FNF Coaches 2017 "The Tech Issue"

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The Magazine for High School Football Coaches

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march 2017

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page 6

THE

TECH ISSUE programs, apps and hardware to give your team the edge

playbook

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Actionable tackling drills to implement into your program immediately.  Features full drill progressions:

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A PERFECT SEASON Realistic

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Powerful, precise repetition‌.

The Snap Attack Football machine provides thousands of precise repetitions of game-like variability of passed, kicked or snapped balls in every practice from the high school level to the NFL. The two powerful motors create a near instantaneous recovery time and furnish the force needed to place the football anywhere on the field 100+ yard. The solid polyurethane throwing wheels grip the ball for an accurate spin and precise ball delivery. Universal Cart Clamp is available to attach the Snap Attack to any cart.

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CONTENT 10. COLLEGE COACHES’ CORNER

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FOOTBALL TECH 13

DIAGRAM 4

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playbook PRESENTED BY

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fundraising

FNF COACHES MAGAZINE 11880 28TH ST. N, SUITE 101 ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33716 PHONE: (727) 209-0792 • FAX: (727) 209-1776 WEB: FNFCOACHES.COM PUBLISHER: CRAIG BARONCELLI VICE PRESIDENT, SALES: DAVID WATSON VICE PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE ACCOUNTS: DAYNE MAASDORP VICE PRESIDENT: CHRIS VITA VICE PRESIDENT, FOOTBALL: JOHN GALLUP

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assistant’s corner school spirit

ON THE FRONT COVER ■ GoRout wearable technology allows teams to increase practice reps for the scout team.

04

46.

football coaches! Get your subscription at fnfcoaches.com

06. COACHES’ CONNECTION 08. GEAR 42. INJURY PREVENTION

43. USA FOOTBALL 44. EDUCATION 45. FACILITIES

COACHES’ CONNECTION Thoughts From the USA Football national Conference FNF Coaches enjoyed participating in the 2017 USA Football National Conference on Jan. 27 to 29 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. ■ The event was organized and well-run. The itinerary featured highprofile speakers, and presentations by coaches and vendors.

■ The vendors fit well with the theme. Many of the vendors, headlined by Frog Fitness, brought new technology to the event.

■ The speakers offered valuable insight. USA Football booked Mike Martz, Brian Billick, Jon Gruden, Ray Lewis and Jerome Bettis, among others.

■ High school coaches were engaged. USA Football brought in more than 1,300 coaches from around the country.

■ Coaches love to share ideas. FNF Coaches conducted interviews with 20 coaches, including 2013 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Steve Specht (St. Xavier, Ohio).

THE FNF COACHES APP

T

he FNF Coaches app is available for free on iTunes (designed for both the iPhone and iPad) and Amazon (for Android). It is geared toward high school football head coaches and assistants across the continental United States.

Coaches who download the FNF Coaches app will be eligible to win an Insight Replay Sideline Replay System. The Sideline Replay System allows coaches to capture video in real-time from multiple cameras and mobile devices.

To become eligible for the giveaway, a coach must download the FNF Coaches app on the iPhone or Android.

Open the app, and the Insight Replay promotion will serve as the welcome screen. Click on the promotion, and enter your name to be eligible to win.

2016 FNF COACH OF THE YEAR HONORED BY NFL

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Each NFL team nominated a coach and Allen, the Dallas Cowboys’ nominee, was selected over 31 other candidates. Allen will receive $25,000 from the NFL Foundation, $15,000 of which will go to the Highland Park football program. Allen was a guest of the NFL during Super Bowl LI. To read the FNF Coaches feature on Allen’s 2016 state-championship season with Highland Park, visit fnfcoaches.com.

SUBSCRIBE TO FNF COACHES The January, February and March editions of FNF Coaches

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APP OF THE MONTH

streamlines a coach’s workflow and allows him to better teach his team. Just Play has built an extension of the film room into the player app, allowing coaches to create video assignments for their teams. Simply upload or choose clips from your system, add questions to stop-points, and send assignments to players or position groups. The system provides flexibility in how coaches create and organize plays and offers a range of tools to help share play sheets, diagrams, video, and assignments with coaches, players and parents. justplaysolutions.com

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ighland Park (Texas) coach Randy Allen, who was a co-recipient of the 2016 FNF Coaches of the Year Award, was named 2016 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year during Pro Bowl weekend in Orlando, Fla. Allen, who attended the USA Football National Conference, accepted the Don Shula Award during the ESPN broadcast of the Pro Bowl.

football coaches! Get your subscription at fnfcoaches.com

have been mailed to coaches across the country – free of charge. Starting in April, coaches will need a subscription to FNF Coaches to receive the magazine on a monthly basis.

FNF Coaches magazine is 100-percent dedicated to high school football coaches. Our intent is to inform coaches on the latest trends and technology advancements in the industry. Each issue will feature a tactical Playbook section, training advice, fundraising tips, coaching profiles, health and prevention keys and the latest team-building practices.

The publication schedule includes editions in January, February, March, April, May, Summer, September and November. Coaches can order an eight-issue subscription at: fnfcoaches.com/subscribe

HAWK TACKLING! Take the Head out of Tackling!

Roll Tackle Ring teaches: • “Tracking a moving target!”

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www.gilmangear.com Copyright © Marty Gilman, Inc. 2016

GEAR Football players and coaches are always looking for the best equipment, apparel and technology to help their team reach its full potential.

Here are some products to consider when planning for the upcoming season.

PORTA PHONE GOLD SERIES WIRELESS HEADSETS PORTA PHONE GOLD SERIES ARE A NEW

breed of wireless that features a transceiver installed inside the headset ear cup. This compact design eliminates belt pack radios making the systems trouble free and affordable.

Gold Series include breakthrough Spread Spectrum technology and automatically switch to the best frequency when necessary to avoid interference. Since there is no base station required all coaches are wireless and totally mobile. To learn more visit our website, or call Porta Phone at 1(800) 233-1113 for a quote.

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GILMAN GEAR THE ROLL TACKLE RING IS A FOAM-FILLED,

donut-shaped ring. This is the first moving tackling dummy. The coach controls the speed and angle of movement. Practice straight line or angle tackling.

The Roll Tackle Ring teaches a defender to read and react to movement and takes the head out of tackling.

It promotes “heads-up” tackling and makes shoulderleverage tackling a habit. Use it to teach the concept of “eyes through the thighs.” Teach a tackler to target the backside hip of a ball carrier, wrap the arms, run the feet and roll. The low height of the donut hole teaches a tackler to get low. The ability to wrap the arms around and through the donut hole teaches a tackler to clamp and lock up a ball carrier. Finish the tackle by running the feet and rolling the Ring over with upper-body strength.

Design details make the Ring the best on the market. It won’t wobble or tip because of its stable 12-inch width. The shock-absorbent foam gives players a soft landing. The one-piece construction makes the Ring durable and long-lasting. It is available in four sizes.

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world’s first autonomous GPS paint robot for football fields. Main technical features include: ■ RTK-GNSS system for high-accuracy positioning, providing an accuracy of better than +/- 2 cm.

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■ Advanced integrated spraypaint module, with replaceable cone nozzle, adjustable line width, adjustable nozzle height, spray discs with automatic lift-function for accurate, sharp lines.

■ The robot is managed by using a tablet with a dedicated, smart app that enables the user to easily manage all relevant parts of the automatic line marking process.

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Once considered a novelty, drones are becoming an increasingly indispensable part of the coaching tool kit. Utilizing a drone has almost

limitless benefits. From recording practices and games, to documenting races and other events, drones are a versatile recording platform that can truly take athletic programs to a higher level. Drones offer many advantages over a fixed camera system. Drones are easier and quicker to set up and take down than an end zone or sideline camera. They are compact and much easier to transport. And they are quick and nimble in the air, allowing them to keep pace with the action on the ground. This dynamic maneuverability allows video to be taken from multiple angles which is great for teaching proper technique and breaking down practice video.

"The Drone has been a great piece of equipment. We use it daily and it provides us with a view we have never had before."

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COLLEGE COACHES’ CORNER

A COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION

S Q&A

WITH UNLV COACH TONY SANCHEZ DAN GUTTENPLAN

U

HOW HAS YOUR STRENGTH PROGRAM

NLV coach Tony Sanchez became a rising star in

coaching circles after spending six seasons leading Bishop Gorman (Nev.) to an overall record of 85-5 and six consecutive state 4A championships. His 2014 top-ranked Gaels squad finished 15-0 and won the national championship.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR A HIGH SCHOOL COACH TO DO IN MARCH?

“You always have to be working ahead and multi-tasking. Take time to research the latest trends. Once you get into the tail end of summer and through the season, you’re preparing to win games. But you also have to prepare for the offseason. When it comes, you have to be dialed in. It has to be a seamless transition. You don’t want to teach everything new all at the same time. Strength and conditioning is so valuable at this time of year.”

HOW IS THE COLLEGE LEVEL DIFFERENT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR?

“High school doesn’t have as many rules in terms of 7-on-7s or what you can do in the offseason. I thought high school people spent too much time in the spring on football – and not enough time in the weight room getting bigger, faster and stronger. In college, you’re more limited by what you can do in the summer. Right now, we work on building base strength, and then we go back into the weight-room phase. We always

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make sure we’re one progression ahead, so in the offseason, we’re ready to roll.”

football coaches! Get your subscription at fnfcoaches.com

EVOLVED?

“I think back on my first time being a head coach and the progression through Bishop Gorman and here. I’ve always treated my strength as another coordinator.

I believe that you have your offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and strength coach.

The strength coach is a coordinator; they spend more time with the athletes than any of us. Their messaging has to be the same. They have to have the same core fundamentals.

Base strength is important in this program. Bench, squat and cleans build confidence. As a high

ince Sanchez was hired at UNLV in 2014, the team GPA has improved from 2.2 to 2.8.

The reason: Sanchez has made academics a priority.

He switched the practice schedule so that the team started the day with a football meeting at 6:50 a.m. The Rebels hit the practice field at 8:10 a.m. for a two-hour training session. The players take classes starting at 11 a.m., after receiving a dose of motivation from the coaching staff.

“The coaches are the last people they see in the morning before they go to class,” Sanchez said.

“They know they’re letting us down if they go home and take a nap.”

Sanchez has found that the early-morning football schedule ensures that players are well-fed, alert and motivated by the time their academic obligations begin. It also gives players time at night to focus on their school work.

“Whatever you emphasize becomes a priority,” Sanchez said. “We have class checks and an extra academic advisor.

Our offensive line coach is in charge of academics. Coaches harp on it constantly.”

school coach, I wanted my players to have a good baseline by their junior year. Then we could get into flexibility and speed.

“I think working together with the same strength coach over a long period of time makes a huge difference. I recently hired the same strength coach that has been with me for years, going back to California High (Nev.) in 2004.

We got into different types of research and always made sure we stuck to the power baseline. He’s coming back to create that good power baseline.

Then we’ll work on explosive movement patterns after spring football.”

WHAT TYPE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY DID YOU INCORPORATE DURING YOUR TIME AT BISHOP GORMAN? DID YOU HAVE SIDELINE REPLAY, END-ZONE CAMERAS, GAME-PLANNING SOFTWARE, ETC.?

“We were introduced to all of that. We used endzone cameras and sideline replay. HUDL really revolutionized football. Even here, players watch film from practice on HUDL. We used to film the entire practice at Bishop Gorman, then use it to teach better techniques. On game day, we used iPads on the sideline, which was huge. Being able to see guys lined up and not rely on the

info from the booth. We were making adjustments we can’t make at the college level. High school is a little more advanced when it comes to game-day technology. Some of those things saved on prep time and installation time because you could react better in-game.”

NEW

DO YOU EVER GET OVERWHELMED BY

Cutting Edge Technology!

NEW TECHNOLOGY?

“I think some of it is good, some of it is overkill. The big thing is time management. Spend time with the staff and see what makes sense for you. People have success with different kinds of technology.”

DO YOU MONITOR YOUR PLAYERS’ NUTRITION OR WORKLOAD WITH DATA SOFTWARE?

“We do, and that’s another thing that didn’t exist when I got here. The football team had no relationship with the nutrition department. It was just grab-and-go stuff. We have grad students now who cook for the guys. The grab-and-go stuff is oatmeal and fruit. Now, we have stuff for them after each lift. They can sit down and eat a full meal or have a smoothie. We’re breaking ground on a new facility with a 125-seat full kitchen. We’re specific about what we monitor without watching every single thing. We have our players take field trips to the grocery store with the nutritionist to teach them how to grocery shop. We show them how to stretch $100 and still eat healthy and feel full after a meal.”

HOW HAS YOUR PREGAME ROUTINE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS?

“We stopped doing static stretching in about 2004. You’ll never see us standing in lines, bending down to touch our toes. There’s a time for post-stretching, but we do a 10-minute pre-practice every day. It’s guys catching punts and kicks, the receivers are moving around catching balls off the JUGS Machine. It’s an active warmup; it includes movement patterns they’ll have in practice and games. In terms of stretching, we’ll implement yoga throughout the year – not every day. We do some things to help flexibility and injury prevention – deep tissue massages.”

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Now Available to High School Football Coaches Nationwide

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We will help you secure the best possible price for:

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Let the team at FNF Coaches help you secure the best possible price for apparel, equipment and training products.

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Just give us a call at 866.398.9991 or email us at fnf@ae-engine.com and let us know what you are looking for and we will go to work for you.

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Every coach wants to give his team every advantage to win.

Sometimes, the fine line between winning and losing is making the most of new technology.

DAN GUTTENPLAN

H

igh school football is changing on so many fronts –

regardless of whether you are “old school” or “new school,” tech-savvy or computer illiterate, the coach at a small-town school or one at a powerhouse school with a college-style campus.

We get it. Every coach has a different budget, and expectations are different for every coaching staff. Some coaches are looking to change the culture of the team and put a couple of wins on the board. Others may be looking to collect another state championship trophy to fill out a display case in the school’s lobby.

One topic all coaches can relate to is the way in which technology is changing the profession of coaching. It’s altering the world we live in, but also the way the game we love is played and coached.

Technology is not about throwing money on the latest fad ... it is about investing in the future.

And technology is the future. You better accept that, because your players, parents, fans – and most likely your competitors – already have.

Are you prepared? Would you like more information?

Read on to learn how as FNF Coaches has discovered some companies that illustrate the future of football.

Download the FNF Coaches app from the Apple App Store and Google Play

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FOOTBALL TECH Adjust In-Game with Sideline Replay In 2013, the National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) added a rule allowing the use of video during football games. The rule has changed the way coaches adjust using in-game technology.

DAN GUTTENPLAN

HOW TO USE IT

T

he Mason staff sets up one camera in the end zone and one

on the sideline. The video feed goes to a total of four iPads and one 47-inch television monitor. Two coaches in the press box have iPads, and the other two devices are held by coaches on the sideline.

The coaches in the press box take notes based on their findings, and share it with the rest of the coaches over the headset during the game and in-person at halftime. The coaches holding the iPads on the sideline stand five yards behind the offensive and defensive coordinators. They share video in between series.

The 47-inch television monitor is set up under a tent with 11 seats for players. The backups stand behind the starting 11 as a coach reviews the film.

“We’ll go through every play from the previous series – it takes roughly five or 10 minutes,” Croy said. “We go over technique and what they need to correct.”

The 47-inch monitor allows a coach to share video with the entire unit at the same time.

“You can’t get 11 guys around in iPad and go through an entire series of plays,” Croy said.

10 TIPS FOR USING SIDELINE REPLAY HOW IT WORKS

R

oche Croy’s job title on the Mason High (Ohio) coaching staff

didn’t exist five years ago.

The Audio-Visual Productions Assistant Coach is in charge of implementing one of the team’s most recent investments in new technology – a sideline replay system.

The Mason coaching staff purchased Reveal Sideline Replay through Insight Replay three years ago, and has perfected the art of making in-game adjustments.

“It’s an in-game scouting tool and an in-game coaching tool,” Croy said. “We’re scouting our opponent play-by-play throughout a game. We’re also able to coach our team up.

For instance, you can show them that if we could have blocked this gap, we could have had a big play.”

Mason has two cameras filming each game – one from the end zone and one from the sideline. The video is then made available on iPads and a television monitor on the sideline within three seconds. Coaches can review film with players in-game and adjust their strategy.

“Just about everybody we play uses some form of sideline replay these days,” Croy said. “We’ve set up an efficient, solid system. I don’t want to say it gives us an advantage over anybody, but it definitely makes sure nobody has an advantage over us.”

14

football coaches! Get your subscription at fnfcoaches.com

1

Delegate responsibility.

Decide which coaches are responsible for viewing devices before the game starts.

2

Provide players with a monitor. A bigger screen

3

Consider the weather elements. There’s no use

4

Make time to review film.

will allow more players to see it and make corrections.

having a 47-inch monitor if it’s not working because it’s been soaked in rain. Provide cover for electronics.

Coordinators and head coaches don’t have time to go through unedited clips. Edit and share video as quickly as possible.

Identify a tech genius. At least person needs to know the purpose of an

5

HDMI cord and antennae.

Have that person at the ready.

6

Don’t force it on everyone.

7

Ask about using it on a trial basis. See how the

Old-school coaches may not be interested in new technology. Let them trust their eyes.

sideline replay system works for your staff. If it doesn’t, return it.

Use a secure network. You don’t want to share your in-game adjustments with an opponent.

Use multiple cameras. The more views of the action, the better.

Load video to HUDL. Take advantage of the technology postgame by allowing players to review.

8

9 10

Sideline Power: The No. 1 Choice for Coaching Communication Sideline Power LLC specializes in outfitting teams with headsets, end zone and sideline cameras, drones and portable sound systems to improve the game experience for coaches, players and fans alike.

DAN GUTTENPLAN

FEATURES ■ Sideline Power LLC is the No. 1 choice in

■

■ ■

■

■

“We take care of our clients’ communication needs,” said Matt Starr, CEO of Sideline Power LLC. “We support our clients by providing the best products for the best price with the best support.”

Sideline Power started in 2011 as a leader in headset communication technology for coaching staffs. Over the last six years, the company has developed packages as basic as the X Series, which is priced as low as $1,600 for a five-coach setup, and as elaborate as the MULTIVOICE, which is priced at $6,250 for a package with a 5-coach setup.

In the past year, Starr opened a separate facility for the sole purpose of headset reconditioning. A coach can send his entire set of headsets for reconditioning. The set will be returned

■

with a full report of 10-point inspection for between $300 and $400 – depending on the season.

Sideline Power LLC has also embraced the latest advances in technology in sideline and end zone replay, as well as drones and portable sound systems.

Sideline Power supplies coaches with the No. 1 drone on the market, DJI, and many coaches use the aerial photography to get practice footage.

“A lot more schools are using drones for practices,” Starr said. “Coaches love it because it’s a lot more mobile, and they love getting that aerial view.”

BENEFITS ■ Sideline Power takes full responsibility for a

■ ■ ■

■

“W

e needed new headsets after Game 2, and Sideline Power responded by noon on Saturday,” said Mitchell High (S.D.) head coach Kent VanOverschelde. “By Monday, we had a new headset system shipped and received by Thursday morning. Matt and his staff supplied us with a great product that will benefit our program into the future.”

■

SIDELINEPOWER.COM | SALES@SIDELINEPOWER.COM | 800-496-4290

coaching communication providing a wide variety of coaching headsets, end zone cameras, sideline replay, drones, sound systems and other technology needs for all athletic programs.

Sideline Power also specializes in portable sound systems that allow coaches to simulate crowd noise.

Sideline Power leads the sports technology industry in customer service.

Sideline Power offers headset reconditioning and allows coaches to trade in used headsets and/or purchase new ones.

Sideline Replay offers coaches the ability to get a quote and request brochures through SidelinePower.com.

Sideline Power has teamed up with ABC Fundraising® to help coaches raise funds to get the coaching equipment their schools need to have a competitive advantage.

Sideline Power will be represented at 23 clinics all over the country in 2017, offering coaches an opportunity to test out the products in person.

team’s communication technology, allowing coaches to focus on teaching players and game-planning.

Sideline Power offers 24-7 support for any communication products the company offers.

Sideline Power can customize a communications package for any team and all budgets.

Sideline Power offers coaches a one-stop shop for all of their technology needs – from headsets, to replay systems, to drones, to audio equipment.

Sideline Power is a authorized Consumer Priority Service Dealer. This means that the company cares about coaches and their tech products long after the purchase date.

As a CPS dealer, Sideline Power can easily extend a manufacturer warranty by as much as two full years for a total of four years from the date of purchase.

Sideline Power adds to its menu of communication options each year so that coaches don’t have to research the latest industry trends. Sideline Power does it for coaches.

Download the FNF Coaches app from the Apple App Store and Google Play

15

FOOTBALL TECH The Turf Tank ION Saves Coaches Time Turf Tank founder Jason Aldridge has a passion for helping high school football coaches maximize their time and energy in developing a successful program.

DAN GUTTENPLAN As a middle school student, Aldridge got his first taste of the high school football culture working as an assistant team manager at Friendship Christian School in Tennessee. Part of his duties included helping coaches paint the team’s practice and game fields – at times for hours on end with his hands seemingly frozen to the aerosol cans.

Aldridge went on to play high school football for head coach John McNeal.

“Coaches have the uncanny ability to inspire and challenge young men to do the impossible on the football field and eventually in life,” Aldridge said. “Coach McNeal’s influence on my life included the drive to dream big and attempt the impossible.”

After 20-plus years of a professional he ION allows career in software coaches to and coaching football, spend more Aldridge now has the time teaching players vision of delivering and game planning with an autonomous their staff,” Turf Tank robot that will paint founder Jason Aldridge said. “it gives you more a football field all time with your family. by itself through You’re doubling labor advanced GPS/RTK utilization. When you look technology. at the cost of the robot “Knowing the and compare it to the culture of coaching return-on-investment of football, I understand what it allows coaches to the added stress to a do with their time, it’s a no-brainer.” coach’s schedule of having to paint their

“t

football coaches! Get your subscription at fnfcoaches.com

■ The ION uses a com-

bination of GPS and RTK for highly accurate positioning of +/- 2cm.

■ Users manage the ION by using a dedicated smart app on a rugged (IP67 certified) Samsung Galaxy Active Tab. ■ The ION is capable of completing one complete football field (outline, yard lines, hashes and tick marks) on a single charge from a Lithium ION battery.

■ Turf Tank will be able to offer dimensions for fields for other sports, such as lacrosse, baseball, softball and rugby.

BENEFITS ■ The Turf Tank ION

practice and game field throughout the spring, summer and fall since football has basically become a year-round sport,” Aldridge said.

Aldridge and his company took their American football knowledge and joined forces with a Denmark-based company, Intelligent Marking, which developed the world’s first GPS paint machine for soccer over the past several years in Europe.

With the Turf Tank ION (Intelligent One) robot, high school (youth, college and professional teams as well) football coaches can now use this technology to paint their practice and game fields. Additionally, coaches can share the robot across multiple teams at their school or district to split the expense and help lower total cost of ownership for the machine.

Turf Tank offers a variation of the Software as a Service (SaaS) business model in order to accommodate private or public school budgets.

Turf Tank’s affordable annual lease plan includes product support, software updates and a lifetime hardware warranty.

TURF TANK | TURFTANK.COM | INFO@TURFTANK.COM | 877-396-4094

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allows coaches to spend more time coaching players and game-planning for opponents rather than painting fields.

The Turf Tank ION doubles a coaching staff’s labor utilization and provides a returnon-investment due to the decreased time spent painting practice and game fields.

Teams with access to the Turf Tank ION may see success on the field due to the ability to practice on fields year-round with precise yard-markers and a field perimeter.

School districts that lease the Turf Tank ION can use the robot for as many fields as they want. The robot is easily transportable in the back of a flatbed truck.

Turf Tank ION is setup on an annual lease plan, so no longterm commitment if customer is not satisfied with the product and results.

Monitor Head Impacts with Athlete Intelligence

DAN GUTTENPLAN

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he Athlete Intelligence platform not only improves player safety, but it also

allows coaches to gain information from sensors in player helmets and mouth guards to build strategies around tactics that win games.

Through the state-of-the-art Vector™ MouthGuard, Cue™ Sport Sensor and ShockBox® Helmet Sensor, coaches and trainers can monitor the impact of hits to their players’ heads during practices and games. When a player’s health has been compromised, the system will alert a coach or athletic trainer to check that player for injuries.

“The goal is to serve as an additional set of eyes and ears among the organized chaos on the sidelines,” said Athlete Intelligence CEO Jesse Harper.

The data provided through the sensors can help improve performance in a number of ways. The first is by providing data on each of the hits every player on the team experienced. Through gaining this information, a coach can use coaching points to eliminate the use of a player’s head in tackles or better condition linemen so they are using the proper technique through four quarters.

The Athlete Intelligence system also offers the ability for coaches to analyze data post-game. Through its partnership with XOS, Athlete Intelligence can import video and combine it with performance dataincluding speed, distance, acceleration/deceleration, body angle, sleep, nutrition and more.

“W

hen we notice the impact on their heads is in a certain area, and it’s too low, [it means the players] are dropping their heads at contact,” said Mt. Zion High (Ill.) athletic trainer Dustin Fink. “We can adjust that and fi x it. It’s an extra tool in my toolbox.”

ATHLETE INTELLIGENCE | ATHLETEINTELLIGENCE.COM | INFO@ATHLETEINTELLIGENCE.COM | 425-372-7811

Train Your Players’ Eyes with ProgVectra

P

rogVectra has designed a system for

TWO TYPES OF PROGVECTRA TRAINING:

high school football players to train their eyes. Just as players spend countless hours in the weight room and on the practice field to give themselves the best chance of succeeding at competition, they can spend time training their eyes to increase the speed and span of their vision and improve cognitive processing.

A football player must respond aggressively to the play unfolding in front of him in a matter of milliseconds; otherwise, the play may have passed him by. ProgVectra trains players to make those split-second decisions by expanding field awareness and quickly delivering the information to inform the mind and initiate movement.

■ A hardware board that takes measurements and checks reaction time and mind-processing time.

■ An interactive video projected onto a wall to increase hand-eye coordination.

ProgVectra CEO Robert A. Orsillo, OD, FAAO, and his staff have worked closely with the Florida State football team, and many current NFL players.

“We find that athletes react a lot quicker after our training,” Orsillo said. “They’re more confident when they play. One of the coaches calls it trusting their eyes. People think that when a player makes something great happen, he has great anticipation. It’s not anticipation if you’ve prepared for the moment through training.”

Orsillo has also noticed a direct relationship between vision training and overcoming concussions.

“Recovery time seems to be a lot quicker,” Orsillo said. “When the visual vortex is damaged with a concussion, you can’t get information properly. If you can’t think, you can’t react. This is a way to train yourself back into a healthier lifestyle.”

“A PLAYER WILL FIND THAT IT’S ALMOST AN INSTINCT LIKE HE FOUGHT A BATTLE BEFORE IT HAPPENED,” ORSILLO SAID. “HIS BRAIN IS PROCESSING THINGS, AND HE’S REACTING QUICKER THAN EVER BEFORE.”

PROGVECTRA | PROGVECTRA.COM | 850-545-5339

FOOTBALL TECH Quiz Players Using a Game Plan App A high school football coach now has the ability to share a game plan with his players using an app that includes diagrams, video, scouting reports, messaging and quizzes. DAN GUTTENPLAN Seymour High (Ind.) coach Josh Shattuck has upgraded the way in which his team will share a game plan this season.

Shattuck’s staff and players will use Just Play Sports Solutions app, which offers an expanded version of the app his team used last season – Coach’s Clipboard.

Just Play allows coaches to prepare playbooks, game plans, scouting reports and quizzes for players. Just Play is an upgrade from Coach’s

TIME FOR TECH

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hattuck and his staff are generally at the forefront of integrating new technology into the Seymour program. The head coach said one of the biggest factors at staying ahead is knowing the rules.

“Know the rules, and stay up on the trends,” Shattuck said. “We use a sideline replay system, and a lot of coaches I talk to don’t even know that’s legal. Whatever phase of the game you’re responsible for, stay up with that. We take a lot of pride in being creative.”

Shattuck is quick to note that there is no better time to research and integrate new technology than the spring, particularly in Indiana, where spring football doesn’t exist at the high school level.

“We have multi-sport athletes, so we have a little time in the spring,” Shattuck said. “We want to find ways to coach them from their homes and computers.

HUDL is great, but it’s just film. This gives us a chance to share the playbook and interact with the players.”

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football coaches! Get your subscription at fnfcoaches.com

Clipboard in that it allows coaches to import any type of file, including HUDL video, and attach it to specific play designs. It also has the ability to provide other metrics, such as player analytics (usage, training workload), and offers a messaging service that allows teams to communicate.

One other notable difference between apps is the cost. Just Play will cost Seymour $1,300 for this season, while Coach’s Clipboard is available for $0.99 per download.

“We just got this, and it has a lot of interesting functions,” Shattuck said. “We can imbed diagrams into video to show the play two different ways. It’s a giant library with quiz features. Football players learn in different ways, and this offers players a few different options.”

A big draw for Shattuck is the quiz feature, which allows him to get a better sense of which players are mentally prepared.

“We can imbed video scout cards and essentially customize what a specific player is getting in terms of information,” Shattuck said.

“I like the idea of being able to see what they’re processing too.”

NO-HUDDLE PHILOSOPHY

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hattuck wants to play fast on offense – a no-huddle, up-tempo scheme with explaining play-calls in-game. Thus, he relies on players being well-prepared on game day. They need to know the plays and be able to execute them based on hand signals from the sideline.

“We use sideline replay in between plays,” Shattuck said. “So I’m able to call a play after I’ve seen a replay of the last play. The offense is at the line of scrimmage waiting for my call. If they don’t know the plays or the game plan, we’re not going to have time to get the play off. We have a young staff and put in a lot of time. We rely on the players to make the same commitment.

That’s what the Just Play app is going to help us check beforehand.”

A TRIAL RUN

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hattuck admits that not all new technology makes life easier on a coaching staff.

That’s why he makes every effort to rent new technology or commit to the shortest lease.

He recommends that coaches check the details of a product warranty to ensure that if a product doesn’t work for that particular staff, it can be returned.

“Pay annually whenever possible,” Shattuck said. “If we’re going to allocate funds that we’ve generated through hard work and fundraising, we’re going to use this stuff. If not, we won’t resubscribe. We’ll pay once and then pull the plug.

Lesson learned.”

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Organize Your Team with One App

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he OperationsXChange staff started with a

goal to provide coaches with one team management solution that can handle every function they might encounter during a football season.

They’ve succeeded in that mission, and it is now difficult for a coach to find something the OperationsXChange Total Team Management system doesn’t provide.

The software gives coaches a one-stop platform to communicate with players and parents, as well as share analysis, media, schedules, documents, rosters, depth charts, scouting reports, training tips, dress codes, instant messaging, email and more.

“It’s a tool for coaches to teach, communicate, analyze and break down film – and completely organize their team,” said OperationsXChange Director of Customer Engagement Dustin Couch. “We tried to take as many tools as possible and put it into one function.”

DAN GUTTENPLAN

OperationsXChange allows coaches to reach players away from the field and academic setting. With players spending more and more time on devices, it is the perfect avenue for coaches to share learning tools through photos, videos, scouting reports and customized tips.

Just as important as the interaction between coach and player is a coach’s ability to communicate with parents, and coaches have that option with targeted messaging for specific audiences. A coach can send requested dress options for players, directions to away games, release forms for players, and updates on a player’s academic progress.

“We want the kids to understand exactly what’s going on, and we also recognize some kids have a tendency not to listen to every word,” Couch said. “This is a nice visual way for kids and parents to understand what should be happening.”

OPERATIONSXCHANGE.COM | SUPPORT@OPERATIONSXCHANGE.COM | 866-596-7639

reports with video, diagrams and notes.

Has the ability to share stats and analysis.

Coaches can quiz players on the game plan and/or positional responsibilities.

Coaches can share rosters, schedules and depth charts (using headshots and field charts).

Gives coaches the ability to organize a full library of documents, photos or video.

Coaches can instant-message or email players and parents and make group email lists.

Offers a GPS location check-in service.

Has a calendar system so coaches can reserve time with players and parents and share team activities.

Coaches can provide daily inspiration or notes for each practice.

Follows live Twitter and RSS feeds.

Gives coaches the ability to provide a visual representation of what players should wear to future team activities.

BENEFITS ■ It saves coaches time by organizing

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every aspect of the coaching experience.

It allows coaches to communicate with players away from the field and school.

It gives players visual learning tools using multimedia rather than relying on playbooks and binders with game plans.

Players can see depth charts, schedules, dress codes and stats on their own time.

A coach can use one app for all of his coaching needs rather than dealing with various apps with different functions.

A coach can customize the information each player is receiving, so the players are not inundated with information they don’t need.

A coach can recognize individual success stories, such as a player’s new personal best lift in the weight room, or a new record for yards during a game.

Download the FNF Coaches app from the Apple App Store and Google Play

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FOOTBALL TECH Coaches Save Time with TeamSnap TeamSnap is a Web and mobile app designed to help coaches and players save time. More than 15 million users are using the app and database to share schedules, stats and messages.

DAN GUTTENPLAN

FEATURES ■ TeamSnap handles the

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TeamSnap has two sides to its business – one for

On the club and league side, a commissioner or club administrator has access to features on a more robust scale. The administrator can communicate with division leaders all the way down to players and parents on particular teams.

Administrators also have access to registration, payment tracking, marketing consultation and website design.

“More customers are coming to us to organize their clubs or leagues,” Williams said. “We’re placing an increasingly large focus on this aspect of the business.”

teams and the other for larger clubs and sports leagues.

From the team side, the app can be used by coaches and team leaders to share schedules and messaging across a team-wide platform. Once a coach enters a schedule and roster for his team, those lists will be synched to the app for all of the players and parents. The coach can also provide messages through email, push notifications, message board posts, text message or TeamSnap Live to alert team members of schedule changes, dress codes, field directions and more.

“The idea is to save coaches time,” said TeamSnap Partner Relationships Manager Evan Williams. “It’s a communication platform that keeps it simple.”

Williams said the average team pays approximately $10 per month for TeamSnap features.

“THE BEST THING THAT IS RESONATING WITH COACHES IS OUR CLUB AND LEAGUE VERSIONS ARE SAVING COACHES 15 HOURS A WEEK IN ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES ON AVERAGE.” – EVAN WILLIAMS, TEAMSNAP PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS MANAGER

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Run Your Entire Club & League With TeamSnap!

Lead your sports organization into the 21st century.

Learn more at www.teamsnap.com/21stCentury

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TEAMSNAP | TEAMSNAP.COM | PARTNER@TEAMSNAP.COM

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scheduling for teams, clubs and leagues. A coach can synch a schedule to all of the users linked to his team page.

The app will alert parents and players when events are postponed or cancelled.

Coaches using TeamSnap can communicate with team members using text message, push-note notifications, email or TeamSnap Live, an open group chat form for events and teams.

Players can make coaches aware of their availability to attend upcoming events.

Coaches can post statistics, rosters, schedule, forms, links to videos, player cards and more.

Club and league administrators can communicate with customized audiences, such as select teams, coaches, parents or players.

The TeamSnap app can handle registration, payment tracking and marketing consultation (web design) for clubs and leagues.

football coaches! Get your subscription at fnfcoaches.com

7/6/16 10:19 AM

by handling scheduling and communication outside of team functions.

Coaches can get a sense of which players will be attending team functions in advance.

The app cuts down on paperwork for coaches, and allows them to spend more time focusing on teaching fundamentals and game-planning.

A coach will never have to initiate a phone tree to notify team members of postponements or cancellations.

TeamSnap will save league administrators from having to monitor registration and payments.

The cost per player (typically $0.50 to $1.00 per month) is insignificant when compared to the time saved from not having to reach out to coaches for schedule updates or directions.

Increase Practice Reps with Wearable Tech The Rochester Lourdes (Minn.) football team started using wearable technology wristbands from GoRout in practice in 2016 and saw a season with increased practice reps lead to a state championship.

Playbook in a Helmet

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oRout has also designed an unprecedented form of football helmet technology, in which players can now see visual displays on their visors. GoRout Vue-Up™ is football’s first heads-up display (HUD).

Using a high-definition display, play designs are easily seen on their visors by players, while Vue-Up’s motionsensor camera captures each play from the player’s point of view.

With GoRout Voice™, players can use verbal commands to change positions, practice groups, or learn more about an individual play as Vue-Up™ listens, learns and responds.

The Vue-Up can be programmed and made compatible with Riddell, Schutt Sports and Xenith helmets.

GoRout has built an advanced networking system so that coaches don’t have to rely on their particular school’s Wifi network during practices. GoRout Air™ uses a spectrum frequency system that allows GoRout’s software and hardware to communicate via radio airwaves coast-tocoast across the United States, providing teams with the purest, cleanest, and most efficient way to transfer and send real-time play data on the field without disruption.

Lourdes coach Mike Kesler liked the idea of the GoRout system prior to the start of last season, so he decided to give it a chance. He figured his coaching staff would program the GoRout software on weekends during game weeks, and then the scout team could simply look down at the wearable tech wristbands during practice to execute a play the varsity squad might see that Friday night.

No wasted time explaining play-calls to the scout team. No binders filled with pages of the upcoming opponent’s plays.

“The biggest benefit is the practice reps you get – both offensively and defensively,” Kesler said. “For example, a scout team is going to run a different offense every week. When you’re playing against teams that want to play fast, they can go right to the line of scrimmage. This gives us game situations and more reps.”

GoRout provides coaches an avenue to share their playbook and coaching tips with players during practice with the simple click of a button.

A coach programs his playbook and other useful coaching tips to GoRout Steel 2.0, and then calls up plays during practice on a tablet. Players then receive the live feed on a weather-protected wrist sleeve. The information provided by the coach can be customized by position so that each player is receiving coaching tips pertinent to his role.

“There was a grace period, but after we got into Week 3, I don’t know what we would have done without it,” Kesler said. “It saved us coaching time because we didn’t have to draw up sheets of plays and tell every kid what he was doing on every play.”

BY THE NUMBERS $7

The average cost of GoRout per user vs. a blocking sled ($23 per user), or a tackling apparatus ($22.50)

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The average number of seconds between practice reps The percent increase teams will see in practice reps The percent increase in scout team efficiency

Download the FNF Coaches app from the Apple App Store and Google Play

21

FOOTBALL TECH FEATURES ■ AthleteMonitoring helps you centralize

athletes’ files and information, create and share programs, manage internal and external load, monitor wellness, sleep, soreness, assess fitness and track injuries.

■ AthleteMonitoring helps you interpret data, alerts you when risk of injury increases and suggests recommendations you can use to reduce risk and enhance performance.

■ AthleteMonitoring.com is aligned with the International Olympic Committee consensus statements on load in sport and risk of illness and injuries, incorporates the latest peer-reviewed research, and offers a holistic approach to injury prevention, screening and performance optimization.

BENEFITS ■ A robust athlete monitoring and data man-

Maximize Potential with athlete monitoring

F

ootball is a sport in which players are

prone to injury, as high school football players in the United States suffer a grand total of 616,000 injuries per year. Players with academic stress are 3.19 times more likely to suffer injuries.

Athletes who are training intensively walk a fine line between peak performance and health issues. Training too much (or too little) will inevitably result in disappointing performance, illnesses or injury.

AthleteMonitoring.com attempts to provide coaches with data and feedback that will help minimize the risk of injury and help players perform better at practice and games.

AthleteMonitoring.com combines a best-practice approach and the

DAN GUTTENPLAN latest sports science into a simple, customizable, budget-friendly athlete monitoring and data management software that incorporates evidence like sleep, fatigue, soreness and workload to determine an approach to getting more out of each athlete.

“We want to provide information to coaches to explain athlete performance and injury risk,” said AthleteMonitoring CEO Francois Gazzano. “Our system will provide coaches with tips of the issues they need to resolve. Once they start using our approach on a daily basis, they can manage the workload better and adapt the training to the readiness and fatigue levels of the players, which, in turn, results in fewer injuries and better performance.”

ATHLETEMONITORING.COM | INFO@ATHLETEMONITORING.COM | 506-389-9019

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football coaches! Get your subscription at fnfcoaches.com

agement software can quickly collect data and feedback from players, monitor internal and external load, and analyze and interpret the key metrics. Excel is free but very timeconsuming. This software eliminates the need to buy expensive software as well. Solid products such as AthleteMonitoring.com will cost you a few hundred dollars per year and will do the job perfectly.

■ A relation of trust and open communication with your players, coaches and training staff.

Because self-reported information is used extensively to quantify internal load and pre-training readiness, for your monitoring program to work, players need to report their data and feedback as honestly as possible.

Having the entire coaching and management team behind the monitoring project increase the chances of successful outcome.

“THERE IS NO OTHER PRODUCT ON THE MARKET THAT ALLOWS US TO COLLECT, TRACK AND ANALYZE A VIRTUALLY INFINITE AMOUNT OF USER-DEFINED VARIABLES IN A SIMPLE TO USE APPLICATION,” SAID JOHAN WANG, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF SPORTS MEDICINE AT TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY. “THIS IMPROVES OUR ABILITY TO DIGEST PLAYER DATA QUICKLY AND ALLOWS US TO PAINT A MORE ROBUST PICTURE OF PLAYER FATIGUE.”

Eight Advantages of Using a Strength Training App Renton High (Wash.) was one of three Washington schools selected last year

by Volt Athletics to receive a donation of a one-year team subscription to an online strength and conditioning program. The Seattle Seahawks sponsored the donation as part of a new partnership with Volt Athletics.

DAN GUTTENPLAN

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An expert on staff. Volt’s training programs are designed

by certified strength coaches. While most workouts are delivered through a database or app, a customer representative is assigned to each team, and can respond to questions by phone or email. “I’ve had numerous conversations with customer-service representatives at Volt,” Tramp said.

The ability to customize the program. The Volt training program is not a one-size-fits all approach to training. A coach can customize programs by position or experience level. Tramp’s freshmen participate in the beginner program, while his varsity athletes do the advanced workouts. Skill position players often do more reps with lighter weights than linemen.

Track progress. Players have the ability to enter their workout through the Volt app, by specifying the number or reps and amount of weight lifted in each exercise. The Volt app will adjust the workout the next time to re-enforce continued progress.

Take attendance. Tramp said one of the best features of the Volt program is its ability to track workouts and monitor which players have completed a lift – and which have missed a day.

“I don’t have to check with my staff to see if we can account for every player being in the weight room at some point in the day,” Tramp said.

Examples of perfect technique. A coach doesn’t have to go from station to station demonstrating the proper lifting technique to his players. Volt offers videos and animation for every exercise so players can view the proper form on their phones before starting a new lift.

A long-term approach. Once a player enters his position, experience and goals, Volt will customize a strength and conditioning program for the entire calendar year. The offseason will be designed to add strength that can be utilized on the football field. In-season lifts will be designed to give players explosive strength without sapping them of energy heading into games. “You can punch in a four-day-a-week lifting schedule, a three-day-a-week schedule, or a two-day-a-week schedule.

You put in advanced, intermediate or beginner. You put in your position, and then you have an entire calendar filled with workouts.”

Saves coaches time. Tramp no longer had to design workouts each day and serve as the resident weight room expert during every team lift. Instead, he often printed out 10 to 15 copies of that day’s workout – for those athletes that didn’t have smartphones – and spent time attending to some of his other coaching responsibilities. “I used to spend time having to explain the push press,” Tramp said. “Now they look online or with a laptop. It makes it so I have an expert with me in the weight room.”

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enton High coach Tim Tramp wanted to upgrade his team’s

strength program last offseason, but the cost of hiring a part-time trainer was not within his program’s budget.

He discovered Volt online, and noticed the designer of sport-specific training programs had recently formed a partnership with the Seahawks. He applied for a one-year subscription to the online strength program as a donation.

Volt recognized the Renton program’s financial need, and awarded the team one of three one-year subscriptions. The other two went to John F. Kennedy High and Sumner High – both in Washington.

Tramp explained eight advantages for coaches using the Volt training program in 2016.

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The cost. Tramp found that the cost of adding a part-time strength coach to his staff to monitor the weight room three times per week was between $3,000 and $5,000 per year. Most online strength programs are far less expensive.

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Download the FNF Coaches app from the Apple App Store and Google Play

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The Frog

The Indisputable Game Changer!

Just like other advances in football technology – such as cleats on shoes and the transition from leather helmets to hard plastic – The Frog is taking football training to an entirely new level. BY DEBORAH NOLIN

T

he great Jimmy Johnson

famously said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all!” With that attitude, he vowed to use every tool at his disposal to make his team better prepared mentally and ensure SUPERIOR CONDITIONING! With access to The Frog, who knows how many more Super Bowl Rings he would have racked up!

The Frog is the latest invention of lifelong athlete and serial entrepreneur Richard Pearce. The Frog, by Frog Fitness, Inc., is Pearce’s seventh startup company in his wildly successful “from rags to riches” career. Why should you care? Because Pearce is no normal novelty item inventor, but rather the type of guy with a long track record of creating breakthrough game-changing products that make a positive impact as detailed in Success Magazine.

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football coaches! Get your subscription at fnfcoaches.com

“I’ve known Richard since I was a young girl; therefore I can share from experience that he truly started with nothing and the only thing bigger than his brain is his heart!,” says Deborah Nolin, lifelong friend and Director of Marketing for Pearce’s latest successful venture, Frog Fitness, Inc. “He cares about people. It is a trait which goes back to his youth when he put his own dreams aside to assist his father in the care of his mother as she battled the debilitating disease of Alzheimer’s.”

Five years ago, with his vast knowledge in athletics, the human body and nutrition, Pearce set out to create an “INNOVATIVE TOTAL BODY TRAINING DEVICE” meant for athletes of all disciplines … especially his beloved FOOTBALL with a keen focus on total body conditioning and injury prevention.

The Frog is the result of years of relentless hard work, research and development, and scientific testing. The Frog is already being widely accepted throughout the NFL, the NBA, Pro Motocross, and MMA. Even America’s most respected warriors throughout all four branches of the U.S. Military are training with The Frog, and most recently Olympic athletes began adding The Frog to their training regimens. The end is nowhere in sight!

“It’s this simple, when used properly and added to your daily routine, you will either see dramatic changes in your body’s strength and stamina within 90 days, or you will be the first to ever ask for your 100% money back guarantee!” said Pearce.

All of this leads to how proud Frog Fitness is to be partnering with FNF Coaches. It gives Pearce and his staff the opportunity to reach out to well over 10,000 serious high school programs throughout the nation.

Helping young men and women reach their full potential is HUGE to Frog Fitness!

SPECIAL OFFER FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACHES

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HE FIRST 100 TEAMS – “That’s correct…

100 teams!” – and only the first 100 that contact Frog Fitness online and fill out the form for our free “Frog Fitness High School Trial” will qualify for shipment of five Frogs pending credit worthiness and approval.

Your Frogs will come with a 90-day suggested workout plan. Customized Frogs in your schools colors and logos are available upon request.

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PLAYBOOK presented by Utilizing Linebackers in a 3-4 Defense AARON NOWELL, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, BROKEN ARROW HIGH, OKLA.

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WHERE DO WE WANT THE BALL TO GO?

here are many detailed facets in the installation of a defense, and it is We will always be plus-1 to the offense’s strength,

important to convey that information to your players in a way they can comprehend. When instructing our players in the installation of a new team concept, our coaches focus on five areas of which our players need to have a full understanding: ■ What are they being asked to do?

■ When are they doing it?

■ Where are they doing it?

■ Why are they being asked to do it?

■ How are they going to accomplish the task?

BASE VS. 4 WR

DIAGRAM 1 SS

FS

M C

meaning we will have a hat they cannot account for. We will bounce the ball to this player, the unblocked player. It is important for all players to know where they fit. We will rep an opponent’s top five run plays against their top eight-to-12 formations (depending on how diverse their offense is). By knowing who the plus-1 player is, we feel it helps the kids to know where to fit so that the ball is forced to our unblocked player.

We feel it is important for our kids to understand the “why” behind the alignments and assignments. The last thing we want to hear from a player is “I thought …” We want them to know and understand all aspects of the defense so they are able to play at an intensity their opponent cannot match.

We believe the best way to teach these concepts is to present them in several forms to the players. By providing manuals for the players to read and take notes, they are able to hear, read and write the information they are responsible for. By watching video cuts of themselves, or older players, perform the required duties of the position, they can see how to do it. Finally, we build on the skill during individual periods, and build on the concepts in small groups, such as 9-on-7. Eventually, it’s all put together in our team periods. We then refine technique through film study. There is not a more powerful tool than film review! Have the players talk you through the play you are watching on film; you’ll know real quick who knows their job!

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WHAT IS THE DEFENSE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? The most important thing for the defense to do is to win the pre-snap. The players have to know their alignment and assignment without hesitation.

We use several methods to teach this, such as chalk-talk sessions, walk-through sessions, detailed player manuals and tests. We continue this on the field in a high-tempo setting using two huddles 20 yards apart and the defense moving between the two huddles as they get a call on the move.

Once we have established our base alignments and assignments, we begin to introduce when to check versus certain formations. The checks can be a week-to-week basis or this is what we do against a certain offensive formation. We will work our checks in each segment of practice (9-on-7, 7-on-7, and team). This past season, we were extremely fortunate to have two inside linebackers who had extremely high football IQs. They were able to handle a lot and get us into our checks very quickly. Therefore, we were not scrambling to get lined up.

26

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BASE VS. TIGHT END

DIAGRAM 2 SS

FS

M

W

C

R S

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C

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LINEBACKER MANUAL EXCERPT: ALIGNMENT ■ Sam linebacker is in the V (halfway between the most inside receiver and the tackle), five yards deep ■ Mike linebacker is in a 20-technique, heels at 5 yards ■ Will linebacker is in a 20-technique, heels at 5 yards ■ R is in the V (halfway between the most inside receiver and the tackle), five yards deep

RUN ASSIGNMENT (MIKE/WILL) ■ Key hat of center to guard to back ■ Mike and Will are responsible for the 3- and 1-gap if there are no pullers ■ Fast-flow Mike and Will fit in the 3- and 1-gaps ■ Inside zone Mike and Will fit in the 3- and 1-gaps to the side of the back to match the path of the back ■ If there is a pulling lineman, the first inside linebacker will fit inside of the first puller, and the backside inside linebacker will fit underneath the second puller, or take the run-through if available

RUN ASSIGNMENT (SAM/ROVER) ■ Key on earhole of offensive tackle or tight end ■ If earhole is down and to me, squeeze to line of scrimmage and set the edge, keeping outside arm and leg free ■ If earhole is down and away, stay at depth and shuffle with flow and check BCR (Boot, Cutback, and Reverse)

The final part of the install process is completing the square of trust.

Coaches trust players – players trust players – players trust coaches – coaches trust coaches. While it is important to understand the defense, nothing is more important than doing your job. This is an important aspect on which we grade players during the season.

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PLAYBOOK presented by Run-pass-option Offensive Philosophy JEFF SCHAUM, FORMER HEAD COACH AT CREEKSIDE HIGH (FLA.)

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ne of the reasons our team went to a run-pass-option style of offense was the

availability (or lack thereof) of offensive linemen. The other was that it spread the defense out and made the number of people in the box (which had to be accounted for by the blockers) somewhat predictable.

And finally, we can have an option read on every running play, which requires our opponents to spend time practicing their option responsibilities prior to playing us. Having the quarterback read the defensive end on the zone allows him to essentially become an “extra blocker,” simply by his assignment. In other words, by reading the defensive end, that gives us seven people in the box offensively (five linemen, one running back and one quarterback) that must be accounted for by the defense.

22 INSIDE ZONE L-QUEENS-GUN 22 ZONE

DIAGRAM 1 FS

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“BUBBLE” VS. 3-DEEP

Z F

Q

When the quarterback counts the defenders in the box during the pre-snap phase, it allows him to put the defense in a mismatched situation and get the offense into favorable blocking angles.

COUNTING THE BOX

We only teach our QB to “count the box” in order to be able to “flip” the offensive play from one side to the other. In a “Spread No Huddle” offense, counting the box was the job of our coach.

In a spread offense that primarily utilizes a four-wide receiver, one-back alignment (“10-personnel”), we calculate the numbers in the box as such: ■ 5 in the box = Run, Zone Read ■ 6 in the box = Pass or Option Read ■ 7 in the box = Pass and Screens When we use Three-Wide (“20-personnel”), with two running backs, the calculation is: ■ 6 in the box = Zone Read Lead ■ 7 in the box = True Triple (Dive) Option

Play Installation

“SLICE” VS. 2-DEEP

1. ZONE READ CONCEPTS OF BASE OFFENSE

The first play we install is the “Inside Zone Read.”

Our Base Offense consists of five Runs: Zone, Dive Option, Dart Option, Counter and Shovel; and seven pass concepts: Hitch, Slant, Out, Smash, Sail, Mesh, and Shallow Series. Our base play is the Inside Zone Read (which we call either 23 IZ or 24 IZ); it is coupled with a Bubble/Slice Screen, making the play a “Triple Option.” The 23/24 Zone is the first play we install and players must become competent in both in spring and fall practices.

The left defensive end is the quarterback’s responsibility. If the defense has six men in the box (we can either run or pass), then the five offensive linemen are responsible for the other five defenders. The playside offensive tackle

22 INSIDE ZONE L-QUEENS-GUN Z-JET 22 ZONE

DIAGRAM 2 SS

FS

ZONE READ - PLAYING THE NUMBERS The Zone Read is considered by most shotgun spread offense coaches as the “bread and butter” run play of the Spread Option offensive system. What makes the Zone Read play so effective?

The quarterback accounts for the backside defensive end, which is normally the end-man on the line of scrimmage. The quarterback being accountable for the backside defensive end allows the five offensive linemen to block the remaining five or six defenders in the box.

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B

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“SLICE” WITH JET

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2. BUBBLE/SLICE

(“POT”) has the B-gap defender or the playside defensive end (“PDE”). The playside offensive guard (“POG”) and center are responsible for the A-gap defenders (usually the defensive tackle and middle linebacker). The backside offensive guard and tackle are responsible for the backside defensive tackle and weakside linebacker. The quarterback reads and is responsible for the backside defensive end (see Diagram No. 2).

Against a “stunting” defensive front, we keep things simple. The POT blocks out on the PDE.

22 INSIDE ZONE L-TRIPS-GUN-PRO Z-LIZ 22 ZONE

When in our 2X2 alignments (“Queens-Gun”), our reads are very simple: if the defense puts seven in the box, we throw; if they put five in the box, we run.

But what if they put six in the box? Then we can either run “22 IZ” or throw the Bubble/Slice. The quarterback looks to the sideline and we signal which we want him to do.

When in Queens-Gun, whether to “Bubble” or “Slice” depends on the defensive coverage: versus 3-Deep we run the Bubble (Diagram 1) and versus 2-Deep we run the Slice (Diagram 2).

DIAGRAM 3

Vs. Cover 3 (Single High Safety)

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Against a 2-Deep defense, we use a “7-yard rule”: If the flat defender isn’t declared by alignment that he is the flat defender, the X-receiver makes a “Me” call and runs the Slice, while the tailback aggressively blocks the cornerback.

If we align in the 3x1 set (“Trips-Gun-Pro”) (Diagram 3) our order of choices becomes: ■ Throw the “quick” to the single receiver side ■ Throw the Bubble Screen to the three receiver side ■ Run the Zone Without motioning either inside receiver, this is our version of the Triple Option.

Y

“BUBBLE”

Z F

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The right offensive guard is responsible for the playside B-gap; the center is responsible for the playside A-gap. The left offensive guard is responsible for the backside A-gap, and the left offensive tackle is responsible for the backside B-gap. The quarterback still is responsible for the backside defensive end.

The quarterback has to decide whether to keep the ball or hand it off to the fullback at the mesh point, while the defensive end responsible for backside contain will force one of two decisions: option One: If the quarterback reads the defensive end as crashing, he keeps it. option two: If the quarterback reads Decision Two, the quarterback hands it off to the running back (and carries out the quarterback run fake), thus canceling out, or in effect blocking the backside end.

We also combined the Zone Read Concept on this play with the Bubble/Slice Screen Option, which (without any pre-snap motion) is the third part (“Triple”) of our Read Option concept.

Vs. Cover 2 (Double Safeties)

E

X H

Versus 3-Deep we usually face six in the box, and we can either run the zone or throw the Bubble. Depending upon the outside linebackers’ alignment, we game plan weekly on which option we will utilize.

LINE UP IN TRIPS, OR MOTION TO TRIPS

22 INSIDE ZONE L-QUEENS-GUN Z-ARC 22 ZONE

DIAGRAM 4 SS

FS

B C

B E

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C

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Y H

“BUBBLE” VS. COVER 3, “SLICE” VS. COVER 2

F

Q

Z-ARC

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GIFT-SIDE

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29

PLAYBOOK presented by Make the Defense Wrong Every Time

exotic about that, but when we start to implement the Run-Pass-Option (“RPO”), things get fun.

We run the inside veer generally to the shade and read the EMLOS like most teams, but we have begun to mix in RPOs to make the defense work harder. We can run verticals, jailbreaks, hitches, and slant/bubble concepts to force the defense to defend more than the usual dive/QB/ pitch reads. If the defense falls asleep on the job, they risk having a receiver stalk-and-go and give up six on a simple veer play!

VEER/SWEEP/MIDLINE WITH RPO CONCEPTS JON HERRERA, OFFENSIVE LINE COACH, WAHOO HIGH (NEBRASKA)

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ffenses have rapidly evolved into a hybrid of running and passing plays that make

playing defense more difficult than ever. We’ve run the inside veer for years here and it has been a good tool for keeping a defense honest.

But why stop there? Why not add to the things you can do from a veer look and then throw in the RPO and make things a little exotic? Defenses are not enjoying this trend as it makes you wrong a lot if you are stuck defending a smart, athletic quarterback and a creative offensive coaching staff. We like to keep things fluid and utilize blocking schemes to maximize our talent and put pressure on the defense. That’s the name of the game right? Having big, fast linemen makes any offense look great! Reality is that we don’t always have the biggest dudes up front, but the show must go on, and the best teams work hard to maximize their talent with a diverse scheme.

22 VEER

SWEEP/MIDLINE Now we’ll mix in a sweep play (diagram 2) to get the defense going East/West and chasing the backs.

We pull both guards to get out and run the sweep.

When run strongside, our center blocks back for the backside guard, who pulls and wraps to the playside linebacker and seals the alley, while the playside tackle blocks down for the playside guard, who gets out in front.

This is generally run to a tight end or wing to block the playside defensive end. That puts the playside tackle on a down-block to the 3-technique, or he can go directly to the second level against a 30-front. Even the center can pull, if the play is run into double 3-techniques. Cut off the backside 3-technique with the backside tackle and pull an athletic center and play-side guard.

The sweep play has been successful for us as a standalone play, but things get fun with the RPO. Mix in verticals, jailbreaks, hitches and slant/bubble concepts and you put a lot of pressure on perimeter defenders. Sweep action leads to linebackers flowing in the direction of the sweep, so let’s have fun with that. Leave the 3-technique unblocked and mix in a naked midline option for the quarterback (diagram 3).

DIAGRAM 1 FS SS

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VEER SHOULD BE RUN TO THE OPEN B-GAP, OR AT THE SHADE. WE OPTION THE FIRST MAN OUTSIDE OF THE PLAYSIDE TACKLE.

Q B A

INSIDE VEER We install the Inside Veer (diagram 1) on day one. Simple rules for our lineman involve a down-blocking scheme that works toward the backside linebacker. We have words to designate whether we block our man or combo to a linebacker. We try to double-team guys as little as possible, but that comes down to the continual balance of Jimmies and Joes, mixed with effort and attitude.

You can let the players name the calls to make things fun. If they get the job done, we let them get creative and they take more pride in the scheme when they name the calls.

The backside linemen cut off the defenders to keep the mesh point clean. The quarterback reads the end man on the line of scrimmage (EMLOS), then gives (or pulls) the ball and has the option to get to the edge to read the playside outside linebacker and pitch to the running back. Nothing

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SWEEP/MIDLINE

DIAGRAM 2

FS SS

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have a scheme you’d like to share with the readers of fnf coaches? email fnf@ae-engine.com

SWEEP/MIDLINE

DIAGRAM 3

to the

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COMMUNITY

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Q

This adds pressure on the defense, as you can pierce them East/West, or North/South. This play becomes a nice hybrid of the sweep/midline that gives you a similar backfield look to the power read with different blocking. It’s tough for linebackers to see pulling guards while flowing with the backfield. Have the quarterback keep the ball and pierce the defense vertically. This is also a nice Wildcat play if your quarterback is not a good fit for downhill running.

INVERTED VEER We have been inverting our veer (diagram 4) more and more to take advantage of aggressive linebackers and defensive ends taking away the sweep action.

The play resembles a Power Read in the backfield, but the blocking is different. The Inverted Veer is blocked the same as the Inside Veer and can be

INVERTED VEER

run to the tight end side, which adds a different tendency than the Inside Veer.

The tight end is a nice RPO weapon as well as a great blocker for the playside linebacker. Depending on the playside defensive end’s alignment, you can arc release or rip inside to move the defensive end. Running this play can be effective as a sweep using the lead back as the blocker. We still leave the EMLOS unblocked, so he must decide who to chase. If he’s accustomed to defending the Veer, he’ll sit or sink down when his tackle goes to the linebacker. That usually results in giving the ball to the back on the sweep, but occasionally the defensive end gets up field, and the quarterback has the option to keep it and get North/South. Why block someone when the decision the defender makes can remove them as a threat?

These three plays present multiple blocking schemes to confuse defenders.

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DIAGRAM 4 FS

C

high school football

coaching

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your connection

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FNF Coaches magazine is the first football magazine 100-percent dedicated to high school football coaches.

Purchase now at

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PLAYBOOK presented by Alternative alignments and stunts from the under front defense JERRY GORDON

P

“UNDER 33” – DIAGRAM 3

lay defense, not defenses. Every great defense is based on sound defensive

In an under 33 call, both the nose and the tackle align in

fundamentals taught by coaches and employed by players. If you are not seeing it on the field, you are not coaching it. As most coaches will tell you, especially at the high school level, the philosophy of defense is to stop the run first. Effectively stopping the run forces the offense to be more one-dimensional and thus more predictable. As a coach decides what defense his team will use as its base, he must think about what advantages and disadvantages each defense inherently contains. When playing the under front, consider these alternative alignments and stunts.

a 3-technique. It is a useful call against teams that like to run a long trap and veer option. Many teams like to direct a veer option to a 1-technique.

It also is a good call against the pass as now there is less likelihood of a double-team on the nose.

“UNDER 22” – DIAGRAMS 4 & 5 In an under 22 call, both the nose and the tackle align in

UNDER G

DIAGRAM 1 W B

a 2-technique. This defense can effectively slant or angle from this call.

Tag steps defined: In some instances, defensive linemen are called upon to stunt inside. It could be a called blitz, a line stunt, or a slant or angle call.

When a defensive lineman stunts to his inside, it is called a tag step. A tag step is a six- to 10-inch lateral step into the next inside gap. The defensive lineman must remain low, keep a flat back and rip his outside arm across the face of the offensive lineman he is lined up against. The rip helps protect the defensive lineman from the attack of the offensive lineman.

His eyes should now read the V of the neck of the next adjacent offensive lineman. For instance, if the end were to take a tag step, he would read the neck of the guard. The reads for him would be the same as if he were lined up over the guard.

If the neck of the guard comes toward him, he squares his shoulders and become a B-gap player If the neck of the guard goes away from him, he becomes a heel-line trail player.

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QB

UNDER G —THE NOSE LINES UP IN A 2i

“UNDER G” – DIAGRAM 1 In an “under G” call, the nose aligns in a 2i technique instead of a shade technique of the nose. This varies the alignment of the nose and forces the center to come off the ball at a different angle of attack. It is also useful if the guard is a weaker player than the center.

“UNDER I” – DIAGRAM 2

UNDER i

DIAGRAM 2

In an “under I” call, both the nose and the tackle align in a 2i technique. This call ensures that the center will not depart the line of scrimmage. It is also a useful call against teams that like to run a short trap and midline option. Many teams like to direct a midline option to the 3-technique.

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UNDER i — BOTH THE NOSE AND THE TACKLE ALIGN IN 2i TECHNIQUES

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UNDER 33

insights

DIAGRAM 3 W B

delivered

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coaching

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daily

UNDER 33 —THE NOSE ALIGNS IN A 3-TECHNIQUE

UNDER 22 WITH SLANT CALL

DIAGRAM 4 W B

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UNDER 22 WITH SLANT CALL—THE NOSE AND TACKLE TAKE TAG STEPS TO THE SAM

UNDER 22 WITH ANGLE CALL

DIAGRAM 5 W B

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QB

UNDER 22 WITH ANGLE CALL—THE NOSE AND TACKLE TAKE TAG STEPS AWAY FROM THE SAM

Available for iOS & Android

PLAYBOOK presented by four midline option plays from the pistol formation JAMES VINT, OFFENSIVE LINE COACH, ESTACADO HIGH (TEXAS)

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he goal of every offense is to get the ball in the

hands of its playmakers. For option teams, that means being able to keep or pitch the ball at the right time to find open space and take advantage of what the defense gives you.

For midline option plays out of the pistol, the defense must make adjustments to defend the midline. If your offense blocks the play well, and the quarterback makes good reads, the defense must rely on players folding fast to make the play.

This requires the offense have some answers to take advantage of defenders vacating their gap responsibilities. Additionally, these complements allow the offense to dictate who carries the football.

Here is a four-play series that does just that.

RIP 3 MIDLINE PITCH RIGHT

DIAGRAM 1 FS

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RIP 3 MIDLINE PITCH RIGHT The pitch scheme takes advantage of an outside linebacker falling into the midline play, vacating his force responsibility (diagram 1). The pitch tells the offensive line they will not block the read player or the next adjacent down defender outside the read player. The tight end will arc release to the outside linebacker if the play is being run strong.

RIP 2 MIDLINE PITCH VS. AN ODD FRONT

DIAGRAM 2 FS

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Coaching points:

E

■ Your tight end must rip and reach and get his eyes on the force player ■ The quarterback widens his path slightly on a pull read ■ The fullback gets into pitch relationship quickly

SS

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FG

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RIP 2 MIDLINE PITCH VS. AN ODD FRONT The pitch scheme can also be run against an odd front defense (Diagram 2). The tackle releases to the playside inside linebacker while the center and frontside guard combo to the backside inside linebacker. Depending on the technique of the backside defensive end, the backside guard could work with the center and right guard. The tight end arcs up to the rotated invert.

Coaching points: ■ The quarterback reads the 5-technique for his dive read ■ The end defender on the line is the pitch key ■ The fullback must be quick to get into pitch relationship

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RIP MIDLINE PITCH LEFT (WEAK)

DIAGRAM 3 FS

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R 5 MIDLINE PITCH RIGHT (CRACK)

DIAGRAM 4

into pitch relationship and stay patient to allow the quarterback time to read the 3-technique. The pitch scheme takes advantage of force players who quickly fall into the box on a pull read by the quarterback.

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Coaching points: ■ The fullback must be patient so he doesn’t get in front of the quarterback ■ The quarterback read stays the same ■ The receivers must do a great job of blocking the perimeter

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FB

QB

R 5 MIDLINE PITCH RIGHT (CRACK) The pitch scheme can also be run with a crack tag, putting the halfback working to the corner and the playside receiver cracking the invert (Diagram 4).

This is a great scheme to create a running lane when you anticipate the ball will be pitched.

RIP MIDLINE PITCH LEFT (WEAK) The pitch scheme can be run to the weak side as well (Diagram 3). The guard releases inside to the playside backer, while the playside tackle releases outside and works up to the first player in an opposite-colored jersey. The fullback becomes the pitchman and can be aligned playside or opposite. If he is playside, he will drop step, get

Coaching points: ■ The Z receiver cracks the inverted player or near safety ■ The quarterback read does not change ■ The backside fullback becomes the pitchman

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PLAYBOOK presented by Coaching the placekicker: Measuring the steps

DIAGRAM 1

STEVE LIBASSI

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lacekicking may not be as physically demanding dur-

ing the game, or as mentally challenging as other football positions, but, then, if it were that easy, wouldn’t more players be doing it? If placekicking were that easy, wouldn’t there be more placekickers?

Placekicking appears to be fairly basic: the placekicker lines up his kick, measures his steps, and kicks the ball through the goalposts. What could be simpler than that? But the idea is not just to kick the ball; it is to kick the ball through the goalposts every time, regardless of the weather, field conditions, and distance.

PROPER FORM AND MECHANICS Placekicking is no different from other sports skills in one important respect: proper form is essential.

Leg strength and, to a lesser degree, how hard a placekicker kicks the ball will lead to distance, but not to accuracy. For example, a golfer must work to control his swing to generate the consistent accuracy and distance on which a respectable golf game is based. The harder a golfer swings, the less likely the golf ball will take the proper flight path to the desired spot because the club face is less likely to hit the ball the right way.

In much the same way, the vast majority of a placekicker’s accuracy and distance is determined by how well he prepares for the kick, approaches and makes contact with the ball, and follows through after contact. The distance being attempted magnifies the importance of proper form, since less margin for error exists the farther the kicker is from the goalposts.

MARKING OFF THE APPROACH Do not underrate the importance of marking off the steps properly, and never stop practicing it. If the steps are not right, the kicking foot will not make proper contact with the ball. If the steps do not feel right after marking them off, re-mark them.

Remember: a placekicker’s number one objective is to always make contact with the ball at the same place with the same part of the foot. Thus, he must make sure to line up at the same distance and the same angle from the ball every time.

The one-and-a- half-step approach to the ball supplies all the momentum and power a

36

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placekicker will need to kick the ball more than 50 yards, without introducing the lack of control and balance that comes from a longer approach. Of course, the other benefit is that he will kick the ball in less time than he would with a two-and-a-half-step approach, making it harder for the field-goal blocking team to do its job.

Coaching Tip: As the placekicker’s proficiency with the one-and-ahalf-step approach (or any other length of approach, for that matter) improves, either he may need to move closer to the ball (to avoid topping the ball) or farther away (to avoid kicking “under” the ball).

THE APPROACH The first step of the approach is the most critical, and requires the greatest amount of work to master. It is a driving step, a large and aggressive step that acts in concert with the upper body, which is leaning into the ball, and the arms, which are thrusting forward to generate the necessary momentum and power.

The initial drive step is not a hop step, nor is it a slide step.

Coaching Tip: One of the biggest problems many inexperienced placekickers have is learning how to execute the second step/hop.

Emphasize to your placekicker that

he must actually become airborne, that he must not drag his kicking leg along and swipe at the ball.

Not only will he not be properly balanced, he will not have generated the necessary momentum (and subsequent power) into the kick.

The cause of the problem is his preoccupation with kicking the ball, a preoccupation that causes him to focus solely on making solid contact with the ball.

Placekickers come to understand that, since height and accuracy are more important than distance on extra points and short field goals (up to 35 yards), they should err on the side of being too close to the ball at impact rather than too far from it. Therefore, they learn to adjust their steps accordingly. Until a placekicker becomes comfortable with, and adept at, marking off his steps and making the minor adjustments required by distance kicks, it is wise to give the holder the responsibility for gaining distance. Some new students remark after the first couple of practices that kicking is a lot more complicated than it appears.

Coaching Tip: The placekicker must mark off a slightly longer approach when kicking off a placekicking block than he will when kicking off the ground, in order to compensate for the difference in the ball’s position.

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MARKING OFF THE APPROACH The two basic methods for marking a soccer-style kicker’s steps start with the kicking foot one to three inches from the ball. As you consider each method, keep in mind the following coaching tips: ■ The steps used to mark off the approach should be slightly longer than the placekicker’s normal stride. Too often, placekicking students take unnaturally large strides. The former leaves them too far from the ball, the latter too close. Either way, their subconscious minds unsuccessfully attempt to compensate for the problem during the approach.

■ The angle of the steps taken from the ball should always be 65 to 70 degrees from the direction the kick will go regardless of where the ball is spotted. When the ball is being kicked from a hash mark, the placekicker must still approach the ball from a 65- to 70-degree angle. As a result, he’ll line up closer to the left sideline when attempting a kick from the left hash mark and closer to the right sideline when attempting a kick from the right hash. This point is crucial. Failure to properly measure this angle is why so many soccer-style kickers miss angled field goal attempts.

Method 1 (Diagram 1) is the simpler of the two methods and achieves more consistent results.

The placekicker takes three steps backwards at a 65- to 70-degree angle. Note that the kicker begins his steps with the toe of his kicking foot positioned one to three inches from the ball. He then steps back first with his plant foot and ends with his kicking foot behind him.

Method 2 (Diagram 2) entails taking three steps straight back (as if the kick were being made by a straight-on kicker), taking two steps to the left or right, depending on whether the placekicker is right- or left-footed, then moving toward the ball six inches.

It is a matter of simple geometry that Method 2 leaves a kicker farther from the ball than Method 1.

Thus, the kicker using Method 2 will have to step up six inches closer to the ball to ensure that he ends up the same distance from the ball. Method 1 is preferable, since due to its fewer “parts,” the placekicker is less likely to introduce errors in his measurements. Thus, Method 1 is more likely to consistently result in the desired contact with the ball. However, it must be said that it is more difficult to establish the proper angle from the ball when using Method 1, though proficiency can be gained through practice, repetition, and placekicking exercises.

A variation of Method 2 is for the two side-steps to be taken at a 70- to 75-degree angle rather an a 90-degree angle, thereby bringing the kicker closer to the ball without having to move six inches closer to the ball after the normal 90-degree side-steps are taken. Obviously, the danger with this Method 2 variation is that now the kicker must make sure that this angle is correct otherwise he will be either too close or too far from the ball at set-up.

Some placekickers prefer to face away from the ball when marking off their steps. However, this variation, facing away from the ball, and then turning around when the steps are completed, only adds more margin for error (some kickers adjust for this problem by stepping back first with their kicking foot when measuring their steps.)

The bottom line, however, is that every placekicker must decide for himself which method he feels most comfortable with, determine which method produces the most consistently positive results, make the necessary adjustments, and practice the method diligently.

Regardless of the method a soccer-style placekicker uses to mark off his steps, minor adjustments may be needed to ensure that his kicking foot consistently makes proper contact with the ball. For example, if he finds that he is not getting enough height on his kicks, he needs to move slightly closer to the ball by marking his steps, then moving his plant foot one to three inches closer to the ball. This will ensure that his kicking foot strikes the ball at a lower point, thereby getting more lift. If the placekicker is getting too much height on the ball (i.e., the ball spins too quickly end-over-end), or he wants to add distance to his kicks, he needs to move his plant foot an additional one to three inches away from the ball so he will strike the ball at a higher point.

Coaching Tips: The placekicker must mark off a slightly longer approach when kicking off a placekicking block or a kickoff tee than he will when kicking off the ground in order to compensate for the difference in the ball’s position. For example, steps marked off for a teed-up ball — usually one to two inches off the ground — will result in the placekicker being too far away from a ball spotted on the ground because of the difference in height.

The importance of setting up at a proper angle to the ball will increase dramatically the longer the kick that is being attempted for two reasons. One is that increased distance means decreased margin for error. The other reason is that placekickers will naturally put more effort, more oomph into the ball, the longer the kick. That extra effort makes it more likely that they will pull the ball just enough to miss to the left if they are right-footed kickers, or to the right if they are left-footed kickers. An experienced kicker will, therefore, add a bit more angle to his approach when attempting his longest kicks.

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TRAINING Ten Benefits of Bikram Yoga Some unconventional training methods have helped the DeMatha Catholic (D.C.) football team win four straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championships. For the last two years, the team’s DAN GUTTENPLAN unconventional training includes Bikram Yoga.

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Injury prevention. The extreme heat causes players’ tight muscles to expand, resulting in fewer muscle tears and cramps. “It allows athletes to be more present and aware of how they’re moving in time and space,” she said.

Increases flexibility. The players’ muscles and fascia are loosened up after a Bikram Yoga session – more so than a standard football warmup. “Most times, they get on the field and there’s minimal focus on flexibility,” she said.

“There’s more focus on weight training, and the flexibility isn’t there.”

Leaner body types. Some of the big-bodied linemen at DeMatha have lost weight through the Bikram Yoga training, leaving them with leaner muscle mass. “They’re able to move their bodies,” Blackett-Dibinga said. “It can help slim out a bulky, big player. It’s toning without losing muscle mass.”

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he DeMatha Catholic football team

participates in a Bikram Yoga class, also known as “hot yoga”, once a week at Bikram Hot Yoga Riverdale Park. Kendra Blackett-Dibinga leads the classes in 104-degree temperatures, mixing in some pilates with a steady diet of yoga. Blackett-Dibinga shares 10 benefits of Bikram Yoga for football players.

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Builds mental toughness. After the

DeMatha Catholic players get through 90-minute yoga and pilates sessions in 104-degree heat, a hot summer practice feels like a breeze. “It’s a mental exercise, first and foremost,” Blackett-Dibinga said.

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Strengthens cardiorespiratory system.

A big part of yoga is controlling

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one’s breath in uncomfortable physical positions. “It’s important they learn how to breathe through that,” BlackettDibinga said.

Heat training. Players need to learn how to survive in extreme heat through hydration and a good deal of composure. “A lot of players get sick through training in high heat,” she said. “They need to withstand high temperatures under strenuous activity.”

Improves focus. A football player’s technique is sacrificed when he loses focus. Bikram Yoga is all about practicing perfect technique in adverse conditions.

“The heat is a distraction,” she said.

“Players get bothered. But they stay with it and really learn how to focus, listen to instruction, and be present.”

Offers a mental break from a violent sport. Some of the DeMatha Catholic

players have chosen to come in for a second Bikram Yoga session each week on their own. It helps them de-stress and calm their nerves, so they are not a threat to take penalties or let their physical aggression spill over to other aspects of their lives.

Generates camaraderie. It is quite the visual when the DeMatha Catholic football team trains. “It’s 60 sweaty guys in a hot room with one tiny teacher,” Blackett-Dibinga said. “It’s pretty awesome; they actually do pretty well in the room.

They focus, and [Coach Elijah Brooks] occasionally takes the class with them.”

Teaches life lessons. Blackett-Dibinga sees hot yoga as a metaphor for life. “How they handle the hot room is how they’ll handle adversity on the field and in life,” she said. “Not paying attention is an indication of what they’ll do under stress.”

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Six Nutrition Tips for Multi-Sport Athletes The spring is a time when many football players play other sports or spend the majority of their training time in the weight room. A player’s body composition can change if the proper attention isn’t paid to nutrition. Nutrition consultant Molly Morgan offers six nutrition tips for multi-sport athletes so that players DAN GUTTENPLAN will be feeling strong when they return to the gridiron.

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Food is fuel. This motto applies to any

sport. Food will provide the body with the energy (calories) and nutrients to fuel and refuel for every sport. What players do and do not eat will impact their performance. Having enough energy can help keep athletes in the game and playing their best.

Hydrate properly. For athletes, arriving to games and practices with enough water in their system is a must. When they are playing more than one sport, keeping up with fluid losses can be challenging. If they can do it, they should feel a sense of accomplishment.

They should get in the habit of always having a water bottle with them to sip fluids throughout the day. This will help ensure that they are maintaining adequate hydration levels. For back-to-back workouts or games lasting longer than one hour, athletes should consider sports drinks to help keep energy levels up. To keep an eye on hydration, players can monitor urine color. Hydrated urine is pale lemonade color and is an indication that the body is hydrated.

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Fuel and refuel. When athletes are jumping from one sport to another,

having a game plan for food becomes key – otherwise they can wind up running low on energy. They should fuel up before games or practices with foods that deliver some carbohydrates and protein, and that are lower in fat. Examples include whole grain cereal with sliced banana and milk; toast with nut butter and a piece of fruit; whole grain fruit bar, almonds and banana; whole grain bread with turkey and cheese.

After games or practices – or on the way to the next event – an athlete should refuel the body with fluids, carbs, and protein. In fact, chocolate milk is a great fueling drink that provides athletes with fluid, carbs and protein. Athletes should bring along shelf-stable chocolate milk boxes or grab a bottle of chocolate milk on the way to the next sporting event. The carbs are key to help refuel tired muscles.

Plan ahead for fueling purposes. Refueling on the go between sports can be a challenge. Athletes should stock up on easy-to-pack items like shelf-stable chocolate milk boxes, 100-percent fruit juice boxes, sports drinks, bags of nuts and seeds, pretzels, mini bagels, nut butter packs, whole grain fruit bars, and bananas. Athletes should bring items with them so that they have quick, healthier go-to options. In my car, there is always a stash of fruit and nut bars, whole-grain fruit bars, nuts and seeds, so my family has easy access to healthier options.

If it’s going to be a longer day, athletes should bring along a cooler with an ice pack for more substantial items like turkey and cheese sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, yogurt cups, cheese sticks and sliced fruit.

It’s all about balance. Enjoying sugary and high-fat foods like soda and french fries is fine on occasion. Although choosing super-sugary foods or high-fat foods between exercise sessions or before games could negatively impact your players’ performance and will not optimally fuel their bodies. Encourage them to enjoy those foods when their games and practices are done.

It’s not just about game day. I often see players focus just on what they are eating on game days or the day before a game. While that is important, it is equally important to have plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and healthy fats coming in every day. If an athlete or his family is struggling with healthy eating routines and goals, working with a registered dietitian to set eating plans and goals can help.

To find a registered dietitian near you, visit: eatright.org

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■ Molly Morgan, an Apalachin, N.Y. resident, is a nutrition consultant for professional sports teams. She offers her thoughts on the best nutrition strategies for high school football players on a monthly basis.

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TRAINING Tips from ‘The Footwork King’ Rischad Whitfield earned the nickname, “The Footwork King,” after training NFL stars like Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, Deandre Hopkins and Andre Johnson. He is now the go-to speed trainer for high school prospects in the Houston area.

FIVE FOOTWORK DRILLS

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Reverse course. Whitfield has his players sprint for 10 yards in one direction, stop, and then retreat at a full sprint in the opposite direction.

Hip flexibility. A scout will often mention the way in which a defensive back can open his hips. Whitfield has his players practice that skill by backpedaling until their back foot hits a cone, then sprinting on their toes for 15 yards.

The octagon. Whitfield sets up cones in the shape of an octagon, and gives a player the order in which he wants him to sprint to each cone. The goal for the player is to get low at each cone and explode in a new direction.

The Icky Shuffle. A big part of making sharp cuts is maintaining balance. The Icky Shuffle consists of two steps in a row with the same foot, before switching to the other foot.

That strengthens balance.

Ladder drills. Whitfield sets up a ladder on each side of a set of six cones. A player has to take as many steps in each gap of a ladder while moving forward before moving to the other side of the cone and doing the same.

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MARKET YOURSELF LIKE WHITFIELD THE PHILOSOPHY

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hat Whitfield does isn’t so much speed training, but

footwork training. Rarely does a player rely on straight-line speed on the football field to create at advantage. Whitfield’s training focuses on developing a player’s quick-twitch muscles.

“If it was a straight line game, Usain Bolt and those guys would be on the football field,” Whitfield said.

“I’m all about developing quick-twitch athletes who can move quickly and accurately in tight spaces.”

In order to develop quick-twitch muscles, Whitfield works on a player’s acceleration. A player may not move more than 10 yards in a straight line before stopping or cutting.

“The game is football is played with your feet,” Whitfield said. “People lose sight of that. I work on players having balance in and out of cuts.”

Whitfield feels that players generally spend too much time in the weight room during the spring season when they should be doing position-specific work on a football field.

“If a guy is lifting three days a week, he should make sure he’s working on his position four days a week,” Whitfield said. “If you want to get paid to play wide receiver, you need to earn your money on the football field.”

A coach looking to expand his network and seek out bigger opportunities would be wise to follow Whitfield’s lead.

“The Footwork King” has quite the profile in the Houston area after working with a slew of NFL players. In the last year, he has worked with some of the top-rated high school players in the nation, including LSU signee K’Lavon Chaisson and Texas signee Toneil Carter.

Whitfield’s reputation with college recruiters is also well established. In fact, the UCLA coaching staff extended a scholarship offer to Chaisson after watching a video of the former 5-star defensive end working out with Whitfield.

What’s the secret for Whitfield?

Working social media to his advantage.

“Once they see the videos on Twitter, Instagram, it’s not hard at all. I check my DMs every day,

and I got five to 10 high school kids trying to reach out to me in regards to training,” he said. “The high school kids, they all know. A lot of times a college coach might refer them, or for some of them, their high school coach will refer them.”

Whitfield also owns the “Blitz Football Camp” facility in Houston. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @footwork_king1.

DAN GUTTENPLAN

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Eight Tips to Building Functional Strength Craig Koehler served as strength coach for Concord High (Ind.) for 14 years before getting hired as head coach in 2015. He continues to run the team’s strength program with a goal of developing functional strength.

DAN GUTTENPLAN

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De-emphasize max lifts. A football player can become obsessed with his max bench or squat, and ignore the functional strength he needs to excel on Friday nights. “I emphasize to my players that the refs aren’t going to put a flat bench press on the 50-yard-line before a game and have a bench press competition to see which team starts with the lead.”

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Emphasize proper movement patterns.

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Get players out of their comfort zones.

Too often when players lift heavy weights, proper form is compromised. If a player is doing a back squat, he should keep his heels on the ground, hinge the hips back toward the heels, and drop his rear end below his knees. “The functionality is missing if a player can’t bend,” Koehler said. “When they leave the room, it has to be able to transfer to performance.”

Players typically stay closest to the machines and exercises in which they excel. There’s always a long line at the bench press and squat rack.

Stations in which flexibility is required are often vacant. “Force your players to get comfortable in those precarious positions they see in competition,” Koehler said. “It’s a challenge with 15- to 18-year-olds who want to walk down the hallway and talk about how much they bench, squat and hang clean.”

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Test flexibility with overhead squats.

While an overhead squat can be an effective exercise for building strength, Koehler also uses it to identify weaknesses in a player’s muscle development and flexibility. “It’s a good measure of a lot of different checkpoints,” Koehler said. “Can he keep a stiff spine? Can he hinge his hips with his heels on the ground? Can he maintain good core posture?”

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Make corrections based on overhead squat findings. The overhead squat

test can be done by a player without any weight on the bar. In fact, a player can simply hold a broom overhead. If the athlete is unable to keep his hips back and feet flat on the ground, he must increase his core strength. If he is unable to keep the broom above his trapezoid and deltoid muscles with his elbows locked, he must increase his shoulder stability.

Address the spinal column. If a player is struggling to maintain posture while doing ground-based exercises like deadlifts or squats, it is likely a core strength issue. Resolve those issues by working the legs, obliques and lower back. Helpful exercises include glute-ham raises, reverse hyperextensions, and hanging oblique raises.

Work the posterior chain. Football players can become obsessed by what they see in the mirror, and that can result in the neglect of the posterior chain. Exercises like the

deadlift, hex-squat deadlift, hang clean, and overhead squat offer different variations for the posterior chain.

Start slow. The ground-based posterior chain lifts are often among the heaviest lifts a player will perform. Injuries could result from poor technique. Have the players start light and work their way up gradually.

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INJURY PREVENTION Mistakes Athletes Make by Overtraining Spanish Fort (Ala.) has been one of the state’s most successful football programs this decade, and Rob Milam has been right there in the middle of it.

TOO MUCH PROTEIN AT ONCE

Protein will aid in the building of muscles and in weight gain, Milam said, but too much in one setting gets pushed out the body’s system. Milam recommends taking in protein throughout the day instead of over-indulging.

“In one setting, your body can only take in so much protein,” he said.

DREW CHAMPLIN POOR WEIGHT TECHNIQUE

In order to add 15 more pounds to that bench press max, athletes often use other muscles to overcompensate.

“Every day, I see more and more kids modifying a lift and using accessory muscles to try and get the bar up,” Milam said. “If they’re bench-pressing, they’re arching their back. That’s how you cause an injury.”

UNBALANCED WORKOUTS

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ilam has served as an athletic trainer for the school since

2010. In that span, the Toros have won four state championships and won double-digit games all but once, when they won nine in 2011 but still reached the Class 5A quarterfinals.

The Nicholls State alumnus has also worked as a graduate assistant for Auburn University and with the Atlanta Falcons, and has been responsible for saving at least two lives on the football field during summer workouts, per AL.com. He monitors athletes in multiple sports as they train their bodies to get bigger, stronger and faster.

Along the lines, Milam has seen plenty of mistakes athletes make while training. That includes dieting wrong, performing bad techniques with weights, not balancing their strength training, and not getting enough rest.

“Everybody wants to work out the pretty muscles to get ready for the beach and spring break,” Milam said. “The arms and the chest muscles have to look great. But the back is just as important.”

Milam has also watched kids push themselves too far over their limits.

“When it comes to weight gain, in a high school setting, the goal is to be at an ideal weight for your position,” Milam said. “There’s a good way to do it and there are bad ways to do it.”

Here, Milam shared five mistakes athletes make while overtraining.

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Milam says that if you do a push workout, you need to do a pull. Not working out the back muscles will set an athlete up for a posterior and back injury.

“A workout needs to be balanced from front to back,” he said.

IGNORING FLEXIBILITY

When it comes to working out the lower body muscles, athletes will focus too much on the squats. Other muscles down low need to be worked out, including the hamstrings, hips, quadriceps and calves.

“If you’re not working on flexibility, you’re not going to get faster,” Milam said.

NOT RESTING ENOUGH

It’s good to play multiple sports, but Milam recommends down time. Quarterbacks and pitchers work out the same arm muscles.

Receivers and soccer players run too much, causing patella tendinitis and more.

“Whether you’re a multi-sport or singlesport athlete, you need a true offseason,” Milam said.

USA FOOTBALL USA Football’s New Shoulder Tackling System Establishes Greater Consistency As part of its Heads Up Football initiative, USA Football worked alongside the Seattle Seahawks, USA Rugby and the American Football Coaches Association to offer coaches online and in-person instruction on its Shoulder Tackle system. More than 130,000 coaches this year are expected to meet the educational requirement.

DAN GUTTENPLAN

The USA Football Shoulder Tackle system stems from a collaboration of input from Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and his former assistant, Rocky Seto, along with USA Rugby and the American Football Coaches Association. Each chapter – Fundamentals, Leverage, Form Tackle, Thigh and Drive, Thigh and Roll –features five full drill progressions with additional options at the end of selected drills.

St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, Penn.) coach Gabe Infante found that his team improved its tackling performance once he switched from live tackling periods to “thud” drills.

Infante, who is a Master Trainer for USA Football, has led St. Joseph’s Prep to PIAA state championships in three of the last four seasons.

He teaches the Shoulder Tackling technique.

“At our level, you teach bad habits when you allow players to leave their feet,” Infante said.

“We emphasize running into position, moving the feet through contact and wrapping up to control the tempo at practice.”

USA Football has now enabled its entire network of coaches to learn this tackling system through a number of channels. First, every coach can register and complete its free Shoulder Tackling course this year. The course is designed

to help coaches learn the Shoulder Tackle progression, providing a greater understanding of the program and a large menu of drills to use within their practices.

The video instruction is led by former Seattle Seahawks Tackling Coach Rocky Seto, and it includes drill and game clips that provide a progression for teaching the core principles in each of the tackle sections: Tackle Fundamentals, Leverage, the Form Tackle, the Thigh and Drive Tackle and the Thigh and Roll Tackle.

The second opportunity for coaches to get educated on Shoulder Tackling is through the Heads Up Football program. Through this program, Player Safety Coaches receive in-person instruction and every coach must complete the Youth or Middle / High School coach certification that includes shoulder tackling instruction in addition to blocking, equipment fitting, SCA, heat emergency preparedness and concussion awareness. The certification is available on NFHSLearn.com.

USA Football Senior Director of Football Development Nick Inzerello said the Indianapolisbased organization will offer more than 300 clinics across the nation this year in addition to its online educational content for coaches to learn the Shoulder Tackle progression.

“We wanted to create a system that was consistent in its terminology,” Inzerello said.

“USA Football has been committed to continually asking coaches for feedback so that we can continue to learn how they are applying the fundamentals on the field. The process, which is a collaboration with the Seahawks, AFCA and USA Rugby along with gathering input from high school coaches, has allowed us to formalize the system in a way in which they can adapt it and use it for their programs.”

Take the complimentary shoulder tackling course today at https://www.usafootball.com/ courses/ or to learn more about all of the Heads Up Football visit: https://usafootball.com/ programs/heads-up-football/.

COACHING THE SHOULDER TACKLE METHOD

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hen players are told to tackle to the ground during practice, players often sacrifice tackling technique in order to get the ball-carrier down by any means necessary.

Infante saw many of his players leaving their feet or lowering their heads during a tackle in order to strike with more impact.

“We’ll stop practice now if we see a player approach a tackle the wrong way,” Infante said.

“We want to make sure they’re striking with the shoulder – not the head.

Protect the leverage.

We can see if they’re using the right shoulder to strike depending on which direction the ball-carrier is running.

We actually coach it more now than we did when we allowed the guys to play live.”

Infante has seen fewer defensive players suffer concussions in the act of tackling since he began teaching the Shoulder Tackle method.

“We tend to see concussions on friendly fire, guys engaged and other guys come in late,” Infante said. “But I don’t think there’s a safer way to tackle. It’s a collaborative effort across multiple sports and levels of football.”

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EDUCATION 10 Keys to a Team That Performs in the Classroom Wheelersburg High (Ohio) coach Rob Woodward saw his team reach the regional finals last football season, and it’s very possible his players excelled more in the classroom than on the gridiron. Woodward’s team earned Academic All-Ohio honors from the Ohio High School Football DAN GUTTENPLAN Coaches Association. rah-rah speeches in the world may not help a student who has learning disabilities or distractions at home. Woodward will seek out peer advisors, tutors and academic achievement classes for his players who require additional support.

Stress accountability. Sometimes, the answer for a player struggling in class is simply taking more pride in his work. It’s paramount that a coach makes that distinction. If a player’s excuses for poor performance in the classroom are nothing more than that – excuses – a coach needs to motivate the player to be more accountable.

“They know they need to hold their end of the rope in terms of the academic part,” Woodward said.

“We can’t do it for them.”

8 ■ Wheelersburg (Ohio) coach Rob Woodward (left) stands with his Academic All-Ohio selections.

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Turn academic success into competition. Football players like to compete, and Woodward draws on that spirit by pitting his team against others around the state in a battle for the highest team GPA. Wheelersburg’s top 22 players – the starters – had a combined GPA of 3.76 last season. The team had 27 players who achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher.

Recognize individuals for academic success. Woodward takes time to recognize individuals for academic success at the end-of-year awards banquet. “Any player who had a 4.0 for the first nine weeks stands up, and we recognize those names.

When freshmen see that, they get energized. They want to be someone who has that kind of GPA.” Stress the importance of being well-rounded. Sure, high school coaches want student-athletes who can perform in practice and on Friday nights. But they also want players who graduate and move on to greater things. Woodward is quick to note that three of his seniors who earned All-Conference or All-District last year also graduated with GPAs of 3.6 or higher.

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Create a lasting visual for academic success.

Football teams often recognize the top performers in the program by inducting those players into a school Hall of Fame. Future generations of players study the stats and highlights of those players, and strive to perform at that level. Woodward also recognizes the top academic performers in his program by laying

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a brick on the walkway into the stadium for any player who earns Academic All-Ohio.

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Monitor players’ grades constantly.

Wheelersburg has four marking periods per school year – with each consisting of nine-week cycles.

Woodward recognizes that if he waits nine weeks to get a progress report on his players’ academics, he’s waited too long. He gets academic reports on his players every 4 ½ weeks, and he follows up immediately with any player who has below a “C” average in a specific class.

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Create a partnership with teachers.

When a player is struggling academically, Woodward initiates contact with that player’s teachers.

He puts the player on an “academic watch list,” meaning that players’ teachers provide Woodward with regular reports on that player’s progress (or continued struggles). “The professors report back to me weekly.”

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Make arrangements for players to get additional support.

Sometimes, there is more to a student’s academic struggles than a lack of motivation. All of the

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Take away football as a punishment.

Every school has minimum requirements for players to remain academically eligible in-season.

But most coaches allow a player to participate in offseason strength programs as long as the player is meeting the minimum eligibility standard. Not Woodward. If a player has below a “C” average in the spring, Woodward will remove the player from the offseason conditioning program. “They don’t like to be removed from doing the things they need to do in the offseason. They typically work hard to get back in good standing.”

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Show the relationship between academic and athletic success. A good

player can become a great player by working to improve his weaknesses.

The same can be said for any aspect of life. “We strive for excellence in everything we do,” Woodward said.

“It all begins in the classroom.”

FACILITIES The Scoreboard: The Main Attraction GET A VIDEOBOARD FOR NO MONEY DOWN A high school coach on a tight budget may not think of a scoreboard as a feasible upgrade to the school’s facilities. But with the amount of time fans spend looking at the scoreboard, it’s worth considering for TOMMY ROTHMAN coaches when it comes time to allocate the budget.

SCOREBOARD OPTIONS

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acility costs in the game of football are astronomi-

cal, and only going up. In recent years, multiple high schools in Texas alone have splurged on football stadiums costing upwards of $60 million.

Clemson University is building a $55 million complex (much of which is basically a playground) for its football players alone. NFL teams are starting to spend billions on their stadiums.

And even specific segments of these facilities are seeing prices skyrocket. One big one? Screens.

The scoreboards, the videoboards, the jumbotrons.

The Cowboys spent $40 million on one. Auburn University spent over $3 million on theirs. And even high school football programs are spending nearly a million dollars for one screen.

Of course, most high school football programs don’t have that much money in their entire budget, let alone the part of the budget earmarked for a board. Still, with the scoreboard being a place where fans so often turn their eyes, keeping up with modern technology — to some extent, at least — is a must. This presents quite the dilemma for smaller-budget schools.

Many schools have funded more modern videoboards by selling sponsorships. You can do a lot more with advertising on an electronic board, especially when you can show short clips instead of just putting the company’s name up there in big lettering. If a program markets itself properly to advertisers, it can secure the deals needed to help foot part of the bill. Hamilton High School

in Wisconsin has done this in recent years, and the scoreboard advertising has even helped raise funds to support other parts of the program.

But what happens when a school simply doesn’t have the funds to spend any money on a scoreboard, especially with the cash due up front?

It’s simple: You get your scoreboard for free.

This is made possible by the Score Rewards program offered by Sportable Scoreboards. The company offers a board to a school free of charge, in exchange for a hefty chunk of the advertising revenue generated by that board. Massac County High School in Illinois was able to secure a free board for its football field in addition to boards for its other sports, in exchange for giving Sportable Scoreboards all of the advertising revenue for 2 ½ years of the revenue for the next three years.

Crystal City High School is another program that has added a football scoreboard via this program, and many basketball programs have done the same in recent years.

Scoreboards aren’t cheap, but in today’s world, more and more people focus on the screen, and having a good one is absolutely necessary. Most programs can’t simply look to customers, donors and even taxpayers to foot the bill. But if you are willing to give something, you can get something, and offering advertising to companies — and ad revenue to manufacturers — can bring a lowbudget program a shiny, modern amenity that pays for itself.

portable Scoreboards is a great option for low-budget schools. The main reason behind this is the Score Rewards program they offer, in which a school can get a free scoreboard in exchange for sharing the ad revenue generated by that scoreboard. If you don’t want to split the revenue, they have affordable for-purchase boards starting at $500.

Sportable Scoreboards does football, basketball and many other sports, indoors and outdoors.

Another company a school might find useful is Daktronics. Daktronics has a big presence in the NFL and other professional leagues, but it is also a viable option--although not a free one--for high school programs.

Daktronics allows schools to lease videoboards rather than purchase them, and its high-tech, weather-proof options are good for durability and ad revenue generation.

Daktronics even has a sports marketing division with employees on call to help a school raise the sponsorship money needed to make the scoreboard purchase viable, and perhaps even profitable.

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SCHOOL SPIRIT Throw a Pep Rally to Generate Excitement Bandys High (N.C.) athletic director Brandon Harbinson has used and some creative thinking to successfully lead his school’s pep rallies.

CODY DALTON

WHAT WORKS BEST AT PEP RALLIES? CHOOSE THE RIGHT EMCEE

The host for your pep rally could ultimately determine whether or not it is a success or not. Make sure you have someone with energy and the ability to connect to your students and athletes. This person could be a coach, athletic director or teacher — maybe even a student.

PICK A THEME

When holding a pep rally, sometimes a theme can help get your student body even more enthused and excited. From camouflage to neon colors to beach themes, the more that your students like the theme, the more they are likely to be even more cheerful than usual.

GIVEAWAYS

There’s nothing more special than receiving something for free. Incorporating some kind of giveaway to your students, such as throwing out candy or getting a local company or school booster to sponsor T-shirts, cups or sports balls with the school’s mascot and colors, could help booster enthusiasm and keep everyone engaged.

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arbinson said pep rallies at his alma mater, Maiden, have helped to shape his

athletic experience.

“I remember our pep rallies quite well,” he said. “[Maiden head football] coach Tom Brown would get on the microphone and have a ball.

He’s never been bashful and always takes pride in getting people motivated.

The football team ran around the gym while the band played, and Coach Brown stole the show.”

Now as the athletic director for the Trojans, Harbinson has been put front and center into making his new school’s pep rallies as fun as possible.

Harbinson believes there are several keys into making each Bandys pep rally successful.

“You have to make it about the kids,” he said. “You highlight the big things going on in your school, such as celebrating championships, academic achievements and other all-around great things happening in your building.

The more people you involve, the more success you will have.”

Using his creativity and some “outside-of-the-box” thinking, Harbinson has helped to make the school’s football pep rallies at Bandys extremely special.

“This past football season, we went old school and had a car from the junkyard brought in by the Edmondson family,” Harbinson said. “We took sledgehammers, and the kids took turns demolishing the car. [Bandys teacher Chris] ‘Chopper’ Fulbright and I even took a couple hacks at it.”

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MUSIC

Nothing is more important than the music you choose. Make sure that the songs you play are geared towards your younger audience. While using some fan favorite music might be a great idea, something new and current with your student and athletes will get a better reaction out of them.

ALL THINGS SPIRIT

Let the students involved in the pep rally be creative, making signs displaying their school pride. Face paint, spirit gear, ribbons and decor featuring the school’s colors could be worn and used during the ceremony. Also make sure to play the school’s fight song, by your school’s marching band or choir.

ASSISTANT’S CORNER nine Tips for Fitting in on a New Staff It’s part of the job: Assistant coaches frequently have to adjust to changes in scenery. What are some offseason strategies to keep in mind to ease your transition in joining an existing staff ALEX EWALT on a new team? head coach.” By that, he means that assistants, especially new ones, need to be as self-motivated and knowledgeable as the head coach when it comes to their duties.

Check your ego at the door. “The one thing you can’t do is think that just because you came from a winning program, you have all the answers,” Land says. “Those guys that do that automatically turn off their influence. Come in as an evaluator more than a solver.”

6 ■ Dalton (Ga.) head coach Matt Land

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Don’t be too assertive too soon. Matt Land, Dalton (Ga.) head coach since 2010, preaches patience.

“Sometimes it’s more successful to see the landscape and see where you can fit in,” he says.

Norcross (Ga.) head coach since 1999 Keith Maloof agrees. “Fit into what your role is going to be, and then gradually take on responsibility.”

Be willing to do the extra things. Show a willingness to go the extra mile. “Too often, especially young guys think that all I have to do is coach. That’s not what high school athletics are about. It’s a whole lot more,” Maloof says. That could include picking players up and dropping them off, taking weight-room or equipment responsibilities, working on social media or even doing laundry.

Be ready to take criticism. Your new colleagues will offer suggestions, criticism and corrections, and you should take it in stride.

“Even if you don’t do anything with it, don’t be offended by it,” Land says.

Know your role inside and out. Know the expectations of your head coach (and your coordinator if you’re a position coach).

“Leave nothing to assumption” when it comes to division of labor, Land says. Maloof stresses communication with your new colleagues when learning responsibilities.

Show passion and willingness to learn. “Always be learning,” Land says. “Present yourself as a learner, not an expert.” Being a sponge in the early going will win the respect and trust of your new peers. Maloof has a saying: “Be your own

7

Let go of any lingering feelings about the previous job. Don’t hold on to any negative feelings

from your last stop. “You have to flush that. You have to think, this is a new job, this is a new place, with a new set of challenges and a new set of opportunities,” Land says. Otherwise, Land stresses, your new colleagues will notice; that can set things off on the wrong foot.

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■ Norcross (Ga.) head coach Keith Maloof

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Connect with as many people as possible. Land says

it’s invaluable to strike up relationships with every coach on staff, as many players as possible and even team managers and parents. And it’s important to build relationships with all levels of players. “You have to treat your No. 1s just like your 3s and 4s,” Maloof says.

Be mindful of player discipline. As a new coach, Land suggests being tougher on players rather than more permissive. “As a new assistant coach, I would always err on the side of overdiscipline rather than under-discipline,” he says (within reason, of course).

AN ASSISTANT’S PERSPECTIVE

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orcross defensive line coach Corey Richardson understands the challenges that face offseason assistant hires, many of which are still completing their spring teaching duties at their current schools. Though it may be difficult, Richardson encourages assistants to be as visible as possible, given they live close enough to their next job.

“We have assistants who will drive over in the morning before school to come to meetings,” he says. “Sometimes guys will drive over after school to see how we set up the weight room.”

If time and travel permit, build as many relationships with the current staff as you can. Make connections, establish common bonds in the coaching profession, share stories and generally get to know everyone.

Richardson also reminds new assistants not to lose sight of their duties in the classroom once they get to their new campus.

“If you take care of your business in the school building, everything else will take care of itself,” he says. “The head coach and other coaches will be looking at you in this part of the job as well.”

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47

FUNDRAISING How to sell a sponsorship Reeling in a new sponsor (or two) for your football program can be more complicated than building a game plan to stop a rival’s winning streak. It is one thing to ask for a donation, it is another to solicit a sponsorship.

What’s the difference?

CRAIG BARONCELLI

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donation is a contribution someone makes without

the expectation of receiving something in return. With a sponsorship, there is the expectation of a return on the sponsorship investment (ROI). The sponsorship route is typically the route you need to take in order to build a fieldhouse, make significant upgrades to your locker room or invest in some of the technology featured in this issue of FNF Coaches.

Here is an overview of what goes into creating a compelling sponsorship opportunity for your football program.

PREPARATION

In order to sell a sponsorship, you must first determine what you are willing and able to offer a sponsor. Can you offer: stadium or field naming rights, “official partner” categories, stadium signage, themed game nights, or promotions and giveaways? Meet with your staff or your booster club and discuss it in detail.

THE PRESENTATION

Now you need to create your sponsorship overview documents. These are the items you will share with a potential sponsor during the in-person presentation. You cannot expect to close a sponsorship by simply talking your way through a presentation. This document should include facts, stats, figures and photos.

THE MEETING

The meeting, or presentation, should be made with two or three key representatives from your school. Remember, the goal here is to impress the potential sponsor. Asking for involvement from your principal, athletic director or a member of the booster club should be strongly considered. If the sponsor is someone you know on a personal level, it becomes important to establish that this is a business opportunity.

During the presentation, start by learning about the potential sponsor’s company – their goals and new initiatives. Give them time to talk about their business as this will help you relate their interests to your offering. “Paint the picture” in terms of your goals and how you think this partnership will be beneficial to them and help your program (the win-win scenario).

SAYING THANKS

PRICING

Next, you need to determine the value of each sponsorship element you are going to pursue. The easiest way to do this is to determine your financial goals for the year (or years to come). Keep in mind there will most likely be a negotiating process so you don’t want to start too low. Also, your proposal price needs to be realistic and cannot be based solely on your needs – it must related to the current marketplace.

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Once the presentation is completed, and you are back in front of your computer, be sure to email them a thank you note. This is a huge step and one that may provide you with insight into how they feel the meeting went.

FOLLOW-UP

Do not let delays ruin this opportunity because you may not get another chance. You must stay in front of the potential sponsor and the best

way to do this is to establish a date to reconvene and further discuss the opportunity.

NEGOTIATION

Negotiation doesn’t mean you must lower your price. It may require you to include more in the offering to match the price you are asking and you can do so by adding extra public address announcements or signage.

SEALING THE DEAL

If you receive a verbal acceptance to move forward, it is imperative you present a contract and get it signed. The contract should include the deal points of the sponsorship to include what the sponsor receives and also the payment terms. This document should be signed by both parties and an invoice generated with the appropriate due dates.

EXECUTION

Celebrate the sale with your team, but understand your work has just begun. Executing on the sponsorship is where the true work, and talent, takes place. You and your team must meet and assign responsibilities for each aspect of the sponsorship.

These responsibilities must be taken seriously if you are going to provide your sponsor with a positive and effective experience. Remember, a sponsorship is a partnership – it must work both ways.

Overall, selling a sponsorship is hard work, but if you focus on creating a positive experience it is the most practical way for you take your football program to the next level.

If you have questions about the sponsorship process for your high school, feel free to contact Craig Baroncelli at cb@ae-engine.com.