain as balanced as possible. In our system our outside backers or invert defenders are called dog safeties. These guys are crucial to the entire defense as we ask them to be hybrid defenders. They are usually some of our best and most athletic guys on the team. They can step in like a linebacker and stop the run or they can play in space and help out tremendously in the pass game. They have to be the best of both worlds. Kind of a fortunate and unfortunate thing is this is how our guys are built. We don't have many 6 foot linebackers walking around to clog the middle or speedsters out on the outside able to be lock down corners. But we do have some really athletic 5'7-5'10 buys that are great tacklers and can play in space pretty well. Our defense is built around them and what they can do.
Front 6 - Defensive line & line backers all have gap responsibility. It is their job to clog up the middle and make any tackles that try to come at them. They are making the play in the backfield or forcing the ball carrier to bounce.
Dog safeties - clean up anything that is left over. Outside contain that the front has strung out to the outside. Make plays in space.
Cornerbacks & free safety - play coverage. Free safety also runs the alley and cleans up anything left over.
Our defense is based on getting hats to the ball. Take care of your responsibility first and once we know ball is gone or on the move, get to the ball! Every play at practice must end with 11 helmets to the ball. On passes linemen have to get to the ball and on runs the secondary must get to the ball. We stress effort and urgency, good things happen when we have great effort and get to the ball with urgency.
Rather than a pursuit drill daily we do a change of direction drill that has a pursuit aspect to it. If differs because we do not have different landmarks for different positions. The point of this drill is to have constant movement and get in as many reps with different units as possible. EVERYONE goes through this drill. 1st defense, 2nd defense, jv defense, freshmen defense, and everyone else. There is 1 defense unit on the ball at once facing one defensive coach who is leading drill. To his left and right on the sideline are a coach waiting as well as 2 more coaches 20 yard from them, on sidelines as well. After given the defensive call, on the snap defense gets into their gaps/blitz/drops coach blows a whistle and everyone hits their chest on the ground, they are responsible for popping up as fast as possible. As they are getting back to their feet the coach leading the drill throws the ball to one of the four coaches. Either down the line to left or right or down the field left or right. Every player needs to get their eyes up and find the ball asap and get there. once all players get to the ball, they break it down and jog back. I like this drill because it is a front & stunt review, recognition drill, effort drill, and angles for pursuit have to be used as well. We can get a bunch of reps in fast and get everyone through the drill.
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Coach Campbell
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Feb 18, 2024 at 10:56am
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Defensive Philosophy
Coach Fry
During my time as a defensive coordinator and head coach I have run several different defensive schemes. I started out running a traditional 4-4 and then moved to a 4-3. After a few years, I started running a hybrid 4-4/4-3 scheme that would adjust to offensive personnel. This is when most teams in our league were still running traditional wing t and power i schemes. As teams have moved more to spread offensives I have been running a 3-4/4-2-5 hybrid system. This has allowed our teams to put more speed on the field and get away from traditional molds for defensive positions. Additionally, being a school that lacks depth of offensive & defensive lineman in recent years, this scheme allows for playing less lineman both ways. Finally, by using more linebacker/safety type bodies it allows us to have players have skills to be an edge rusher and potentially cover a slot wr. This flexibility and combination of skills allows us to run many different man and zone blitz concepts.
Defensively, we have four tenets that we live by.
1. Tackling - most of tackling is about heart & desire, be a guy that WANTS to make the tackle
2. Run! Everywhere - your importance to our defense is determined by how close you are to the ball at the end of every play! Play with urgency they have the ball and we need it back…NOW!
3. Be Accountable - know your role, execute your role with maximum speed & aggression. Know your opponent
4. Make the Big Play - don’t wait for the right time or situation to make a play. ATTACK the ball every time the offense puts it into play.
To drill these tenets, I have used a variety of team and group pursuit drills. However, my favorite pursuit drill combines is done in position groups and combines several aspects that we live by. To set up I place 5 trash cans across the LOS to mimic the line. Next, I place 3 step-over bags 5, 10, & 15 yards in front of the trash cans on EACH hash. Then I place a coach with a football at the end of the line of bags. Finally, I have players hold each step-over bag with their inside arm as they stand outside of each hash.
To start the drill I split the remaining defensive players (those not holding bags) into 4 groups: lineman, linebackers, safeties, and cornerbacks. When I call their position group 4 players will line up over each can representing the guards and tackles in their proper defensive stance. When I snap the ball (and reinforce watching the ball), all 4 players will do a grass drill. As they are getting back to their feet I point the football in toward one hash or the other. The first player to arrive at the first bag (at the 5 yard) must tackle it using proper leverage and form. The next player will tackle the 10 yard bag and the third will tackle the bag at the 15 yard mark. The final player will circle the coach and then find a scoop the a fumbled ball (from the coach at the end). After each of the 3 players makes their tackle they must get up and sprint back past the initial LOS (mimics blocking for the player that recovered the fumble). The player that recovers the ball must also sprint it past the LOS. As soon as the group crosses the LOS the next group is called and players are on the ball ready to go.
I love this drill because it incorporates…
1. Running to the ball
2. Not chasing tail (following directly behind another teammate in pursuit)
3. Tackling with leverage
4. Getting a turnover (fumble)
5. Turning the turnover into a big play (getting off the turf to return the fumble)
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Feb 9, 2024 at 7:24pm
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Pre-Season Parent meetings
Mario
Below is my mission and vision along with expectations for the coaching staff, parents, players, and community. Starting a new program with open dialogue along with clear and concise communication on both ends is the key to a successful program.
Mission
The Football program is to create an atmosphere and environment where our players will have a better chance to be successful in life through their involvement in our program. This
program will use the game of football to develop the scholars, character, and physical talents of the players involved in the program.
Vision
The Football program has already established itself as a program with tradition.
Following the plan of committing ourselves to preparation, will put our program in the position to take the next step towards being a District and State Championship Team. Through academic success, accountability, and character our program will be able to build champions on and off the
field.
Academic Responsibilities of Coaches
Teach proper time management skills
Maintain constant communication with faculty, staff, and guardians
Praise and reward academic achievements.
Monitor athlete’s grades and classroom behavior throughout the year
Facilitate tutoring/study sessions for student-athletes in need during practice.
Abide by the eligibility standards set forth by the student handbook.
Thoroughly understand any special academic needs of student-athletes.
Administration Expectations
The administration will be expected to:
Provide feedback
Complete a pre and post-season evaluation
Provide a safe and supportive environment
Assist with hiring assistant coaches
Hold coaches to a higher standard
Provide professional development opportunities
Coaches Expectations
All coaches are expected to:
Develop the character of the players you coach. To do so, you must provide a positive
example
Be prompt to all meetings and practices. We can never have kids or parents waiting on
their coach to arrive or release practice. If you are on time you are late, if you are early your own
time.
Be organized for all practice and meetings. Have a plan for what you are doing.
Support your coach and all programs to the public. Disagreements should be kept behind
closed doors.
Be positive with your kids.
Be positive and professional when communicating with players and adults
Coach the fundamentals of your position
Demand 100% effort from all players
Hold your kids accountable when they cannot follow our rules, school rules, or teachers’
instructions.
Assist with all fundraising events Assist with coaching 9 th grade and junior varsity team Required to lock up at least one day a week
Players Expectations
Players are expected to:
Players will be prepared for practice and games with all proper attire and equipment.
Players will be expected to give full attention during training sessions and games.
Players are expected to always work hard to help improve skills and understanding of the
game.
Players should always be courteous of other players and teammates.
It is expected that all players always exemplify and demonstrate good sportsmanship.
Players are expected to be respectful of their coaches, officials and opponents.
Players are required to carry exceptional grades in school while being a distinguished
athlete.
Parents/Community Expectations
Parents and Community members are expected to:
Parents are expected to get players to practice and games on time, as well as pick up
players timely.
All parents are expected to carry proper sideline behavior.
Parents should not yell instructions from the sideline and allow the coaches to properly
instruct.
If late to practice or a game, parents are expected to notify the coaching staff immediately
and ensure their player is properly prepared with attire, equipment and ready to play.
Parents should notify the coaching staff if school grades are below an acceptable level.
Parents are required to fulfill financial commitments to the team and club. If a financial
hardship presents itself, parents are expected to communicate this information to the
coaching staff or team manager.
Parents should be supportive and recognize the value and importance of volunteers, coaching staff, team managers, referees, and officials.
Do not scold or criticize your child after a challenging game. Encourage them and be
supportive.
Be a role model and example to your child by exemplifying good sportsmanship at all
times.
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Leadership is the topic of the day
Being the head football coach the expectations that assistants would have to meet:
Lead by Example: I believe the best a person can do for the younger generations is do well for themselves to show others a great model on how to be in life. In turn, others can do well for themselves after seeing consistent model. In coaching there's no difference. An assistant coach needs to do everything that he expects from his players, at the bare minimum. If what you preach is not modeled consistently through your actions, then your words hold no validity. Being able to earn the respect and trust with your athletes ties directly toward how they view you morally.
Be Reliable: As an assistant coach on the BUHS coaching staff there is a need for reliability. A coach must be a person that his fellow assistants, the head coach, and his players can rely on. What that entails is showing up for meetings at the designated time, sticking to your commitments, and showing up everyday for the betterment of the team. This team requires coaches to be there for the athletes as people first. This could mean being there for an athlete as a mentor on and off the field.
Trust/Loyalty: On a team and in life in general the main way to connect is by strengthening relationships. The whole team should be comfortable enough to trust one another. This trust is the glue that holds the relationship together. Coaches need to be able to make bonds with their players. Knowing and understanding them as people before athletes. This takes time and consistency. As a coach we should continue to strengthen our relationships with our players and our peers. Loyalty is a product of trust. Once trust is established in a relationship Loyalty to that is reciprocated in the relationship. The stronger the bond between players and players, coaches and coaches, and players and coaches the greater the loyalty to one another as the trust has already been established. Coaches must trust their players, and vice versa. Once a player trusts and is loyal to you they are eager to learn from you and do their best for the whole of the program. For a player the main reason they play is by being trusted to make the correct decisions on the field. Another form of loyalty expected from the assistant coach is to the program. There should be no other ulterior motives besides wanting to be the best coach they can be for the sake of the players and the program. A coach for himself only is a coach for no one. Trust and Loyalty are vital skills needed to be a successful coach and tem in general.
Passion: In order to connect to fellow coaches and players an assistant must be passionate about his position. A coach should come to work everyday for the simple fact that they love their job, their life, and of course football. Let the excitement be shown through every word spoken. Athletes feed off this energy. It's infectious when a coach as good energy and thoroughly enjoys his job. This speaks volume to all around. Show up everyday with love and enthusiasm.
Prepared: In order to be a coach on this staff there must be a focus on the fine details. Preparation is held in a high regard. The more prepared team usually comes out on top at the end of the game. For a coach knowing your role and being confident in the work being put in weekly is essential. If a coach is prepared it makes it easier to get the athletes prepared. There cannot be any slacking or missing keys on film. Preparation is what wins games and helps the whole team come together when striving for a common goal.
2. Expectations of an Assistant Coach & the Importance of Loyalty
As the head high school football coach I outline the following expectations of my assistant coaches regardless of level (HS or MS) or title on staff…
1. Be the champion for your position!
1. This is probably the number 1 thing I demand from my assistants. I want them to be the biggest advocate for all the players in their position group. I want them to build professional, positive relationships with their players. They are working to build up (confidence, skills, behavior, etc) the athletes in their charge. Let me, as the head coach, be the “bad cop”, they are always to be the “good cop.”
2. No “Yes Men” wanted but must be a good teammate!
1. I tell all my assistants that I intentionally hire people with different personalities, beliefs, and skills for a reason. I want and expect them to see things differently than me. I want fresh, new, exciting ideas. I want different views on problems and many ideas on how to solve them. To me this is the biggest area where an assistant coach adds value to the staff. However, only 1 decision can be made and once it is made “we” as a staff made it. Everyone supports it, buys into, and owns the results that come from it. Undermining, blaming others, or “passing the buck” will not be tolerated.
3. Be Present!
1. I ask my assistant coaches to be present as much as possible. Make an effort to be at off-season workouts, often this were the foundation of player-coach relationships start. There is less pressure and demand on the athlete and the coaches, which allows for a more natural relationship to form. I ask them to go see their players in other activities as well. Go to a wrestling match, basketball game, or track meet. Your presence shows our players that you are invested in their success as a person, more than just their performance on the football field. In season, you are present at everything (practices, meetings, games, etc) and giving your best to the players in your charge (being their champion and coaching your tail off).
4. One Voice, One Message!
1. Finally, all coaches must be on board with the vision and mission of the football program set forth by the head coach. All coaches must be teaching the principles and values that allow players to build habits that lead to success in all areas of their life. These messages are the same from the youth program to the middle school program, and finally cemented at the high school level. All coaches must know the core values of the program and consistently deliver the same messages every time.
5. Be a Servant!
1. We as coaches are here to serve our players and help serve one another. Don’t ignore potential problems with your athletes. Address potential problems early, don’t let things fester. You also serve your athletes by giving them your best every day. Be here on time, be prepared, and constantly give feedback. You must also look for ways to serve each other. If you see a job that needs done, do it. Don’t wait to be asked, take the initiative.
6. Be Passionate!
1. Coach with passion! Let your love of football and your players come through in your coaching. You should also be a football junky! You should let your passion drive your knowledge by gaining new ideas, new drills, or new techniques.
7. Loyalty Is Vital!
1. Nothing deteriorates trust between two people than a breach of loyalty. This is the same between any relationship on this team (player-coach, assistant coach-assistant coach, assistant coach-head coach). As a team it is important we stand together in everything we do. We win together, we lose together. Loyalty is also the key element to allow the flow of open, honest communication and collaboration. Finally, loyalty does not mean a lack of accountability. Problems and negative behaviors will not be overlooked or dismissed using loyalty as a scapegoat.
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Installing the Kicking Game
EVERYDAY! It does not have to be every phase of special teams at each practice, but we must hit special teams every day to help stress the importance of special teams.
Also this is not a time to just get guys in so they can get some snaps. The best players will play and we will use everyone to be successful on special teams. If there is a non-starter that can do what we need them to do on special teams they can give that starter a break, but we will not just be throwing in kids.
All coaches will coach special teams for multiple reasons. First off it is not a one man job, it requires multiple coaches. We will have one coach leading the different special teams, but all coaches will help out so we stress the importance of phases of the game. For example, OC is in charge of punt team, but we may need a defensive coach to help coach up the gunners because there may be a receiver at that position who never plays defense. He will need to know how to break down, track, and make a tackle.
Break down for special teams:
Kickoff - Secondary coach
Punt - OC
Punt return/block - DC
Kick off return - WR
Field goal/PAT - OLine
Dividing up our special team this way are for simplicity reasons. For example, offensive coordinator is in charge of changing from offensive personnel to punt personnel. He already knows who is on the field and knows what we need to change to have a successful punt. Same with DC, knows what needs to change to have a successful punt return from our starting defense. Kickoff will probably use some starting defensive skill guys so our DB coach will likely be familiar with them. Likewise, the return team is likely to have offensive skill players that our WR coach will know.
Each coach will be required to come into each week with a special teams scouting report. Letting our players know the plan for the week and what we are and aren't going to do. Are we attacking a punt or setting up for a return, pooch kicking or kicking it deep on kick off, or middle or right return for kick off return.
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Feb 7, 2024 at 8:43pm
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Rule Changes Coming in 2024
College football realignment 2024, explained: How every FBS conference will look by school
College football realignment 2024, explained: How every FBS conference will look by school
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Will you recognize college football in 2024?
Another round of realignment is here. Texas and Oklahoma will be in the SEC. USC and UCLA are in the Big Ten.
There were more shakeups in 2023. Oregon and Washington are headed to the Big Ten. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are heading to the Big 12. On Friday, the ACC added Cal, Stanford and SMU. Television, the 12-team College Football Playoff, NIL and the transfer portal have changed roster management.
Army became the latest team to move. The Black Knights announced they are headed to the American Athletic Conference on Wednesday.
Sporting News gets your preemptively ready for 2024. Which teams are in those 10 conferences? How many independents are left? How many conference games? Which conferences have divisions? It’s all covered in here (for now).
Here is a look at how college football will look in 2024:
MORE: What 12-team CFP will look like in 2024
How many schools are in the FBS in 2024
A total of 134 schools will compete in the FBS in 2024-25. Sam Houston and Jacksonville State make the jump from the FCS in 2023, and Kennesaw State will join the FBS in 2024.
Which schools compete in the Power 5?
A total of 69 schools will compete in Power 5 conferences in 2024, though the future of the Pac-12 is in doubt. A look at the makeup of those conferences:
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Implementing the Kicking Game
Carl
It's critical for head coaches and kick coordinators to realize that, much like any other facet of football, the success of the kicking game rests on a methodical and organized approach. Let's dissect the roles and obligations associated with putting the kicking game into practice, taking into account player personnel, coach responsibilities, and coaching staff assignments.
Coaching Staff Assignments:
1. Kicking Coordinator (Head Coach):
• Punts, kickoffs, field goals, and extra points are just a few of the things that the kicking coordinator needs to be well conversant with.
- They have to decide when to kick, when to go for it, and how to counter the opponent's approach in addition to creating the overall plan for the kicking game.
- The philosophy and objectives of the kicking game must be explained to the players and coaching staff as a whole by the kicking coordinator.
2. Special Teams Coach:
• The kicking and coverage units' daily drills and skills will be the special teams coach's main focus.
- To hone their skills, they will collaborate closely with punters, returners, and kickers.
- To make sure that players are physically ready for their duties in the kicking game, the special teams coach and the strength and conditioning coach should work together.
3. Assistant Coaches:
• You may give each assistant coach a specific task, depending on how big the coaching team is. For instance, one coach might be in charge of the kickoff squad and another might be in charge of field goals and extra points.
- In order to execute the entire plan and make sure that players are aware of their responsibilities, assistant coaches should collaborate closely with the special teams coach and the kicking coordinator.
Expectations and Implementation:
• Quality over Quantity: Stress that distance is not as important as accuracy and technique. It is imperative that players comprehend.
d the significance of efficiently carrying out their tasks, instead than attempting to accomplish too much.
• Film Study: Urge coaches to watch game tape on a frequent basis in order to pinpoint areas that need work. This will assist in modifying player assignments and strategy in light of the opponent's deficiencies.
• Player Personnel:
• Put accuracy, consistency, and pressure tolerance first for punters and kickers.
- For covering units, consider traits like football IQ, speed, and tackling prowess.
- Concentrate on ball security, vision, and quickness for returners.
Weekly Time Allocation: Every week, allocate a substantial amount of practice time to the kicking game. Daily meetings and drills for special teams may be part of this. Here is an example distribution:
• Monday: Watch the movie again and make plans for the next opponent.
- Tuesday and Wednesday: Special teams rehearse on concentrating on particular methods and tasks.
- Thursday: Review and improve the special teams plays
- Friday: Last-minute preparations and walkthroughs.
- Saturday: The day of the game, when the players carry out the kicking strategy.
Motivation: It is your responsibility as the head coach to teach your coaching staff the value of the kicking game. Explain how crucial plays made by special teams, field position, and changes in momentum may all have a big impact on the result of a game. Urge coaches to instill a sense of pride in their players' involvement in the kicking game.
Recall that attitude and dedication are just as important to the success of the kicking game as skill. To be most effective, coaches and players should have the same grasp of the "want to" and "how to" components of the game.
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Special Teams Considerations
Ryan
Special Teams can be the game-changing component in any game. A blocked kick, a returned kick for a score, or a punt downed inside the five can all change the momentum of a game. Within our practice, we will spend between 20 and 30 minutes on special teams daily. The Special Team units worked during practice depending upon the day's emphasis. For example, On defensive emphasis days, we will work kick-off, punt return, and block, and then when we switch to offense, we will mix in PAT/FG.
Since Special Teams are essential to the game, we will play our best players on these units. Our athletes are expected to keep themselves on these units, and if they need a break, they get their break on offense or defense.
Within our practices, position coaches are responsible for specific groups of players, while the special teams coordinator is responsible for the overall scheme. Below is how we set up responsibilities for each special teams unit.
PAT/FG
TE/FB Coach is an expert in long snapping and works with all long snappers. He will also work with TEs and Wings when we join the entire group.
The OL Coach will work with all offensive linemen to ensure solid protection.
Our QB Coach will work with holders.
We are lucky to have a coach who works with kickers all practice.
PUNT TEAM
TE/FB Coach will again work with long snappers.
Our LB Coach/ Defensive coordinator works with all "Offensive Lineman" on the punt team. These athletes are usually linebackers or very athletic defensive lineman-type kids.
Our DB coach works with all gunners.
Our Special Teams Coordinator works with the Personal Protector. He is responsible for all protections, fakes, and other schematical specifics.
The kicking coach will work with punters.
Kick-off Team
Defensive Coaches will work with all kick-off team members
The kicking Coach will again work with kickers.
Kick-off Return
TE/FB Coach will work with the front four and second two (Our Front six). We run a shield protection with the front four and a trap with the second two.
Our Special Teams Coordinator works with the middle three in our return. These three are the most physical blockers within the return and must make their blocks happen to have any success with the return.
Our WRs Coach works with our returners.
PAT/FG and Punt Block Units
These are part of our defense, and our defensive staff is responsible for these units.
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Character & Leadership
David
A character and leadership program has been associated with some of the most successful programs that I have experienced. I feel it is sometimes assumed that your athletes will have learned physical and moral characteristics from their home or involvement in athletics. I have recognized the assumption as a huge mistake when taking over a program. Not all communities or athletes come with the same experience. Even if you are involved with a community that hold positive leadership and characteristic skills, it is important for the team to understand the vision, mission, and values of the program to have a common purpose. I really do not have any cons outside of time. However even with time, I feel for a program to maximize its time, efficiency and growth there is a need for leadership and character development. Otherwise you will never get the most out of an athlete.
To implement our leadership program I will provide a Fountain Valley Football Handbook at the beginning of the school year for our players to review. The handbook will provide our vision, mission, foundational values and guiding principles in support of have common characteristics and goals.
February- April Weekly Monday Morning 20-30 Minute Meetings
Meeting 1- Introduce Vision, Mission, Values (4) and Guiding Principles (6). Clearly communicate our purpose.
Meeting 2- Communicate and define the Vision and Mission of our program.
Meeting 3- Communicate and define Value 1 (Faith)
Meeting 4- Communicate and define Value 2 (Pride)
Meeting 5- Communicate and define Value 3 (Courage)
Meeting 6- Communicate and define Value 4 (Poise)
Meeting 7- Communicate and define Guiding Principle 1 (Honesty)
Meeting 8- Communicate and define Guiding Principle 2 (Accountability)
Meeting 9- Communicate and define Guiding Principle 3 (Polished Fundamentals)
Meeting 10- Communicate and define Guiding Principle 4 (Brotherhood)
Meeting 11- Communicate and define Guiding Principle 5 (Servant Leadership)
Meeting 12- Communicate and define Guiding Principle 6 (Passion)
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Leadership and Character Academy
Joshua
I believe that teaching leadership skills to my football players is essential. Oftentimes, whether they deserve to be or not, football players are looked at as leaders (or least major influencers) of a school’s culture. Teaching players how to become positive, respectful, and good stewards of the influence is a must. Developing great leaders within the school, translates to developing good leaders on the field. Other positives that come out establishing a leadership academy are that you develop common goals for your team. Common expectations and standards also develop throughout your team as a result of these academies.
Some negatives that come from running these types of programs is that if they are not inclusive enough you can alienate players. Personally, I often in the early stages of my leadership program I will talk to all my players. I often refrain from selecting captains or naming “leaders” until we hit our summer schedule. I like to see which players step up and lead in the winter and spring without formal titles. Another negative is that these programs demand more time from the head coach in the off season. The coach must develop the material and find time to meet with the players outside of other off-season time commitments.
My program usually starts the Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. In combination with teaching our core lifts and getting starting weights for the weight program, I also focus on goal setting. I first teach players how to set individual goals. After our initial round of testing players will set 2 goals; a weight room goal and a position goal, that they will commit to for the next 7 weeks. After individual goals are set, we will then set 3 team goals. All of the individual goals and team goals will then get posted on our “Wall of Accountability,” which hangs in the hallway leading into the weight room (so they have to walk by them everyday). Lessons during this stretch occur weekly during our Monday-Thursday after school lifting. After 7 weeks (matches our testing cycle), players will continue to assess their progress towards their individual goals and; if necessary, adjust or set new goals.
Starting in March our leadership meetings increase to twice a week as we implement 2 morning team meetings a week to go along with our after school lifting. These meetings occur every Tuesday and Thursday from 6-7am prior to the start of school. They include leadership messages, mat drills, and offensive/defensive installation. Also, starting in March I and the offensive coordinator begin our Sunday QB leadership and fundamental training. We open this up to all QBs in grades 6-12. We meet for an hour every Sunday with this group. This phase lasts until the end of May when we hold our spring practice.
After spring practice we jump right into our summer schedule and we begin our focus on getting ready for the season to begin.
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waggle O-Line Rules
The waggle pass play is an excellent play-action passing play that will catch an over-aggressive defense off guard. This play has the QB fake one way and roll out the other way. This is one of the best misdirection pass plays in football. The waggle pass play is utilized on all levels of football.
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Special Teams Organization
As a head coach, I have divided special team responsibilities two different ways in the past. Despite the two different approaches I still make sure all coaches have a stake and responsibility in the kicking game. The first way I have assigned responsibilities is to assign one of my coaches the title of “special teams coordinator.” It was this coach’s job to scout the opponent’s special teams, assemble the kicking game scouting report, and plan out the special teams’ practice time in the practice schedule. With this format, I would then assign the offensive coaches to support the coordinator during “offensive special teams” (kick return, punt, fg/xpt) and defensive coaches to help with the others. The support would involve coaching the breakout pieces of each special team, setting up a scout look, and/or giving input on personnel. I have used this method when I have had a coach with some experience that I would like to start mentoring them as a coordinator. Assigning them as the special teams’ coordinator helps them learn how to plan practice time, build scouting materials, and lead portions of practice.
The second way I have divided special teams was by assigning each coach an individual unit to run. Something along the lines as listed below…
• Head Coach - Kickoff
• Offensive Coordinator (OC) - Punt
• Defensive Coordinator (DC) - Punt Return
• Positional Coach (O & D Line) - FG/PAT
• Positional Coach (WR/S) - Kickoff Return
• Positional Coach (RB/DB) - FG/PAT Block
In this model, I as the head coach assigned which special teams would be practiced each day and the assigned coach would be responsible for planning that portion of practice. The other coaches were all responsible for supporting that coach in any way that was needed for the coach to execute their plan for their allotted time. I have used this way when I have some younger/”newer” coaches on staff and I want to create buy-in and ownership from them. This method makes everyone feel “in charge” of something and helps everyone feel like they have a say.
My philosophy on special teams is that we want to use the best athletes that we have to for each situation. Being a 4A school we are large enough usually to have some extra or younger athletes that we can use on special teams. This allows me to situationally rest some of our key starters at times for a play or two on special teams. However, I present it as a way for those non starters and younger players to earn playing time on Friday nights. They are not simply a fill in for a key player, rather they earned the right to be out there in certain situations. With all that said, when there is a key special team play ALL of our best players will be on the field. We typically practice special teams for 30 mins (out of a 2.5 hour practice) on Tuesday and Wednesday. We also make sure that we review all of our special teams during our Thursday pregame practice as we move through our game day script. We run the teams on and
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History of the Air Raid Offense
In American football the air raid offense refers to an offensive scheme popularized by such coaches as Mike Leach, Hal Mumme, Sonny Dykes, and Tony Franklin during their respective tenures at Iowa Wesleyan University, Valdosta State, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Louisiana Tech, and Washington State.
The system is designed out of a shotgun formation with four wide receivers and one running back. The formations are a variation of the run and shoot offense with two outside receivers and two inside slot receivers. The offense also uses trips formations featuring three wide receivers on one side of the field and a single receiver on the other side.
History
The offense first made its appearance when Mumme and Leach took over at Iowa Wesleyan College and Valdosta State University and had success there during the late 1980s and early 1990s.The first exposure into NCAA Division I-A (now FBS) was at the University of Kentucky starting in 1997. There, head coach Hal Mumme and assistant coach Mike Leach helped turn quarterback Tim Couch into a consensus All-American in 1998, and later a first overall NFL draft pick. Leach then served as offensive coordinator at the University of Oklahoma in 1999 before landing the head coaching job at Texas Tech. Shortly into the early 2000s, assistant coaches started landing head coaching jobs such as Chris Hatcher at Valdosta State, Art Briles (first at Houston then Baylor), Sonny Dykes (first at Louisiana Tech, then at California), Ruffin McNeill at East Carolina, Dana Holgorsen at West Virginia, and Kevin Sumlin (first at Houston, then Texas A&M). Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury (Mike Leach's first quarterback at Texas Tech) ran the offense as well. As of 2016, 7 out of the top 10 college leaders in career passing percentages—all above 68.6 percent—were Air Raid quarterbacks.
Air raid system
The scheme is notable for its focus on passing, as 65–75% of the offensive plays are passing plays. The quarterback has the freedom to change the play called audible based on what the defensive team shows him at the line of scrimmage. In at least one instance, as many as 90% of the run plays called in a season were chosen by audible at the line of scrimmage.
An important element in this offense is the offense does not huddle, also known as the No-huddle offense. The offense gets to the line of scrimmage as soon as the previous play ends. The quarterback then diagnoses what the defense is showing and starts the next play quickly. The quarterback is responsible for the audible play calls most of the time. The quick pace of the offense not only allows a team to come back if they are many points behind, but also tires out the defense and keep them off balance by limiting player substitutions.
Another important aspect of the air raid offense is the positioning or split of the offensive linemen. In a conventional offense, the linemen are bunched together fairly tightly but in an air raid offense, linemen are often split apart about a half to a full yard from one another. While in theory this allows easier blitz lanes, it forces the defensive ends and defensive tackles to run further to reach the quarterback for a sack. The quick, short passes offset any blitz that may come. Another advantage is that by forcing the defensive line to widen, it opens up wider than normal passing lanes for the quarterback to throw through, decreasing the chances of having the pass knocked down or intercepted.
Fundamental air raid play concepts are designed to get the ball out of the quarterback's hand quickly, stretch the defense thinly across the field in all directions, and allow the quarterback to key on one defensive player who is forced to make a decision on which receiver to cover in his assigned area. Air raid plays are commonly designed to beat zone coverages, but they also work well against man-to-man defenses since an air raid offense often employs receivers with better than average speed which gives them an advantage in man-to-man coverage.
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History of the Goal Post
Goal Posts in Early Years
In football’s earliest days – and we’re talking Pudge Heffelfinger, pre-1900 days – a field goal was actually more valuable than a touchdown. Under those rules, Justin Tucker’s field goals would notch 5 points, Tyreek Hill’s TDs only 4. Soon both plays were worth 5 points before gradually moving to modern-day scoring by 1912.
When did goal posts move?
The NFL moved the goal posts to the back of the end zone in 1974.
In the NFL’s earliest days, before the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles existed, the league followed the NCAA rule book. Goal posts were on the goal line. When the NCAA moved them to the end zone’s backline in 1927, the NFL followed suit.
In 1933, however, the NFL adopted its own rule book and placed the goal posts back on the goal line. NFL goal posts stayed there until 1974 when they were moved to the back of the end zone.
Not much happened in terms of design and placement for about 30 years. Perhaps the 30-year gap in development is why goal post history isn’t well documented. The goal posts were basically white, “H” style goal posts made of wood or metal.
1945 NFL Championship Goal Posts
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The goal posts made NFL history at least a couple of times in those years. Goal posts determined the outcome of the 1945 NFL Championship Game, but not in the manner of a missed field goal. The game featured perennial contender Washington against the surprising Cleveland Rams. The Rams hosted the affair and played in sub-zero temperatures (-8 degrees). The quarterback matchup featured the great Sammy Baugh against a breakout rookie, Bob Waterfield.
Baugh threw from his own end zone early in the game. He had a wide-open receiver to his left, and that receiver had a blocker in front of him. Cleveland’s defense featured a 12th man, however. The goal posts knocked down Baugh’s pass. By 1945 rules, that counted as a safety for the Rams.
Baugh suffered an injury after completing only 1 of 6 passes. Frank Filchock took over for the Redskins and threw a 38-yard touchdown pass early in the 2nd quarter to put Washington ahead 7-2. Waterfield countered with a 37-yard strike to give Cleveland a 9-7 halftime lead, the goal post’s safety being the difference.
Each team scored a TD in the second half, the Rams extra point failing in the frozen conditions. The Rams won by a 15-14 tally. The number of writers who may have voted the goal posts MVP is lost to history.
Sammy Baugh’s “Safety” Valve is at the 14-second mark
Disputed Field Goal Extends Uprights
The goal posts also factored in the result of the 1965 Western Division Playoff between the Colts and Packers at Lambeau Field. Vince Lombardi signed kicker Don Chandler away from the Giants, ensuring better accuracy than Paul Hornung and Jerry Kramer had provided. Lombardi may have smiled as Chandler lined up to take a last-second attempt to tie the score against the Colts.
The kick went well over the 10-foot upright. NFL rules to this day state that if the ball goes OVER the upright, it’s still good. The refs called the kick good, much to the dismay of the Colts. Chandler’s kick looked quite ugly and had the goal posts been at the back of the end zone like today, the kick would have been at least 6 feet wide.
The posts sat on the goal line in those days, and it’s impossible to tell from the film whether the ball crossed over the upright. The Colts were sure it didn’t. The Packers sided with the refs, who always have the final say. The game became the second-ever playoff to go into overtime (after the 1958 NFL Championship), and the Packers prevailed.
Packers - Packers - Bart Starr holds for Don Chandler in the Green Bay Packers vs. Baltimore Colts football game in 1965. Negative # 653794 PUBLISHED: 12-27-1965, Milwaukee Journal
Bart Starr holds for Don Chandler in the Green Bay Packers vs. Baltimore Colts football game in 1965. Negative # 653794 PUBLISHED: 12-27-1965, Milwaukee Journal
The disputed field goal caused enough controversy that the NFL extended the uprights to 20 feet starting in 1966 and offset them from the goal line a bit. The extension wasn’t much different than what the league did a few years ago after a disputed Justin Tucker field goal topped the Patriots, and the league extended the uprights to 35 feet.
Joel Rottman’s Claim to Fame
Ever broken the middle prongs out of a plastic fork? Joel Rottman did one day over lunch and visualized a concept for goal post improvement.
Added inspiration came while Rottman drove along the highway and noticed curved street lamps. He designed the now famous “sling-shot” look with a curved base. Rottman, a Florida resident, sold the University of Miami on the idea. The goal posts debuted at the Orange Bowl in September 1966.
Jim Trimble, a former Eagles coach who moved to the Canadian Football League, bought into the idea as a partner. He connected Rottman with NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle. Rottman later told the story to the Sun Sentinel: “There was a fellow in the lobby with these orange pylons, but Rozelle wanted to see the goal-post guy first,” Rottman laughed. “He said, ‘Oh, God, we’ve had a committee working on this thing for three years and want to put it back from the goal line to the end line. You show me a picture with 20-foot uprights instead of 10, and I’ll give you a list of all the owner’s names.”
Slingshot Goal Posts Make Their Debut
The goal posts made their NFL debut in 1967, with all teams bought in. Super Bowl 2 (played at the Orange Bowl in Miami) was the first Super Bowl to sport the new posts. Rottman sold his idea to the Rose Bowl for the 1971 “Grandaddy of Them All”, but with one stipulation.
The Rose Bowl didn’t want to spend $1,775 on goal posts only to see them torn down at the end of the game. Rottman guaranteed his goal posts would endure. When jubilant fans spilled onto the field after Jim Plunkett led Stanford to a 27-17 victory over Ohio State, they were in for a big surprise.
Rottman coated the goal posts with motor oil. Not even the brilliant Stanford kids could figure out ways to topple the slippery goal posts.
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Why Did the NFL move the Goal Posts?
In 1974, the NFL moved the goal posts from their offset position to the back of the end zone. Although player safety was a concern, much of it was to discourage long-range field goals. In 2015, the league experimented by narrowing the goal posts for the Pro Bowl. No word on whether the narrower goal posts will become standard.
What was the first Super Bowl with goal posts at the back of the end zone?
Super Bowl IX, played after the 1974 NFL season, was the first Super Bowl played with goal posts at the back of the end zone. The Steelers defeated the Vikings, 16-6.
Last Super Bowl with Goal Posts on Goal Line
Super Bowl VIII was the last Super Bowl with goal posts on the goal line. The Dolphins won their second straight Super Bowl by defeating the Vikings, 24-7. Super Bowl 8 determined the champion for the 1973 NFL season. Miami running back Larry Csonka was voted the MVP of Super Bowl VIII.
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Extra Points – Further Reading
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History of the Goal Post
The History of NFL Goal Posts: Excitement And Danger
Once upon a time the uprights were on the goal line, where receivers used them as picks and the collisions were many.
The cover of the Dec. 14, 1964 issue of Sports Illustrated features an iconic image for a bygone era of the NFL. Charley Johnson, the 26-year-old quarterback of the St. Louis Cardinals, lunges into the end zone. A Browns defender hurls his body over him, and a Cardinals lineman is sandwiched underneath the pile. Chunks of grass fall onto the mangling of limbs at Busch Stadium. And right in the middle of it all is the ultimate occupational hazard: the goal posts.
Most young NFL fans probably don’t know this—and the details certainly surprised this millennial reporter—but the uprights were on the goal line until 1974. And up until 1967, there were actually two metal poles to contend with, as the uprights were shaped like an ‘H.’
“It affected the game quite a bit,” says Johnson, who retired in 1975 and went on to become a chemical engineering professor at his alma mater, New Mexico State.
Using the goal post to his advantage, Charley Johnson sneaks into the end zone.
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Sports Illustrated
When the NFL was founded in 1920, it used the ‘H’ design for its uprights and placed them on the goal line. In 1927, the league moved the posts back 10 yards, to the back of the end zone. The reasoning? That’s what the NCAA did. At the time, the NFL simply followed the college rulebook. But that was short-lived. In 1933, the NFL finally wrote its own rulebook. And in an effort to increase field goal attempts—the general feeling was that there were too many ties—the NFL moved the uprights back to the goal line.
As Ben Austro, author of the popular NFL officiating blog “Football Zebras” notes: “a receiver could use the goalpost as a pick, just as they did with the umpire.”
• 1967 WEEK: The Greatest Player Who Never Was
“The goal line goal post was part of offensive strategy,” says Don Criqui, the famed broadcaster who began calling NFL games in 1967. “It was an extra blocker on goal-one runs and crossing patterns. Receivers Lance Alworth of the Chargers and Bernie Casey of the LA Rams were two of the best I saw at using the goal post to screen defenders on pass patterns. Goal line goal posts brought excitement and danger.”
Adds Johnson: “In the passing game, receivers would grab ahold of the post, spin around, and go the other direction pretty quick. I also used it a couple times on quarterback sneaks, like in that photo in Sports Illustrated, where I could use the goal post as a screen and go on the opposite side of the nose tackle.”
If a pass hit the metal uprights, it would automatically be ruled incomplete. This was famously applied in Super Bowl VII when, in the fourth quarter, Washington quarterback Billy Kilmer missed a wide-open Jerry Smith in the end zone and bounced the ball off the post. The Dolphins won, 14-7, though it should also be noted Kilmer was intercepted three times that day.
“Oh, it happened all the time,” says Johnson. “If you were on your 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-yard line, you drop back and there’s a good chance you’d hit it . . . and usually when I threw it, I did.”
• 1967 WEEK: Brawls, Booze and True Believers—The Saints’ Wild First Season
A new wrinkle was introduced in 1967. Joel Rottman, a retired newspaper distributer and a hobbyist inventor, was having lunch at the Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montreal with his friend, Alouettes coach Jim Trimble. After staring a bit too long at his fork and imagining what it would look like if the two inside prongs were knocked out, Rottman blurted out an idea: what if the football goal post modeled a fork’s shape? According to a 2010 account in the Florida Sentinel, Rottman believed “slingshot” goal posts would be more aesthetically pleasing—and a bit safer. Rottman brandished his new invention at Expo ’67, the world fair held in Montreal, and earned a meeting with NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle.
SI
In the years to come, the kicking game became too commonplace. In 1973, a record 543 field goals were made on 861 attempts—an average of five per game. Field goals accounted for 23% of the scoring that season, compared to 15% in 1969, the NFL’s last year before the AFL-NFL merger. Owners wanted more touchdowns. When players returned from the 1974 strike, they found the goal posts in the back of the end zone, which did the trick to curtail the kicking game. In 1974, only 335 field goals were made—or 15% of the scoring.
It created more offense, too. As Paul Brown told SI in 1974: “The whole end zone is open for pass patterns now; the goalposts were, in effect, another safety man when you got inside the 20. You couldn’t run or pass around them. And it was hard to punt or pass coming out of the end zone.”
For the last 42 seasons, the NFL hasn’t found a reason to revert—and it likely never will given the safety issues.
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Passing Game Install New
www.facebook.com/100068521874407/videos/pcb.697680295859360/606843921572742
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Kade Sundheim Offensive Guard & DL Available
This young man has a lot of potential and is athletic also plays on the Varsity basketball team. Very coachable
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COACHES' STAFF GUIDE:
Developing a 2 ½ hour Practice Schedule
The High School Football Practice Philosophy is a structured and disciplined approach that prioritizes efficiency and excellence. It emphasizes punctuality and adherence to practice timelines, ensuring that every moment is utilized for improvement. The core principles of deliberate preparation and perfect effort underpin this philosophy. Practices are divided into segments to allow coaches to focus on different aspects of the team, recognizing the complexity of the game. Special attention is given to all phases in the game, with the belief that daily practice in is essential for player retention and game preparation.
Football Practice Philosophy
Practice philosophy begins with starting on time and ending on time. There are no wasted opportunities to improve and get what is needed to get done. Football practice philosophy centers on the core principles: deliberate preparation and perfect effort. Practices are structured within two and a half hours, a guideline the league requires per the bylaws.
Practices should be broken down into segments to allow coaches to focus on different aspects of the team. There are many phases of the game and it’s better to break down into segments for learning purposes rather than trying to teach everything at one time. Within the two and a half hours, the team will practice special teams, defense, and offense. The belief is that all phases must be practiced daily to ensure the players can retain all the information required for the game of the week.
Pre-Practice
Pre-practice begins before official practice starts. The expectation is that QBs and centers are practicing exchanges. Depending on the day, QBs will practice their option footwork or play action pass footwork. Other players will practice ball security, offensive or defensive line first steps, or hitting the sled to get warmed up. Each day provides a different opportunity.
Special Teams
After stretching happens, the PAT/Field goal team will practice a few kicks versus no defense and then a few live. Upon conclusion, there will be some live kicks with the defense trying to block the kick. After PAT/FG, a specific special team will practice, depending on the day.
Defense
Defense is always a focal point. There is a different tackling circuit every day. The tackling circuit is low impact, and bags are used. The belief is players are not used to contact, and the more contact opportunities, there will be less hesitation in a game. Similarly, to a baseball or softball player, getting swings in a batting cage and the daily practice will create muscle memory. The Pursuit drill defines our team, emphasizing no matter what happens, you can control your effort. The defensive practice philosophy is Monday is an adjustment day, giving the team a lot of information about the opponent's players, offensive philosophy, formations, and what defensive checks will be. Tuesday is a running game focus, and Wednesday is a passing game focus. Thursday will be a wrap-up day.
Offense
Offensively, the offensive philosophy is the Flexbone. This offense fits the San Mateo High School personnel. It is an offense that most schools rarely see, giving San Mateo the advantage—the focus point of practicing every player versus every front every day. The offense doesn't care who the opponent is. The offense has to prepare for any junk defense that may show up per week. The days are broken into play tracks such as Inside Veer or Midline. Monday is inside veer, base block dive, and belly. Tuesday is the midline day, mid-double, and mid-triple. Wednesday is the pass emphasis day. Half Line is used instead of a traditional team concept. Coaches are used as the reads, and coaches force the QB to make a read, forcing the QB to pitch more than keep. The idea is to get the QB used to pitching the ball regularly so that in the game, it's seamless.
Conclusion
Practice philosophy revolves around deliberate preparation and a perfect effort. These principles are the foundation of our coaching approach and the key to our success on and off the field.
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Interviewing and Program Building Considerations
365 Day Step by Step Four Phase Football Program and Organizational Plan
A successful year-round football program is characterized by a holistic approach to player development, emphasizing skill enhancement, physical conditioning, and team cohesion. With a dedicated coaching staff, tailored training regimens, and a focus on safety and well-being, this program prioritizes the long-term growth of athletes. Periodization ensures a well-structured year, allowing players to progress systematically from the offseason through the preseason and into the competitive season. The program nurtures leadership, mental resilience, and a positive team culture, extending its impact beyond the physical aspects of the sport. In a successful year-round football program, dedication, commitment, and a player-centered approach combine to create an environment where athletes thrive and excel, both on and off the field.
Running a successful year-round football program in college requires a involved approach that encompasses several key elements. First and foremost, it's important to have a dedicated coaching staff with a deep understanding of the game, modern coaching techniques, and a strong commitment to player development. In the college environment, player safety and well-being should be paramount, with comprehensive injury prevention measures and medical support in place. Periodization of training is essential, with structured off-season, preseason, and in-season phases designed to enhance skills, physical conditioning, and game strategies. This planning should be adaptable to cater to individual player needs, considering the diverse positions and skill sets on the team. Furthermore, college football programs should provide a well-rounded experience, integrating academic support, life skills training, and community involvement to prepare student-athletes for success beyond the gridiron.
In addition, effective communication between coaches, players, and support staff is critical. Regular film study and analysis can help players grasp game tactics, make informed decisions, and continuously improve. Also maintaining a positive team culture and fostering leadership within the squad are vital components of success. Successful college football programs should also seek opportunities for competitive engagement, such as intercollegiate games and showcases. Ultimately, a thriving year-round college football program combines rigorous training, comprehensive player support, a commitment to safety, and a focus on holistic player development to achieve success on and off the field starting with the offseason.
The offseason is a critically important phase in any football program. It's during this period that athletes have the opportunity to lay the foundation for their success in the upcoming season. While the football season itself is the time for competition, the offseason is when players can focus on individual skill development, physical conditioning, and team cohesion. It's a time for honing techniques, building strength and agility, and addressing weaknesses. Beyond the physical aspects, the offseason also plays a pivotal role in fostering team camaraderie and a positive culture. This is when leaders emerge, and players can strengthen their mental resilience and commitment to the sport. In essence, the offseason is where championships are won, as the hard work, dedication, and preparation put in during this period directly impact a team's performance when it matters most. Coaches also play a very important role in have a successful program year-round. Part of that is developing a bond with the athletes and recruiting has hard as you coach. Coaching can be challenging but anything worthwhile is. Coaches should be approachable and adaptable to new things and coaching styles. Successful coaches are those who can learn new skills, who are flexible enough to change old ways when change is needed, who can accept constructive criticism and who can critically evaluate themselves (Martens, R 2004).
Coaches play a pivotal role in shaping the success of an offseason in a football program. Their guidance, leadership, and expertise are instrumental in ensuring that players make the most of this critical phase. Coaches provide the necessary structure and direction for offseason training, setting clear goals and expectations for individual player development and team progress. They design tailored training programs that address the specific needs of different positions, emphasizing skill improvement, strength and conditioning, and mental toughness. Coaches also facilitate the development of a positive team culture, promoting accountability, teamwork, and leadership within the squad. Their influence extends beyond the physical aspects of training, as they provide mentorship and instill a sense of commitment and work ethic in their players. Ultimately, the impact of coaches on the offseason is instrumental in determining a football team's readiness and performance when the competitive season arrives. Also having a good relationship with the athletes will build a successful year round program.
Team building is another way to build a successful year-round program in football. In a college football program, team building begins from the moment players step onto the field. It involves building trust, camaraderie, and a shared sense of purpose among teammates. Players learn to communicate effectively, both on and off the field, and to work together seamlessly to achieve common goals. Team building activities such as trust exercises, group challenges, and community service initiatives help players develop a deeper understanding of one another, creating a sense of brotherhood that is crucial for success in a physically and mentally demanding sport like football.
Lastly, to have a successful year-round program everyone has to follow the lead of the head coach and his vision. Jerry Campbell said “There can only be one head coach. The policies and decisions I make affect the entire program and are made with one purpose in mind, and that is to win the Frontier Conference and National Championship.” The head coach serves as the team's chief strategist, decision-maker, and motivator, setting the overall vision, philosophy, and direction. Allowing the head coach to take the lead fosters consistency in coaching, strategy, and leadership, which is crucial for player development and team success. It also enables players to focus on their roles and responsibilities, trusting that there is a guiding force at the wheel. When players, assistant coaches, and support staff trust in the head coach's leadership, it creates a sense of purpose and cohesion that is essential for success in competitive sports. Ultimately, letting the head coach lead allows the team to work cohesively and maximize its potential.
References
Campbell, J., “From Interview to Assistant to Head Football Coach" JCFB Multimedia Instructional Guides.
Martens, R. (2004 or 2012). Successful coaching. (3rd or 4th ed.). Champagne, IL: Human Kinetics.
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In Season 7 Day Organization
Game Planning:
1. Study the Opponent:
o Analyze game footage of the upcoming opponent to understand their strengths and weaknesses.
o Identify key players, their playing styles, and any patterns in their strategy.
2. Define Offensive Strategy:
o Develop a game plan that leverages your team's strengths against the opponent's weaknesses.
o Consider ways to align and motion to another formation to gain leverage against your opponent's defensive tendencies.
3. Defensive Strategy:
o Create a defensive game plan that aims to counter the strengths of the opposing offense.
o Analyze their preferred plays and formations to design effective defensive schemes.
4. Special Teams Planning:
o Develop strategies for kickoffs, punts, and field goals.
o Consider trick plays or special team formations that may catch the opponent off guard.
5. Game Situations:
o Plan for different game situations, such as red zone plays, two-minute drills, and goal-line situations.
o Ensure players are familiar with various scenarios and know their roles in each situation.
6. Practice Execution:
o Implement the game plan during practice sessions to ensure players are comfortable with the strategies.
o Fine-tune plays and address any issues that arise during practice.
Staff Assignments:
1. Head Coach:
o Oversees the entire team and ensures that the coaching staff is aligned with the overall game plan.
o Makes strategic decisions during the game, including play calling and adjustments.
2. Offensive Coordinator:
o Develops the offensive game plan in collaboration with the head coach.
o Works with position coaches to ensure that players understand their roles in executing offensive plays.
3. Defensive Coordinator:
o Develops the defensive game plan and coordinates with position coaches.
o Makes in-game adjustments based on the opponent's offensive performance.
4. Special Teams Coordinator:
o Plans and coordinates all aspects of special teams play.
o Works with position coaches to ensure players are prepared for special teams situations.
5. Position Coaches:
o Focus on the development and preparation of players in specific positions (e.g., quarterbacks, running backs, linemen, etc.).
o Provide feedback and make adjustments during practices and games.
6. Strength and Conditioning Coach:
o Ensures players are physically prepared for the demands of the game.
o Works on injury prevention and rehabilitation.
7. Assistant Coaches:
o Assist with various aspects of the game plan, practice sessions, and player development.
o May have specific responsibilities, such as coaching a particular position group.
8. Scouting Coordinator:
o Coordinates the collection of information on upcoming opponents.
o Works with the coaching staff to prepare scouting reports.
9. Game Day Operations:
o Assign roles for managing logistics on game day, such as communication, equipment, and sideline organization.
10. Medical Staff:
o Includes team doctors, athletic trainers, and physiotherapists.
o Responsible for player health and injury management.
Weekly Game Planning Procedures:
**1. Initial Game Review (Friday Night):
• Responsibility: Head Coach, Assistant Coaches
• Process: Review the game footage from the previous game. Analyze offensive and defensive strategies, player performance, strengths, and weaknesses. Identify key areas for improvement.
**2. Injury and Health Report (Saturday):
• Responsibility: Head Athletic Trainer, Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Process: Gather information on player injuries and health status. Communicate with medical staff to determine player availability for the upcoming week.
**3. Scouting and Opponent Analysis (Saturday-Sunday):
• Responsibility: Defensive and Offensive Coordinators
• Process: Study the upcoming opponent's recent games. Analyze their offensive and defensive schemes, key players, and strategies. Identify tendencies and areas for exploitation.
• Player packet developed and ready for hand out monday morning
**4. Player Evaluation and Individual Improvement Plans (Saturday):
• Responsibility: Position Coaches
• Process: Review individual player performances. Develop specific improvement plans for players based on the previous game's performance. Address technique, skills, and mental aspects.
• weight lifting adjustment based on injury and game
**5. Practice Organization (Monday):
• Responsibility: Head Coach, Assistant Coaches
• Process: Organize and plan team practices for the week. Coordinate with position coaches on specific drills and exercises to address weaknesses and enhance strengths.
**6. Final Walkthrough (Thursday):
• Responsibility: Head Coach, Position Coaches
• Process: Conduct a final walkthrough with players, emphasizing key aspects of the game plan. Clarify any last-minute adjustments. Reinforce the importance of execution and focus.
**7. Game Day (Friday):
• Responsibility: Entire Coaching Staff
• Process: Execute the game plan. Monitor player performance and make necessary adjustments during the game. Provide feedback and make halftime corrections.
Expectations for Staff:
• Communication: Regular and effective communication among staff members is crucial.
• Collaboration: Coordinators and position coaches must collaborate to create a cohesive game plan.
• Attention to Detail: Each coach should pay attention to specific details in their areas, whether it's player performance, opponent analysis, or practice organization.
• Flexibility: Be open to making adjustments based on ongoing assessments and in-game situations.
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Football
Game Planning:
1. Study the Opponent:
o Analyze game footage of the upcoming opponent to understand their strengths and weaknesses.
o Identify key players, their playing styles, and any patterns in their strategy.
2. Define Offensive Strategy:
o Develop a game plan that leverages your team's strengths against the opponent's weaknesses.
o Consider ways to align and motion to another formation to gain leverage against your opponent's defensive tendencies.
3. Defensive Strategy:
o Create a defensive game plan that aims to counter the strengths of the opposing offense.
o Analyze their preferred plays and formations to design effective defensive schemes.
4. Special Teams Planning:
o Develop strategies for kickoffs, punts, and field goals.
o Consider trick plays or special team formations that may catch the opponent off guard.
5. Game Situations:
o Plan for different game situations, such as red zone plays, two-minute drills, and goal-line situations.
o Ensure players are familiar with various scenarios and know their roles in each situation.
6. Practice Execution:
o Implement the game plan during practice sessions to ensure players are comfortable with the strategies.
o Fine-tune plays and address any issues that arise during practice.
Staff Assignments:
1. Head Coach:
o Oversees the entire team and ensures that the coaching staff is aligned with the overall game plan.
o Makes strategic decisions during the game, including play calling and adjustments.
2. Offensive Coordinator:
o Develops the offensive game plan in collaboration with the head coach.
o Works with position coaches to ensure that players understand their roles in executing offensive plays.
3. Defensive Coordinator:
o Develops the defensive game plan and coordinates with position coaches.
o Makes in-game adjustments based on the opponent's offensive performance.
4. Special Teams Coordinator:
o Plans and coordinates all aspects of special teams play.
o Works with position coaches to ensure players are prepared for special teams situations.
5. Position Coaches:
o Focus on the development and preparation of players in specific positions (e.g., quarterbacks, running backs, linemen, etc.).
o Provide feedback and make adjustments during practices and games.
6. Strength and Conditioning Coach:
o Ensures players are physically prepared for the demands of the game.
o Works on injury prevention and rehabilitation.
7. Assistant Coaches:
o Assist with various aspects of the game plan, practice sessions, and player development.
o May have specific responsibilities, such as coaching a particular position group.
8. Scouting Coordinator:
o Coordinates the collection of information on upcoming opponents.
o Works with the coaching staff to prepare scouting reports.
9. Game Day Operations:
o Assign roles for managing logistics on game day, such as communication, equipment, and sideline organization.
10. Medical Staff:
o Includes team doctors, athletic trainers, and physiotherapists.
o Responsible for player health and injury management.
Weekly Game Planning Procedures:
**1. Initial Game Review (Friday Night):
• Responsibility: Head Coach, Assistant Coaches
• Process: Review the game footage from the previous game. Analyze offensive and defensive strategies, player performance, strengths, and weaknesses. Identify key areas for improvement.
**2. Injury and Health Report (Saturday):
• Responsibility: Head Athletic Trainer, Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Process: Gather information on player injuries and health status. Communicate with medical staff to determine player availability for the upcoming week.
**3. Scouting and Opponent Analysis (Saturday-Sunday):
• Responsibility: Defensive and Offensive Coordinators
• Process: Study the upcoming opponent's recent games. Analyze their offensive and defensive schemes, key players, and strategies. Identify tendencies and areas for exploitation.
• Player packet developed and ready for hand out monday morning
**4. Player Evaluation and Individual Improvement Plans (Saturday):
• Responsibility: Position Coaches
• Process: Review individual player performances. Develop specific improvement plans for players based on the previous game's performance. Address technique, skills, and mental aspects.
• weight lifting adjustment based on injury and game
**5. Practice Organization (Monday):
• Responsibility: Head Coach, Assistant Coaches
• Process: Organize and plan team practices for the week. Coordinate with position coaches on specific drills and exercises to address weaknesses and enhance strengths.
**6. Final Walkthrough (Thursday):
• Responsibility: Head Coach, Position Coaches
• Process: Conduct a final walkthrough with players, emphasizing key aspects of the game plan. Clarify any last-minute adjustments. Reinforce the importance of execution and focus.
**7. Game Day (Friday):
• Responsibility: Entire Coaching Staff
• Process: Execute the game plan. Monitor player performance and make necessary adjustments during the game. Provide feedback and make halftime corrections.
Expectations for Staff:
• Communication: Regular and effective communication among staff members is crucial.
• Collaboration: Coordinators and position coaches must collaborate to create a cohesive game plan.
• Attention to Detail: Each coach should pay attention to specific details in their areas, whether it's player performance, opponent analysis, or practice organization.
• Flexibility: Be open to making adjustments based on ongoing assessments and in-game situations.
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Football in Season Strength Training
Football Strength Training (A Complete Guide)
By
Coach Horton
I’ve been working as a sports performance coach with college football teams for almost twenty years, both as a Strength and Conditioning Coach and as a Sports Scientist. I’ve also been fortunate over that time to work with some of the best minds in Strength and Conditioning for football.
In this Football Strength and Conditioning Guide, my goal is to provide you with an outline of everything you should be doing both in the off-season and in-season to maximize your performance on the field.
I’m going to discuss when you should start strength training, how many days per week to train, what exercises to focus on and even how to structure your workouts.
First things first, what’s the best age to start strength training?
When Should I Start Strength Training For Football?
There is a long-held myth by many in the general public that lifting weights will stunt your growth. However, study after study and report after report over the years has completely debunked this myth. The Mayo Clinic even recommends that children as young as 7 or 8 can begin strength training.
In my opinion, youth athletes can begin lifting weights once they have the mental maturity and focus needed to strength train safely. For some athletes, this might be 7 or 8 years old. For others, it might be later.
Can the athlete listen and follow directions? Can the athlete stay focused on a single task? Can the athlete stay engaged throughout a training session?
These are the questions that I would have parents ask themselves about their youth athlete(s). If the answers to all 3 are yes, then you could consider strength training. If not, I would suggest waiting a little bit longer.
What Exercises Should a Youth Athlete Begin With?
Young Athlete Doing a Plank
Youth athletes should stick with the basics. Learning proper technique and form should be the only focus at this age. Exercises like Push-Ups, Pull-Ups, Bodyweight Squats, Lunges and Sit-Ups are all strength training exercises that don’t even require a piece of equipment.
Those simple bodyweight movement patterns will translate over to exercises like Goblet Squats and Dumbbell Bench Press when the athlete is ready.
Again, I can’t emphasize this enough. Technique should be the only priority. Strength will come as a natural byproduct at this age. But, the movements they learn at 7 to 10 years old will carry with them for a lifetime.
Once a football player reaches high school, we can start to get into more advanced training techniques that I’m going to dive into now.
Off-Season Football Strength Training
The tips and advice that I’m going to go through now will apply to most football players from high school and even transitioning into college. But, keep in mind there are always exceptions to all rules and situations.
Days Per Week
High school football players should be training 3 to 4 days per week.
Whether to strength train 3 or 4 days per week really comes down to schedule and personal preferences. One isn’t necessarily “better” than the other.
Personally, I prefer a schedule of lifting 4 days per week, but I know of some very successful college strength programs that lift 3 days per week during certain portions of the off-season and have great success.
The lifts for a 3 day-per-week program tend to be more total body lifts and slightly longer than 4 day-per-week schedules.
Ultimately, you just need to decide which schedule fits your overall schedule better.
Strength Training in Winter
Man, Back Squatting with 315 Pounds
Compound movements, like Back Squat, should make up the bulk of your strength training program.
What should you’re football strength training program be focusing on? Well, in my opinion, it depends on the time of the year.
The next football season is months away, so conditioning doesn’t need to be a priority at this time. This makes winter a great time to develop strength and size.
The strength training program should reflect that.
Overall volume (sets and reps) can be higher to help promote strength and hypertrophy. You’re basically building a new foundation for each athlete that they’ll be able to utilize in Spring Football and then fine-tune over the summer.
Pro Tip: If a football player wants to gain weight, this is the best time to do it. It allows the player months to get comfortable at a new playing weight. Trying to gain weight over the summer when conditioning ramps up is much harder to pull off in my experience.
Coach’s Note: This is all dependent on the individual and/or team as well. For example, a freshman football player who needs to add 25 pounds of muscle and squats 135 pounds should have different training priorities than a senior who is at his desired bodyweight and squats 500 pounds. These are just general guidelines.
Strength Training in Summer
Strength training priorities shift in the summer time. Now, with the season getting closer, conditioning will play a larger part in our overall strength and conditioning plan.
In the weight room, the strength training plan will also shift. The strength and hypertrophy focus of the winter will shift to a focus on power. The sets of five to ten reps will be few and far between and sets of 3, 2 and even singles will play a much larger role.
In-Season Football Strength Training
Football Players on a Football Field
One of the biggest mistakes a football player can make is to stop strength training once the season starts. This is due to multiple factors.
First and foremost, reducing your risk of injury is one of the primary benefits of strength training. However, you can start to lose strength after only a couple of weeks of not training. Strength training during the season will keep your strength levels up and lower your risk of injury.
Second, championships are won in December and January, not August. Not strength training during the season means you will be at your weakest of the entire year when it’s time to play for a ring.
Finally, strength training during the season will help you get a jump start on your next off-season. Instead of spending months just getting back the strength you lost, you’ll be able to start making new gains immediately. Over the course of a 4-year career, the difference this can make is staggering.
Days Per Week
How many days a week you should train in-season depends on the amount of playing time you’re getting on gameday.
I’ll give you an example.
Our players who play a significant amount of snaps on gameday lift two days per week. Both lifts are done early in the week, to optimize recovery before the next game.
Players who play limited snaps will lift 3 days per week. This is generally players who may only be on special teams or specific packages. This extra day allows them to maximize their development without hindering their performance on gameday.
Players who do not play at all on gameday, Redshirts, for example, lift 4 days per week. We use this time in the winter to maximize physical development. Young guys that take advantage of this time period can quickly close the gap on upperclassmen from a physical performance standpoint.
In-Season Priorities
During the season, our strength training priorities shift again. Our time in the weight room is more limited during the season, especially with the two-deep.
We want to maximize that time with mobility work and knee, ankle and shoulder work to help keep joints healthy and functioning well. But, we will also use that time to continue developing strength. We want to maintain, or even gain, strength during the season.
We do this by lowering the overall volume but maintaining the intensity (percentages used) of what would be typical of the off-season.
So, for example, instead of 4 sets of 5 reps for Back Squat at 75%, we may do 4 sets of 3 reps at 75%. This allows us to keep our strength but reduce the amount of ‘wear and tear’ on the body.
What are the Best Exercises for Football Players?
Football Player Doing a Power Clean
I like to think about exercise selection broken down into four different categories:
Olympic Lifts for Power Development
Compound Lifts for Strength Development
Supplemental Lifts for Hypertrophy
Core Work for Core Strength and Stability
Now, Olympic Lifts do not work just power development and Compound movements do not just work strength development – it’s simply their main emphasis.
Coach’s Tip: Regardless of how “good” an exercise is, you should only do exercises that you are technically proficient at. This goes for both coaches and players. If you don’t know how to do an exercise, don’t try to coach it and don’t try to do it. There are always alternatives for ANY exercise. There is no need to get yourself hurt trying to do an exercise you don’t know how to do.
Olympic Lifts
I am a big proponent of the Olympic lifts for football players. Olympic Lifts include the lifts themselves and all their variations. Power Clean, Hang Clean, Hang Snatch, Clean Pulls, Push Presses and Power Jerks are just some of the Olympic movements I like to include in my programming.
Each has their own proper teaching progression. I start simple and continue to add more complexity as players progress. This allows us to minimize the amount of time spent coaching and maximizing the amount of time spent training.
For example, when freshmen first arrive on campus, we do not start with a full Clean right away. Instead, we start with a Trap Bar Deadlift and a Front Squat. Those movements lay the foundation for being able to properly setup and pull weight from the floor and receive the bar in a front rack position.
After a few weeks, I’ll introduce a Hang Power Snatch and a Clean Pull. A football player in my program won’t do a full Clean (starting from the floor and catching in a full Front Squat) until after a full year in the program.
And, by the way, you can get pretty strong doing exercises like Trap Bar Deadlifts and Front Squats – they’re definitely not just for learning technique. This brings me to the second type of exercise that should be a part of your football strength training, Compound Lifts.
Compound Lifts
Compound Lifts are exercises that involve multiple joints and multiple muscle groups. These are exercises like Squats, Deadlifts, Pull-Ups and Bench Press.
If you’re serious about developing strength then Compound Lifts should be a staple in your strength training program. However, no different than Olympic Lifts, you should only do exercises that you know how to do correctly. Trying to Deadlift heavy weight with poor technique is a recipe for injury.
Olympic Lifts and Compound Lifts should take up around 80% (or more) of the time spent in the weight room. These are the exercises that are going to give you the most “bang for your buck”. These are also the exercises that look like actual athletic movements that are performed on a football field.
If you’re spending most of your time in the weight room over in the dumbbell area doing curls and flexing in the mirror, trust me, you’re getting outworked.
Supplemental Lifts
These are your single-joint exercises. Lateral Raises, Dumbbell Curls and Triceps Pushdowns fall into this category. Don’t get me wrong, some of these exercises are the most fun to do, but they should be exactly what their name says – supplemental.
A few sets of Supplemental Lifts are a good way to help develop extra hypertrophy at the end of a workout.
Core Work
Med Ball Side Toss
I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. I think (maybe I’m wrong, who knows) all of us know at this point that having a strong core is important.
Just don’t get bogged down doing Crunches every day and checking the box for Core Work. Training your core comes in many different forms.
Weighted exercises like Weighted Sit-ups and Cable Crunches can build strength by adding extra resistance. Exercises like Planks and Stir The Pot will emphasize and improve core stability. Many medicine ball exercises like Side Throws can add rotational core work as well as develop power.
Hopefully, you get the point I’m trying to make. Challenging your core in different ways is vastly superior to laying on your back and doing bodyweight core exercises every day.
What Order Should Exercises Go In?
Properly organizing your workouts is a big component of maximizing the effectiveness of every set and every rep. Exercises should be ordered in pretty much the same order I just put them in – Olympic Lifts, Compound Lifts, Supplemental Lifts and then Core Work.
In general, exercise order should follow two main rules:
Fast –> Slow
Multi-Joint –> Single Joint
Explosive exercises should be done toward the beginning of the workout when the body, particularly the CNS (Central Nervous System), is fresh. This will ensure that you get the most out of these power-developing movements.
Doing these types of lifts while fresh will also help to reduce injury. Fatigue can be the enemy of technique, so doing the most technical lifts while freshest only makes sense.
After your power movements should be the Compound Multi-Joint exercises. Exercises like Back Squats and Bench Press need multiple muscle groups firing at full strength to get the most out of each movement. Smoking your triceps at the beginning of a workout will create a weak link in your Bench Press, therefore reducing it’s effectiveness.
Final Thoughts
Simply showing up in the weight room and working hard will only get you so far. Yes, you’ll be one step ahead of the guys who just show up and check a box and two steps ahead of the guys who don’t show up at all.
However, to really get an advantage over your top competition, you should be trying to maximize your training every day. Choosing the right days to train, selecting the right exercises with the correct amount of sets and reps and organizing it all together.
If it all seems like a lot to manage, I understand. It’s the same feeling I get when I look under the hood of my car. I know the engine makes the car go, but if you asked me to point out the manifold I’d be in trouble.
My suggestion would be to find a quality strength and conditioning coach and/or program to help guide you through this process. Finally, if you need a strength and conditioning program for football, I have them available in my shop. It’s the same program I wrote to send to incoming recruits to prepare them for a college football weight room.
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Coach Campbell
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Dec 29, 2023 at 11:40am
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How To Prepare a Great Resume
Preparing Your Resume
Your resume serves as the initial indicator of your organizational skills and professionalism. A poorly prepared resume could convey the wrong message to a an interview committee member. A properly constructed resume should have the following contents:
A letter of interest, with a brief statement of your teaching and coaching philosophy.
Resume of no more than two pages (include picture).
Teaching and coaching chronology
“Success” Page: List top accomplishments: Championships, Team G.P.A., and Scholarships.
Three to five references (always include current and recent principal).
Additional Suggestions for Preparing Your Resume
Actively sell your qualifications by focusing on accomplishments and results rather than routine job descriptions.
Final hiring decisions are rarely based on resumes alone; however, the resume should be concise, factual and positive listing of your education, experience and accomplishments.
Be conscious of the continuity of your history. The reader will be looking for reasons to eliminate as many resumes as possible. Resumes with gaps of unaccountable time often reach the circular file (garbage)!
Weigh your choice of words. Select strong action verbs, concrete nouns and positive modifiers for emphasis. Use concise phrases and clauses rather than complete sentences.
Try your resume on another coach that has experience with the interview process or members of faculty that has sit in on the interview process before.
Keep a separate list of references and make them available only on request.
Always send a cover letter on matching paper with specific reference to the school’s needs and your qualifications for the job. A personal letter is always best, so make an effort to get the name and title of individual making the hiring decision.
Remember, your resume is only a door opener. You want a personal interview.
Your Resume Has Only a Few Seconds to Impress - or it will end up in the trash.
A strong resume needs a solid foundation, and no amount of trickery can mask poor organization. Start with these basics.
Contact Information: List your contact information at the top of the resume. Include your full name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address. If you have a personal Web site, include the URL only if the site shows off your skills or applies to your career goals.
Objective: The objectives section gives administrators an immediate sense of who you are and what you're looking for, without forcing them to wade through the entire resume. If you decide to include an objective, stress what you'll add to the company, not what you're looking to take away.
Experience: List your experience chronologically, with your most recent job first. If your latest experience wasn't the most impressive, arrange your list by importance. Include the company name, location, your title and dates of employment. Also, give a brief description of your accomplishments these tips:
Emphasize your most important responsibilities even if they weren't your primary duties.
Use active voice. Strong sentences are those in which a subject performs an action (active voice) as opposed to an action being performed on the subject (passive voice). "I planned an event," creates a stronger impression than "An event was planned by me."
Impress employers with cause-effect relationships and tangible results. Quantify your achievements with percentages and numbers like "increased enrollment 20 percent" and "supervised three-person staff."
Use descriptions to highlight your sense of initiative. Paint yourself as a "go-getter" with strong verbs like "proposed," "launched" and "managed."
Skills/Interests: Today's workers are more tech-savvy than ever, so make sure you mention your technical and computer skills. List programming languages, software programs and operating systems you've used as well as certifications you have. Don't forget "soft skills" like foreign languages and public speaking.
Always include memberships in professional organizations, because it shows you're serious about your career. Mentioning your interests is optional. Listing activities and hobbies can portray you as a well- rounded person, but it can raise eyebrows, too. Be careful what you list. (You should probably keep your passion for professional wrestling to yourself.)
Education: List your most recent education first and work backward. State your degree, major, minor, dates of attendance and the school's name and location. You may also want to add your G.P.A. (if 3.0 or higher).
References: Don't waste valuable space on references. Employers assume you'll provide them upon request.
Finishing Touches
Create several versions of your resume, each tailored to the type of position you're applying for. Writing multiple resumes can be time-consuming, but it's a small price to pay for the job you want.
If you're applying for a specific job, research the position and school district. Pay attention to the job requirements and highlight your qualifications as they reflect the hiring of the school’s needs.
Be concise. Stick to one page. Make sure every word is meaningful.
Choose fonts that are easy-to-read, clean and consistent. Don't use non-traditional or overly creative fonts.
Read, edit and re-read your resume to make sure it's well written, clear and typo-free. Do it again. Then, ask your friends and family to do the same.
If you use an online resume, consider saving a text (".txt") version that will look good on any computer. Send your resume as an attached file and also paste the text into the body of the e-mail just to be safe. Online resumes should also include plenty of keywords, since they may be searched.
Those in favor say objectives are the simplest, quickest way to target a specific position. Those against, charge that objectives waste valuable space and limit you to just one position when you might be qualified for others.
Whether you are pro- or anti-objective, here are tips for writing a resume that will grab the administration’s attention from your objectives these work best for two types of job seekers:
Those who know exactly what job they want, and
Those whose career goal isn't obvious on their resumes.
If you include an objective, place it directly under your name and contact information. An objective typically begins with "to." For example, "Objective: To obtain a position ...”
Your objective should be simple, specific and brief -- no more than two or three lines. It should highlight what you have to offer the company, such as a specific skill or experience. A recruiter is more interested in what you can give the company than what you hope to get from it.
Here's an example of an effective job objective:
Example of an Objective: To obtain a coordinator’s position utilizing my experience and organizational skills.
Review your objective each time you send a resume and make sure it fits the job you're applying for. Just as you should have several versions of your resume, you should also have several versions of your job objective.
Summarizing Your Skills
Not 100 percent sure what job you want? Then you may find a summary statement more effective than an objective.
While an objective focuses on the job, a summary statement focuses on the job seeker.
A summary statement is a one- to two-sentence overview that captures the essence of your skills and experience. It highlights what makes you a qualified candidate as well as what makes you different (and better) than other applicants.
Tailor your summary statement to highlight the experience that is most relevant to the job.
You've found your dream job.
You spot the job posting, craft a winning resume and e-mail it to the person evaluating the resumes. Then the waiting game begins.
After you've sent a resume, it's tempting to sit back and hope the recruiter will call. But -- make no mistake -- you SHOULD follow up. You just need to figure out when and how to do it.
Wait a Week, Recruiters Say
The majority of recruiters (53 percent) say candidates should wait one week before following up, according to a Hot Jobs survey.
Some recruiters prefer you act sooner: Twenty-one percent said candidates should wait less than one week. And others prefer you wait longer: Eight percent said candidates should wait two weeks.
Some even prefer you wait for them to call you. Nineteen percent of administrators surveyed said they preferred to contact candidates, rather than for candidates to contact them.
Your best bet? Go with the majority opinion and wait a week.
Send a Short E-Mail Message
E-mail is a great follow-up tool because it not only lets you remind the recruiter that you've applied for a job, but it also lets you submit a resume again without seeming too pushy.
A week after you've submitted a resume, send the proper contact an e-mail to follow up.
Use these tips to write your follow-up e-mail:
Put your full name and the title of the position you've applied for in the subject line.
Write a professional note that reiterates your qualifications and interest in the job.
Attached your resume again. (Don't make the recruiter have to dig though old e-mails to look for it.)
Include your full name in the file name of your resume.
Don't forget to proofread carefully before you hit "Send"!
Phone with a Friendly Reminder
If you decide to follow up on a resume over the phone, be sure to rehearse what you want to say to the recruiter.
Keep it short and sweet. Introduce yourself and remind the recruiter that you submitted a resume recently. Make sure you state exactly what job you're interested in. You can also ask if they received your resume and if they're still considering candidates for the position.
If you get a recorded message, you may want to call again later. Call a few times in hopes of speaking with a real, live recruiter before resorting to leaving a message.
You also need to know even to put down the phone. Calling recruiters repeatedly isn't going to make them more likely to call you back. It's probably just going to irritate them.
Almost half (47 percent) of recruiters claim that their biggest pet peeve is candidates who keep calling them, according to a Hot Jobs survey.
Should You Just Resend Your Resume?
Have a few weeks passed since you sent a resume, and you still haven't heard from the recruiter? Are you considering simply reapplying for the position?
Don't.
Recruiters usually keep resumes on file, and they'll likely discover that you've already sent one. Worse, they may think that you didn't even realize that you'd already applied for a position.
Only resend your resume to a recruiter when you want to apply for a different position at a company. Otherwise, you should e-mail or call to follow up.
Your Resume Should Address the Following Four Questions
Make Sure You Have The Answers.
Answering the following four questions in a fully persuasive way will greatly increase your odds of developing a winning resume. The questions are the crucial elements of the resume formula. Answering them will not only give you the material you need for building a strong resume, but will also prepare you for networking and interviewing.
What do you want? That is your job target. (Offensive coordinator, etc.) The resume should be built around your job target (whether you include an objective or not) so that prospective employers can immediately see what position you are aiming for.
Why are you qualified to do it? That’s the summary or “Professional Profile” section. This is where you outline the skills and credentials that qualify you for the job. You can break your skills into functional sections or use bullet points to highlight key points. If this section is done properly, it will convince prospective employers that the rest of your resume is worth reading, bringing them to the next question.
Where have you done it? That’s the “Experience” section. The reader needs to know who you worked for, the city and state where they are located, and what you did. Ideally, your job descriptions should include lots of active verbs and focus on keywords and functional skills that are most relevant to your target job or position.
How well have you done it? Listing accomplishments and special projects shows by example that you have contributed to previous schools or employer’s bottom line (educational, athletic and community service accomplishments!).
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Coach Campbell
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Dec 29, 2023 at 11:31am
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The Offensive Line the Heart and Soul of The Offense
The Offensive Line the Heart and Soul of The Offense
It is my belief that the heart and soul of any good offensive football team is its offensive line. An offensive line coach if he is to get the necessary technique and skills developed, he must be provided adequate practice time prior to going into group and team periods to give his players the necessary tools for success. There is no position in football that requires more discipline or technique than being an offensive lineman. The success of an offensive football team hinges on its ability to control the line of scrimmage. To win consistently, you must win in the trenches, and that means playing on your opponent's side of the line of scrimmage and not yours.
My approach to coaching the offensive line is to out execute our opponent's. This is a lot easier said than done! To take this approach and to believe in this philosophy means a great deal of time must be spent on understanding fundamentals and blocking technique as it applies to the type of athlete being coached. I feel that an offensive line coach must understand what he is teaching and how it applies to the offense. Don't introduce a technique or drill if it doesn't apply to your offense and only teach what you know how to fix.
Remember, strive to keep your blocking rules simple and consistent. By keeping your line calls and rules simple, it will give you the coach a better chance to perfect your technique and drills. You want your offensive linemen to be aggressive not confused. Whatever your offensive line starts they must be able to finish.
To be a good offensive line requires more than just discipline or good blocking technique, it requires
"PRIDE" in yourself, your group, and your team. A team with "PRIDE" is a hard team to beat because they are willing to do the "LITTLE THINGS" that most teams are not willing to do. No detail should be overlooked, regardless of how non important it may look on the surface to you as the coach.
The difference between SUCCESS and FAILURE often lies in your ability as a coach to prepare. Prepare your offensive linemen for the unknown; what I mean here is make sure that your system of calls and rules will apply to sideline and half-time adjustments if needed.
Not every offensive lineman that you coach will start, make the all-district or all-conference team, be an all American, play in college, or play in the NFL, but every player you coach can hustle and practice hard and be a good team player. It is your responsibility as their coach to give them the drills and blocking schemes to help them be successful and they must understand that you care about them.
It is my approach, like many other line coaches that we out - execute our opponents, this is a lot easier said than done! My primary goal as I prepare our blocking schemes is that they be simple and that they have a basic rule that can tie them all into one another. Thus, I try keep the rules and line calls simple, it will give us the chance to perfect our techniques and perform them in an aggressive manner.
The more techniques an offensive lineman can learn and master, the easier it will be to cope with various situations. Repetition must be accepted as a way of life for an offensive lineman, success can only be brought about with tremendous confidence in one's ability. Concentration, self-discipline, communication, and the willingness to pay the price are part of being a respected offensive lineman.
Determined, intelligent, and aggressive blocking is an indispensable quality of a great football team, from both a technical and psychological standpoint. It is difficult for a team, to have outstanding morale, confidence, and enthusiasm when it lacks the ability to sustain a great ground game or provide adequate protection for the passer. As an offensive line coach, you must reinforce daily to your players the importance of controlling the football. A goal for any football team should be that whenever they start the game with the football, they must make a first down in both the first and second half of the football game, this sends a message to your opponent that they are in for a long night and builds confidence in your offensive line and their teammates.
“So Goes the Offensive Line, So Goes the Offense
This manual is designed to take you through the early beginning of the great game of football and how offensive line play and the rules that govern got it has evolved in how we coach it today. My manual will introduce terms, definitions, technique and drills which will give you a foundation for which to build your Offensive line fundamentals. The blocking schemes included in this manual are built around the use of zone and man blocking schemes as well as drop back and sprint out passing game protections. A few coaches I meet, say why zone blocking over man blocking rules! This manual will explore both zone and man blocking rules and concepts for the running game with implementation of pass protection schemes and alerts.
I have had the great pleasure to have coached in several different states in this country with each state with its own influences. I have found through my experience that trying to gain advantages by controlling the number of defenders a defense puts in the box can be done by formations, motion and type of offensive philosophy you use that influences the type of blocking schemes that a coach might consider implementing into his offensive approach.
Coaching football is a very complex task. Football is a game that requires physical strength and great psychological conditioning. Thus, a successful offensive line coach must understand about factors contributing to the development of physical strength and football athleticism his linemen possess and the understanding the physical demands interior linemen face. Football is a team sport therefore, an offensive line coach needs to know how to manipulate the psychological factors, which influence individuals to interact for a common goal (moving the football and scoring). Since football is a game of movement, the coach must understand the physical mechanics of blocking with extended arms, hands and forearms which involve zone blocking as well as man rule schemes that contribute to quick body movement. Because football is a game of physical body contact, an offensive line coach needs to know how to create practice and playing conditions that offer the greatest success and safety for his players. Do not force a player to learn a certain technique or skill that he physically cannot do.
Inasmuch as football involves many physical skills in the offensive line, it is necessary for a coach to understand the physical limitations that some players have. It is as important for a coach to understand the techniques for success, as it is to build the size and strength of his players. Only coach what you know how to fix versus worst case scenario.
As we all know for the most part offensive linemen are perhaps the least publicized but, play the most difficult position in football. It is hard to convince some players who are suited to play up front offensively but prefer playing in the defensive line that great stress is applied more today than in the past because of the need to play players with advanced skills such as speed and strength. Therefore, it behooves all coaches to develop a basic philosophy about offensive line play in general and about interior offensive football players.
As an offensive line coach, we must be able to convince our offensive linemen that their job is as important as any other part of the game, and he must constantly stress the value of the offensive line. As line coaches we must be able to talk to our players in a positive fashion about offensive line play a term that I use is to remind our offensive linemen is " So Goes the Offensive Line So, Goes the Offense." What needs to be instilled into an offense and especially your offensive line is the feeling that whenever we get the ball we will score, and we can score only if the offensive line does their job. As I have already mentioned one of my number 1 goals going into a game is to make sure we get a first down on any first offensive series in the first and second half of a football game, this builds confidence in fact that we can move the ball on our opponent.
Coaches must also develop an approach to the game in terms of the kind of football he wants his team to play. Coaches can use either the simple method and try and keep the offensive plays and line blocking to a minimum or he can use a variety of offensive series and blocking schemes. The one answer coaches search for constantly, what is the best play or method of blocking? It usually appears that every coach has a favorite play or blocking style depending upon his philosophy and the type of players he has on his squad. But there is no unanimity as to what the best way is so, only coach what you know how to fix versus worst case scenario. I never underestimate what our athletes can do if I as their coach have a systematic way to teach them thus, I know they will have a systematic way to learn. So, it becomes obvious that a coach must have a variety of ways of doing things and must present his own patterns for the offensive Line.
The following Chapter will give you a Historical overview on offensive line play and how techniques and strategies got its start.
The First Football Game Looked More Like Soccer
If you think that the 1869 rules made the game look more like a soccer match than a football game, you are right. The rules by which Rutgers played were based on the 1863 London Football Association’s rules. Gridiron football developed by combining these rules with rugby football rules to evolve into the collegiate football games we see today.
Your Awesome
