FNF Coaches 2018 "The Fine Line of Coaching"

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The Magazine for High School Football Coaches

oct/nov 2018

stay on the right side of

THE FINE LINE college Q&A WITH Ball State Coach mike neu

Back in the day

‘dawn patrol’ in 1970S rural ohio

PLAYBOOK

+ create space in drills + run base cover 1 stunts and twists + clockwork steps and false steps + kickoff coverage Plant (tampa, fla.) High football coach Robert Weiner (center) stands with seniors Jude May (5) and William Putnam (56), along with junior Tucker Gleason (4) and senior Leonard Parker (6).

Legendary Coaches Offer Tips 7 steps for designing a game plan + texas high school football chat + 2019 USA Football National Conference + Inspirational Quotes

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06. COLLEGE COACHES’ CORNER

mike neu

BALL STATE COACH DIAGRAM 3

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CONTENT

OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER

STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FINE LINE

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COACHING LEGEND: STEVE CARROLL

NATIONAL COACHES CONFERENCE

‘DAWN PATROL’ IN RURAL OHIO

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PRESENTED BY

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M

32 frog fitness awards 34

04. NEWS+NOTES 05. PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT 10. 7 STEPS TO DESIGNING A GAME PLAN EFFICIENTLY 11. HOW TO APPROACH A GAME WHEN YOU’RE THE UNDERDOG 12. COACHING TECH 35. MENTAL SIDE OF THE GAME 40. INSPIRATION

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TECH CORNER PRESENTED

BY SIDELINE POWER

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR We are proud to present our seventh edition of 2018, which has a “Finding the Fine Line” theme. The start of the 2018 football season was overshadowed by accounts of coaches that perhaps pushed past that line – at the University of Maryland, Grayson High (Ga.) and other academic institutions. Player safety was compromised, and in some cases, tragic consequences were paid.

Staying on the right side of that line is paramount to a coach’s responsibilities. Providing a safe, constructive environment is the bare minimum.

Yes – a coach needs to find a way to push an athlete further than he may otherwise push himself. But not at the expense of player safety.

We also offer a section about strategy. How do the best coaches budget their time during a game week?

How do they make adjustments in-game? When is the right time to make bigger changes to scheme and personnel?

We will share the stories and tips from experts in the field– whether it’s other coaches, authors, or coaches that specialize in strength, conditioning, speed, equipment, nutrition, motivation, safety or recovery – in hopes of sharing some information that high school football coaches may not know.

It’s worth taking the time in the offseason to make sure you are aware of all of the latest trends and educational opportunities so that if a parent asks for your advice, you will be armed with the information you need. If you would like to learn more about any of the topics we cover in this edition, we’d like to hear from you at fnf@ae-engine.com.

We want to continue to provide you with information you want in the coming months, so we’d like to hear your suggestions for content. Engage with us on our website, FNFCoaches.com, and social media, @FNFCoaches, and tell us your suggestions for feature stories.

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NEWS+NOTES

NOMINATE A PLAYER FOR THE 2018 FROG FITNESS PLAYER OF THE YEAR CONTEST

F

NF Coaches and Frog Fitness have set out to honor

the players that perform above and beyond expectations in 2018. These players will excel on the field and in the classroom – and have their communities rally around them for support.

FNF Coaches has turned it over to the coaches and fans to nominate them. At the end of the year, one player among the nominees will be selected as the Frog Fitness Player of the Year.

The winning player will receive a scholarship from Frog Fitness – along with recognition in FNF Coaches magazine and on the website.

FNF Coaches is accepting nominations for the 2018 Frog Fitness Player of the Year Contest from Aug. 1 to Nov. 15, and a group of finalists will be selected for the final online vote on Nov. 16. From Nov. 16 to Dec. 15, voters will be able to see live results at fnfcoaches.com/poty.

BY DAN GUTTENPLAN

THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS (NFHS), IN

collaboration with the U.S. Center for SafeSport (The Center), has developed an online education course titled “Protecting Students from Abuse,” which is available at no cost on the NFHS Learning Center at NFHSLearn.com. The course presents definitions of several types of abusive behaviors and misconduct, how to recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse, and the ways in which someone can report these behaviors.

TRENDING TOPICS @FNFCOACHES

Xenith has partnered with FNF Coaches to give away 30 helmets to 30 different programs across the nation as part of the 30 For 30 Helmet Sweepstakes. For a chance to win a helmet designed for your program, fill out the entry form at XENITH.com/ pages/helmet-sweepstakes.

Christian Hunnicutt kept his job as the Grayson High (Ga.) head coach following a team boycott that took place early August.

Initially, players demanded Hunnicutt’s ouster. Nearly all of Grayson’s players protested Hunnicutt’s practice conditions, which involved full-force hitting in shorts, a source said.

Players walked out of practice, leading to a meeting between Hunnicutt and the players. During the meeting, Hunnicutt apologized for the rough practice conditions and promised lighter practices moving forward. Players were concerned for their health heading into the season, though none were injured as a result of the practices.

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How to run a fade vs how NOT to: ■■ Fake inside on release to get outside separation ■■ Sprint for 7-10 yards before looking for ball ■■ Lean into DB + keep a minimum of 3 yards from sideline ■■ DO NOT GET PUSHED OUT OF BOUNDS” @RECEIVERSCHOOL Don’t overthink it. If you want to maximize results, do these 5 things daily: 1. Drink more water 2. Get more sleep 3. Eat more vegetables 4. Master technique first, big weights will follow 5. WORK YOUR BUTT OFF! You can’t have million dollar dreams with a minimum wage work ethic.” @COACHALANBISHOP Why is your coach so demanding?

■■ They see something special in you ■■ They have high expectations for you ■■ They want you to create good habits ■■ They want you to be successful ■■ They care about you If your coach pushes you to be your best, don’t be annoyed, be appreciative!” @ COACHWILCOX55 A college can only recruit so many players each year per position. When the talent level of recruits is similar, coaches look for reasons to pick one over the other such as: Academics, Toughness, Winning in HS, Social Media, Body language/attitude, Strength/size.” @COACHDOTY

AT LEAST THREE STATE ASSOCIATIONS

have joined the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) in the implementation of instant replay video during the football season. The MSHSL, the first state association in the country to use instant replay video review during its ice hockey, basketball and football events, is entering the second year of a hopeful three-year experiment in football approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

Joining Minnesota in the implementation of video replay for football are the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), the University Interscholastic League in Texas and the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

THE CHALLENGES FACING HIGH

school football don’t appear to be going away, and according to new data released by the National Federation of State High School Associations, neither is the downward trend in participation.

Fewer than 1.04 million high school students played football in 2017. That’s 20,000 fewer athletes than in 2016, a 2 percent drop. In the past decade, football enrollment has declined 6.6 percent, according to NFHS data.

Experts say the same issues — cost, single-sport specialization, demographic shifts and injury concerns — continue to plague the sport, which remains the top boys participatory sport by a “large margin,” NFHS reported.

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PORTA PHONE TD 900 SERIES WIRELESS HEADSETS With the introduction of the TD 900 Porta Phone has taken our time-honored “All in One” headset concept to the next level with rugged construction and the extra transmitting power that is allowable for wireless systems operating in the 900 MHz band.

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They utilize the 900 Mhz band, a frequency range free of “RF clutter”, where the allowable power output is more than double that of standard wireless systems. The TD 900 system delivers coaches both the superior punch-out power capable of penetrating thick pressbox glass and concrete while delivering high definition digital audio performance.

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OX SPORTS OX Sports 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.

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05

COLLEGE COACHES’ CORNER

THE DREW BREES EXPERIENCE

I

Q&A with ball state head coach mike neu

BY DAN GUTTENPLAN

M

ike Neu, a former Ball State quarterback and

graduate assistant, was hired to become the team’s head coach in 2016. Before returning to Ball State, Neu spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons as the quarterbacks coach for the NFL’s New Orleans Saints. In 2014 under Neu’s guidance, quarterback Drew Brees tied for the NFL lead in passing yardage (4,952), ranked second in completion percentage (69.2) and tied for fifth in touchdown passes (33). Neu offered his thoughts on coaching strategy and other topics in a recent interview with FNF Coaches.

After a game, what is your process for evaluating your own team’s play? How do you share your evaluation with the players?

“I’ll give you the example of our game this past week against Notre Dame. Once we finish a game, we get on the bus, our video director hands the coaches iPads, and we watch the game on the way home. I grade it by position. I watch the offensive tape and make mental notes on the bus ride home. Then I’ll watch defense and special teams. The next morning, the first thing we do is meet as a staff. We go through the game position by position. Each position coach gives a summary of what we did well and what we need to work on. Each one of the coaches and coordinators meets with the players. We try to watch the whole game as a team, but with the time constraints, we make sure we hit on the things we did really well and show examples of things we need to clean up.”

What is your process for formulating a game plan?

“My background as a quarterback keeps me focused on the offense. I hired a defensive

06

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coordinator to be the CEO of the defense, same for special teams. They have my full support.

I trust that they have everything covered. On Sunday, we watch tape and getting ideas on paper. We start the process of game-planning first thing on Monday at 7 a.m. We meet as an offensive staff, position coaches and the offensive coordinator. We watch the tape and come up with our base looks. What are our best runs?

We do the same thing for the passing concepts.

We do that until noon. That gives us our base offense on first and second down. Then we get back together after the game plan is on paper, maybe 7 p.m., and start on third down. What do we struggle with? So, we know what they’ll try to do. We continue that process and get it ready for the players. We basically only have three days of practice – Tuesday through Thursday. We have a walkthrough on Friday. On Tuesday, we go through first and second down. On Wednesday, we work on third down and red zone. On Thursday, we have a clean-up period and twominute stuff, whatever last-minute tweaks we want to make. And that’s it.”

I always picture the process of revealing a game plan to players like a coach is removing the cover from a sports car, and everybody celebrates how nice it looks.

That’s probably not realistic, is it?

“No, we share the game plan in pieces. On Tuesday morning, we start with our special teams coordinator talking about the scouting report. Then it’s the offensive and defensive coordinators. They’re all talking about the strengths of the opponent, what to expect, they highlight personnel, talk about our base offense and defense. Then we repeat that on Wednesday

n his two years as Drew Brees’ quarterbacks coach with the New Orleans Saints, Neu learned a great deal about the preparation that goes into becoming the best.

Brees was militant about his routine and his preparation, and he wouldn’t let changes in the schedule affect his training.

“Preparation beats talent,” Neu said. “Drew Brees is one of those guys – he’ll go down as one of the best in NFL history because of the way he prepares. It gives him an edge and allows him to play at the highest level.”

Neu remembers seeing Brees play against the Green Bay Packers on a Sunday night, fly back to New Orleans, land at 3 a.m., and arrive at the Saints practice facility at 6 a.m. on Monday morning.

“His consistency in preparation leads to success,” Neu said. “He’s not the most talented guy, and maybe he doesn’t have the strongest arm.

He’s elite because of the way he is.”

Neu said he often tells stories of Brees when his players are looking for motivation.

“I share it with the guys constantly,” Neu said.

“The preparation is a big part of who he is and how he goes about his business on a daily basis.

Being around him, you can see that those traits are invaluable. It helps him build confidence, and that allows him to be the best.”

and Thursday. They hear from me every day after practice about what’s important for that week to have success. Then they hear from me last in the week to summarize everything.”

Coaches have been in the news this summer for pushing players too hard.

How do you find the line between pushing players harder and allowing for recovery?

“We have to know our players.

A strength and conditioning coach is one of the most important hires a head coach can make. We are in the developmental business. Our job is to know a player’s strengths and weaknesses and have a positive way of reinforcing those strengths – not a demeaning way.

It’s very important to make sure the safety, care and development of our players is at the top of the list each and every day.”

Have you found any new technology that helps your team win?

“We have a contract with DVSport Software, and that’s a big help in our game-planning. It’s cut down time on our breakdown work. I can get players playbooks in the click of a button. We know who is accessing the game plan and spending time on the iPad.”

What more can high school coaches be doing to help with recruiting?

“The ability to access film on the internet is a game-changer. That’s been tremendously helpful. If I were high school coaches, I’d make sure college recruiters have all of the information they need in terms of transcripts and test scores. That’s one thing we have to ask for quite a bit.”

What advice would you give yourself at the start of your career?

“Coaching seems like a huge fraternity, but it’s actually a tightknit group. Make sure your work ethic is top-notch, and that will help you grow and gain opportunities.

Coaches talk, and you’ll communicate with coaches when a position opens. Do things the right way, work hard, and people will want to work with you.”

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07

COACHING LEGENDS

Steve Carroll Reflects on 32 Years in High School Football In a legendary career, Baldwin (N.Y.) coach Steve Carroll has earned some of the top honors of his region – such as New York Jets Coach of the Week and Nassau County Coach of the Year.

BY KYLE MCKENNA

IN CARROLL’S WORDS What drives your coaching decisions when it comes to pushing harder or pulling back with your football teams?

“First of all, I always want the players to be in the best physical shape they can be in. Most of our conditioning is in the beginning of the week and tapers off as we approach game day. We tend to push harder in training camp, but never use conditioning as punishment. You can see when your team needs a break.”

How has your thought process changed regarding practice structure throughout your coaching career?

“It used to be almost like survival of the fittest. However, I realized that we were losing a lot of players to injury in practice. So, as the years went on, I shifted to doing more situational practice. By the end of the week, players had a better understanding of the game plan and they were fresher for that week’s game.”

What advice would you offer a 25-year-old version of yourself?

■■ Baldwin High (N.Y.) coach Steve Carroll has posted a career record of 158-104-4.

S

teve Carroll has been a part of Baldwin High

football for most of his life. He grew up in Baldwin and played for the Bruins in the late 1970’s. Coach Carroll started as an assistant coach at Baldwin and moved up to the college level at the New York Institute of Technology before becoming head coach for the first time at St. Dominic’s (Oyster Bay, N.Y.).

Carroll has spent the last 32 seasons as the head coach at Baldwin. He also has served as an assistant principal and physical education teacher.

Coach Carroll is well versed in the history of football in the New York area. He has seen how the old-school mentality of many coaches has given way to differing philosophies on preparing teams to take the field.

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“You always need tackling drills, and to do that, you will need to tackle,” Carroll explains. “However, the majority of our contact now is wrap and thud. In the beginning of my coaching career, every day was live and full contact. Now, to keep players sharp, we have backed off a lot with live days.”

One of Steve Carroll’s greatest accomplishments is that many of his players have gone on to become high school and college football coaches. In fact, three of the coaches in his league played football for him in high school and several others are currently on his staff. He has also been assisted throughout his career by his brother Richard, who has called the Baldwin Bruin defense for 31 years.

“You have to remember that there are 16- to 18-year-old players in those helmets. You should be very aware of how you talk to them and treat them.”

The Steve Carroll Profile Team: Baldwin High (New York) Career Record: 158-104-4 Years as Head Coach: 32 County Championship: 2005 All County Players: 75 NFL Players Coached: Brandon

Moore (San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals) Profession: Teacher Family: Wife, Patricia; Children, Steven, Brendan Accomplishments: New York Jets Coach of The Week, Four-Time Conference 1 Coach of the Year, Nassau County Coach of the Year, National Football Foundation Award for Contribution to Amateur Football (Nassau County Chapter)

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STRATEGY

7 Steps to Designing a Game Plan Efficiently When Boston College High (Mass.) athletic director Jon Bartlett hired his replacement as head coach of the football team last spring, he stressed the importance of finding someone with a strong work ethic.

He believes he found the perfect fit in first-year coach Jonathan Brillo.

3

Scout the opposing team. In the interest of time,

4

Meet with coordinators to discuss a game plan.

Brillo does the majority of his scouting of opponents on HUDL. “We put their scheme into our terminology, print out all of the reports on play types and tendencies in certain situations.”

■■ BC High defensive backs coach Bryce Scottron explains a coverage install.

Jonathan Brillo worked just about every job on the BC High staff before getting the call to be the head coach last summer. He started in 2008 as an assistant on the freshman team, and worked his way up to quarterbacks coach for the varsity the following year. A few years later, Brillo was helping form game plans as the assistant offensive coordinator, and in 2017, he ran the defensive meetings as the head defensive coordinator. What did he show in those 10 years as an assistant? An ability to outwork everyone around him.

“He has without a doubt been one of our hardest-working coaches, with the hours and preparation he puts in on the field and off,” said BC High athletic director Jon Bartlett. “This work ethic and his ability to relate to our studentathletes will make him a successful head coach.”

With the limited hours a coach has at his disposal to game plan each week, it is important to work smart – not just hard. Brillo has a plan for doing just that, and shared seven of his steps to game planning with FNF Coaches.

Cut up the game film. Brillo actually starts this process on Friday nights – immediately following his team’s game. He uses HUDL on an iPad and gets views from cameras from the sideline and the end zone. He identifies a few positives and a few areas of improvement to share with the team.

Share the film with the players. Brillo has the players come in on Saturday morning for an hour-long film session. BC High will start with a team-wide film session, then split into positional groups for more specialized analysis.

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Brillo and his coordinators talk throughout the weekend to discuss how they want to attack the opposing team. When watching film, they look for weaknesses, but generally assume that the opposing coaches will work to address those in the coming week.

Design the game plan. Brillo says each game plan is a balance of playing to his own team’s strength and exposing the opponent’s weaknesses. “We assume that if a team had trouble with something the previous week, they’ll spend that entire week trying to correct it. We’ll see if they have, and if they have, we’ll move on.”

Organize practices using analytics. “Once we break down the formations and percentages, we generate practice cards and scripts so we can have a nice flow. When we’re running our First Team, we have scout team coach with cards and scripts that the other team runs.”

Share the game plan with the team. “We do our installs in the classroom and then walk through it with helmets. We want to make it crisp on the field.”

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A SCIENTIFIC TAKE ON GAME-PLANNING

B

rillo has a science background so he can’t get enough of the X&O Labs Football Trends Report supplied by HUDL. “I look at it like a science chart,” Brillo said. “I look at all of the percentages and try to find patterns. How do they set their front? What coverages do they use?

Do they slant toward the backs? What are the blitz rules? It’s a pretty powerful tool.”

The BC High staff breaks down formations and trends, and then designs a practice schedule for the week that will harp on preventing explosive plays.

Brillo is quick to note that – regardless of how much he prepares – there often comes a time when his staff will see a play call it hasn’t seen before.

“You don’t always have to use a play or formation in a game before, and you can call it for the first time,” Brillo said.

■■ BC coach Jon Brillo shares a game plan with his players.

How to Approach a Game When You’re the Underdog Ridge Point High (Texas) offensive line coach Chris Fisher, creator of the Twitter handle @TXHSFBCHAT, recently hosted a discussion on game-planning against a formidable opponent. Coaches from all over the country weighed in on the topic, and offered their thoughts on installing a game plan, strategies and inspirational messages.

In early September, @TXHSFBCHAT offered its followers a series of questions about approaching a game as the underdog. We’ve compiled highlights of the discussion. @TXHSFBCHAT: This week we are talking about “Playing as the Underdog”. Not looking for your secrets, just the tips to keep your players believing in themselves and their goal! Q1: How might you change the game plan knowing that your team is the underdog? #TXHSFBCHAT @Coach__Holland: “The game plan shouldn’t change. You attack where you can attack, expose their weaknesses and play up that you’re David and they’re Goliath. Get them hyped to shock the world!” @kdawgswift: “Take snaps away from my opponent to slow the game down (aka Bills vs. Giants) & play field position. Keep the field LONG. DO what WE DO - run the Veer & pound the rock!

We’ve got to get more physical in Gold Beach – just the reality of the first game. Not more sophistication.” @CoachJames_Rowe: “Run what you are most comfortable with.

Don’t change what you do because a team is better than you.

Make your team the best they can be. Go with what you are great at. Being great at a few plays is better than trying to be good at even more plays.” @TXHSFBCHAT: Q2: In this day of film sharing and social media, your players can easily see the talent level of the team and how it compares to their own. How do you build up their self-belief? @CoachU_: “It’s about how you build up your program – creating a culture and teaching kids how to believe in the culture that they would join and the future that they’re creating.” @Coach__Holland: “Self-belief is built through success and recognition of that success. Put players in a position to be challenged but successful. Praise their success and help them learn from their mistakes. When they feel like a pro they play like a pro. Things like team t-shirts and name tags on lockers make them feel special. But, the best thing you can do is tell them you believe in them.” @CoachHrncir: “Often times, because of the talent level of the other team on the film, it’s hard for kids (or even coaches) to judge someone’s talent based solely on film. We’ve played teams we thought were monsters on film, and it was misleading because the other team was small/slow, etc.” @CoachJames _ Rowe: “You have to be big on controlling the factors you can control. No matter how good the other team is, missing keys, turnovers, and just mental errors will lose the game. Practice perfect, play perfect, and what happens will happen. Play the best game you possibly can.”

■■ Building up the self-belief of players is an important responsibility for coaches.

@coachbousley: “Honestly I’ve never had this issue. Most kids aren’t good enough evaluators to see skill through film. Lol, a lot of coaches can’t evaluate skill through film. If we’re going up against a real stud we game plan around him.” @kdawgswift: “Create brutal schedules yearly where you adopt the attitude that you will play anyone, anywhere, anytime! You have no control over your league schedule, but during the preseason, go for it and find great teams and programs to play.” @TXHSFBCHAT: Q3: How important is consistency in weeks against a big opponent? @coachbousley: “It may be the biggest factor in your success as a program. Intensity level and focus shouldn’t change no matter who your opponent is. Easiest game, rivalry, or playoffs – all should be treated the same. #TXHSFBCHAT” @TXHSFBCHAT: Q4: What are the little things in your program that build the belief in your kids they can take the field and beat anybody? @CoachU_: “Winning the day is what we stress. We hammer the need to beat our opponent daily.” @TXHSFBCHAT: Q5: How honest are you with your team regarding their opponent? @Coach_Jay53: “Extremely honest. I won’t say someone looks good or is bad if I don’t think it. Reality is always best. If they have talent to beat us, so be it. What are we going to do to stop them?” @CoachHinesCHS: “You’ve got to focus on CONTROLLING the CONTROLLABLES, and work on improving each day!”

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COACHING TECH

The GSC C2P System ‘Helps Train the Quarterback’s Eyes’ A Texas coach won the 2018 GSC Coach-to-Player Contest, providing his team with an opportunity to integrate a new communication system that allows coaches to speak directly into players’ helmets during practice.

BY DAN GUTTENPLAN

7-ON-7 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CREDITED TO GSC C2P

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■■ Bellevue West (Neb.) coach Mike Huffman used GSC C2P technology to lead his team to a 7-on-7 state championship.

Spring Hill (Texas) head coach Kelly Mercer has noticed a difference in the way his quarterback sees the field after two months of incorporating the GSC Coach-to-Player™ communication system into his team’s practices.

“The system helps train the quarterback’s eyes to see what we expect to see on Friday nights,” Mercer said. “We have to practice against our own scout team defense, so it’s hard to give him the exact look, but I can talk him through it. ‘Look, you’ll probably see the safety here.’ That’s the idea.”

Spring Hill won the 2018 GSC Coach-to-Player Contest in May and received one communication system that month.

The FNF Coaches selection committee felt the Spring Hill nominations made the strongest case for the Coach-to-Player™ communication system.

GSC Coach-to-Player™ (C2P) provides coaches with an ability to speak to players directly in to their helmets during

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ellevue West High (Neb.) coach Mike Huffman used the GSC Coach-toPlayer™ helmet system during his team’s 7-on-7 season for the first time this summer. He feels it’s no coincidence it won the first state championship in program history.

Huffman was first exposed to the GSC C2P technology at the 2018 Nebraska Shrine Bowl, when he served as the North coach.

“They gave it to both teams and let us use it in practice and the game,” Huffman said.

“Because of that experience, I remembered my mistake when it came time to coach 7-on-7 this summer. I kept it in my hand, and that helped us win the championship.”

Check out how Coach Huffman used Coach-toPlayer™ (C2P) helmet communications this summer to win a state championship.

His QB’s and WR’s are developing quicker than ever: ■■ vimeo.com/277159879 ■■ youtu.be/lAMd5H_eOrY

practice. Through the C2P practice system, a coach speaks into a handheld transmitting device and his voice is audible through the speakers loaded in the helmets of the players of his choice.

The technology provides additional coaching opportunities while also helping to maintain or expedite the tempo of practice.

“We’ve seen that our quarterback is able to make quicker decisions on his own on Friday night,” Mercer said. “The system allows me to tell him what he should see on Monday and Tuesday, then we progress away from it as the week goes on.”

C2P also allows for more focused instruction from coaches to players due to its ability to customize the communication. For instance, multiple position coaches can listen to a coordinator call a play, and then provide specific instruction to his particular position group before the snap.

“We combine what we show on video with what we can tell them in practice, and it gives us a nice advantage,” Mercer said.

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USA FOOTBALL

Coaches meet as USA Football family NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACHES ALLIANCE TO CONVENE AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE The thought of uniting America’s vast football family across high school and youth levels was once like throwing a forward pass in 1869. It wasn’t fathomable. It is now.

USA Football, a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee that works for and with coaches to advance their training and development, invites them to an all-youcan-eat gourmet buffet of knowledge and networking.

The National High School Football Coaches Alliance, powered by USA Football, and the 2019 USA Football National Conference are game-changing opportunities to learn and earn your program an advantage.

The sixth annual USA Football National Conference returns to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., from Feb. 22-24. The event is the nation’s largest annual gathering of high school and youth football administrators and coaches, uniting more than 1,500 participants for three days of professional and program development. The National Conference also stands among the greatest networking opportunities in scholastic and youth football with attendees and presenters from coast to coast.

Registration is now open at usafootball.com.

Coaches, athletic directors and subject matter experts across the spectrum of America’s favorite sport lead presentations in large- and small-group sessions, sharing insight to make a program and its athletes the best they can be.

■■ Former Seattle Seahawks advisor Rocky Neto demonstrates proper tackling technique

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■■ Coaches assembled at the 2018 USA Football National Conference

Past National Conference speakers include Pro Football Hall of Famers Cris Carter, Tony Dungy, Bill Polian and Mike Singletary; Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden; National High School Hall of Fame coach Chuck Kyle of Cleveland St. Ignatius; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis; former NFL defensive back, Rhodes Scholar and neurosurgery resident at Harvard/The Massachusetts General Hospital Myron Rolle, MD; and dozens more.

“Football stands on innovation and perpetual learning, which comprise the heart of our National Conference,” USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck said.

“Orlando is an extraordinary host for the football family, and we look forward to exciting, expert-driven insight that will be gained there in February.”

The National High School Football Coaches Alliance, formed this past March, delivers unprecedented collaboration among high school coaches stretching 37 states.

Led by state high school coach association directors, the Alliance will provide access to unique and progressive professional development and continuing education platforms,

digital and physical coaching tools and communication vehicles extending beyond state and regional borders.

“This is a significant ‘first’ for high school football,” said Rob Younger, Oregon Athletic Coaches Association executive director and inaugural president of the Alliance. Younger worked as an Oregon high school educator and football coach for more than 40 years. “The Alliance brings coaches together in ways we’ve not seen before and strengthens our community through USA Football’s exceptional and vast coaching resources.”

Coaches association leaders convened this past January at the 2018 USA Football National Conference in Orlando. The group met with USA Football to discuss forming the Alliance, benefitting their members and footballplaying student-athletes nationwide.

The Alliance’s physical and digital platforms are powered by USA Football.

Supporters of the Alliance include the National Organization of Coaches Association Directors, which generates revenue and assists athletic and other student activities of high schools in its members’ states.

EAT. SLEEP. PLAY. REPEAT. There’s always time time for for aa BUBBA BUBBA burger. burger.

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6/10/2015 6/10/2015 4:16:48 4:16:48 PMPM

STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE

Fine Line ■■ Whitehaven (Tenn.) coach Rodney Saulsberry directs his players.

Football coaches across the nation have struggled this season with finding the fine line between pushing players to reach their potential and pushing too far. No job is more important than knowing that line.

This preseason, we saw a University of Maryland player’s life come to a tragic end when he struggled to recover during and after a team workout. We saw high school players in Georgia walk out of their team’s practice to protest unsafe practice drills administered by the coaching staff.

We don’t need to see these tragedies to know that coaches have a difficult job in identifying how far they can push – and when it’s time to ease up.

Building physical and mental toughness is at the forefront of any coach’s responsibility. Players want to be coached – and coached hard – and

they trust their coaches to know the line.

Coaches: Find that line. Know your players and how far they can be pushed. Always put the safety and well-being of your players first.

There is a time in the season to build strength and character, and there is a time to allow for rest and recovery. There is a time to provide some tough, honest feedback, and there is a time to build up self esteem with positive affirmation.

There is a time to get to work, and there is a time to have fun. It is always time to strive for a safe, productive working environment.

Safe Outlook: Growing with the Game FLORIDA COACH BILL KRAMER: ‘IT’S NOT ABOUT THE SCOREBOARD’

BY JOHN DUDLEY

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all of Fame Naples High (Fla.) coach Bill Kramer

acknowledges the good intentions attached to discussions about making football safer.

Improved helmet technology, better tackling techniques and heightened awareness of heatrelated injuries are all positives in Naples (Fla.) coach Bill Kramer’s eyes. But Kramer is quick to note that even the best outcome will fall short of some expectations.

“Our country was founded by risk-takers, people who would take life-or-death risks at times,” Kramer says. “I think we went from being calculated risk-takers to being risk-averse.

Kramer and his staff at Naples focus on getting their players to understand the importance of doing things the right way.

That means warding off inactivity through mandatory year-round training or participation in another sport and emphasizing safe and responsible practice habits.

It also means full accountability in the classroom, and accepting that Kramer and his staff are more interested in developing responsible adults and successful members of the community than hanging championship banners.

“It’s not about the scoreboard,” Kramer says. “We have to have a moral compass if we’re about building better husbands, better fathers, better sons.”

Having said all that, Kramer insists there is no secret formula behind safely pushing players to the physical and mental limits required to compete at a high level, only common sense grounded in a genuine concern that goes beyond their contributions on the field.

“There is risk inherent to football, to driving a motor vehicle, to riding a bike,” Kramer says. “We do everything we can, and every one of us wants the kids to be safe. But I think football is already safer than it’s ever been.”

TAKING A LONG VIEW

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aples High School’s Bill Kramer is, in part, a product of those he’s met through the game. That includes Paul Brown, the seventh-grade coach in Yuma, Ariz., who provided Kramer with the father figure he largely lacked as a child.

Here are five factors in Kramer’s commitment to coaching the right way: Football is a great tool that’s effective at building character and accountability.

The way coaches and players go about their business is more important than the outcome of games.

Telling the truth, being authentic, and creating a clear meritocracy is vitally important.

Academic support isn’t reminding a player to get his homework done. It’s making him accountable for every aspect of his schoolwork.

A program’s success is measured by what its players have become 10 or 15 years down the road.

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RIGHT SIDE OF THE FINE LINE

‘The Way We Should Live Life’ FLORIDA COACH CANCELS WEEK OF PRESEASON PRACTICES FOR VOLUNTEER CAMP Plant High (Fla.) coach Robert Weiner encourages his players to volunteer at a week-long annual Muscular Dystrophy Association summer camp. This year, the camp was moved to the opening week of preseason practice. Weiner canceled practice so that his team could honor its commitment.

BY DAN GUTTENPLAN

THE PRODUCT ON THE FIELD

Plant High (Fla.) coach Robert Weiner had a moment of pause when he learned the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association summer camp had been moved to overlap his team’s first week of preseason workouts.

“When it first came up, I said, ‘Everything in football is negotiable’,” Weiner said. “The one thing that is non-negotiable is MDA camp. That has many positive values for our team. It’s the right thing to do. That’s the way we should live life. When we have the opportunity to help people in need – and the availability and resources to pull it off – we should take advantage of the opportunity.”

Weiner canceled the week of practice from Aug. 5 to 10 despite the fact that his team was scheduled to open its preseason schedule Aug. 18 against defending state champion Venice. He took 31 players to MDA camp to serve as counselors for children with muscular dystrophy. The Plant players pushed wheelchairs, swam with campers, attended dances, and lent their positivity to make it a special experience for everyone.

“This is about the development of individual people – not our team,” Weiner said. “We’re here in this world to help other people. It caught my breath for a second, but I said, ‘We’ll make a way or find a way. We’ll be there. You can count on us.’ It was the largest group of players we’ve ever taken.”

Plant is historically one of the strongest teams in the Tampa area, playing in 7A District 8. The

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P ■■ 31 Plant High players volunteered at a Muscular Dystrophy Association summer camp.

Panthers won state championships in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011.

The coach first started attending MDA camp when he was a freshman at Jesuit High. Many of his former players continue to volunteer as adults.

“I went my sophomore year with a group of football players,” Weiner said. “I kept getting letters asking if I was coming back. I was a 15-year-old man, and I had to ask myself, ‘Why was I doing it in the first place?’ Was it to be with friends or to be with someone in need? I decided to go back on my own without my classmates, and it was the most meaningful week of my life.

From that moment forward, I knew I wanted to have a life dedicated to helping other people and also facilitating the opportunity for people I care about and work with on a daily basis.”

Weiner believes the annual week at MDA helps build a foundation for his players as they learn how to represent themselves in school and the community. After that week, he’ll often see football players sitting in the lunchroom with students who would otherwise be eating alone.

“We talk about taking care of other kids in school,” Weiner said. “With all of the discussion about bullying, we have an easy solution. Why don’t you look for the kid in a needy situation? Look at him like an MDA camper and treat him accordingly. We have 31 kids who are able to pass on those lessons.”

erhaps making Weiner’s decision to skip a week of preseason practices to attend MDA camp all the more impressive is the fact that his team’s firsthalf schedule is among the toughest in the state of Florida. His team’s first preseason game on Aug. 18 was a 25-25 tie against defending state champion Venice.

Then his team opened the regular season with a 45-28 victory over rival Hillsborough. After another win over a Tampa rival, Robinson, Plant fell to perennial state championship contender Armwood 21-18.

“Wins and losses are not the judgment of whether a season is successful,” Weiner said. “I felt the kids were 100 percent prepared for each game.”

Weiner said the players took it upon themselves to gather at sunrise at MDA camp each morning for some team drills before their daily schedule was packed with obligations for counselors.

“For the kids to come in and work for a while spoke volumes,” Weiner said. “I think we didn’t miss a beat. And even more important was the thing our kids discovered about themselves.”

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RIGHT SIDE OF THE FINE LINE

Make Football Fun for the Players An Illinois coach noticed the nationwide trend of dwindling participation numbers in high school football and decided to “meet the kids where their interest level is.” His program’s participation numbers have held firm.

BY DAN GUTTENPLAN

THE PHILOSOPHY

■■ The St. Charles North (Ill.) football team’s Xbox lounge fosters camaraderie.

St. Charles North (Ill.) coach Rob Pomazak puts as much thought into making his program fun as he does wins and losses. Before spending the last six seasons as head coach at St. Charles, he spent 12 years as an assistant, crafting an idea of what he wanted his ideal program to look like.

“I’ve taken a look at where football is going,” Pomazak said. “I want to make a program kids want to be in.”

Pomazak now uses practice time for arm-wrestling competitions, games of “blind dodge ball” and contests involving pool noodles.

He gives rotating groups of players responsibility for picking music playlists each week. Pomazak bought three flat-screen TVs and three game systems this preseason to build an Xbox lounge. He also created a signing-day event for incoming freshmen. Sophomores this year practice with the varsity team to build team cohesion. A parents group provides “a peanut butter and jelly bar” before each practice.

“How can you make your program attractive to kids in the program?” Pomazak asked. “I want a program that kids and parents want to be a part of. When it’s more about creating experiences than wins and losses, you can hold your numbers regardless of the record.”

5 TIPS TO BUILDING A FUN PROGRAM

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Meet the kids where their interest level is. The name of the game for Pomazak is making football fun, but even given that philosophy, the purchase of three flat-screen TVs to make an Xbox lounge was certainly not a traditional way to spend program resources. Now, players bond over “Madden NFL” and Fortnite.”

Create experiences. Pomazak will use practice time for pizza parties, visits to the ice cream truck, or other fun activities. “There’s always

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some thread through practice, but we’ll schedule team building if we feel like we’re getting away from the team values.”

Get in the right gear. Pomazak dropped the team’s deal with Under Armour in favor of Nike at his players’ request. “They want the warmup to be current with what the NFL guys are wearing on Sundays.”

Work the social media outlets. Pomazak shares the daily practice schedule on social media to showcase his fun approach to coaching to athletes playing other sports. He also promotes games and other team events.

Connect parents to the program. Pomazak engages parents by stressing safety and character-building. He also renamed the team’s parent group and gave the organization a new mission statement.

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PRIORITIZING SAFETY

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omazak knows that a major reason participation numbers have dropped across the nation is the safety concerns surrounding football.

St. Charles North players use Riddell Flex helmets, which the company says provide “state-ofthe-art protection.”

Pomazak looked into providing VICIS helmets, considered to be top of the line in offering protection. While the retail price of as much as $950 is out of budget, he lets parents know if they can afford it, they are allowed to buy it for their sons.

Last season, the North Stars had just one concussion — and that was not from a footballrelated incident.

He also invested this year in 10 PlayerTek GPS monitoring vests that cost a total of $4,000.

They allow Pomazak to track players’ workload.

It helps keep him from overworking players — thus limiting injuries.

This year, St. Charles North has 140 players, including 45 freshmen and 40 sophomores.

“We sustain numbers,” Pomazak said. “The retention rate for fouryear players is pretty good. In high school football, it’s not about growing these days. It’s about keeping those numbers.”

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RIGHT SIDE OF THE FINE LINE

Push Hard and play Safe An average of three football players a year, most of them highschoolers, died from heatstroke between 1995-2015, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research.

BY DEREK SMITH

Among the 61 deaths, 46 were in high school, 11 in college, two in youth football and two in professional football.

■■ Allow time for water breaks at Almost all of the deaths occurred during practice. every practice, especially when it’s hot.

The recent tragic death of Maryland player Jordan McNair, who teammates say exhibited signs of a heatrelated illness at practice before being taken to the hospital where he died a few weeks later, has re-opened the debate of how to keep 3 SIGNS OF FATIGUE players safe while preparing them to be in their best physical shape on game day. arrett Friday is a certified Coaches walk a fine line balancing safety and preparation in the competiathletic trainer for tive sport of football. After all, they have to get their team ready for the next CaroMont Regional Medical opponent and make sure the team is performing at a peak level, while at the Center in Gastonia, N.C. The same time, doing so with the players’ well-being at the utmost of importance.

2018 regional nominee for the North Gaston (Dallas, N.C.) High School coach Mike Patton recognizes and Newell National Athletic Trainer understands the challenges of preparation and safety. of the Year Award said, “If you know what your players look like “It takes a lot of different things [to balance it] because you have to push when they aren’t fatigued you’ll kids if they’re going to play on a humid night for 2 ½ months and they’ve got know what they look like when to get used to practicing in it,” he said. they are.” He says fatigue is a Patton keeps plenty of water on the field during practice and takes regular sign a player could be suffering breaks to hydrate. Coaches and trainers also encourage the team to eat properly. from a heat-related illness.

“Kids have to eat. It’s not just about water,” Patton said. “They’re not going to be able to make it through practice, otherwise. We tell them they have to focus The most common sign of a when they’re tired because you’re going to get tired during a football game.” heat illness is cramps. The player becomes dehydrated as fluid is pulled from the extremities to the body’s core. should be available at practices.

If Symptoms of heat 5 PRECAUTIONS THAT SHOULD an instrument to assess WBGT is exhaustion include a red, BE BUILT INTO EVERY PRACTICE unavailable, the heat and humidity flushed skin tone, profuse guidelines chart should be used. sweating, dizziness and rior to the season all coaches, High temperatures and high headache. athletic training personnel and humidity are potentially dangerous Heat stroke is the most first responders working with for athletes. In these conditions, severe heat illness and the team should review the signs lower the intensity of practices and occurs when the body and symptoms of heat illness and increase the frequency and duration temperature reaches 104 the emergency action plan for their of rest breaks, and consider reducing degrees. The player will no school. A certified athletic trainer or uniform and protective equipment. longer be sweating because first responder should be in attenRecognize early signs of distress his body is out of fluids. He will dance at all practices and games. and developing exertional heat illness appear white, pale, disoriented Athletes should begin practices (weakness, nausea/vomiting, paleness, and confused. and training activities adequately headache, lightheadedness). Promptly “The biggest thing we try and hydrated. Provide unlimited remove from activity, and treat appropriteach our coaches is that these drinking opportunities during ately. First aid should not be delayed. aren’t a cumulative effect,” hotter practices. Never withhold Friday said. “You won’t see heat water from athletes. A Wet Bulb ■■ Source: North Carolina High School Athletic Association cramps first, then exhaustion, Globe Temperature (WBGT) chart and then stroke.”

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3 RISKS OF OVEREXERTION

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CHEST PAIN. It may indicate that you have an underlying condition such as coronary artery disease.

SHORTNESS OF BREATH. “If you get breathless doing an activity that didn’t bother you a week or a month ago, then something is wrong,” says Dr. Aaron Baggish, associate director of the Cardiovascular Performance Program at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Shortness of breath can be caused by many things, such as high blood pressure or heart or lung problems.

LIGHTHEADEDNESS. When you feel like you might faint, it can sometimes happen after exercise because of dehydration. But if lightheadedness strikes while you’re exercising, it may indicate problems with your heart or lungs.

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■■ Source: Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School

Effective Communication Gets Positive Results HBO’s NFL training camp series, “Hard Knocks,” documented the Cleveland Browns, losers of 31 games over the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was seen chewing out his players at every opportunity, while head coach Hue Jackson went with a softer approach. Which style is better?

BY DEREK SMITH

4 WAYS TO EARN A PLAYER’S TRUST

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■■ Building trust is crucial to coach-player communication.

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veryone knows a coach like Williams – the screamer,

the yeller, the guy who gets up into a player’s grill and lets him have it. But his style is not the only one. Other coaches choose to communicate differently. New England head coach Bill Belichick seems to be the total opposite of Williams – cool, calm, collected. Both men are obviously comfortable in their own style and have been successful in their own right in professional football.

Yelling and screaming might be considered an extreme form of constructive criticism, while a coach who is more cerebral could be more comfortable using affirmation to get his message through to his team.

Dr. Drew Brannon, a sports psychologist from Greenville, S.C., explains the differences in the two forms of communication.

Affirmation is pointing out what is going well or what is working, to identify areas of success.

Constructive criticism, on the other hand, highlights what needs improvement to determine areas of growth.

“Both these ways of doing things have produced results,” Brannon said. “I think the key really is to know your guys.”

Building trust is crucial and it’s important coaches send the message they care, Brannon says.

CREATE A CULTURE OF CONSISTENCY. Remain consistent with your players and with the goals you have established for your program. Instill in your players the core philosophies that will guide the season and stick to these guidelines even when times are tough.

TREAT YOUR PLAYERS AS VALUABLE CONTRIBUTORS. Ask your players for their opinions. Try to teach them the why behind your philosophy, and, most importantly, treat them like real people.

COMMUNICATE CLEARLY. In order for your players to fully trust in your philosophies, they need to understand your message. Ensure your players understand their role and responsibilities by speaking to them one on one and then reinforce these ideas during larger group sessions.

BE ACCOUNTABLE. When a team loses, it is never one person’s fault. Your players may feel like their mistakes stood out the most and your fellow coaches may think their position group is to blame, but it’s important to remind them winning and losing is a team effort.

–CORY ZEHRING (@COACHNIGHTRIDER) FOR HUDL.COM

“If they know you truly care about them you can get them to do almost whatever you want,” he said. “If they don’t trust that you’re for their development then, they’re not going to want your feedback. It’s about that coach caring for the player and in ways beyond what he can give him on the field.”

Creating an emotional link, Brannon said, is another way to get the most out of an athlete on your team. Teams that share a common bond seem to work better together.

“I think it helps to connect what they’re doing with something that really matters,” he said. “Ask why this is important to him, what is the purpose.

I think the biggest key to the whole dynamic is the nature of the relationship.”

Former Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox holds the dubious record for the most ejections in Major League Baseball history with 161 over his 29 year career. He was known as a manager who would protect his players and stick up for them, even at the risk at being ejected himself.

Brannon says, “If the player knows this guy’s got my back - and he’s demonstrated that over time - that builds a really strong foundation. And as a coach you’ll have a lot more latitude about how you can go about coaching him.”

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ll coaches want practice work to transfer to the

game. It is a long held coach-ism that, “If you don’t see your drills on the film, you are doing the wrong drills.” What this tends to lead to is a move toward specificity.

Specificity in itself is not a bad thing, so coaches try to recreate specific game situations via drill work. I argued in the VDA article that this is not the best way to prepare athletes because it lacks all context and chaos of the game. There is no VDA or choice to be made. It becomes rote memorization and predetermined moves.

What we are left with is the same question: How do we train? As coaches, the ultimate goal is not actually specificity but transfer. Obviously, team-oriented periods such as scrimmages, offense vs. defense periods and team 7-on-7 provide both specificity and transfer as they are competitive, chaotic environments.

So, what about drills?

Let’s start by using some simple examples of individual movement skills to illustrate this point.

Wicket runs are popular with track coaches, who use mini-hurdles as a constraint within the drill to force athletes into the body positions and running techniques coaches desire.

Instead of telling them, they let the environment shape them. With the hurdles, athletes are forced to concentrate on knee drive to clear the foot over the hurdle. The hurdle also enforces frontside mechanics because a long leg backswing could clip the hurdle behind them.

This forces good heel recovery.

A second, more accentuated example is the shoulder level or overhead stick run, which is gaining popularity. Different from acceleration, top-end speed requires a more upright torso.

Holding the stick in a squat position above the head reinforces this upright posture – and the stick’s movement also provides great feedback to the coach.

This stick’s position challenges the core and posture because of the longer lever, lack of using arms to counter balance and the need to fight rotation and undulation. This is certainly not specific. In all running, we want great arm action, especially at top-end speed. Who has their arms overhead? Nobody. Again, the goal is transfer, so the drill may not look specific, but the constraints forces adaptations that are transferable.

Back to football drills. After speaking with tackling expert Richie Gray and seeing some of his

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drills, Wagner University coach Vincent DiGaetano noticed a common flaw on his tape. DiGaetano was trying to keep his players with their feet in the ground and driving through the ball-carrier on a thigh level tackle. Because of contact rules and smart practice planning he came up with this gem.

In the Swoop and Drive Drill, a bag is placed on the ground. The defenders swoop to track then engage the bag with their hands, driving it for four or five hard steps. Specificity? It looks a bit odd. In a tackle, we would engage with the shoulder and clamp the arms. Here, the arms are locked out and pushing.

This drill forces the elongated body position of a thigh level tackle but requires keeping the center of gravity, feet and hips in great position to hold the position and run through the tackle.

The constraints of this drill quickly expose players who are out of balance.

They either lose their feet and look like Superman (weight back and loss of feet) or go over the bag (too much weight forward … all power, no control).

While at a video shoot in January with TackleTube, I shamelessly stole this idea and introduced players to a drill I named “Mow the Lawn.” The idea is to drive the tube across the grass to mimic body positions and continue driving while in that thigh level body position.

These two drills are great ways to change the constraints of a drill to produce an outcome that will transfer to technique. This concept is key to creating and training decision making in your athletes. Always remember, we want transfer, not just specificity.

check out more in-depth coach content at usafootball.com/coaches-notes

To challenge and therefore grow processing and decision-making skills, coaches often need to stretch the athletes. The three most common and easiest to use stressors are: space, time and numbers. All three of these things can easily be changed to create different constraints that challenge the athlete.

Space We know space has a drastic effect on the game. How often do people talk about the challenge of being deep in the Red Zone and the compression of a defense, limiting route combinations and shrinking windows?

How do we apply this to larger group periods or tactical training instead of just individual skills? Going back to the above idea, smaller fields within a group period can do wonders for changing the demands and focusing on new challenges or certain aspects of the game.

Have you even thought about blocking off parts of the field?

Let’s say you are going into a game, and you don’t want to attack the middle of the field. Maybe your opponent has a great middle linebacker. Maybe you think your advantage is on the outside.

So, what if you made constraints to maximize this in training?

In the below example, we created an “Incomplete Zone” (diagram 1) running the length of the field between the goal posts. Any pass caught in that space does not count as a completion. The drills still allow receivers to run through the zone and defenders to work in and through the zone, crossing sides of the field, but to be a completion, the ball must be caught outside of this zone. This now makes the receivers and quarterbacks think and react very differently against a scout team that may not provide the same challenge as a gameday opponent.

In addition to the gameplan aspect, think about the VDA aspect when used in general training. On any crossing route, the window between the strongside defender and the Incomplete Zone is much smaller because you have to make the completion before entering the Incomplete Zone. Coming out of the zone, the ball must be accurate, quick and well-timed because the ball must be in the small window preceding the weakside defender.

This will truly test mental processing abilities. Quarterbacks make the read and find an open teammate, but they also must see the Incomplete Zone. Finding the windows and reacting quickly becomes a needed skill. By putting constraints on the drill, we have created a form of football that is not specific but enhances reading, reaction, mental processing and decision making all while giving a creative coach an incredible number of options of what to stress, what to take away and how he wants to make players think and act.

You can also use Double Point Zones (diagram 2) where catches in a particular area are worth double. In the example below, this zone is outside the numbers.

You may use this for defense if you are playing a team that does a great job attacking outside. To help incentivize your scout team or when going good-ongood, throw the ball out there and attack this area, then give double points for every completion in the zone – i.e., 1 point to the offense now equals 2.

It also works for an offense as a change of pace or to challenge the quarterback and receivers by “changing the game” and forcing them to react and be precise in their routes, delivery and thought process. This extra decision, or at least the threat or benefit of those decisions, forces an extra choice and enhances the ability to process information.

■■ Andy Ryland is USA Football’s senior manager of education and training. A former Penn State linebacker, college football coach and member of the U.S. men’s rugby team, with USA Football, Ryland helped develop the organization’s American Development Model, Heads Up Football and Master Trainer programs.

PLAYBOOK presented by Run Base Cover 1 stunts and twists in the double eagle-double flex defense

DIAGRAM 1

BY LEO HAND

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ecause so many teams are now employing no-huddle

offenses, defensive huddles should be stored on the same shelf as leather helmets. Defensive calls should be conveyed to players from the sideline via wristbands. Also, all verbiage must be eliminated from the call.

Many coaches avoid implementing complex stunt maneuvers or comprehensive stunt packages because they are unable to express the information in a concise, precise manner.

The answer? Simplify. For me, “Nat-Wamer-1 Tag” is all I need to tell my defense to convey five vital bits of information: How defenders are aligned in the box, three different stunt maneuvers and the pass coverage.

The system works as follows: Since no defensive alignment is mentioned, players know that they will line up in their base alignment. No need exists to mention the alignment if it’s a team’s base.

If you want to change from base to something else, simply precede the call with a single syllable that designates the variant. Two-digit numbers and word descriptions are too long-winded. For example, “forty-three” and “single flex” both add three syllables to the call. It is much more succinct to assign each variation a single syllable (e.g., sap, wap, Mom, Tom, etc.) than to give a multi-syllable word or number description.

Next, defensive maneuvers are designated by phonetic sounds that can be merged to create words that are meaningless to everyone on the planet except the players who use them every day in practice.

For example, with Nat-Wamer 1 Tag: ■■ Nat tells nose and Ted to twist ■■ Wam tells Whip to blitz through the weakside A gap.

■■ When the suffix “er” is added to “wam” or any other stunt involving Whip, Mike is assigned to play his Base 3 technique versus run and spy the near back versus pass.

■■ 1 Tag conveys a variation of Cover 1 in which the strong end covers the tight end and Stud blitzes from the edge.

Most coverages in this system are given numbers. These numbers are the only numbers in this system that are used to convey a defensive

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call, and the two-digit word cover is eliminated from the call. Therefore, verbiage is reduced and complex defensive maneuvers are communicated simply and concisely.

Diagram 1 is what Nat-Wamer-1 Tag looks like.

Stunts and twists of five-in-the-trenches There are 22 basic stunts and twists of the five defenders aligned in the trenches (nose, Ted, Mike and both ends) that can be used to create more than 50 different combinations. We’ll take a look at a few, but a coach’s imagination can assist in building many more. All of the strongside stunts involving Ted have an identical weakside variation involving Mike. Although both variations are illustrated, the strongside variation is the only one that is explained, which eliminates needless rhetoric.

check out more in-depth coach content at usafootball.com/coaches-notes

Toe/Moe (Diagrams 2 & 3) Ted attacks the offensive guard at

DIAGRAM 4

the snap and controls the B gap, either by blitzing from a loose alignment or by stemming toward the line during cadence and attacking the guard from a tight alignment.

Tee/Me (Diagrams 4 & 5) The strong end stems inside during cadence to a position that almost shades the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle. At the snap, the strong end steps with his inside foot and rips through the face of the offensive tackle with his outside forearm. Since he is responsible for controlling the B gap, he should feel the pressure of the offensive tackle and read the movement of the guard. His read of the guard is identical to that of Ted’s 3-technique read.

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DIAGRAM 5

Nat/Nam (Diagrams 6 & 7) Nose. The defender loosens slightly prior to the snap. His first step should be with his left foot assuming that he is twisting left. This step should be parallel to the line of scrimmage and deep enough to enable the defender to avoid contact with Ted. The defender rips through the outside shoulder of the guard with his right arm and secures the B gap. The nose reads the movements of the offensive guard and reacts accordingly.

Ted. Ted stems toward the line during cadence and should be in a tight alignment as the ball is snapped. As the play begins, he steps with his inside foot and rips through the face of the offensive guard with his outside forearm. He feels the pressure of the offensive guard as he attacks the center. He is responsible for controlling the strongside A gap. Versus strongside run, he gets his shoulders square to the line as soon as possible, secure the A gap and then take the proper pursuit angle to the ball. Versus weakside run, he rips through the face of the center and pursues the ball fat down the line of scrimmage.

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■■ Leo Hand has led both high school and college teams during his 46 years of coaching. As a high school head coach in California, he earned a state championship and numerous league championships. At Los Angeles Harbor College, the Seahawks posted an 8-3 record and won a K-Swiss Bowl in the school’s first bowl appearance in more than 20 years.

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DIAGRAM 7

WANT MORE PLAYBOOK CONTENT? Subscribe to USA Football’s Coaches Notes’ and get more than 500 playbook plays. Use code FNF10 and receive 10 percent off an annual subscription.

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PLAYBOOK presented by Gain an Advantage with Clockwork Steps and False Steps

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JOSHUA ABELL

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henever I see an offensive lineman with bad feet, I

am reminded of the ole idiom of: “That dog won’t hunt.”

Having great feet is an essential skill to being any kind of good lineman, especially within offenses that require the “hawgs” to be able to move – i.e., wing-T, jailbreak screens, etc. Being huge has plenty of natural advantages, but with the size and quickness of today’s defensive linemen, it’s also sometimes true that the bigger the boy, the bigger the liability.

Some of the best offensive linemen I have ever coached did not play Division I college ball nor were they prehistoric mammoths. They were short, stumpy, sometimes even fat kids who had active feet.

This was not by accident.

Part of my every day drills is a segment called Clockwork, where offensive linemen take steps in accordance to times on a clock, wherein each step is rehearsed several times from stance to start at a rapid pace. Some coaches choose to force their players to practice steps from right-handed and left-handed stances. Other coaches choose to extend this period with some degree of board work, duck walking, etc.

I truly believe much of our offensive success has come from the attention given to this part of lineman play.

Each step is a weapon the offensive lineman can use. Steps are consistent in that each step should only be six to eight inches long, and the general rule of leverage applies – contact is made when the follow-up step is made.

There is no formula or set standard in creating an arsenal of steps for offensive lineman to utilize. This is primarily dependent upon what the player will be doing majority of the time in that offense.

For example: In any zone or zone read scheme, covered and uncovered steps would be practiced daily, while in a Wing-T system, pulls and skip pulls would be the focus. This is decided by the line coach.

However, a key to success is ensuring that the number of steps in the offensive line’s arsenal is limited. No fewer than four and no more than six steps ensure your linemen have the weapons they need to be successful.

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football coaches! Get your subscription at fnfcoaches.com

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Choices for steps vary and are determined based on the style of offense in which they’ll be used. Here are some examples: Base/drive. 11 to 1 o’clock. Used to drive defenders aligned overtop or slightly shaded Gap/gap-down-backer/lead. Varies anywhere from 9 to 11 or 1 to 3 o’clock determined by the degree of the angle needed to block anyone down from the offensive linemen Zone. Generally a lateral step at 2 to 3 or 10 to 11. Used when linemen are to “ride their train tracks” Turn-Out/Kick-Out. Similar in the base or drive and characterized by the nature of the second step in trying to turn defenders outside Covered. Varies but is similar to the zone step. Not gaining much ground.

Utilized in combos and post-leads Uncovered. Taken anywhere behind 3 or 9 o’clock. Designed to lose ground initially to allow defense to develop in front Slide/reach. A lateral step used to ensure a gap is not penetrated Fold/drop/bucket/pull. A step taken behind as far back as 6 o’clock so the lineman can move behind fellow linemen Skip. Not on the clock. Aa skip step to quickly move the lineman across the line of scrimmage without requiring too many steps Just as offensive line coaches have to determine what weapons to include in the arsenal, they also need to teach their players when the most appropriate time to use those weapons would be. In some offenses, line coaches teach their lineman the offense not by teaching them their blocking responsibilities but, instead, teaching them what step to use on each play.

check out more in-depth coach content at usafootball.com/coaches-notes

This follows the Keep-It-Simple-Stupid (KISS) mentality in which so many coaches believe. As one coach I know says, After your step, whoever is there is yours to devour. Eat up!” The options on teaching your guys when to take each step are numerous.

False steps As lineman become more developed and experienced in footwork, they can be taught how to use wrong steps or false steps to fool the defense. In order to understand this concept, a coach must understand two prior ideas of false steps and defensive read keys.

“False steps” have always been bad words. Anytime a player missteps or moves backward when they should be going forward, coaches reference that as a false step. Wasted movement matters on game days. A small, six-inch step backward could be the difference between a 3-yard loss and a 48-yard run for six points.

Read keys are the cues offensive players provide defensive players in reading what play the offense is running. For many linebackers and defensive lineman, read keys are movements by either the running back or, more predominantly, the offensive line.

Similarly, as an offensive line coach teaches his players how and when to use the steps, he can also teach them how and when to use the wrong steps.

Here is an example: Most defensive ends are required to keep contain and to ensure no blocker can reach or seal them to the inside. So, whenever a defensive lineman sees an offensive lineman reach, slide or zone stepping to their side, the immediate reaction is to force themselves to the offensive lineman’s outside and not get reached.

In this play, the defense stops the offense when each defender forces the ball-carrier further outside. So, if the offense knows that is how the defense will play the reach step, why not use it to the offense’s advantage? If the play called is a power or iso play to the open B gap and the offensive line’s job is to kick out the nearest defender, instead of base or drive stepping, the lineman can now take a reach step and open this gap up wider. By the time the defensive lineman sees the run is actually going inside, he has no time to readjust.

The more creative you get, the more ways there are to incorporate right false steps, which will come naturally as the offense develops. Really sharp, intelligent offensive linemen will begin to make it work for them as well.

It creates another element to line play that not too many coaches or teams utilize.

■■ Joshua Abell is the head coach at Louisville (Ky.) Fern Creek High School.

Follow him on Twitter.

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PLAYBOOK presented by

KICKING AREAS

Treat kickoff coverage like a defensive play

R1

R2

DIAGRAM 2

R3

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R5

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L5

L4

L3

L2

L1

BY BILL LUND

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ickoff coverage can set the tone for the start of a

game or second half. It’s a unit that must have 11 athletes who can play fast, be disciplined and understand leverage and angles of attack for the returner.

I prefer to look at the kickoff unit as a defensive play with fits and gaps just as any other defensive play. Though it appears simple, executing a proper kickoff is more than running down to knock someone down. Execution must be precise or big yards are at stake.

Get to your fit, find the ball, tackle it and – if you can – get it back to the offense.

I number players in the unit from outside to inside from 1 to 5 (diagram 1). We have L1 to L5 and R1 to R5. The 1s are the fold and fill players. After the kick, they fall behind the coverage, assess and take the best path to the ball. The 2s are the contain players and must keep everything inside of them.

They must set the edge and pursue at ball depth.

The 3s and 4s are fit players. They fit gaps based on the return scheme. The 3s fit outside the tight end, keying the tackle, guard, tight end triangle.

If the tight end key pulls, they will track him like a puller. The 4s key the center/guard and fullback triangle to help determine the direction of the kick. They will fit outside the fullbacks.

The 5s are the “spill and over the top players.”

The 5s key the center/guard and fullback triangle to help determine the direction of the kick. If the kick goes left, the L5 will fit inside the fullbacks with the R5 working over the top – and vice versa. I prefer to kick the ball from the middle of the field to either corner.

KICKING AREAS

DIAGRAM 1

DEEP LEFT

DEEP RIGHT

SKY LEFT

SKY RIGHT

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SURPRISE ONSIDE KICK L1

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The goals are simple. On approach, we want to hit the restraining line – the point the kicker contacts the ball like a steel rod. All players should be at maximum speed and hitting the line at the same time where we can make a straight line through them all.

From the minus-35 – or minus-40 in high school – to the plus-30 yard line is the fly zone. In the fly zone, we must beat all blocks with speed. You can refer to my earlier kickoff drills article that details out some great fly zone drills.

From the plus-30 to the plus-20 is the strike zone. This is where most of the contact will occur. We must understand spacing and leverage and use our hands and feet to defeat blockers. Players must stay on the edge of blocks, always defeating them to the ball side. Against any doubleteam coverage players, we will split the seams of the double and will never trade 1 for 1 in blocks vs. a double team.

Our basic rules in coverage are if the returner is 25 yards or more, we can beat blocks back door. If the returner is 15 or less, we must punch and press, giving ourselves the ability to have a two-way go.

Inside the 20 is the big play zone. Here we must be great tacklers, make the big play and create momentum and field position for the defense. We are looking to cause and create fumbles and swarm on top of any loose balls.

The offensive return team is trying to execute a play versus the defensive kickoff team (diagram 2). Our mentality will be a defensive mentality. We will all have a fit responsibility within the defensive scheme. We also will have a force/ contain player as well as alley players that are expected to make the tackle.

The kickoff coverage unit is arguably my favorite unit to coach. If you have an explosive offense, it will be one you want to make sure is on point to keep the opponent’s momentum in check. Through trial and error, I have found that this scheme is simple to implement and teach as well as effective in getting players to their fits fast to limit returns.

In our first year at Saginaw Valley, we went from 125th in the country to 42nd in coverage defense with the same kicker. What we were able to do was create a unit that was confident in its fits and were able to play fast.

■■ Bill Lund is the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Saginaw Valley State University. He previously held positions at Hope College, North Park University of Carleton College, St. Norbert College, University at Buffalo, Colby College and Columbia University. Follow him on Twitter @Lundsanity51.

Star ratings don’t matter. the4dclub.com

FROG FITNESS AWARDS

Ohio School Wins 2018 Frog Fitness FNF Best Booster Club Award

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he Watkins Memorial High (Ohio) Booster Club

won the 2018 Frog Fitness FNF Best Booster Club Award. FNF recognized the Watkins Memorial Athletic Association for running the concession stand at athletic events, in addition to organizing a craft show, Volkswagen Show, July 4th Show, and many other fundraisers.

In addition to fundraising, the WMAA donates its own labor, working on upgrades in the athletic facility such as a $750,000 turf project at the football stadium, a $280,000 weight room facility, press box installations, and new middle school softball fields. In the latest contracting project spearheaded by the WMAA, the group built a brick wall and wrought iron gate entrance to the stadium.

“I cannot thank them enough for the things that they do to support our athletic programs,” said Watkins Memorial Athletic Director Lisa Morelli. “When our school district had to make cuts in money to athletics, they were the ones that stepped up and helped us survive.”

The WMAA organizes an annual kickoff football dinner each year in late July with a guest speaker. This year, the club booked local comedian, magician and inspiration David McCreary.

The official prizes included two Frogs from Frog Fitness, a $500 donation to the Watkins Memorial Athletic Association, and a feature story in the FNF Coaches print publication.

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■■ The Watkins Memorial (Ohio) football team received its free Frog in July after winning the FNF Best Booster Club Contest.

Frog Fitness player of the year Contest

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NF Coaches and Frog Fitness have set out to honor the players that

perform above and beyond expectations in 2018. These players will excel on the field and in the classroom – and have their communities rally around them for support.

So to acknowledge the top players this fall, FNF Coaches has turned it over to the coaches and fans to nominate them. One player each month will be selected from the nominees and added to the pool of finalists who will compete for Player of the Year.

The finalists will be featured on FNF Coaches and Frog Fitness websites and social media. At the end of the year, fans will vote one player as the Frog Fitness Player of the Year. The winning player will receive a scholarship from Frog Fitness – along with

MARK ANTHONY DIXON

High School: Troup County

recognition in FNF Coaches magazine and on the website.

These five players stood out among the nominees in September. The winning player will be notified by phone and, once the prize is accepted, it will be posted on the website and shared via social media @FNFCoaches.

OFFICIAL PRIZES: first PRIZE: The winner will receive a scholarship of $2,500 from Frog Fitness.

Second prize: $1,500 scholarship from Frog Fitness.

Third prize: $1,000 scholarship from Frog Fitness.

FEATURE STORY: A photo of the winning player and an article will appear in FNF Coaches print publication as well as FNFCoaches.com.

■■ Nominate and vote for your favorite player now at fnfcoaches.com/poty

Nominees: Round 1

Position: WR Graduating Class: 2019 2018 Stats: 23 receptions,

Position: WR Graduating Class: 2020 2017 Stats: 38 catches, 876

364 receiving yards, 3 TD in three games.

Academics: 3.64

yards, 9 TD

Academics: 4.0 GPA In Coach Tanner Glisson’s Words: “Mark’s family has

In Athletic Director Tyler Brooks’ Words: “Eric is

persevered through some very difficult times. Mark is a football and track star, finishing third in the 100 meters this year. He was named Chick-fil-A StudentAthlete of the Month. He has five siblings, and his mother is a single mom. Two of her children attend Ivy League Schools. Mark is a blessing to be around on a daily basis.”

an incredibly hard-working young man with great character. He has had to overcome so many obstacles throughout his life, and still continues to excel on the field and in the classroom.”

JUSTIN BRANNON AUSTIN MORROW

High School:

High School:

Position: ATH Graduating Class: 2019 2018 Stats: 420 all-

Position: QB Graduating Class: 2020 2018 Stats: 9-of-15

Americus Sumter (Ga.)

Heath High (Ohio)

purpose yards and 4 TD in three games Academics: 2.7 GPA

passing for 162 yards and a TD in a Week 1 matchup.

Academics: 4.25 GPA

a big player in status, but when it comes to his heart, determination and hard work, there is no one I’d rather coach. Mr. Willis does anything that is asked of him on the team and is very helpful of others. He hopes to continue to follow his dreams of playing college football at the end of his senior year, and this scholarship opportunity would benefit this young man greatly.”

exceptional athlete, student, and, above all, person. He is a three-sport varsity athlete, having started in football, basketball and baseball as a sophomore in 2017-2018. Austin was selected as a team captain for football as a sophomore in 2017 and again this year, as a junior. During the 2017 season, Austin played receiver and free safety.”

In Coach Larry Harold’s Words: “Montrellis is not

High School:

Anderson High (Ohio)

(Ga.)

MONTRELLIS WILLIS

ERIC CURLESS

In Coach Timothy Ward’s Words: “Austin is an

High School:

Marion County (Ga.)

Position: LB Graduating Class: 2019 2017 Stats: 25 tackles,

1 TD, also had five catches at TE Academics: 4.0 GPA

In Coach Chris Kirksey’s Words: “Justin is a great

leader on and off the field. He leads with action and verbally by being an encouragement to others no matter what the circumstances.

He is the first one in the weight room for workouts and also on the practice to develop his skills. He is the last to leave the field house after practice to make sure the locker room is nice and neat. Justin’s 4.0 GPA includes many AP classes as well. He is a member of many clubs here at the school as well as a member of a local church.”

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CONTINUING EDUCATION

From Football Coach to Dean of Students MICHIGAN ADMINISTRATOR REFLECTS ON CAREER MOVE Many coaches look to further their education after starting their professional careers to give themselves options beyond football, such as athletic director or administrative roles. Advanced degrees can help coaches achieve goals beyond football.

BY DAN GUTTENPLAN

BENEFITS OF 5EDUCATION CONTINUED FOR EMPLOYEES

IAN COHEN IS A

marketing executive who specializes in advising employees to advance their respective careers.

He offered these five benefits to continuing one’s education.

■■ Holland High (Mich.)

Dean of Students Josh Rumpsa is a former head football coach.

Josh Rumpsa, a one-time Holland Christian High (Mich.) football coach and teacher, started a new challenge this fall as the Dean of Students of Holland High.

“Yeah, when I heard the title too, it was somewhat new to me,” he said. “The ‘assistant principal’ role is more focused on the curricular pieces, supporting teacher development, and gauging the learning that is going on in the classrooms. The ‘Dean of Students’ is more of the social, emotional support [for the students, gauging the] climate and culture, getting the pulse of the student body, and making sure that students are well supported in that way.

“There’s still an element of [being a truant officer], Rumpsa continued. “I walk through the hallways and ‘encourage’ attendance, but there are other elements as well. We have a great team that works to create measures that not just try to correct behavior, but to really encourage positive behavior, to celebrate the culture that we do have here.”

Rumpsa gained valuable experience in a

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leadership role in 2010 and 2011 as head coach of the Holland Christian football team. His teams struggled to a record of 5-13 over two seasons, so he continued his education after receiving an undergraduate degree from Hope College (Mich.).

Rumpsa, who taught history and government at Holland Christian, now focuses on school-wide issues such as bullying, cyberbullying, depression and suicide.

“It’s something that we are definitely mindful of,” Rumpsa explained. “Fortunately, we have an incredibly caring staff that is aware of their students beyond just their letter grade. I often refer to them as the ‘first line of defense,’ of being aware of students’ needs such as having anxiety, depression that are very real in students’ lives. Our counseling staff is a ‘second line’ that supports those teachers, and [we’ve] created a team that comes around students. We also have students that provide some of that support, a ‘pals’ program that tries to identify the needs of a new student, or a struggling student with some ‘peer-to-peer’ support.”

1 2 3

HIGHER SALARY. Continuing education improves your chances of promotion and a higher salary.

IMPROVED MARKETABILITY. Upgrading one’s skills will have direct effect on your marketability in the job market.

LEARN NEW SKILLS. Continuing with your education can help you to obtain the required skills and knowledge when facing any job or career transition.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. Learning and training does not have to relate to your career or job.

Continuing education is a perfect way to follow a personal interest.

IMPROVED IMAGE. Continuing education can also have an effect on how people around you perceive you. It can enhance your self-image and have a positive effect on your life.

4 5

PRESENTS

THE MENTAL SIDE OF THE GAME with Glastonbury Coach Scott Daniels

■■ Glastonbury (Conn.) coach Scott Daniels divides practice into 10- to 20-minute segments.

Q&A

BY DAN GUTTENPLAN OX Sports allows coaches to reach players away from the field and the 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. Each month, OX Sports sponsors a Q&A with a prominent high school coach.

G

lastonbury High (Conn.) football coach Scott

Daniels started his eighth season as head coach this fall. Like many coaches across the country, he adjusted his team’s preseason practice schedule due to severe heat and humidity. In a conversation with FNF Coaches, he reflected on one of the pillars of OX Sports – coordination.

How do you typically map out a preseason practice schedule for the week?

“We sit down and look at the different blocks of time we have available. We schedule incremental hitting and conditioning. Everybody is required to have five days of conditioning. We might split the practice into one-hour blocks and rotate between conditioning and football.”

What precautions do you take on especially hot days?

“Transitions take longer in weather like that.

We’ll tell the players to pop the hats off and rinse the head down. We take more water breaks. It throws a monkey wrench in the schedule, but we abide by the modified practice plan that is provided through the state.”

How often do you transition throughout practice?

“In a regular practice period, we have eight or nine different periods. Those run from 10 to 20 minute each. Then we’ll have a special teams period. Then we might finish off practice by running flex, or two-minute offense, or inside runs – depending on that week’s game plan.”

How much do you hit during those periods?

“We only hit for a certain amount of minutes.

We’re really meticulous with time. We’re very efficient. You can’t keep them out there for three hours, or you don’t get anything back. It’s the law of diminishing returns.”

What do you do when you need to spend more time on a certain drill to make sure the players grasp what you’re trying to teach?

“You have to be extremely efficient. There’s a time to slow down, and that’s during instructional periods when you’re inserting plays and schemes. Walk through it. Pops the hats off

so they know it’s a thinking period instead of a physical period. It’s time to think and use your brain. Let them know you’re allowing the brains to cool down so they can think. With the added awareness of injury risks in practice, we have to make sure we’re very efficient.”

What is the rationale for limiting practice periods to 10 or 20 minutes?

“It will start to get monotonous. We like to go fast, at least offensively. After a 20- or 25-minute block of time, you’ll lose them. We’ll sub in the second-string guys for a team period when that happens. I might revisit it during a team period.

An example of a practice period might be special teams or third-and-short. Maybe it’s just a base offense period.”

How do you avoid having guys stand around if they’re not involved in the drill?

“If we’re doing a special teams period, we’ll have kickoff and scout return. That’s 22 guys.

When we do that period, we’ll have a third-string quarterback who is not on special teams take the receivers with the receivers coach. That guy will have a 10-minute period with third- and fourthstring receivers. We’ll take the line coach and the linemen who are not on special teams and have them run through a coach’s choice drill. If I need a lot of the big guys for PAT, I’ll have the first-string receiver with the first-string quarterback. We have nine coaches, so we have the man power.”

How do you communicate the practice plan with your assistants?

“I send out a script every day. I script it every morning and send it to the defensive and offensive coordinators. I might say, ‘I want you to run Cover 4, Cover 3, Cover 1 – whatever it is that day – for this amount of time. They tell the position coaches. We meet on Sunday morning and map out the entire week.”

NOTHING SET IN STONE

W

hile Daniels devotes a good deal of time to scheduling his practice time, he’s not afraid to make an adjustment on the fly.

Sometimes, he realizes he did not account for how long a learning period might take, so he has to prioritize the remainder of the practice schedule.

“Sometimes, we have to adjust when it’s not enough time,” Daniels said. “As the head coach, that’s part of being a reflective coach.

We have meetings prior to the preseason. ‘Here’s a 20-minute period on this day. And here’s what we’ll do the following day on offense.’ It doesn’t always work out that way.”

Daniels has a process for which he prefers to install plays. He wants to present the play first on the whiteboard. Then he talks about it in the classroom, installs it, and runs it on the field.

“Some players like visuals, some need audio, and some have to physically do it,” Daniels said. “For some, once they execute it, they have it. That’s not happening for others. One guy might be ready after one rep, but if it takes another six reps, we need to run it six times.”

35

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36

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BACK IN THE DAY

‘Dawn Patrol’ in Rural Ohio A NOSTALGIC RECALL OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

BY JOHN SCANLAN

T

■■ John Scanlan, member of the 1976 Logan Elm High (Ohio) football team

38

here stood Pat, on our high school’s cinder track right behind the

home team bench. Pat, a junior, would be the starting middle guard once football season started. The sun was just beginning to rise in the east on yet another day of summer, two-a-day practices.

I saw Coach Barney, sitting in the first row of our home bleachers, give Pat the sign that he could start.

In full pads and helmet, Pat began jogging on the track toward the scoreboard end of our football field.

Meanwhile, I killed the ignition of my car in the school parking lot, being a little early for the 7:00 start of practice. I opened my car door and winced, asking, “How can rural Ohio be so hot and humid this early in the morning?”

Pat rounded the track behind the scoreboard, passing a cornfield on his right side.

I exited my car and turned about to remove my gym bag from the back seat. When I stood erect, I checked on Pat again. Then I groaned. When you were on the Dawn Patrol, your pads seem heavier.

Pat continued his jog, just now beginning to break a sweat. Upon Pat’s arrival behind the visiting team’s bench, I mumbled, “Poor Pat. He’s only one-eighth of the way done.”

Then I looked across the football field at Coach Barney. He was sitting in our stands with his clipboard – twiddling his thumbs. To acknowledge his current position, Pat waved at Coach Barney, who merely returned the wave.

I shook my head and mumbled, “Man, Pat’s running on a cinder track in football cleats – that can’t be good for his feet.”

I shouldered my gym bag, shut my car door – SLAM – and then leaned against my car to watch Pat. Pity Mr. Barney. As the freshman football coach, he was the low man on the coaching totem pole. Thus, Coach Griffith had tasked him to be the lone coach who oversaw the Dawn Patrol. He basically ensured that offenders actually ran and didn’t cut corners.

football coaches! Get your subscription at fnfcoaches.com

John Scanlan is a 1977 graduate of Logan Elm High (Ohio), where he was a senior letterman in football. He won the 1976 “Most Coachable” award in football. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983 and spent 20 years in the Marine Corps as an aviator. The Desert Storm veteran and Top Gun graduate retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

In his second career, he is a freelance writer for publications such as “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” Reminisce, and Good Old Days. He offered this submission to FNF Coaches.

As Pat passed the 50-yard-line behind our home team bench, he looked up at Coach Barney and yelled, “THREE LAPS TO GO!” The freshman coach just nodded and gave him a thumbs-up as Pat headed toward the scoreboard.

In the school’s gravel lot, more cars began to arrive and park around me. Meanwhile, the younger players were being dropped off by their mothers.

For the Dawn Patrol, you had to run one mile in full pads before the regular practice even started at 7:00. It was the penance that you paid for a mental error made in the previous day’s practice.

After passing the 50-yard-line behind the visiting team’s bench, Pat looked across the football field again at Coach Barney.

They exchanged waves.

Then, as the baseball diamond neared, I pondered Pat’s sentence.

The idea behind the Dawn Patrol wasn’t to bust your butt with a fast one mile run; but instead – while doing a slow jog – to reflect upon the mental error that you had committed.

Pat rounded the track’s north end as a few teammates joined me at my car to watch.

When Pat passed the 50-yard-line behind our bench, he looked up at Mr. Barney again, and this time yelled, “TWO LAPS TO GO!” The freshman coach simply nodded and gave him the same thumbs-up as Pat headed toward the scoreboard.

It was funny. Coach Griffith always seemed to enjoy assigning some poor sap to the Dawn Patrol.

Pat adjusted his route and headed toward the visitor’s bench.

Coach Griffith would halt play with his whistle – TWEEET – and then sprint onto the practice field.

After passing the opposing 50-yard-line, Pat waved across the football field again at Coach Barney. He was looking down at his clipboard and didn’t even notice.

After storming onto the field, Coach Griffith would get right into the facemask of the offending player, state his infraction, and yell, “YOU’RE ON DAWN PATROL!” As Pat neared the baseball diamond, I chuckled at Mr. Griffith’s methods.

I wondered what sin Pat had committed, and then checked my watch. We still had a little time yet before practice.

Pat passed behind our home bench, where Coach Barney gave him a thumbs-up before he had even yelled, “ONE LAP TO GO!” Then Pat seemed to quicken his pace toward the scoreboard.

The man behind the whistle was our brand new head coach – Mr. Griffith.

Pat rounded the south end of the track at the cornfield.

Mr. Griffith was a graduate of AAA powerhouse Worthington High School, located in a wealthy Columbus suburb. There, Mr. Griffith had been a football star and state champion wrestler.

Pat continued toward the visitor’s bench, attempting to stride out a little.

Passing in front of the visitor’s bleachers, Pat looked across the field at Coach Barney for the last time. He waved at the freshman football coach, who waved his clipboard in return.

“C’mon Pat, you can do it,” I mumbled. “You’re seven-eighths of the way done.”

Now Coach Griffith had been tasked with turning 60 country bumpkins into – not only winners on the football field – but also winners in life.

When Pat had the baseball diamond on his right shoulder, I pushed away from my car, stating, “Guys, we need to get dressed.”

After which, a small gaggle of football players trooped across the parking lot toward the locker room. But I knew what was happening behind us.

Pat crossed at the 50-yard-line behind our bench and immediately stopped.

He bent over and placed his hands upon his knees, gasping for oxygen. Pant.

Pant. Pant.

Coach Barney had already descended from his seat in the bleachers and walked by Pat, patting him on the back.

“Nice job, Pat.” Pant. Pant. Pant. “Thanks, Coach.”

As Coach Barney walked toward the parking lot, he tossed some advice over his shoulder. “Next time, you’ll think twice about grabbing a facemask, huh?”

“Yes, sir.” Pant. Pant. Pant.

TWEEET! “LET’S GO, PEOPLE. IT’S 6:55. GET OUT TO THE FIELD!”

■■ If you would like to submit an essay for the “Back in the Day” section, please email a 600- to 800-word submission to FNF Coaches editor Dan Guttenplan at dguttenplan@ae-engine.com.

39

INSPIRATION

Many of the best football coaches and players provide inspiration to the people around them on a daily basis. We often present quotes from former players/coaches on Twitter @FNFCoaches. The following quotes received the most buzz from our followers.

Substance

Flash doesn’t win games. Hype doesn’t win games. Going out and executing and doing your job on a consistent basis is what wins.”

–clay helton

Effort

Discipline to me is sacrifice; it’s willingness to give up something you want to do, so you can better yourself.” –bobby bowden

LEADERSHIP

On every team, there is a core group that sets the tone for everyone else. If the tone is positive, you have half the battle won. If it is negative, you are beaten before you ever walk on the field.”–Chuck Noll

Whether it’s a drill or a game, the most important thing is to do the best you can and to not clutter your mind with things you can’t control.” –Mike Leach

Focus

DEDICATION

If you sit back and spend too much time feeling good about what you did in the past, you’re going to come up short your next turn.” –Bill Belichick

40

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