Coaching Management 21.4

Coaching Management

FOOTBALL

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CONTENTS | FOOTBALL Edition | OFFSEASON 2013 | Vol. XXI, No. 4

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Coaching Management

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31

COVER STORY 18

jump start

LEADERSHIP 25 A day to shine

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING 31 The power of ropes

Few things are as exciting as taking over the reins of a football program. Top coaches provide advice on getting off to a good start.

Searching for a way to help your high school players get noticed by college coaches? These authors do so by hosting their own combine.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ strength and conditioning coach shares how he integrates rope training into the team’s programming.

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Q&A 13

mike burzawa

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OFFSEASON

BULLETIN BOARD

New NCAA recruiting rules passed … Coach suffers concussion from hit on sidelines …

Helping with season ticket sales … Spurrier on using two signal-callers … When enrollments decline … Sharing a field.

On the cover

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 42 FOOTBALL FACILITIES 43 COACHING AIDS 44 STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

Recipient of a 2012 Double-Goal Coach Award, Mike Burzawa has made his players at Evanston Township (Ill.) High School winners both on the field and in the classroom.

46 INJURY PREVENTION 47 Team Equipment 48 ROPE TRAINING

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CONTENTS

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3 NCAA rules changes

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4 Coach out with concussion

Recruiting

Access Granted

season tickets

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7 Switching to eight-man

didn’t make sense to prevent coaches from contacting them on Facebook, Twitter, or through texting.”

Some coaches, however, are worried how this rule change will affect their staffs in the competitive atmosphere of Division I football. “I’m going to tell you what, for an assistant coach’s life right now, it’s fixing to change dramatically,” Florida State University Head Coach Jimbo Fisher told ESPN.com. “You’re not going to have a family life. You talk about burnout? I mean, I’m for communication and opening it up, but how are your coaches going to have a life? Because if you’re not spending the time, somebody else is ...

That’s a very scary avenue to go down, in my opinion.”

Coaches will be allowed even more communication with a player once he signs a National Letter of Intent. After a student-athlete has committed, his chosen institution can view him as a student-athlete, not a recruit, and he can receive all the benefits therein.

“Before, there was a limit on communication and how much time an athlete could spend with his coaching staff even after a player signed with a school,” says Teaff. “This rule change gets the player involved in the college program immediately.”

Recruiting rules will also be simplified through elimination of the “baton rule,” which allowed only seven out of a

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8 Steve Spurrier on using two QBs

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9 Two teams, one field

school’s 10 full-time coaches to recruit offcampus at one time. “The new rule says all eligible recruiters can be on the road at the same time, if necessary,” says Teaff.

“This takes a burden off of compliance staff who were responsible for recording which recruiter was flying in, who was flying out, when they left, and when they came back.”

In addition, all members of the football coaching staff can now be involved in recruiting. For example, the director of football operations or director of player personnel is permitted to call a prospect or watch his highlight film. Previously, only the head coach or assistant coaches could carry out such activities. However, non-coaching staff members are still prohibited from visiting with a recruit offcampus.

The downside to this rule is that it could open a loophole in which boosters, agents, or other individuals can negatively influence recruiting. Teaff feels that worry is misguided. “Football programs will be reluctant to allow anyone who is not on staff do any kind of recruiting,” he says.

“Coaches in the AFCA have been trying to New NCAA rules will allow college coaches additional contact with recruits after they sign a National Letter of Intent. Below, players from Aloha (Ore.) High School enjoy signing day this past February.

AP PHOTO/THE OREGONIAN-JAMIE FRANCIS

As part of a larger effort to deregulate its rulebook, the NCAA recently adopted several proposals that will affect football recruiting at the Division I level. Passed by the Board of Directors in January and set to take effect Aug. 1 (barring an override vote), the new rules will allow college football coaches and prospects to have more contact, with the goal of helping recruits make better decisions when choosing a college, as well as simplifying the rules.

One of the biggest changes allows coaches additional avenues to contact recruits. Coaches will now be permitted to communicate with prospects as frequently as they like and use any method they want, including text messages, Facebook, and Twitter. Previously, football coaches were allowed one phone call to a recruit per week and no texts or social media contact.

Grant Teaff, Executive Director of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), believes these changes are long overdue. “The NCAA decided the old rule was too difficult to enforce and impractical given our modern society,” he says.

“The previous boundaries existed because the NCAA thought they were in the best interest of the student-athlete. Well, current recruits live on their phones, so it

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4 Hand delivering

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Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013 3

BULLETIN BOARD get third-party influences out of the recruiting process for years, and I don’t see this rule changing that.”

A few smaller changes are also being welcomed by coaches. One eliminates limits on the types of printed materials that can be mailed to a recruit. Another removes rules that disallowed a school from publicizing a signed student-athlete.

Now, after a recruit signs a Letter of Intent, the coach and school can talk publicly about him.

Only one proposal—making July 1 after a player’s sophomore year of high school the start date for communication between coaches and prospects—did not pass. The Board of Directors decided to delay a vote on this issue, as half wanted an earlier date and half pushed for a later one, and it has asked the Rules Working Group to study the issue further and return with a new proposal as soon as possible.

At the Division II level, two recruiting rules changes were presented to voting delegates at the NCAA Convention. One was to remove the 48-hour restriction on an official campus visit, while the second would have required that all prospects submit their transcripts to the NCAA Eligibility Center before signing their National Letter of Intent. Both proposals were debated, but neither was voted in.

In Division III news, schools followed their Division I counterparts in relaxing rules on communication with recruits. A proposal was passed to let coaches interact with prospects using all forms of social media. This comes on the heels of a 2012 rules change that removed restrictions on text messaging.

Concussion Awareness

Insider Knowledge This past season, legendary West Monroe (La.) High School Head Coach Don Shows gained a new perspective on concussions. Late in the fourth quarter of the Rebels’ victory over Airline (La.) High School in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state playoffs on Nov. 23, an Airline player was knocked out of bounds. As he crossed the sideline, the player unintentionally barreled into Shows, knocking the 72-year-old off his feet. Unable to catch himself, Shows fell backward, his head violently bouncing off of the turf.

Unconscious for what he estimates to be seven or eight minutes, Shows was loaded into an ambulance and taken to a local hospital where he spent the next two days in the intensive care unit. Before sending him home, doctors diagnosed Shows with a concussion and minor bleeding on the brain.

4 Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013

A member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and winner of eight state championships at West Monroe, Shows does not remember anything from the incident. Although he returned for the next game, doctors demanded he watch from the press box. “I came back for the semifinal game, but I wasn’t able to coach like I normally do,” says Shows, who needed help from his assistant coaches to climb the stairs up to the press box.

Despite losing in dramatic fashion— the Rebels fell to Barbe (Lake Charles, La.) High School 49-48 after leading by 21 at the end of the third quarter—Shows describes his memories of the season-ending game as a blur. “My recollection of that game and everything else that happened during that time frame is very, very vague,” he says.

Two months after the season ended, Shows was still feeling the effects of his concussion. As of late January, he was not allowed to drive or climb stairs on his own and continued to have trouble with cognitive recall. “For example, if I was sitting in my house, I had a hard time visualizing the route I typically take to school or understanding what direction I would have to drive to find the Interstate,” says Shows.

Still, Shows plans to be on hand for West Monroe’s spring practices in May and has his sights set on being on the sidelines for the 2013 season. When he returns, the admitted “old-school” coach will have an updated outlook on the seriousness of concussions. “I have a lot more respect for the injury after having one,” he says. “How our team handles concussions is something my coaches and athletic trainer will definitely discuss more in the spring.

Don Shows (far right), Head Coach at West Monroe (La.) High School, spent some time in his players’ shoes this season after suffering a concussion.

Above, he is honored by his school with the naming of its field.

“We have a full-time athletic trainer here at West Monroe and our team doctor is always on the sideline during games,” Shows continues. “I leave the return-to-play decisions up to them. If they say an athlete can’t play, he doesn’t play. Even though I can remember a time when a kid who had his bell rung would have run right back out there and played, that’s not the case any more.”

Promotions & Publicity

On The Clock Four years ago, the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga athletic department was looking for a way to give football season ticket sales a last-minute boost. Turning to pizza companies for inspiration, it implemented a “delivered in 30 minutes or it’s free” promotion. An instant success, the event is now a marketing staple for the school.

The promotion is held between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., on the final day before single-game tickets go on sale in late August. At that time, any person calling in a season ticket order who is within a five-mile radius of the school will get their tickets delivered within 30 minutes.

If the athletic department does not arrive in time, the order is free. Fans are encouraged to call early because the first caller gets their tickets hand-delivered by Head Coach Russ Huesman.

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Last season, the Mocs sold 81 tickets through the promotion, just a few shy of their one-day record set a couple of years ago. “It’s a way to get a buzz started for the upcoming season,” says Erika Lerum, Director of Marketing for the athletic

department. “We promote it heavily to single-game ticket holders through emails and distribute flyers on campus and downtown. This promotion has helped us increase our overall season ticket sales each of the last three seasons.”

The five-mile delivery zone has proven to be the perfect balance of challenging yet doable. “We don’t want to make it too difficult on the people delivering the tickets or give lots of them away,” Lerum says. “But we wanted to create an incentive too. There are some people who really want free tickets, and they time us. Thankfully, we haven’t missed the deadline or even had any close calls yet.”

Along with creating some excitement, the promotion allows members of the athletic department to interact with fans. Most of the deliveries are handled by marketing and ticket staffers, who each take the time to talk with buyers and thank them personally.

Huesman says he enjoys his role of handing out the first tickets. “Most of the As part of a strategy to boost season ticket sales, University of TennesseeChattanooga Head Coach Russ Huesman hand-delivered tickets to a fan during the school’s “delivered in 30 minutes or it’s free” promotion last August.

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BULLETIN BOARD people are shocked to see me, especially when we bring cameras along,” he says.

“Last year, I delivered tickets to an alum who was the basketball team manager when I was a student-athlete here, and we spent some time reminiscing about the players and coaches on that team. It was a lot of fun.”

Fans also appreciate the convenience of the delivery. “We’ve already done our mass season-ticket mailings by this point, so the only options for fans who want season tickets are to come to the ticket office in person or order them online and wait a few days to receive them in the mail. Now, they can just call us and get the tickets delivered quickly and hassle-free.”

There are two keys to making the promotion a success. The first is having enough people on call to make deliveries.

Lerum says the school usually has around six people available, ready to go out in pairs when a call comes in. “That makes it easier if there’s not nearby parking,” she says. “One person can deliver the tickets and make sure we hit our deadline while the other parks.”

A second critical aspect is making sure staffers know exactly where to go. “If

someone calls, we always find out what floor they are on, or the exact location of a hard-to-find office,” Lerum says. “That way, our delivery people aren’t running around lost.”

Although speed is crucial to the promotion’s financial success, Lerum says the main emphasis is always on customer service. “It’s important to interact with the person buying the tickets,” she says. “We tell everyone making deliveries: ‘Don’t just give them the ticket and leave. Talk to them about how long they’ve been a fan, and what they like about the team.

We’d rather miss our next deadline because you were talking with fans than have you leave quickly. We want to create a positive experience for fans, and it starts with the delivery.’”

Downsizing

The Eight Debate In several areas of the country, high school enrollments are declining steadily, which is hitting football participation rates pretty hard. This has prompted more and more schools to consider eight-man football, an increasingly popular version of the sport.

Do the pros of making such a move outweigh the cons?

For Patrick Russman, the answer is yes.

As Head Coach and Athletic Director at St. Patrick High School in Portland, Mich., Russman helped his program transition to eight-man this past year, and was pleased with the results. While the change required some extra communication and new thinking, the team went from having a losing record to making the state semifinals.

“We’re the smallest school in our league by 60 to 70 students and only had an enrollment of 104 for the 2011-12 school year,” Russman says. “Traditionally, we’ve had about 25 players in the entire program, and because we also fielded a j.v. team, our varsity team would have 13 or 14 players on the roster. This year’s sophomore class only has six boys, so looking ahead, I knew the numbers would be an issue.”

Before making any final decisions, Russman consulted with other individuals involved with the program. His first meeting was with members of the school’s athletic association, which does a significant amount of fundraising for the program.

“The biggest concern I had was game Continued on page 9

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Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013 7

QUESTIONS

3

Most coaches like to designate one quarterback as starter and team leader. Choose the best and put the ball in his hands for the entire game. But Steve Spurrier, Head Coach at the University of South Carolina, is not like most coaches.

Famous for rotating quarterbacks on a series-byseries and even a play-by-play basis, Spurrier has found the platoon system helps his team in a few ways. He gets the most out of the position by tapping into the talents of two players. And it allows him to counsel a quarterback between plays without taking a timeout.

During the 2012-13 season, Spurrier’s roster included two talented signal callers, junior Connor Shaw and sophomore Dylan Thompson, and the Gamecocks relied on both. Each threw for more than 1,000 yards in carrying the team to a top-10 ranking in the Associated Press final poll.

Going into the 2013 Outback Bowl matchup with the University of Michigan, Spurrier decided to give the lion’s share of the offensive snaps to Shaw and hope the junior could lead the team to its 11th victory of the season. However, the season-long system of using two quarterbacks ended up saving the day for the Gamecocks—and providing fans with one of the most exciting and memorable games of the 2012-13 bowl season.

Shaw started things off with a 56-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the game. Then after a seesaw first quarter that included South Carolina returning a punt for a score, Thompson entered the game midway through the second quarter and orchestrated a five-play, 74-yard touchdown drive that put the team up 21-10. He then yielded control to Shaw for the rest of the half.

During the second half, Shaw took most of the snaps until he re-aggravated a foot injury with 50 sec-

Rotating QBs onds left in the game and the team down by a point.

Without calling a timeout, Spurrier inserted Thompson. Five plays later, and with just 11 seconds left on the clock, Thompson found Bruce Ellington in the end zone with a 32-yard strike, giving the Gamecocks a 33-28 victory.

That day, Shaw threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 96 more, while Thompson produced 117 passing yards and two scores. With each player contributing heavily to the successful outcome, we asked Spurrier about his game plan and the key to making a twoSteve spurrier quarterback system work.

What was your strategy heading into the Outback Bowl?

I told Connor before the game that it was his to win. At the same time, I explained to him that sometime during the second quarter Dylan was going to play—although it would be Connor’s game to finish.

But when Connor hurt his foot in the fourth quarter, we had to put Dylan back in.

What makes your two-quarterback scheme so successful?

The only way this kind of system works is if both quarterbacks buy into it and commit to doing whatever is best for the team. That’s the way it works here.

Both guys have the attitude that they’ll do whatever it takes to make us successful. If I tell them that having each of them play is what’s needed, they say, “Yes sir, we’ll do whatever you need.”

With Shaw and Thompson, you have two players in direct competition for playing time. What is their relationship like?

They’re the best of friends. During practices and games, the two of them are always together. And no matter the situation, they are always pulling for one another to succeed. With Connor and Dylan, there is no jealousy between them.

8 Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013

SOUTH CAROLINA athletics

Connor Shaw was one of two quarterbacks to help lead the University of South Carolina to a big New Year’s Day win.

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BULLETIN BOARD

Due to declining enrollment, St. Patrick’s High School in Portland, Mich., transitioned to eight-man football last year. At left, the squad picks up its fourth win of the season, vs. Waldron (Mich.) High.

attendance,” Russman says. “While the number of eight-man teams in the state is growing, we were going to have to play several schools that were an hour or two away from us. When we played 11-man football, our opponents were much closer and their fans traveled pretty well. So I wanted to make sure the association was prepared for the possibility of an attendance drop from visiting schools’ fans.”

Despite the possibility of a lower gate, the athletic association supported the move. “When I laid eight-man out for them, they really understood that this decision was in the best interest of the student-athletes given the difficulties we were going to have fielding an 11-man team,” Russman says.

Convincing his players to give eightman a shot turned out to be a tougher task. “The guys were disappointed that we weren’t going to be playing some of our traditional rivals,” Russman says.

“They also wondered how people would perceive eight-man—if others would consider it ‘real’ football. I told them I understood, but we were just going to play and let the concerns sort themselves out.”

Once Russman got his players on the field, the benefits of the change quickly became evident. “Eight-man enabled us to put some players in their natural positions,” he says. “Because you need more

linemen in 11-man, we probably would have had to line up our best wide receiver at guard.”

While many of St. Patrick’s traditional offensive sets, such as play-actions and sweeps, transitioned well to the eightman game, Russman had to get back to basics on defense. “We had to work our defenders harder and improve their tackling, because they have more space to cover and less help,” he says. “So we emphasized the fundamentals and worked on improving their athleticism.”

As the players embraced the change in tactics, they also began seeing different results. After going four seasons without a winning record, the Shamrocks won their first 11 games and made the state semifinals. In addition, while the regular-season attendance at home games did suffer a slight drop, the school made up that deficit and even surpassed revenue of seasons past by hosting three playoff games.

Russman says the school plans to stay in eight-man for the 2013-14 season, but will revisit the decision every year.

“Going back to 11-man is something we’ll look at with our next enrollment cycle,” he says. “But for now, we’re happy with the transition. The feedback from parents, players, and alums has been great, and the winning season helps, too. Overall, we’re very pleased.”

Facilities

Room for Two Most football teams take a great deal of pride in their facility.

It’s their house or their turf, and they’ll fight to protect it from outsiders.

Competing at Holland Municipal Stadium, Hope College has shared a home field with a local high school for three decades. The Flying Dutchmen open their 2012 season vs.

North Park University, at left.

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Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013 9

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BULLETIN BOARD They’d be surprised to know that two teams—one from a college, the other a high school—in Holland, Mich., have played nice while sharing the same football stadium since 1979. Not only that, but when funding for the shared venue hit a snag last summer, the college pushed to keep the partnership going.

At Holland Municipal Stadium, where the teams have both played since its opening 34 years ago, Hope College competes on Saturday afternoons and Holland High School calls the venue home on Friday nights. The facility was owned for years by the city, sparing each school the expense of building and operating its own football stadium.

That system worked exceptionally well for decades. However, in the summer of 2012, the stadium was in need of renovation. A joint-committee with representatives from the city, high school, and college was formed to figure out the facility’s future.

“Originally, they tried to work out a three-headed ownership plan,” says Tim Schoonveld, Co-Director of Athletics at Hope. “But at that point, the city was experiencing some funding issues that presented a challenge. As we talked about our options, it became clear to everyone that it would be easier for a private organization to own the stadium.

Hope College agreed to purchase it, and now we have a contract with Holland Public Schools so they can still use the facility.

“Nothing is going to get in the way of our relationship with Holland High,” he continues. “We’re looking forward to many more years of working together— and I believe they would say the same of us, since the schools have always had a good working relationship.”

Due to the teams’ different game days, scheduling has never been a conflict.

“We know that they always have their games on Friday nights, and ours are on Saturdays, so that makes the time-share aspect easy,” Schoonveld says. “The only difference will be that now, instead of both teams working with a city employee to schedule the field, we’ll go through an events office on Hope’s campus.”

For Hope College, learning how to manage the stadium’s operations has been the biggest challenge. “The college didn’t really know what it took to run the facility since the city had handled everything previously,” Schoonveld says. “We used to just show up for our games, and when we got there, everything was already organized, opened, and ready to go. So there was definitely a learning curve when we started handling everything.”

The positive is that ownership allows more of a home-field advantage. “It was a grass field previously, so to avoid tearing it up, neither team used it for practices,” Schoonveld says. “As part of the facility’s upgrade last summer, we installed synthetic turf, which allowed Hope to hold the majority of its practices there during the 2012 season. Also, Holland High usually had one practice per week at the stadium.”

Schoonveld believes sharing the stadium is a win-win. “We’re happy to have such a unique partnership that allows both teams—and the community—to use

a great facility,” he says. “In today’s world, funding and money are hard to come by, and sometimes budgets dwindle.

“Sharing a facility may not be everybody’s preference,” Schoonveld continues. “But if we were to build a new stadium of our own, we’d spend $4 or $5 million. With this arrangement, we were able to take an existing facility and upgrade it for much less. And since we’re able to cooperate with Holland High, we can ensure that it’s being used in a way that’s very meaningful and helpful to our community.” CM

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Q&A

all the buzz

With a new emphasis on academics, Evanston players now routinely go on to college. Alex Zinnedine, above, will become a student-athlete at Illinois Wesleyan University next fall.

Lynn Trautmann/LT Photo (TOP)

Q&A with mike burzawa | evanston township (Ill.) high school

Highly successful coaches typically stay with their highly successful programs, and if they do leave, it’s usually to take a job at the next level. Mike Burzawa, Head Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Evanston Township (Ill.) High School, went against the grain, however, leaving a team that couldn’t lose for one struggling to get a win.

Burzawa, or “Coach Buzz” as he is frequently called, came to Evanston from Driscoll Catholic High School in Addison, Ill., his CoachesNetwork.com

alma mater. In his seven years as a varsity coach from 2001 to 2007—four seasons as defensive coordinator, three as head coach—Driscoll won seven straight Class 4A state championships. As head coach, Burzawa’s record was 41-1. Yet, he decided in 2008 to leave Driscoll for Evanston, a team that had gone 1-8 the previous year and typically lost more than 20 players to academic ineligibility each season.

In four years, Burzawa has changed the Evanston football program dramatically.

Not only is the team winning, they’ve earned three straight playoff berths. Not only have his players’ academics improved, several were named Academic All-State.

Ninety-eight percent of his Wildkits have gone to college, and 34 have gone on to play collegiately.

Such a turnaround has not gone unnoticed.

In recognition of his commitment to Evanston student-athletes on the field and in the classroom, Burzawa was honored with the Positive Coaching Alliance Double-Goal Coach Award in 2012, given to 20 youth and high school coaches annually who combine winning on the field with building character off of it.

In this interview, Burzawa discusses his transition from small to big school, the academic support program he implementCoaching Management OFFSEASON 2013 13

Q&A ed at Evanston, and helping players with the recruiting process. He also reveals why you can find him giving high-fives on the softball field in the spring.

CM: Why did you decide to leave Driscoll following the 2007 season?

Burzawa: There was more than one factor. I started at Driscoll with a core group of coaches—many of whom were program founders—and after a few seasons, the makeup of the staff changed dramatically. First of all, the coach who had hired me out of college moved on to another school.

Then, my former high school coach—who led Driscoll to its first state title in 1991— had passed away in 2007 after returning to the program as an assistant. After they were gone, it felt strange to stay.

But I also felt we had gotten to the point where we had accomplished everything we set out to do at Driscoll, and then some. We won seven state titles in a row, and only nine schools in the country have ever done that.

After all of that success, I knew in my heart it was time to move on.

I was also excited by Evanston’s football tradition and the challenge of coaching in the largest classification in Illinois. Plus, they play in a great conference, which leads to great rivalries. Evanston and New Trier [Township High School in Winnetka] have one of the longest histories in Illinois scholastic football, spanning over 100 meetings.

Were you concerned about the losing records Evanston had been posting in recent years?

They were 1-8 the year before I got there, and 4-5, 3-6, and 3-6 in the years before that.

Members of my family were asking me if I was crazy: “You’re going to go from a school at the top to a school that was 1-8?”

But I’ve always had the philosophy that if you do things the right way, care about your players, and get them to care about each other, great things can happen on the football field. That’s what happened at Driscoll, and it was what I wanted to bring to Evanston.

What was the biggest challenge you faced during your first year?

Football is definitely a humbling game, and I was humbled that first season. I experienced my worst day before the season even started. Two weeks before practice began, while we were in the middle of summer

“The recruiting process is a grind. So we prepare our players through home visits.

A member of our coaching staff sits down with each kid and his family to talk about his goals—for football and beyond.” workouts, I was informed that 24 of my players were academically ineligible after failing summer school.

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After that first season, we sat down as a coaching staff and asked, “What do we need to do to fix this?” We wanted our student-athletes to be eligible when the school year ended on June 10. We didn’t want to have to wait until the end of summer school to find out who was going to be on our team. So we created a whole new philosophy for the squad: academics before athletics.

How did you put the philosophy into action?

We implemented a program called A.M. Support. School normally starts at 8:32 a.m., but football players arrive at 8 a.m. three days a week. During this half-hour, they meet with their teachers for one-on-one tutoring. This initiative obviously helps the student-athletes with difficult material, but it also shows their teachers how much they care about their grades. Those that don’t need the individual help go to the library.

It’s a great feeling to walk in at 8 a.m. and see our players writing papers, reading, and getting their schoolwork organized.

We also monitor our student-athletes’ grades year-round, and I think that’s been helpful. It relays to our players that we don’t just care about them from August to October.

A chart in the weightroom tracks the team’s cumulative GPA for the entire academic year, with our goal being to achieve a 3.0 or higher.

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We have improved our number of eligible players every year. Last year, every kid that wanted to come out for the team had the grades for it, and that was a very proud moment for our staff. The kids are really starting to understand that what they do in the classroom directly affects what happens on the field. You can have dreams and aspirations of playing at the next level, but it’s not going to happen unless you have discipline in the classroom.

My first few years at Evanston my focus was on changing the culture, disciplining the athletes, and getting them to focus on schoolwork. In the past year or two, I feel like we’ve finally been able to get back to the X’s and O’s of this great game. It was necessary to build that foundation, however.

Things are moving in the right direction, and that should continue for years to come.

What did Evanston’s playoff berth in 2010 mean to you?

Circle No. 112 16 Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013

That first one was a wild experience. We were 5-3 going into our last game on the road against Glenbrook South High School from Glenview, which consistently advances to the state quarterfinals. With three minCoachesNetwork.com

Q&A utes left in the third quarter, we were down 31-0. Half the crowd had already left the stadium. But we came back and won 34-31 to qualify for the postseason. That was the moment I knew we had really changed the culture of Evanston Wildkit football.

everybody plays. We really just want the girls to have fun. For example, during my first season, my daughter ran from third base to the dugout when she was batted in—she didn’t even think to touch home plate—but we still went to get ice cream afterwards.

What role do you play in helping your athletes with the recruiting process?

What are your team’s goals for the future?

The recruiting process is a grind. So we prepare our players through home visits.

A member of our coaching staff sits down with each kid and his family to talk about his goals—for football and beyond.

When it comes to working with college coaches, I just try to give them all the information they need and help set up meetings.

The process has gotten smoother every year, and we’ve had a lot of success. Last season, 15 of our 44 seniors went on to play at the college level. Knowing that our kids had so much fun playing football in high school that they want to keep doing it in college is such a great feeling for me and my staff.

That’s how we know we’ve done our job.

At the beginning of the 2012 season, we wanted to be undefeated at home, win our league, and win a playoff game. We didn’t accomplish those goals, but we did make

Were you surprised when you won the Positive Coaching Alliance Double-Goal Coach Award?

It was a tremendous honor and I was totally shocked. I was so touched to be nominated by my peers for what we’re doing with our student-athletes at Evanston. To me, coaching isn’t about wins and losses or comparing what my record was at Driscoll to what my record is now. It’s about helping kids reach their goals and improving your program. The Positive Coaching Alliance has done some wonderful things for coaches and youth sports in America, so it was a very nice award, and I’m truly thrilled by it.

How do you balance work and family?

I’ve learned from other coaches that making time for your family is important. I don’t want to become one of those guys who misses his daughter’s childhood and doesn’t realize it until she goes off to college.

For the past two seasons, I’ve coached my eight-year-old daughter’s softball team.

I spend so much time away from my family because of my job, and I knew coaching her team would guarantee me a chance to be with her during the spring and summer.

Doing something fun with her and taking the time to be a dad has been great.

What has it been like to coach youth softball?

It’s the exact opposite of what I do as a football coach. I give high fives even if kids strike out, and it’s not about winning, so CoachesNetwork.com

progress. Last year, for the first time in a very long time, we had winning records for all our football teams—from the varsity squad to the freshman team.

One of the things we’re doing next season is playing the toughest non-conference competition we can find. We’re facing both the defending Class 6A state champion and Loyola Academy, a squad that is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the state. We’ve tried to create a really tough schedule to get our kids mentally and physically ready for the postseason. CM

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At Vanderbilt University, Head Coach James Franklin got immediate buy-in from players by constructing a thorough plan for his first team meeting.

COVER STORY

JUMP

START Few things are as exciting as taking over the reins of a football program. Getting off to a good start entails doing some background research, having a plan for the first day, and reaching out to players and the community. | By Patrick Bohn

When Pete Lembo, now the Head Coach at Ball State University, took the same position at Elon University in 2006, one of the first things he did was meet with the student senate to gauge the on-campus perception of the football program. What he heard shocked him.

JOHN RUSSELL/VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY

“I found out that the students weren’t pleased with the attitude they saw from our players,” Lembo says. “As a result, the students didn’t have a positive view of the program as a whole.

“I spoke to the team the next day and told them we were going on the offensive to change that,” he continues. “We became more involved in campus events and volunteer opportunities. And the student body’s perception of our program changed pretty quickly. At the time, we were basically forcefeeding the players the importance of community buy-in, but after a few years, it became part of our culture.”

Starting a job as the new head coach on campus is exciting, nerve-racking, and comes with a big to-do list. There are people to meet, questions to have answered, and CoachesNetwork.com

systems to put in place. How do you decide what to tackle first? And how do you get your feet wet without drowning?

For Lembo, meeting with student leaders took precedence at Elon and led to an important culture change. Other coaches focus on player relationships or local community support. In this article, coaches give the low-down on how to successfully take over a program.

BACKGROUND WORK

The first step coaches suggest after landing a job is learning as much as you can about your new school. The more knowledge you can gain about its culture, the better you’ll be able to hit the ground running.

John Mannion, who spent 14 years on the staff at Foothill High School in Pleasanton, Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013 19

COVER STORY

Calif., before becoming Head Coach at Silverton (Ore.) High School in 2010, began his research during the interview process. “I had a second interview scheduled on a Monday, and I arrived in town on Saturday,” he says. “The boys’ basketball team was hosting a state playoff game that night, and I went to it to get a feel for how much the community supported

James Franklin, who became Head Coach at Vanderbilt University in December of 2010, says there’s a delicate balance between gathering enough information and too much.

“I was eager to learn about the history of the program so I knew our strengths, our weaknesses, and the challenges facing us. That’s how you enable yourself to succeed in a new

our program, which was going to be a big selling point during recruiting.”

DAY ONE

With a good feel for the culture of a program under your belt, the next step is planning how to make a great impression during your first days. Franklin says coaches have to

“During that first week at a new school, I’m almost never in my office. I’m walking the halls and talking to players about what they’re interested in. That lets them know I’m a real person and not just a coach, and that I see MARK FREEMAN, SPANISH FORT (ALA.) HIGH SCHOOL them as more than football players.” the athletic programs. The atmosphere was completely positive, which told me a lot about the town’s ties to the Silverton Foxes.”

In order to get a good understanding of his new school, Greg Malling spoke to community members and senior players soon after he was hired in 2011 as Head Coach at Arrowhead High School in Hartland, Wis. He also talked with recently-retired Head Coach Tom Taraska.

“I found out that Arrowhead players not only expect to win, they know how to do it,” Malling says. “That changed a lot of things for me. I realized I didn’t need to spend time building the confidence of the players.

Instead, I could focus on instruction and tactics right from the start.”

job,” he says. “But I didn’t want to get bogged down by the past. Vanderbilt hadn’t had a winning season since 1982 and hadn’t won a bowl game in over 50 years, and I didn’t want to waste time on negative things.”

At the University of Central Missouri, Head Coach Jim Svoboda—hired in January of 2010—felt it was important to thoroughly understand the entire athletics program. “I already knew a bit about the football program, because I had recruited against them for 10 years as a member of the Northwest Missouri State University coaching staff,” he says. “But I wasn’t aware of the quality of the facilities and the success of the other teams here. Learning that showed me there was going to be strong administrative support for

CHOOSING BATTLES As the leader of the program, most head coaches want to control all aspects of a team.

But there’s a fine line to walk when it comes to respecting community norms and implementing new ideas.

“An administrator at a previous job advised me to pick my battles,” says John Mannion, Head Coach at Silverton (Ore.) High School. “You might be passionate about doing things a certain way, but if you’re new to the school, the community may not understand that passion right away. After you’ve been there for a few years, people will understand you better, and you can start making changes, but tread carefully that first year.”

One battle Mannion did choose to wage, however, involved sportsmanship.

“I sent a message to our fans during one of the first games I coached,” he says. “We were on the road, and we weren’t getting any calls. Some of the fans started getting on the referees, and I turned around and told them, ‘We’re not going to be that kind of team. I don’t let my players get away with that on the sidelines, so it needs to stop.’ It quieted down pretty quickly.

“After the game, some parents told me they were surprised by what I said,” Mannion continues. “But I believe there’s a tone you need to set for your program, and if you’re firm, the community will respect you.”

project confidence from the moment they’re introduced. “When you walk into that opening press conference, you have to carry MADE IN USA yourself well,” he says. “It sets the tone for your program. If you come armed with a plan and the confidence it will work, that will go a long way toward reassuring everyone you’re the best man for the job.”

Malling advises avoiding what he calls “first day chaos.” He knows this is no easy task from his previous experience taking over as Head Coach at Wootton High School in Rockville, Md., in 2005.

“I learned the hard way that trying to do too much, too fast, on the first day can lead to issues,” Malling says. “I attempted to install a new offense, but I didn’t know enough about it to put it all in place that day.

I was asked a question about the offense by one of my players and I didn’t know the answer. I got that sick feeling in my stomach from being embarrassed.

“Coaches have to know when to stop on that first day,” he continues. “And I can assure you, whenever you think the appropriate time is, it’s actually sooner.”

After that experience, Malling developed a system for getting off on the right foot that he used when he started at Arrowhead. “I learned to rank everything I wanted to accomplish that first day from most important to least important, and that really helped me,” he says. “The key is to ask yourself, ‘If we needed to win a game tomorrow, what would the players absolutely need to know?’ Focus on that, and then worry about the rest later.”

Mannion stresses that it’s especially important for coaches to be organized and energetic that first day of practice. “A team is a reflection of its coach,” he says. “So on Day One, you need to be the first person on the field, and PATRICK BOHN is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: pb@MomentumMedia.com.

20 Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013

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you need to make sure every station is set up properly. That sends a message to your players that you’re not going to waste their time, and you expect the same from them.”

DEVELOPING A BOND

As the first day turns into the first few weeks, coaches suggest that you concentrate primarily on connecting with players. “When you get to a new school, it’s tempting to do a million things, like redesigning the logo or ordering new uniforms,” says Mannion. “But I think you need to spend as much time as you can with your players. Your relationship with them is the key to the transition going smoothly because they’re going to be sizing you up right away.”

Franklin suggests over-preparing for that first meeting with players. “You can’t expect kids to run through a wall for you like you could 20 years ago,” he says. “They’re going to ask you questions before they do anything, so you had better be ready. That’s why I type up every one of my coaching philosophies before I meet with players. Even though I don’t bring them with me, it helps me organize my thoughts. I can answer any question a player has quickly and with confidence.”

For Svoboda, a good tactic was coming into his first team meeting armed with lots of background information. “Do some research on your key players’ accolades before you meet with the squad,” he says. “That way, you can single those players out, and they’ll know you care enough about them to learn what they’ve accomplished. You have to remember

that it’s never easy for players to go through a coaching change. They want to know that you’re there for them and that you want to keep the program’s momentum going.”

Team meetings are an important part of getting to know your players, but they’re really just the first step. “My first year at Ball State, our staff skipped the AFCA convention, which occurred just after I was hired,” says Lembo.

“Instead, we spent that week meeting with every player in the program to talk with him about his past experiences and goals for the future. We wanted to thoroughly understand what each athlete wanted to accomplish. It was time-consuming, but well worth it.”

Malling says meeting with your seniors is especially critical. “Any time a new coach comes in, the seniors are going to be worried,” he says. “They’ll wonder if you’re going to push them aside in order to develop young players. I knew I wasn’t going to do any of that when I started at Arrowhead, so to alleviate any concerns my senior players might have had, I met with them and told them I planned on winning immediately.”

While formal meetings are important, you can make a good impression on players in more casual ways as well. “During that first week at a new school, I’m almost never in my office,” says Mark Freeman, Head Coach at Spanish Fort (Ala.) High School. “I’m walking the halls, and talking to players about what they’re interested in. That lets them know I’m a real person and not just a coach, and that I see them as more than just football players.”

INTO THE COMMUNITY

As Lembo showed at Elon, community relations is a big part of being successful as a new coach. Franklin couldn’t agree more.

“Our philosophy is that every person we meet is a Vanderbilt fan,” he says. “And if they aren’t, they should be by the time they’re done talking with us. So our staff hasn’t turned down a speaking engagement since I got here.

“Additionally, I’ve done a lot of work developing relationships with the campus community,” he continues. “I learned that 40 percent of the undergraduate students on campus are part of a Greek organization, so I’ve visited every fraternity and sorority at least three times. Also, a few times a week during the spring, I take some deans and academic administrators out to lunch, just to let them know they can come to me if they ever need anything from the football program.”

Lembo says he sensed a “divide” in towngown relations in Muncie when he was hired at Ball State and realized the football team could help bridge the gap. “We’ve done a lot of things to establish a connection with the community,” he says. “During preseason camp, our players go downtown and have meet and greets at local businesses and restaurants. And during the spring, each player is required to volunteer for an organization on campus or in town.”

Another aspect of community relations is deciding what traditions to keep, and which ones to toss. “Ball State has had a longstanding program called ‘Cardinal Cooks,’ which takes place over fall break,” Lembo says. “In

sURVEYING sTAFF Players aren’t the only ones affected by a change in head coaches. Assistant coaches will be understandably

concerned about their futures. They can also play a big part in making your transition successful.

During his first few days as Head Coach at Ball State University, Pete Lembo talked with assistants from the previous regime to decide which staff members would be a good fit and which would not. “I didn’t want to simply come in and clean house,” he says. “I wanted to let them know I was entering this job with an open mind and they were on equal ground with everyone else I was looking at hiring. I wound up retaining two coaches, and those early meetings were critical to our relationship being successful.”

When Mark Freeman was named Head Coach and Athletic Director at Spanish Fort (Ala.) High School in 2011, he faced an awkward situation with an assistant coach from the previous staff whom he had succeeded as Head Coach at another school. When

22 Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013

he arrived at Spanish Fort, Freeman was understandably nervous about potential animosity.

“I honestly thought he wouldn’t want to remain as an assistant coach because of our past,” Freeman says. “But as soon as I got here, he came up to me and said, ‘I want to stay here, so just tell me what you need from me.’ I was so relieved, because I knew he was a quality coach. The two of us sat down, and I discussed my vision for the program, which he embraced with open arms. Since then, he’s become an integral part of the staff, as well as the Assistant Athletic Director.”

Jim Svoboda, Head Coach at the University of Central Missouri, says consistency is a key to maintaining a positive relationship with leftover coaches. “I think the worst thing you can do is be one guy the first day and a totally different guy the next,” he says. “You don’t have a history with the staff, and they don’t know what to expect from you. Any time you talk with them, you need to have conviction and stick by what you believe.”

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COVER STORY

this program, the team eats a meal with a local supporter of the program. When I heard about it, I was blown away, because it fit exactly with everything I wanted to do to establish a connection with the Muncie community.”

At Silverton, Mannion decided to stick with a school tradition when he came on board in 2010, even though it did not fit with his personal philosophy. “At my previous school, the players wore ties on game day,” he says. “I’ve always liked that, because

seen before, but they’ve done it here for a long time, so I let them keep it.”

Since arriving at a school that lacked strong traditions, Franklin has strived to create an identity for his squad, even in small ways. “I think branding is important,” he says.

“I think branding is important. So the players have started holding their middle and pointer fingers and their thumb up—which creates a ‘V’ and a ‘U’—when they see someone in Vanderbilt gear. It’s a way for us to put a JAMES FRANKLIN, VANDERBILT University stamp on the program.”

However, he changed one custom to better support this vision. “It’s a tradition that the team stays in a hotel the night before each home game,” says Lembo. “Previously, the team had stayed at a hotel nearly an hour outside of town. I went to our players’ leadership council and said, ‘If we stay in a hotel downtown, not only will we support a local business, we’ll help establish home games as a community event. I think we should change the tradition.’ The players agreed, and we’ve stayed at a hotel in town the night before home games ever since.”

to me, it emphasized the importance of the day. But at Silverton, the players always wore their jerseys, and they take a lot of pride in that. I decided that it if meant that much to the kids, I wasn’t going to change things just to fit my personal preference.”

And who knows? After a while, a school’s existing rituals may start to rub off on you.

“Arrowhead has had a tradition where the players meet in the end zone before the game and call out each position group, and those players say a few words of encouragement,” Malling says. “It’s not something I’d

“So the players have started holding their middle and pointer fingers and their thumb up—which creates a ‘V’ and a ‘U’—when they see someone in Vanderbilt gear. It’s just a way for us to put a stamp on the program.”

While coaches don’t get into the profession to think about game-day attire and pre-game rituals, little things like these are still part of the job. Knowing when to give and when to stay firm can make the difference between successfully taking over the reins of a new program and creating an opportunity for another coach to give it a try. CM

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At last year’s United States Army/South Bend Community Schools Football Combine, players warm up together (above) before proceeding to eight testing stations, including a medicine ball throw (top left) and height and weight check (bottom left).

A DAY TO SHINE Searching for a way to help your high school players be noticed by college coaches? These authors do so by hosting their own combine. By Kirby Whitacre & Ellen Taylor

Like many athletic administrators and coaches, we are always looking to do more for our student-athletes. Here in the South Bend (Ind.) Schools, one such idea we have put into action is to host a football combine. For some students in our four high schools, the only way to attend college is by CoachesNetwork.com

receiving some sort of financial aid. Knowing there is scholarship money for athletes at small colleges, but that coaches at these schools don’t have big recruiting budgets, we felt a combine could be a great way to publicize local athletes.

While many private groups already host successful combines, they can be expensive for the student-athlete. The difference with ours is that it is free for everyone—players, college coaches, and the public.

We have hosted two football combines so far. When we started, we had no idea it would be so wildly successful and bring such accolades from parents and coaches. We also didn’t realize how much fun we were going to have with it.

Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013 25

LEADERSHIP

RALLYING THE TROOPS

As we began exploring the idea of holding a combine in late 2010, we happened to be approached by Capt. Wesley Lewis, the Chicago Battalion District Commander for the United States Army Recruiting Company, who was also thinking about how to put on this type of event. We were intrigued by the Army’s interest but perplexed as to how it would benefit from such an endeavor. Wes told us the Army was under a directive to foster solid public relations in local communities, and he felt a football combine could do just that while also giving back to the South Bend area.

For us, the Army’s sponsorship and support were critical for going ahead with the

had only four months to plan. Wes convinced us we could pull it off, so we quickly assembled our schools’ high school football coaches for a meeting.

Although the combine would require little work for our coaches—we were only asking them to man the testing stations and encourage their players to participate—they were skeptical that it was possible to get all the details in place by May. However, Wes was completely confident we could make the event happen and gave our coaches a pep talk. After a second meeting, the coaches agreed to help us host a combine, albeit with some doubt we had enough planning time.

We took the coaches’ concerns into account and decided to keep the combine

workers. On the organizing end, we felt early on that we needed one more person on our planning team (of Wes and the two of us), especially since none of us had ever been directly involved in football. We reached out to our school district’s Director of Employee Relations, John Roggeman, for help. An attorney, former Indiana University running back, and current Big Ten football official, John is a walking encyclopedia of football facts and one of the game’s great ambassadors in northern Indiana.

Not only did we use John to help plan the combine, we also gave him the task of playing host to the visiting college coaches. He got them registered and acclimated to the facilities and hosted them in the hospitality room,

For the position stations, the high school coaches came up with drills, which were similar to those done at larger, national combines. In the first year, we did not have place kicking and punting as part of the position drills, but added it the second year after college coaches expressed interest in the area. project. It would fund almost all aspects of the event, from equipment purchase to awards, and supply us with manpower and publicity. The Army also agreed to secure speakers.

Wes also provided something we didn’t at first understand the full value of—himself.

We quickly learned that Wes is a “can-do” expert logistician who is extremely intelligent, hardworking, goal-oriented, and stubborn in a good way. He is also one of the nicest people we have ever met. He is a true leader in every sense of the word and has a way of engaging people that leads to great outcomes.

We decided to hold our first combine on May 21, Armed Forces Day, and call it the United States Army/South Bend Community Schools Football Combine. It would feature eight testing stations in the morning, with players performing position drills in the afternoon. Spectators and college recruiters could see the athletes in action all day. At the end of the combine, each participant would receive a print-out of their test scores, allowing them to compare their results to others listed on national combine Web sites.

While the date was a great tie-in for the Army, it was now January, which meant we KIRBY WHITACRE is Director of Athletics for the South Bend (Ind.) Community School Corporation, which includes four public high schools and 10 intermediate centers, and can be reached at: kwhitacre@sbcsc.k12.in.us.

ELLEN TAYLOR is an Administrative Assistant in the district’s Athletic Office and can be reached at: etaylor@sbcsc.k12.in.us.

26 Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013

small, so we could execute it well. Players from the 77 high schools that fell under Wes’s Company Command in northwestern Indiana were invited, as well as college coaches in a four-state area. We expanded the invite for our second combine to college coaches from a 10-state area.

Holding our combine in mid-May, we knew NCAA Division I coaches couldn’t attend since that is a dead period for recruiting. But the date still worked well for us because we were really gearing our combine toward NAIA and NJCAA schools, which is where most of our kids will play. We also had NCAA Division III coaches in attendance, and although they cannot offer scholarships, these schools are often a good match for our student-athletes.

It was important to get other area high school coaches on board, which was done primarily by the Army recruiters. These coaches were critical in convincing their athletes to attend, and some of them manned the position drills.

Finally, we chose a venue. We used our historic football stadium downtown, the adjacent soccer field, and the nearby middle school our first year. Needing more space the second year, we used a different field, a more spacious complex with an adjacent middle school, which also allowed a much better traffic flow.

LOTS OF LOGISTICS

Hosting a combine requires a great deal of manpower, from organizers to event-day

adding a personal touch to their visit.

One of the biggest aspects of planning was organizing the testing and skill events. This was delegated to the Army’s staff of recruiters in our area. The South Bend Recruiting Station covers 77 high schools in northern Indiana, and its employees liked the idea of helping out. We split this region into East and West for planning purposes. East was in charge of the testing stations and West took control of the position drills.

Wes then planned the “extras” that would make the event memorable. This included activities for families, a motivational speaker, and a gift bag for participants.

Along with staffers, we needed equipment for some of our eight testing stations, which were bench press, height, weight, vertical jump, standing long jump, short shuttle, 40yard dash, and medicine ball toss. We considered borrowing this equipment, but because it needed to be of high quality to ensure the integrity of the results, the Army decided to purchase much of it.

For the position stations, the high school coaches came up with drills, which were similar to those done at larger, national combines. In the first year, we did not have place kicking and punting as part of the position drills, but added it the second year after college coaches expressed interest in the area.

To publicize our combine, we used the Army recruiters in our region to spread the word during their visits to the high schools in our area. We also had an article in the South Bend Tribune, got it mentioned on the radio, CoachesNetwork.com

Circle No. 118

and used word of mouth from the coaches to their players. The second year, we also set up a Web site, and we entered players’ information into a database for a nominal charge.

To offset costs and meet some additional

bine, they entered an intake area where they were provided their gift bag, which was an Army cinch sack loaded with free stuff from sponsors and a shirt to be worn during the combine. They were also given informa-

dents and a coaching staff walking towards our door from the parking lot. They had not pre-registered. But they had traveled 90 miles, and we could not say no.

As anyone in education knows, you plan

The opening ceremony consisted of a local school choir singing the national anthem ... We also had a former Notre Dame football coach turned college recruiter talk to participants about how to handle the recruiting process. needs, we lined up sponsors for the combine.

This included an area restaurant, which provided us with a hospitality room and benefited by selling concessions to the public. Other sponsors gave us monetary donations, and we publicized them by hanging their banners at the event, placing ad material in the gift bags, and having public announcements acknowledging their sponsorship. Our school athletic trainers and medical staff provided on-thespot care, and we promoted their clinic.

THE BIG DAY

When participants arrived at the com-

tion about the day’s events, an official number, and a testing card, which listed their basic information, the eight testing stations with spaces for scores, and the player’s assigned group for the drill portion of the day.

Our goal for registration in the first year was 300, and we were thrilled when we had 298 sign-ups. Participants were required to pre-register online, and we had to turn 15 people away at the door who hadn’t begun the registration process. We were beginning to pack up the paperwork and join the others in the gymnasium when we saw 50 stu-

for the unexpected, and we had extra packets and bags available. We were able to quickly make numbers to accommodate the players for the position drills. We created another section to accommodate our newbies and got them through the intake process and into the gym in time to join the others for the opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony consisted of a local school choir singing the national anthem, presentation of arms by a high school ROTC unit, and introductions by Army Captains. We also had a former Notre Dame football coach turned college recruiter

Circle No. 119 28 Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013

CoachesNetwork.com

LEADERSHIP

talk to participants about what is needed to be recruited and how to handle the process.

After the opening ceremony, parents were encouraged to remain in the gym where they could listen to additional talks about the recruiting process. One of our sponsors, NCSA Athletic Recruiting, supplied two speakers for parents.

Players left the gym in their assigned groups and were placed in formation to enter the stadium. It was a spectacular sight to see 348 athletes, Army personnel, and coaches enter the stadium to partake in a field-wide calisthenics warmup that was led by one of our sponsors, who owns a gym. After this 15-minute warmup, athletes were taken to their assigned testing stations for the start of the combine.

Army recruits who had not yet left for basic training accompanied the groups of 25 to each of the testing rotations. These young men and women followed the players from station to station, recorded data, and brought it to the combine’s central computer lab. Having these escorts worked out well because it allowed the athletes to focus on the task ahead.

Rotations from station to station happened every 30 minutes. If participants finished a station early, they could progress to the next one to get started or watch the other participants, allowing them to get a feel for what was happening. Water and fruit snacks were available at every testing station.

Once all the testing was completed, athletes participated in position drills, while college coaches watched from the stands. During this time, a certificate was generated for each participant with their final test results.

At the end of the day, we had a motivational speaker. The first year, the Army was able to get Daniel Ruettiger, whose story about his improbable time as a member of the Notre Dame football team was told in the movie Rudy. Because we live in South Bend, home of the University of Notre Dame, Rudy’s presence at the combine proved a huge public relations coup, and we really enjoyed our time with him.

The Army brought in Coach Jack Lengyel as keynote speaker the second year. His story was chronicled in the movie, We Are Marshall. He took over Marshall’s football program after the tragic plane crash that killed most of the coaches and players, and he later served as Athletic Director at Fresno State, Missouri, and Navy. Jack is a gracious gentleman and was an outstanding choice.

After the speaker, the Army publicized those local high school students who received scholarships to college from the military. Oversized checks were presented CoachesNetwork.com

and the recruits talked about what they are studying, why, and their goals after college.

Finally, to make sure families were entertained, the Army brought in a rock climbing wall and a virtual games semi-truck. We also had an Army-sponsored drag racer with his car, other exhibits of interest from sponsors, and a concessions booth. We ended our day a half-hour behind schedule, which wasn’t bad, considering it was the first time any of us ever hosted a combine!

Overall, the event was a great experience for everyone involved. Student-ath-

letes got their fitness and skills assessed with college recruiters looking on and benefitted from the guest speakers. For us, it was fantastic to partner with the Army and Wes. We were proud to pull off something that the Army had never done before, but has now become a model for other schools around the country. CM A version of this article has appeared in our sister magazine, Athletic Management. For more articles from Athletic Management, please visit: www.AthleticManagement.com.

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Circle No. 121

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

Adding ropes to the Bengals’ strength program has helped receivers like A.J. Green hang on to tough passes.

ap photo/michael perez (Top)

THE POWER OF ROPES Rope training is making waves in weightrooms everywhere. Here, the Cincinnati Bengals’ strength and conditioning coach shares how he integrates the idea into the team’s programming.

By Chip Morton

CoachesNetwork.com

For many of us, our first exposure to ropes as an exercise modality came in gym class.

Do you remember standing around while everyone took a turn climbing—some more successfully than others—a thick braided rope hanging from the gym rafters?

Climbing a rope has been, and always will be, an effective strength- and staminabuilding workout. But more recently, the use of ropes for exercises beyond the traditional has gained attention from athletes, strength coaches, and personal trainers everywhere.

Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013 31

strength & conditioning

For the purposes of this article, we will refer to it as rope training.

Integrating ropes into strength and conditioning workouts adds versatility by allowing for a wide variety of exercises. Athletes can use a single free standing rope, two ropes attached to an anchor point, or a machine that has a rope mounted on a pulley system to perform various pulling motions from different stances. With free standing or anchored ropes, athletes can move them in undulating, wave-like patterns (this is called wave training).

Ropes can also be used to build strength by substituting them in place of conventional modalities like barbells, dumbbells, and weight machines. Since we started incorporating rope training into the Cincinnati Bengals’ training program in 2007, players have seen positive adaptations in strength and stability through the midsection, back, biceps, triceps, shoulders, and lower body, as well as grip strength.

From a conditioning standpoint, wave training appears to provide significant stimulus to the cardiovascular system. It allows

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an athlete to perform high output training in a low impact manner, which gives a coach an effective alternative to more traditional higher impact conditioning drills.

Next to the physical benefits accrued, one of the most appealing things about rope training is its simplicity. If a rope machine is not readily available, all that’s required is a length of rope. The most commonly used ropes are between 25 and 50 feet long with a diameter of 1.5 to 2 inches.

In our program, rope training gives us a great way to change up some of our more traditional workouts and challenge our players’ work capacity and resilience. We utilize ropes in a number of different scenarios throughout the year, including as part of a full-team circuit to develop work capacity. And injured players who cannot perform running drills may use rope training to supplement their conditioning.

ROPE EXERCISES

There are numerous exercises that can be done with ropes. The most common motion we use is “making waves,” but we also do basic motions such as horizontal and vertical pulling. Each exercise recruits different muscle groups and places a unique demand upon the athlete.

Horizontal Pulling: Using a rope machine with adjustable resistance or by simply wrapping a heavy rope around a cylindrical pole, the athlete sits or stands in various positions and pulls the rope toward themselves hand-over-hand at a brisk, constant pace. This is done usually for a predetermined work interval or number of “lengths of rope.” When using a rope machine, the rope never runs out as it is on a pulley system. But if using a rope wrapped around a pole (two to three inches in diameter—a football goal post works well) the athlete just releases the end of the rope when he reaches it, picks up the other end, and resumes pulling.

This method, known as the pole system, can be performed from a number of positions and with a number of pulling variations. Pulling hand-over-hand, an athlete can stand, kneel, sit, or lie down. Performing the pulling motion while standing integrates the whole body and places demand on the entire kinetic chain, while a seated or lying position focuses more on the upper body musculature.

CHIP MORTON is the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. He can be reached at: Chip.Morton@bengals.nfl.net.

Circle No. 125 32 Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013

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Circle No. 123

Facing the pole and pulling toward the waist (see Figure 1, below) targets the shoulder extensors (lats), elbow flexors (biceps), and grip. Standing sideways to the pole while pulling trains the rotational muscles of the midsection, and facing away from the pole and pulling through the legs (see Figure 2, below) places emphasis on the shoulder flexors and grip.

For another effective variation of horizontal pulling, ropes can be attached to weighted sleds or other heavy objects for pulling and dragging (see Figure 3, below). If we want to

make some of the exercises even more challenging, we have the players wear a weighted vest. Loaded hand-over-hand pulling is a potent developer of upper back and grip strength, as well as endurance. Dragging a sled by walking, marching, or running in different directions targets torso stability and single-leg strength in a format that is appropriate for field and court athletes.

Vertical Pulling: Athletes can pull a single rope hand-over-hand in a vertical motion on a machine. Most of the current models have seats, allowing two options. An athlete can sit and face the rope so it is centered on their body or he can put both of legs to one side to focus more on the oblique muscles.

To make it a total body exercise, the athlete can stand to the side of the seat.

Without a machine, a single rope can be looped around an overhead bar. The athlete then pulls the rope downward to work the back and triceps (see Figure 4, below). To

Figure 1: Horizontal pull to waist

Figure 2: Horizontal pull facing away

Figure 3: Hand-over-hand sled pull

34 Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013

Figure 4: Kneeling vertical pull

train the shoulders and elbow flexors, the rope can be looped around a ground-level attachment and the athlete pulls upward. As with horizontal pulling, the athlete can stand, sit, or kneel.

Wave Training: Arguably the most well known rope exercise is wave training, also called velocity training. Using this method, the athlete creates rhythmic waves with one long rope (50 feet long for advanced athletes) looped around an anchor point or two shorter ropes attached to a single anchor point. In its most basic form, the athlete grips the ropes with an overhand (“pushing” emphasis) or underhand (“pulling” emphasis) grip and creates wave patterns by moving both arms together in unison or by alternating them (see Figure 5, below).

Other forms include making waves in different planes of motion—diagonally across the body, clockwise or counterclockwise circular waves, and side to side. Similar to the pole system of training, the athlete can “make waves” while standing, sitting, or kneeling.

Wave training presents a unique conditioning modality where the velocity and amplitude of the waves created by the athlete determines the intensity of the exercise.

Performing wave patterns with the rope(s) for a predetermined length of time or number of waves is rhythmic in nature and provides no opportunity for rest, thereby training the athlete’s body and mind to sustain effort. Wave programming can include larger amplitude waves with lower frequency for power and strength, or shorter and more frequent waves for speed. The options are almost limitless.

Variations on Conventional Exercises: In addition to the aforementioned ropespecific methods of training, ropes can be used in the weightroom by attaching them to a rack or cage system to perform gripenhanced variations of standard exercises like pull-ups, recline rows (see Figure 6,

Figure 5: Alternate waves

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strength & conditioning

below), triceps extensions, and static holds.

Static holds can be used as a stand-alone exercise to train the stabilizers and grip, or performed between other exercises to make “rest” periods more profitable. For example, have your athletes hold in the contracted position of a pull-up (see Figure 7, below) or recline row.

BENGALS PROGRAMMING

With the Bengals, overall, we follow the principles and training ideas outlined in the

“Battling Ropes” training system developed

by John Brookfield. During specific phases of the training year, different methods of rope training are programmed into workouts for our players.

For example, the week prior to starting voluntary on-field work with position coaches in the 2012 off-season, we moved a portion of our conditioning work from the field to the weightroom by having players perform a circuit that included a series of wave intervals after completing a lifting

workout. Wave training with the ropes was a perfect fit for this time of year because it was low impact, presented a significant training stimulus, and could be performed in a limited amount of space. (See “Post-Lift Circuit” on page 36.)

The low impact but cardio intensive workout reduced the actual and perceived orthopedic load on the players’ feet, ankles, knees, hips, and low backs. Our players really appreciate this type of consideration, as it allows them to continue the condition-

Figure 6: Bodyweight recline row

1-800-4-SAMSON WWW.SAMSONEQUIMENT.COM Figure 7: Static pull-up hold Circle No. 124

CoachesNetwork.com

Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2013 35

strength & conditioning

ing process while staying mentally and physically fresh for the skill-specific on-field work that lies ahead.

We used another circuit with our firstyear players at the conclusion of our mandatory mini camp. The goal of this particular circuit was the development of

core stability, power, and endurance, all in a lower-impact setting. This circuit was preceded by mobility work and dynamic movement drills performed on the field.

(See “On-Field Circuit” on page 38.)

In the past, we have also used rope training with great success in the team camp

post-lift circuit In this circuit, players stay at each station for approximately five minutes.

Station One:

Cycling

On an Airdyne bike, players sprint for five seconds at 100-plus RPMs, pedal easy for 25 seconds, and repeat.

Station TWO:

Kettlebell Carries

Players perform single-arm overhead kettlebell carries (also known as a waiter’s walk) for about 60 feet, then repeat with the other arm. This drill can be done with a partner in an alternating format to allow for rest.

Station THREE: Waves & Holds

Using a rope around a pole, players perform two sets of both two-arm waves and alternate waves for 30 seconds each. The waves are alternated with two sets each of planks and static rope holds (an isometric hold at the top of a pull-up position) for 30 seconds each.

setting with players who are limited by injury, reconditioning after an injury, or have specific goals such as weight control. In these instances, having a conditioning modality that elicits a substantial training response with a reduced-impact training load is especially appropriate because these players are completing multiple workouts in a day. The coach can manipulate the duration of work and recovery intervals to match the energy system needs of the player’s position, create an energy deficit, or train around an orthopedic limitation in the return-toplay process.

Incorporating rope training into our workouts also promotes variety. For example, if the workout of the day calls for a horizontal pulling movement using the upper body, the movement may be performed using a machine, dumbbells, kettlebells, or bodyweight. If a bodyweight row is selected, we have the option to use suspension straps or ropes hanging from a rack.

And it’s a time saver, which comes in handy quite often. If we are dealing with a large number of players in a compressed time frame, this is a great option because no weight

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changes or recording is involved, making for quick transitions from one user to the next.

Training with ropes has been a difference maker in our strength and conditioning

program. We have used all of the aforementioned variations to provide our players with an effective training modality that can be adjusted to our needs under a myriad of

on-field circuit In this circuit, players stay at each station for approximately six minutes.

Station One:

waves & Planks

Using a rope around a pole, players perform three sets each of two-arm waves and alternate waves for 30 seconds each. The waves are alternated with two sets of push-up extended planks (where the athlete holds at the top of a push-up position) and two sets of side planks (where the player is on the elbow for support).

Station TWO:

Carries

This station includes four sets of farmer’s walks for 40 yards and two sets of both single-hand carries and single-arm overhead kettlebell carries (waiter’s walk) for

40 yards each. A partner can be used so players get a break between exercises.

Station three: medball throw relay

With two players on each team, the race starts at one sideline. The first player throws a medicine ball and runs to it, repeating the throw and run all the way across the width of the field and back (approximately 106 yards). The ball must cross the starting sideline before the second player proceeds. We perform three “relays” using the forward squats throw, reverse granny toss, and forward scoop toss.

Circle No. 127

circumstances. That is the beauty of rope training: It is adjustable, it is simple to use but not easy, and it will improve your athletes’ mental and physical ability to sustain effort.

As is true when introducing any new protocol, the coach should seek out a reputable source of information before implementing rope training. Take the time to get familiar with the basic teaching cues and progressions before unleashing these exercises on your athletes. Once a baseline level of understanding and confidence with the material has been established, insert exercises into the program incrementally over time and progress them gradually in volume and intensity to facilitate positive adaptations of the muscles and movements involved. You will soon see gains in strength and more motivated players. CM

A version of this article appeared in our sister publication, Training & Conditioning. For more articles from T&C, please visit: www.Training-Conditioning.com.

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2012 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Date/Opponent

Time

Location

Friday, August 24 Norwalk

Friday, August 31

7:30pm Newton HA Lynn Stadium

Adel DeSoto Minburn CSD 7:30pm A-D-M, Adel

Friday, October 12 7:30pm Boone HS

Friday, September 14 South Tama

Dallas Center - Grimes

Friday, October 05 7:30pm Knoxville HS

Friday, September 07 Boone

Time Location

Friday, September 28 7:30pm Newton HA Lynn Stadium

Knoxville

HOmE GAmES iN RED

Date/Opponent

Saydel Community Schools 7:30pm Newton HA Lynn Stadium

Friday, October 19 7:30pm Newton HA Lynn Stadium

Ballard

7:30pm Ballard HS

Friday, September 21 Grinnell

7:30pm Grinnell HS

FOOTBALL RECORDS

ALL STATE SELECTIONS

1982 Chris McCormick 1986 David Rose 1988 Chad Guthrie Derek Moore Reagan Maher Clint Jensen

Head Coach: Ed Ergenbright Assistant Coach: Chris Bieghler Andy Cazett Charlie Hawkins Darren Hurt Managers: Ben Fox Dave Hegstrom Athletic trainer(s): Matt Scotton Jenifer Anderson DPT Dr. Duane Jolivette Cheerleading advisors: Heather Ross Statisticians: Scott Enyart Tom Weeks. Eric VanderVelden

James Jenkins

Brian Smith

Steve Pearson

1989 Rob McCarville Chris Martin 1990 Tony Arrowood Paul Van Maaren Kevin Mortensen Luke Peterson 1991 Trent Vansice Jack Mich

1992 Eric Rinderknecht 1993 Josh Foreman Ike Hammerly Todd Scott Eric Karsten 1994 Josh Foreman (2) 1995 Brian Merryman

1996 Luke Peterson (2) Nathan Stewart Grant Wesson Blake Hansen 1997 Nick Matsen Wade Rinderknecht Craig Wilkening David Foreman Ed Machin

ReCoRDs

1980 Treye Jackson

1998 Joe Illingworth

Tom Weeks

Team Physician

For more information call or email Coaching Management Publisher Mark Goldberg 607.257.6970 Ext. 11 | mg@momentummedia.com Newton School Administration Principal: Bill Peters Asst. or Associate Principals: Dave Kalkhoff Athletic Director(s): Scott Garvis C.M.A.A. Band Director(s): Jim Beerends School colors: Red and Black

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MMT also features custom fabrication and installation for any job. And its team of in-house graphic designers will help you complete the fence screen design.

Plus, you can count on quick turnaround, nationwide shipping, and competitive prices with MMT. Used for various applications such as tennis windscreens, baseball stadiums, gym floor covers, construction screens, athletic fields, perimeters, and special events, MMT’s Custom Fence Screens get the job done. Call or e-mail today for a price quote.

MetroMedia Technologies, Inc. 800-999-4668 info@mmt.com www.mmt.com

40 Coaching Management OFFseason 2013

Directory

Advertisers Directory Circle #. . . . Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page #

Circle #. . . . Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page #

103. . . . A-Turf® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 110. . . . AAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 107. . . . Active Ankle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 114. . . . Aer-Flo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 104. . . . American Public University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 129. . . . Coaching Management e-Newsletter Service. . . . 41 128. . . . Coaching Management Program Service. . . . . . . . 39 105. . . . Cramer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 115. . . . CyberSports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 100. . . . GearBoss® by Wenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC 125. . . . Global Bodyweight Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 111. . . . Medi-Dyne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 118. . . . Mueller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 133. . . . Muscle Ropes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 116. . . . National University Golf Academy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

112. . . . Porta Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 121. . . . Power Lift® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 117. . . . Power Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 122. . . . PowerBlock®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 131. . . . Powernetics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC 102. . . . Pro Look Football. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 123. . . . Rogue Fitness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 124. . . . Samson Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 101. . . . Shock Doctor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 132. . . . Sports Attack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC 108. . . . Sports Tutor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 106. . . . The Athletic Edge by Pivotal Health Solutions. . . . . 11 113. . . . The Halo (Mission Competition) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 127. . . . Total Strength and Speed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 130. . . . TurfCordz®/NZ Manufacturing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

126. . . . New York Barbells of Elmira. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 119. . . . NSCA National Conference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

120. . . . VP Buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 109. . . . Wizard Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Circle #. . . . Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page #

Circle #. . . . Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page #

500. . . . A-Turf® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 504. . . . AAE (goal). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 503. . . . AAE (Portable Multi-Purpose Tower). . . . . . . . . . . . 42 511. . . . Active Ankle (Excel lace-up brace). . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 509. . . . Active Ankle (T2 ankle brace). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 539. . . . Aer-Flo (Tuffy® Ballasted Windscreen) . . . . . . . . . . 42 540. . . . Aer-Flo (Tuffy® Windscreen). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 508. . . . Cramer (950 tape). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 514. . . . Cramer (ESS Ankle Compression Sleeve). . . . . . . . 46 538. . . . CyberSports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 501. . . . GearBoss® by Wenger (lockers). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 530. . . . Global Bodyweight Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 532. . . . Global Bodyweight Training (Climbing Ropes). . . . . 48 513. . . . Medi-Dyne. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 521. . . . Mission Competition (The Halo) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 543. . . . Mueller (Kinesiology Tape) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 544. . . . Mueller (The One®). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 533. . . . Muscle Ropes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 515. . . . New York Barbells (loading chains). . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 531. . . . New York Barbells (training ropes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 523. . . . NSCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 516. . . . NZ Manufacturing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 506. . . . Pivotal Health Solutions (lockers). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 502. . . . Pivotal Health Solutions (modular taping stations).42

529. . . . Porta Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 541. . . . Power Lift® (Indoor Cycling Bike) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 542. . . . Power Lift® (Laser Rack). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 545. . . . Power Systems (Monster Sled™) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 519. . . . Power Systems (Multi Grip Bar™). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 534. . . . Power Systems (Training Ropes). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 548. . . . PowerBlock®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 524. . . . Powernetics (Bulldog/Attacker). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 517. . . . Powernetics (High Stepper). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 536. . . . Pro Look Sports (custom). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 537. . . . Pro Look Sports (stretch tackle twill). . . . . . . . . . . . 47 522. . . . Rogue Fitness (Monster Series Rigs) . . . . . . . . . . . 45 518. . . . Rogue Fitness (Rogue Bar). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 525. . . . Samson (Adjustable Dumbbell System). . . . . . . . . 45 520. . . . Samson (Power Racks). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 512. . . . Shock Doctor (Low Profile Lip Guard). . . . . . . . . . . 46 510. . . . Shock Doctor (ShockSkin). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 528. . . . Sports Attack (Snap Attack). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 526. . . . Sports Attack (Universal Cart Clamp) . . . . . . . . . . . 43 527. . . . Sports Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 547. . . . Total Strength and Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 505. . . . Wenger (GearBoss®/GearBoss II™). . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 507. . . . Wizard Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Products Directory

CoachesNetwork.com

Good CommuniCation is the key to Good CoaChinG Let us create a personalized, professional electronic newsletter system for your football program!

You can use our e-newsletter service to: • Provide updates to the parents of your athletes and supporters of your program • Cultivate advertisers and F O O T B A L L

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sponsors • Publicize fundraising events • Promote your summer camp

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This new service from the publishers of Coaching

Management and Athletic Management is affordable and can help generate income for your Offseason Training Program

program.

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For more information: call Coaching Management Publisher

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CoachesNetwork.com

Circle No. 129

mg@momentummedia.com Coaching Management OFFseason 2013 41

Football Facilities Enhanced Functionality

GearBoss® team room lockers strengthen program pride and enhance team room functionality.

This product features more than 1,000 possible configurations— sizes, features, and accessories— with either metal or wood construction, and is available in a variety of colors/finishes, from school colors to woodgrain laminates. Metal AirPro™ lockers feature an open grid design that promotes air flow, sanitation, and visual inspection. The integrated, hinged seat saves valuable floor space, and is lockable over a security box and footlocker.

Wenger Corp. • 800-4WENGER www.wengercorp.com

Circle No. 501

Fits Any Size

The Athletic Edge introduces modular taping stations to fit any size athletic training room and any budget. The company’s highquality hardwood or laminate stations are manufactured using dowel and glue construction for long-lasting durability.

Athletic Edge’s modular systems allow you to customize the height, depth, seats, and custom graphics for any taping station.

Pivotal Health Solutions, Inc. • 800-627-2387 www.pivotalhealthsolutions.com Circle No. 502

Ideal Perspective

This Portable Multi-Purpose Tower provides football programs with an ideal perspective for taking practice/gameday videos or elevating coaches to observe and drill the team. It’s sturdily constructed of rust-proof, heavy-duty aluminum for the frame and platform. Pneumatic, swivel wheel casters make it easy to move across any surface, and heavy-duty brakes allow for secure anchoring. A detachable ladder leads up to a hinged, automatic closing door, creating a safer access point. Its maintenance-free roof can be custom powder-coated in your team’s color.

Aluminum Athletic Equipment • 800-523-5471 www.myaaeworld.com Circle No. 503

Wave of the Future

Originally made popular by the NFL, this goal design is the wave of the future in any newly built or renovated facility. It’s ideal for stadiums used for multiple sports and/or events because it allows maintenance crews to assemble and disassemble goals at ground level. This makes installation and removal easier and safer than other offset goals. Plus, it is available in six- and eight-foot offsets to accommodate any field layout.

Aluminum Athletic Equipment • 800-523-5471 www.myaaeworld.com Circle No. 504

Super-Premium Windscreen

The Tuffy ® Windscreen lasts for years, because it’s made with Aer-Flo’s exclusive VIPOL® Matrix. Plus, with its five-year warranty, thousands of high schools and colleges—as well as MLB and NASCAR—have put them to the test. Available in 20 standard colors, and with superdurable Chroma-Bond® Imprinting for multi-color logos that will not fade like digital printing, you can see why it is the Official Windscreen of the U.S. Professional Tennis Association. Super-premium but surprisingly value-priced for school budgets, this windsreen is sold only by Aer-Flo Authorized Dealers.

Aer-Flo, Inc. • 800-823-7356 www.aerflo.com

Circle No. 540

Save Space

Wenger’s GearBoss® and GearBoss II ™ storage systems improve inventory management, space utilization, and sanitation.

Requiring significantly less space than traditional shelving, these flexible, high-density carts are easily configurable for a variety of equipment.

Carts roll along a fixed track, allowing easy access and minimizing wasted space. The open design enables equipment to dry quickly, improving sanitation. The GearBoss II system incorporates key GearBoss features and innovations at half the cost.

Wenger Corp. • 800-4WENGER www.wengercorp.com

Circle No. 505

Saves Fences from Damage

Storage with an Edge

Aer-Flo, Inc. • 800-823-7356 www.aerflo.com

Pivotal Health Solutions, Inc. • 800-627-2387 www.pivotalhealthsolutions.com Circle No. 506

The newly patented Tuffy® Ballasted Windscreen can save chainlink fences from high wind damage. Each unit attaches only at the top, while the bottom edge is weighted to keep the screen vertical in low winds. When wind velocity exceeds 20 miles per hour, downwind sections begin to billow out, allowing damaging wind to escape through. This screen was engineered to save fences in winds up to 90 miles per hour. It is available in 20 Vipol® colors and with Chroma-Bond® multi-color imprinting.

42 Coaching Management OFFseason 2013

Circle No. 539

In 2012, Pivotal Health Solutions launched its latest brand: The Athletic Edge. As part of the brand’s introduction, this new line of lockers includes designs and product configurations made from wood, laminate, and steel. With the company’s standard product offering, coupled with innovative custom design services, The Athletic Edge offers lockers to meet any size or budget.

And its design team can help you plan, design, and build the perfect locker room to meet your needs.

CoachesNetwork.com

Coaching Aids

Synthetic Turf Profile: A-TURF Versatile Practice Tool

A-Turf ® is an experienced sitework contractor and synthetic turf athletic field-builder. The company has built hundreds of recreational, practice, and competition fields for all types of sports and levels of play coast to coast. Buffalo, N.Y.based A-Turf is part of P.A.-based Ecore™ Group, North America’s largest processor and user of scrap tire rubber.

Primary Advantages:

The A-Turf Titan is one of the plushest surfaces, featuring blended premium XP ParallelLong Slit Film and Monofilament polyethylene fibers in the same stitch. Not only is Titan a great combination of performance and aesthetics, it also delivers the best safety rating, paralleling perfectly conditioned natural grass. When installed with a resilient ShockPad, Titan delivers the industry’s lowest G-Max ratings throughout the system’s life, making it the safest synthetic playing system on the market.

Recent Installations: Buffalo Bills, Ralph Wilson Stadium SUNY College at Cortland Sahuarita High School, AZ Bluffton-Harrison High School, IN Camden High School, NY McDonogh School, MD

The Snap Attack Football Machine is a snap, pass, and kick machine that will maximize time on the most difficult-topractice phases of the game. The Universal Cart Clamp is designed to fit any round or square mounting post or pedestal from 2.5 to four inches. The clamp securely attaches Snap Attack to the cart, allowing the operator to swivel the machine in any direction for punts, passes, and end-over-end kickoffs. And you can detach the Snap Attack quickly and easily for use in snapping drills.

Sports Attack • 800-717-4251 www.sportsattack.com

Circle No. 526

Saves Quarterback’s Arm

Many college and high school football programs are discovering the benefits of training their receivers with tennis ball machines.

The ProLite tennis ball machine provides close-range drills to sharpen hand-eye coordination and enforce proper catching technique. With the ProLite, a player can catch 100 throws in less than 10 minutes—and several machines can be set up to simulate various catching angles. Plus, it reduces wear and tear on quarterbacks’ arms.

Compact and lightweight, the ProLite transports easily and is available in batterypower or AC models. Prices start at $699.

Sports Tutor • 800-448-8867 www.sportsmachines.com

Circle No. 527

Ultimate Training Tool

The Snap Attack features solid, polyurethane wheels with wheel guards—no more inflating or burns. Its passing stand allows the throwing head to pivot instantly in any direction, accurately throwing passes, punts, and kickoffs to any location on the field. The elevation changes are quick and easy. Plus, the machine can be locked in for precise repetition. In its lowered position at ground level, the machine snaps the ball to any depth in shotgun and pistol formations, as well as practicing extra points and punts with realistic angles.

Sports Attack • 800-717-4251 www.sportsattack.com

Circle No. 528

Clear Communication

Comstar is a revolutionary “All In One” wireless headset that features a miniaturized transceiver built right into the earcups.

This breakthrough system is more affordable than traditional wireless systems because it operates without complicated beltworn radios. Comstar wireless headsets operate in full duplex mode, which means that coaches communicate simultaneously and without pushing buttons. The system will accommodate the needs of high school and college football staffs with up to 23 coaches.

Porta Phone • 800-233-1113 www.portaphone.com

Circle No. 529

Make Recruiting Easier

A-Turf Inc. 888-777-6910 www.aturf.com See ad on page 6 • Circle No. 500

CoachesNetwork.com

CyberSports has been developing recruiting technology that assists coaches in tracking prospective student-athletes since 1995. The company has remained a leader in recruiting technology due to its commitment to supporting its customers, as well as its ability to stay current with technology and the demands of coaches relating to recruiting and compliance. The applications offered by CyberSports not only help with tracking all of your NCAA requirements, but also allow greater, more effective communication between staff.

CyberSports • 315-737-7150 www.cybersportsinc.com

Circle No. 538

Coaching Management OFFseason 2013 43

Strength & Conditioning Indoor Cycling Options

The Power Lift Indoor Cycling Bike is available in both a chain- and belt-driven version. The belt-driven version allows users to pedal backwards with resistance.

Standard features for both bikes include: dual-sided pedals with a clip-less system on one side and toe-cages on the other; adjustable positions for the seat height and forward/back position; and adjustable positions for the handlebar height.

Power Lift • 800-872-1543 www.power-lift.com

Circle No. 541

Reduce Groin Injuries The High Stepper develops explosive power in the hip flexors and legs. The stepper uses a running motion, which substantially increases athletes’ speed, quickness, and durability. Coaches notice fewer groin injuries with their athletes after training on the High Stepper. The High Stepper can improve 40-yard dash times, decrease groin injuries, and train the legs to explode higher and more powerfully.

Powernetics • 800-829-2928 www.powernetics.com

Circle No. 517

Meets Rigorous Demands

Push the limits of agility and strength training with the Super Bungie Kit. Designed to meet the rigorous demands of professional sports conditioning, the Super Bungie Kit features three interchangeable Super Bungie Cordz in 75-, 150-, and 200-pound resistance levels. The included handle and belt allow athletes to increase core strength and agility by training individually or with a partner. The patented safety elements found in TurfCordz resistance products provide a safer, more comfortable workout.

NZ Manufacturing • 800-886-6621 www.nzmfg.com

Circle No. 516

Step Up to the Challenge

The Monster Sled™, with its 540-pound load capacity, will challenge even the strongest athletes. Pull the sled with the thick-padded shoulder harness or push your limits using the built-in, 37-inch-wide handle to promote improved power in the legs, hips, and core.

The handle design allows narrow and wide grip positions.

This sled is powder coated for durability, and weighs 120 pounds without weight plates.

Power Systems, Inc. • 800-321-6975 www.powersystems.com

Circle No. 545

Progressive Powerlifting

These 60-inch long loading chains for progressive powerlifting come with end hooks, and one or more chains can be added to improve your blasting power.

Made of heavy-duty forged steel, there are four different chains available for any level of lifting: light duty (25 pounds per pair), medium duty (40 pounds per pair), heavy duty (55 pounds per pair), and extra-heavy duty (88 pounds per pair). The company can supply chains up to 200 feet long and can add attachment weights of up to 100 pounds to each chain.

Call for more information or prices.

New York Barbells of Elmira, Inc. • 800-446-1833 www.newyorkbarbells.com Circle No. 515 44 Coaching Management OFFseason 2013

Versatile and Effective

Push it. Pull it. Drag it. Since its first sale in April 2005, Williams Strength’s Prowler 2 has been featured on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” and called “quite possibly the most versatile and effective conditioning tool ever devised” by Muscle and Fitness. It has been used by more than half of all NFL teams and countless colleges, high schools, and training centers. All of this has made it one of the most popular conditioning sleds ever built.

Total Strength and Speed • 888-532-8227 www.totalstrengthandspeed.com

Circle No. 547

Understated Knurling

The Rogue Bar is a polished 28.5-millimeter bar with no center knurling—and both powerlifting and Olympic lifting knurling marks. This bar has the great understated knurling that has made Rogue Fitness’ bars famous. It features high-quality brass bushings for reliable spin, and will whip enough for use in Olympic Weightlifting.

Rogue Fitness • 614-358-6190 www.roguefitness.com

Circle No. 518

Designed for You

Custom-design any power rack with Samson Equipment. Everything sold by Samson— including its Power Racks—can be customized for any customer. Samson’s team will take you step-by-step through the company’s revolutionary custom-design software, so each piece meets your exclusive needs. Do you need to incorporate band training, chain work, single leg squats, or TRX movements? No problem—just let the company know what you need and you’ll get to see, in 3-D, what your design will look like.

Samson Equipment • 800-472-6766 www.samsonequipment.com

Circle No. 520 CoachesNetwork.com

Strength & Conditioning Virtually Immovable

The Rogue Fitness Monster Series Rigs are the ultimate gym accessory. Built with the collegiate athlete in mind, the Monster Rig is a classic example of Rogue’s “over-built” construction that will suit any affiliate or gym with its immovable capacity. The standard Monster Rig is built with 11-gauge, 3 inch x 3 inch steel tube uprights. This is a virtually immovable piece of American-made training equipment.

Rogue Fitness • 614-358-6190 www.roguefitness.com

The Multi Grip Bar™, available exclusively from Power Systems, offers three grip options to work narrow and wide grips with the same bar. Knurled grips are positioned ergonomically to promote smooth movement through the shoulders, elbows, and wrists during training. This bar is seven feet long and will fit standard-width power racks and weight benches. Fixed weight sleeves are each 15 inches long and do not rotate.

Power Systems, Inc. • 800-321-6975 www.powersystems.com

Circle No. 519

Circle No. 522

A Trusted Authority

The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is a trusted authority on strength and conditioning, bridging the gap between science and application for more than 35 years. The NSCA’s annual National Conference, the premier strength and conditioning event of the year, is back in Las Vegas. Experience everything the conference has to offer—from sessions by top educators, researchers, trainers and coaches to Special Interest Group meetings, networking events and more.

NSCA • 800-815-6826 www.nsca.com

Multiple Options

Circle No. 523

Concussion Prevention

Mission Competition Fitness Equipment created and manufactures The Halo, a dynamic rotary neck strengthening cable attachment. The Halo works out the neck by applying horizontal resistance during neck rotation. Mission Competition’s goal is to help prevent concussions and neck injuries by increasing the athlete’s neck strength. Neck strength allows greater force dissipation upon head impact, which results in fewer neck injuries and concussions. For more information, please e-mail info@halostrong.com.

Mission Competition Fitness Equipment • 310-776-0621 www.halostrong.com Circle No. 521

View Power and Velocity

The Laser Rack is one of the first barmeasuring units that calculates peak power and velocity using patented notouch infrared sensing technology. The Laser Rack allows users to view their peak power in horsepower or watts. Users’ peak velocity can be measured in either feet-per-second or meters-per-second.

Power Lift • 800-872-1543 www.power-lift.com

Circle No. 542

Revolutionary Dumbbells

Samson Equipment is introducing its revolutionary Adjustable Dumbbell System. This solid, heavy-duty, and easy-to-use unit doesn’t break the bank. It features two 15-pound handles and enough 10-, 5-, and 2.5-pound plates to adjust each DB up to 90 pounds. The plates slide on effortlessly, pinning in place with solid-steel rods, while the handles allow wrists a full range of motion. The custom table operates on lockin-place casters, and the top staging area is coated with heavy-duty urethane—and its front can be customized with your school’s graphics.

Samson Equipment • 800-472-6766 www.samsonequipment.com

Circle No. 525

Total-Body Power

Powernetics offers many products—including the Bulldog and the Attacker—for your players’ strength training needs. The Bulldog isolates the hamstrings and glutes, without putting stress on the knees and back. It also offers an explosive hack jump that develops power in the hamstrings, glutes, and quads—all from one exercise. The Attacker allows the athlete to fire and roll his hips while moving up and out, into a full hand separation.

Because of the intense movement, power is developed from the feet through the hands.

Powernetics • 800-829-2928 www.powernetics.com CoachesNetwork.com

Circle No. 524

Space-Saver

PowerBlock® Commercial Dumbbells have the ability to replace up to 22 pairs of dumbbells in the space of one.

The dumbbells and stand require just 19” x 21” of floor space. Sizes are available to meet any lifter’s needs: 2.5-20, 4-32, 10-50, 5-90, 12.5-125, and 12.5-175 pounds per hand. PowerBlocks are perfect for workstation set-ups as you can fit a set and stand at each power rack. The gallery on the company’s commercial Web site shows some facility set-up ideas. Call or click for brochures.

PowerBlock • 800-446-5215 www.powerblock.com

Circle No. 548 Coaching Management OFFseason 2013 45

Injury Prevention Exceptional Protection

Active Ankle T2 provides exceptional ankle protection for active lifestyles during exercise or athletic activity. The Solid U-shaped design relieves pressure from the ankle and provides superior inversion/eversion protection. With a bi-lateral anatomical hinge, T2 allows freedom of motion in plantar flexion/dorsiflexion.

The T2 also has a single quick-fit strap that adjusts for high- or low-top shoes and custom-molded EVA padding for a comfortable fit and firm support.

Active Ankle Systems, Inc. • 800-800-2896 www.activeankle.com

Circle No. 509

Unrestricted Movement

The Cramer ESS Ankle Compression Sleeve’s patented articulated ankle joint allows for unrestricted movement while providing mild compression and support to the joint.

Compression provides a performanceenhancement benefit as well as mild muscular support. The unique knitted design allows for lightweight fit and exceptional stretch and comfort.

Cramer Products, Inc. • 800-345-2231 www.cramersportsmed.com

Circle No. 514

Feel the Wave

Designed to help increase the natural blood flow around your muscles, Mueller Kinesiology Tape features a revolutionary wave pattern adhesive that moves with the skin and muscles to reduce muscle pain, increase mobility, and enhance recovery. Designed to aid in the treatment of ligament injuries, muscle conditioning, fascia repositioning, and even carpal tunnel syndrome, it is applied to the skin in patterns to mimic muscles. The 100-percent cotton tape is latex-free and water-resistant. One application lasts up to three days. It is available in four colors.

Mueller Sports Medicine • 608-643-8530 www.muellersportsmed.com

Circle No. 543

Elevate Your Game

Take the impact out of the hit and put it into your game with ShockSkin protective apparel

by Shock Doctor. The Ultra ShockSkin 5-Pad Impact Shirt includes integrated fabric and vented foam pads that shield the shoulder, rib, and spinal areas from injury. It also features four-way stretch mesh to keep you cool, dry, and comfortable for every play. Protect your body and elevate your game with the Ultra ShockSkin 5-Pad Impact Shirt.

Shock Doctor • 800-233-6956 www.shockdoctor.com

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Unwinds Consistently

Every roll of Cramer 100-percent cotton porous tape is like the next, which means you can count on it to unwind consistently, conform better, and adhere longer. Cramer 950, constructed with a latex-free adhesive, is perfect for 46 Coaching Management OFFseason 2013

athletic trainers or athletic programs looking for a highquality, economically priced porous tape alternative. Cramer Products has been an industry leader in sports medicine and athletic training room supplies for more than 85 years.

Cramer Products, Inc. • 800-345-2231 www.cramersportsmed.com

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Hardcore Protection

Specifically designed for high-performance football players, the new Shock Doctor Low Profile Lip Guard is the ultimate combination of form and function. This sleek mouthguard with an impressionable gel-interior molds to a player’s bite, protecting teeth as well as upper and lower lips. And airflow channels allow for easier breathing during the game’s most intense moments. The Low Profile Lip Guard delivers hardcore protection for a fearless performance.

Shock Doctor • 800-233-6956 www.shockdoctor.com

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Effective Relief

Medically designed, athlete-proven Medi-Dyne products are easy-to-use tools that really work to relieve tight muscles, stretch important muscle groups, and prevent pain and injury. With patented stretching, strengthening, foot, knee, and blister products, the Medi-Dyne family of brands includes Cho-Pat ®, Tuli’s®, ProStretch®, StretchRite®, CoreStretch®, Skin-on-Skin®, and RangeRoller®. These products are known for both their effectiveness and ease of use. Medi-Dyne is dedicated to providing innovations in pain relief and prevention.

Medi-Dyne Healthcare Products, Ltd. • 800-810-1740 www.medi-dyne.com Circle No. 513

Best of Both Worlds

For athletes looking for the best of both worlds, the Excel lace-up brace provides the comfort and mobility of a lace-up with the support and security of a tape job. With its circumferential strap that helps stabilize the brace and lacing system that tightens all the way around, the Excel provides a conforming and comfortable fit. The Excel is also lined with neoprene for maximum comfort and fit with nylon eyelets to reduce pressure points.

Active Ankle Systems, Inc. • 800-800-2896 www.activeankle.com

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The One You Need

Extremely light and low-profile, The One® ankle brace is comfortable in shoes or cleats during competition. Offering all the benefits of taping, but with the flexibility of a soft strap brace, The One protects against inversion and eversion ankle sprains. Anti-slip criss-crossing side straps can be adjusted at any time to help prevent slippage and ensure a tight, comfortable fit. Side-pulling stirrup straps imitate taping, while a cushioned tongue keeps the brace comfortable. Neoprene and latex free, The One comes in black and white, and is available in sizes XS to XXXL. Mueller Sports Medicine • 608-643-8530 www.muellersportsmed.com

Circle No. 544 CoachesNetwork.com

Team Equipment

Testimonial

Opportunity Awaits

Unstoppable Uniforms

Since 1996, Pro Look has developed award-winning uniforms for title-chasing athletes. The company is proud of its innovation and attention to detail. Its garments work with athletes when they need it most. Pro Look fabrics and construction methods stand up to abuse season after season. The stretch tackle twill technology is designed to soften and move with players, all the while maintaining traditional tackle twill strength and longevity. Combine stretch tackle twill with innovative moisture management fabrics, and make your next set of uniforms virtually unstoppable.

Pro Look Sports • 800-776-5665 www.prolook.com

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Durable Bags

As a young head football coach, Mike Parris saw an opportunity and grabbed it. In 1992, he took over a football program with several losing seasons— but had an inexperienced, yet mobile, quarterback with potential.

That quarterback was Hines Ward.

Over the next 20 years, Parris won 160 games with multiple undefeated regular seasons and playoff appearances.

In 2009, Parris saw another opportunity and grabbed it by introducing the Snap Attack football machine to his program. “It’s the best money I’ve spent,” he reports. “We use it for special teams and everyday passing drills.

Wizard Custom Football Bags feature 600 denier nylon waterproof fabric, extra heavy-duty zippers, U-shaped openings for easy access, as well as exterior and interior valuables pockets.

The bags are screen-printed with your team logo and a player number. Plus, Wizard Custom Bags come with a lifetime warranty on all zippers, seams, and logos.

Wizard Sports Equipment • 877-559-5425 www.wizardsports.com

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Just What You Want

Pro Look Football is where tradition meets innovation. Combine the latest in material technology with the unique ability to create any style uniform for one low price, and you get a superior uniform experience. In fact, Pro Look uniforms are so good that they are backed with a limited lifetime manufacturing warranty. Call today for your free custom design mock-up.

Pro Look Sports • 800-PRO-LOOK www.prolook.com

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“Rapid fire and multiple ball drills are possible—I can put a ball on target every six seconds,” he continues. “And our defensive coaches love it. Teaching players to break on the ball, and recovery drills are easier.”

The Snap Attack allows players to develop better ball skills, no matter what they see in games. “If you are coaching pass-oriented offenses,” Parris says, “the Snap Attack needs to be part of your workouts.”

Sports Attack 800-717-4251 www.sportsattack.com Circle No. 130

CoachesNetwork.com

Coaching Management OFFseason 2013 47

Rope Training

Company News

Top Conditioning

Global Bodyweight Training makes some of the highestquality fitness ropes you’ll find for full-body workouts that condition, build strength, and increase power and endurance.

Whether you want old-school manila, the newer poly-dac, or braided nylon versions, all ropes include stitched vinyl handles and nylon guards to prevent fray. GBT’s strong, durable ropes are great for team training without requiring a lot of fancy equipment.

Global Bodyweight Training • 888-691-2906 www.globalbodyweighttraining.com

History of Success

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Natural Wrist Motion

New York Barbells offers a complete selection of training ropes in 1.5- and two-inch diameter in all lengths up to 100 feet. New York Barbells offers a 1.75-inch braided rope that retains its shape and is more resilient than twisted rope. New York Barbells also offers and installs handles on the ropes for a natural wrist motion. A complete line of exercise chain is also available. Fulfill all of your rope needs for climbing, battling, pulling, and special applications with New York Barbells.

New York Barbells of Elmira, Inc. • 800-446-1833 www.newyorkbarbells.com

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Customize Your Workout

Global Bodyweight Training’s Climbing Ropes combine the highest-quality materials with an eye loop that allows you to hang your rope just about anywhere without needing hardware. Create your own hardcore boot camp wherever you can find a beam or tree to toss the rope over. Available in Grade-A manila or poly-dac, GBT’s custom made ropes include stitched vinyl handles and nylon guards.

Global Bodyweight Training • 888-691-2906 www.globalbodyweighttraining.com

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Quality and Selection

If you’re considering adding training ropes to your weight room or workout routine, look no further than Muscle Ropes. With one of the largest selections of quality ropes around and competitive prices, Muscle Ropes has outfitted some of the nation’s top high school and collegiate sports programs—as well as the Army, Navy, Marines, and Airforce. Call Muscle Ropes and let the company show you the ropes.

Muscle Ropes • 888-783-7202 www.muscleropes.com

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NORDOT® outdoor synthetic turf adhesives have a long history of worldwide success for both the total glue-down and/or seaming of synthetic turf football fields, as well as other sport and recreational surfaces. These one-part curing urethanes are easy to use, and can be used in any weather— hot, cold, damp, dry, or windy.

NORDOT Adhesives have exceptionally high green strength, or grab, to prevent unwanted movement such as memory curl, seam separation, bubbles, and wrinkles during installation. Their almost error-proof working window allows proper time for bonding in hot or cold weather— no “snap” cure or curing delay issues.

With its 40-year reputation for successful installations, key handling properties, and outstanding end properties—tenacious grab, longterm durability, and extraordinary water resistance—it is easy to see why professionals choose high green strength NORDOT Adhesives.

Durable Strength

Power Systems’ Poly Sport Grip™ Training Ropes are strong, durable, and include a patent-pending Sport Grip™ handle.

With water-resistant and non-shedding features, these ropes can be used both indoors and outdoors. The 1.5-inch-thick rope comes with standard or thick grip handles, which increases the diameter to 2 inches. These ropes are available in 30-, 40-, or 50-foot lengths, and prices range from $129.95 to $279.95.

Power Systems, Inc. • 800-321-6975 www.powersystems.com 48 Coaching Management OFFseason 2013

Circle No. 534

Synthetic Surfaces Inc. 908-233-6803 www.nordot.com CoachesNetwork.com

Box 329 Riverside, TX 77367 1 (800) 829-2928 www.powernetics.com http://www.youtube.com/Powernetics2020

Explosive Exercises:

Programs training with the Bear

Quarter Squat Jumping Angle Squat Jumping Angle Squats

New England Patriots Pittsburgh Steelers New York Jets Houston Texans Kansas City Chiefs Cleveland Browns New York Giants Miami Dolphins Tennessee Titans New York Yankees Minnesota Twins Tampa Bay Rays Texas Rangers Houston Rockets Dallas Mavericks Univ. of Michigan Univ. of Texas Univ. of Arkansas N.C. State Virginia Tech Univ.

Boston College

+ Maximizes vertical jump + Develops the power potential + Athletes experience astounding drops in 40 times + Increases quickness and muscular endurance + Eliminates safety concerns created by bar squats

And Many More...

"We have worked with Gary Fuller from Powernetics for the last ten years and really appreciate their professionalism in business. Without question their machines are second to none. My favorite being The Bear machine. We have had more athletes increase their vertical jump doing this machine more than any other we have ever used. If you want to take your athletic skill to another level then use Powernetics equipment."

Don Beebe CEO, House of Speed LLC Nine Year NFL Veteran Super Bowl Champion

Coaches

call TODAY for your FREE instructional video!

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PASSING

DIALED IN

SNAPPING

RAPID FIRE RIGHT-HAND SPIN KICK-OFFS

SNAP ATTACK FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE DRILLS MACHINE ON-SIDE KICKS

LONG SNAPS RIGHT-FOOTED PUNT POOCH KICKS PASSING SNAPPING RIGHT-HAND SPIN RAPID FIRE DRILL HigH ScHool,

KICK-OFFS college & Pro

RAPID FIRE AND MULTI-BALL DRILLS

Dial 4 ± 1 Distance 10-15 yds.

ON-SIDE KICKS Drill Rapidly fire balls as For practice drills requiring vir tually no waiting between throws, the player takes a step Snap Attack Football Machine’s two motors will optimize the pace of DEFENSIVE DRILLS for ward after each your training sessions. completed catch.

Each of the Snap Attack’s solid polyurethane throwing wheels has its own motor, allowing for near-instant recover y and enough power to put the football anywhere on the field.

The Snap Attack is ready to throw

LONG SNAPS again af ter only 6-7 seconds.

For accurate and consistent rapid-fire balls in your drill practices, the Snap Attack is your machine.

Simple, quick and repeatable! Make the most of every minute of practice. Learn more at sportsattack.com

P.O. Box 1529 tf 800.717.4251 |

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2805 U.S. 40 | Verdi, NV 89439 ph 775.345.2882 | w sportsattack.com Circle No. 132