Coaching Management 22.4

Coaching Management

FOOTBALL

making every player count Coaches discuss working with scout teams

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CONTENTS | FOOTBALL Edition | OFFSEASON 2014 | Vol. XXII, No. 4

Coaching Management

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OFFSEASON 3 BULLETIN BOARD

Q&A 15

bill conley

University of Arizona coaches don cowboy gear … Parents write letters to their sons … Grand View’s Mike Woodley on coaching at different levels … High school league holds media day … Stabilizing a program … 7-on-7 tourney lures alumni.

Known for his ability to recruit athletes at the NCAA Division I level, Bill Conley has taken his tactics to Ohio Dominican University, which went 10-1 last fall in its fourth year in Division II.

COVER STORY 18

making every

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING 26 holding on

Scout teams can be the secret to a team’s success. Top coaches offer advice on motivating and directing these behind-the-scenes players.

It may not be glamorous, but grip strength training is an important component of the University of South Carolina’s weightroom work.

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player count

On the cover

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At Kansas State University, Head Coach Bill Snyder pays close attention to his scout teams, the topic of our cover story, beginning on page 18.

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BULLETIN BOARD OFFSEASON 2014

CONTENTS

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3 Arizona video goes viral

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3 Parents provide support

Promotions & Publicity

J and L Photography

On the Set Headphones traded in for cowboy hats. Polo shirts and khakis exchanged for vests, badges, and chaps. A coaching staff transformed into a posse.

For Head Coach Rich Rodriguez and other members of the football staff at the University of Arizona, the costumes weren’t part of a Halloween celebration, but rather a promotional strategy. Last June, the group took a day trip to a former Tucson movie set-turned historical experience, donned full cowboy regalia, and filmed a western-themed video to create a buzz about the program during the traditionally quiet summer months.

“We were discussing unique ways we could publicize Arizona Wildcat football, and Coach Rodriguez’s wife suggested that we dress up like cowboys, take a photo, and mail it to fans,” says Matt Dudek, Arizona’s Director of On-Campus Recruiting and Player Personnel. “It was a great concept, but given the nature of social media today, I thought a video would be better because it would be easier for people to share.”

The project began with Wildcat coaches and members of the athletic department’s video team creating a general storyboard for the two-and-a-half minute film they called “Hard Edge,” a phrase that also doubles as the football program’s motto.

The group took themes from old western movies and related them to the coaching staff’s personality and the squad’s goals.

“Old westerns often used a line of text or a voiceover to describe what the main characters were going to do,” Dudek says. “For example, a lot of films talked about ‘a man on a quest.’ Our quest To view Arizona’s is going to the Rose “Hard Edge” Bowl, so at one point video, go to: in the video, there’s a youtube.com shot of Coach Rodriand search guez followed by the “Arizona Football words: ‘A man on the Hard Edge.” quest for the rose.’

We wanted the movie to be fun, but we also wanted it to give people a sense of what we are trying to accomplish as a team.”

The filming occurred at nearby Old Tucson Studios, which has sets and buildings from the Old West. Once there, the coaches and staff got into costume and were given basic directions. For most of the video, the coaches are shown staring CoachesNetwork.com

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4 High school media day

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7 Stabilizing a program

intently into the distance, but there are some action sequences. In one montage, a coach is tossed out of a saloon and tumbles down its steps before another is slid across the surface of a bar on his stomach.

Overall, the video has a serious tone, but Dudek says the staff spent most of the day joking around and having fun. “It helps to enjoy doing something like this if you want it to be successful,” he says.

Once the video was complete, Dudek turned to social media for promotion.

“We released it on YouTube at noon on June 17, so that morning, we tweeted that there was going to be an epic video coming out at high noon.”

That was all the publicity required to make the video a viral hit, and it has now been viewed nearly 200,000 times. “We thought it would be great if a few thousand people saw it,” Dudek says. “But once the national media picked up on the video, it started making the rounds on the Internet. For us, this was perfect, because you normally don’t hear positive news about a football team in June and July. It got our fans talking about the program, and their feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It was also helpful from a recruiting standpoint,” he continues. “You’re constantly trying to reach prospects, but you don’t always have something to talk about. The recruits loved the video, and it proved to be a discussion point.”

The video was such a success that the

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8 Coaching at

different levels

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10 Alumni back

in the huddle

school filmed a sequel, called “Hard Edge II,” a month later, featuring Rodriguez and several Wildcat players. Like their coaches before them, the players visited Old Tuscon and dressed in costume, but in this version, the Old West footage is intercut with player highlights from the previous season.

The key to making both videos work, Dudek says, was taking advantage of the school’s location and what makes the program unique. “Any team in the country can do something like this, even if you’re more of an old-school staff,” he says.

“You just have to think creatively about what your area has to offer.”

As a fun and unique way to promote its program, University of Arizona coaches and staff dressed up as cowboys for a two-and-a-half minute film called “Hard Edge,” which is also the team’s motto.

Reaching Out

Letter Winners At Helen Bernstein High School in Hollywood, Calif., Head Coach Masaki Matsumoto wants his players to know that they are supported 100 percent by coaches, teammates, and most importantly, their families. That’s why last summer, he asked the parents of team members to each write their sons a letter telling them how much they are loved.

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BULLETIN BOARD Matsumoto got the idea from a football coach he talked to in Seattle. “I work with inner-city kids who don’t always get a lot of attention at home,” says Matsumoto, who estimates that 60 percent of his j.v. and varsity players are raised by single mothers. “Their parents often work two or three jobs and aren’t around very much or simply aren’t good at expressing themselves. I know that the guys don’t hear the words ‘I love you’ very frequently.”

Matsumoto began the exercise in mid-June by drafting a letter to parents that explained the project and its importance. He also shared with parents that he was raised by a single mom. “I told them how much having my mom say she loved me and constantly voicing her support meant to my development,” Matsumoto says. “I also mentioned that in order for the boys to reach their goals and become good future husbands and fathers, hearing this message would be vital to their development.”

After crafting his note (and translating it into Spanish), Matsumoto sealed a copy, along with a few sheets of blank paper for the parents to write on, in an envelope. Not knowing the nature of the correspondence, his players were instructed to take the envelopes home to their parents and bring back the responses by July 3.

A couple of weeks later, with all of the feedback collected, Matsumoto—who never read the letters himself—gathered his players in the school gymnasium. To set the mood, he asked his assistant coaches to share how football has helped them become better men. Next, Matsumoto stood up and told his team that he loved and cared about each one of them—and he wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

“Then I handed the letters out and told the players to find a quiet spot in the gym and take 15 minutes to read them and reflect,” he says. “During that time, I

heard a lot of sniffles and some sobbing, so I knew that the letters had hit home.

“Afterward, I explained to the players that there are people who care about them, whether they realize it or not,” Matsumoto adds. “I told them, ‘When things get hard, look back at this letter, because your families and the team are here for you. Don’t ever think people aren’t noticing you or that you’re not cared for.’”

Matsumoto then asked his players if anyone wanted to share what was in their heart at that particular moment. The results were equal parts therapy and team building.

“One by one they started coming up and speaking about their families and how much being on the team meant to them,” he says. “It was really powerful.

One kid told me afterward, ‘We always talk about wanting our team to be a family, but you can’t be a family if you don’t know the struggles your brothers are dealing with.’”

The varsity squad at Helen Bernstein High School in Hollywood, Calif., began its 2013 season with a special letter writing campaign from parents and ended it with an 11-2 record, including two playoff game victories.

Inheriting a team that had won just two games over the previous three years, Matsumoto took the reins at Bernstein in 2012, leading the squad to eight victories.

In 2013, the Dragons finished the regular season 9-1, advancing to the semifinals of the Los Angeles City Section Division III playoffs. Matsumoto says his team’s onfield success is fueled largely by the players’ growth off the field. “We do character development and team bonding activities at least once a week,” he says. ”The parent letter is now a part of that program.”

While the idea was a huge success, Matsumoto says it’s important players have already bought into your program and your coaching style when doing a

deeply personal exerTo read or download a PDF cise like the of the letter that Matsumoto letter-writsent home to parents, go to: ing project.

AthleticManagement.com/ “If I had LetterToParents.pdf. done this when I took over the program in 2012, I probably wouldn’t have had the same results,” he says.

“That’s because I had not yet proven to the kids that I loved them. Now, they know that I truly care and want what’s best for them. When you do that, especially at a school like ours, the players will run through a wall for you.”

Media Relations

This is Our League On a stage inside a cavernous atrium last August, a football coach spoke about his top players while cameras flashed and reporters jotted down notes.

While this sounds like something a premier college conference would host, it was actually a scene from the first-ever Football Media Day held by the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA), a league in southeastern Michigan composed of 24 high schools.

The idea was the brainchild of Bryan Masi, Athletic Director at Northville (Mich.)

High School and KLAA Football Commissioner. “I watched the Big Ten Conference’s media day on television in the summer of 2012 and thought it was something we could replicate,” he says. “So I brought it up at one of our KLAA athletic director meetings, and everyone felt it would be a great way to highlight the league.”

The two-hour event put all of the KLAA’s head football coaches in the same room with the press to discuss their upcoming season. The league handed out media guides to reporters, and all coaches were given two minutes to talk about their team. “Each coach brought two players to the podium and introduced them,” says Masi. “They discussed their prominent returning players, what they needed for a successful season, and the overall outlook of the team.”

After all 24 coaches had presented, the media was given an hour to conduct individual interviews with the coaches and players in attendance. Everyone was also treated to lunch from a local restaurant.

“We decided to hold the event on Aug. 8, a week before practices began,” says Masi. “We knew the area reporters were eager to finish their preseason previews and the coaches would be too busy to talk as the season approached, so the media day helped us bring both groups together.”

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Planning for the event began in the winter of 2013 to give the organizers enough time to put together information for the media guide. “A fellow KLAA athletic director took the lead on that by sending coaches a questionnaire asking for their biography, key players, team philosophy, and challenges to overcome in the upcoming season,” says Masi. “We also included a brief history of football in the conference and team schedules. A local printing company agreed to cover the cost.”

Novi High School, a KLAA member, was tapped to host the event because of its central location and large atrium, and Masi recruited a parent volunteer from Northville to be in charge of setting up and breaking down the space as well as lining up a local business to provide lunch.

“We have a go-getting parent at Northville who was able to secure Qdoba Mexican Grill to serve as our sponsor,” says Masi. “Our school has partnered with the restaurant before, and it was willing to donate all the food in return for signage at the event and in the media guide.”

Another important step was to ensure a large number of the area’s high school football reporters would attend.

“The coaches gave me the contact information for their local media members, and I found the staff e-mails for the larger papers, like the Detroit News, the Detroit

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BULLETIN BOARD Free Press, and the Oakland Press,” Masi says. “I sent a save-the-date message to all of them in the spring and followed that up with another e-mail at the beginning of the summer. The final reminder came right before the media day was set to occur. We were initially worried about media attendance, especially from the big papers, but we had a great turnout.”

In the future, Masi is thinking of lengthening the interview period to better serve the needs of the reporters.

“Some of the members of the press felt that we cut the event too short this year,” he says. “They wanted more time to go from coach to coach, so that’s something we’ll discuss when we start planning for next summer’s event.”

Media day might also be expanded in the future to add a female counterpart to football. “Athletic directors in the league had voiced concerns that we should have highlighted a fall girls’ sport as well,” says Masi. “Although there wasn’t any backlash and everyone agreed football was a good place to start, we might make the event longer next year or hold it over two separate days to include a girls’ squad.”

Overall, the event received a tremendous response from all participants. “The

coaches felt like it highlighted our league, and the players involved thought it was a great experience,” says Masi. “But I think the press enjoyed it the most. Instead of having to track down 24 coaches to write preseason capsules, the reporters could speak to all of them in one shot. One wrote that he thought the event was the best invention since electricity, so I’d say we’ll definitely keep it going.”

On the Job

Here to Stay When Ralph Isernia took the reins as Head Coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in March 2013, he was following in the footsteps of a string of short-term leaders. Isernia’s hiring marked the fifth head coach the program had seen over a three-year period.

The senior players had to get used to a new voice just about every six months over their careers.

How do you bring stability to a program where the current players have never had it? “These kids had been hurt when previous coaches left, so the first thing I wanted to do was show that I was

here for them and not going anywhere,” Isernia says. “I’m from New York state and my wife went to Russell Sage College right down the hill from RPI—this was a move not only for my career, but also for our family. I had been an assistant coach for 23 years, and my three children were all born in different states. I told people that we want our kids to graduate from high school in Troy.”

His next step was to reach into the program’s past—back when it was stable— by asking advice of longtime Red Hawks Head Coach Joe King, who recruited RPI’s class of 2014 before his retirement. “I thought it was important to reconnect him with our program and have him be a part of it going forward,” says Isernia. “He still lives in the area and knows how things work around the university and the town, so it’s been great to bounce ideas off of him. He has an open invitation to attend practice whenever he likes.”

From there, Isernia worked on gaining the trust of his players. He believed that, considering their situation, giving them ownership of the program would work better than top-down leadership. “When I first got to campus, I did a lot of listening,” Isernia says. “For example, I met with every

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QUESTIONS

3

Mike Woodley took a circuitous route to becoming the first Head Coach at Grand View University. Prior to his success with the Vikings, which captured the NAIA Championship last fall, he spent time at several different rungs on the coaching ladder, from high school to NCAA Division I. Beginning as a graduate assistant at the University of Iowa from 1975-1976, Woodley moved to the high school ranks, where he coached in New Mexico and at a trio of Iowa high schools. Woodley’s first college head coaching experience came in 1991 at St. Ambrose University, an NAIA school, and lasted for three years. After that, he spent one year as Head Coach at West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley High School before serving as an assistant coach at Iowa State University from 1994-2003.

Woodley then went back to high school, spending four years as Head Coach and Athletic Director at Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena, Texas, before arriving at Grand View in 2007. Here, he talks about coaching at so many different levels.

After so many stops, what drew you to the NAIA and Grand View?

There’s a relaxed attitude in the NAIA, which I like, and there aren’t the countless recruiting restrictions you have in NCAA Division I. That, coupled with the fact that you can now offer 24 scholarships at this level—more than double what you could when I was at St. Ambrose—has made recruiting more enjoyable. Additionally, it’s nice to know you’re going after players who are going to be students first and aren’t just interested in football.

Different Levels Specifically, Grand View appealed to me because I was interested in building something new and putting my own stamp on a program, rather than following in someone else’s shoes. I was able to have a say in a number of unique things, from the overall direction of the program to the design of the locker room.

Why did you choose to leave the high school and NCAA Division I levels?

I loved the enthusiasm of high school players and how eager they are to learn and be coached. But in Iowa, if you were a coach, you also had to teach six periods a day. After many years of doing that, I wanted a different challenge.

Division I football was a completely different animal than anything I’d experienced. While it was nice to not have the budgetary restrictions you often have at smaller schools, the recruiting is an unbelievable grind. For the most part, recruiting at that level is a year-round job, and I didn’t like the fact that I wasn’t in control of my own schedule. I missed a lot of my sons’ athletic contests when they were growing up, and after a while, that started to wear on me.

What advice do you have for other coaches who are considering becoming an assistant at the Division I level?

Think hard about who you’re going to work for.

Ideally, your head coach is someone you like and who is loyal to you, but that isn’t always the case. I was lucky that I got to work under my close friend, Dan McCarney, at Iowa State, but others aren’t as fortunate. And make sure that you want to dedicate your life completely to coaching, because at that level, there isn’t time for much else.

Grand View University Head Coach Mike Woodley talks to players before the team’s first victory over Drake University.

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tom killips

BULLETIN BOARD player individually. A lot of them told me they hated our road uniforms, so we allowed them to pick out new ones. They also wanted better pregame meals, and I sat down with our school’s food service director to figure out how to incorporate some of the players’ requests.”

With more than 50 freshmen joining his 100-man roster, Isernia knew that he needed to win over the team’s upperclassmen and utilize their leadership and experience. He did so with a heart-to-heart talk. “I played football at Davidson College, and we had a new head coach going into my senior year, so I knew exactly where our 11 seniors were coming from and the type of uncertainty they were feeling,” Isernia says. “I told them I was interested in their ideas and wanted them to lead the program. I asked for their input on everything from practice times to travel options.”

He also worked hard to implement team-bonding activities, including having everyone learn the school song. “RPI has had a fight song for more than 100 years, but nobody on the team knew it,” Isernia says. “Every player and coach was required to learn the words, and now after a victory, we sing it with the band.”

His final strategy for bringing stability to the team was through organization and preparation. When the players showed up for the first preseason practice, Isernia handed them a schedule mapping out team activities for every day of the fall semester.

In taking over at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Head Coach Ralph Isernia had to overcome a run of instability during which players had four different leaders over a three year period.

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BULLETIN BOARD “The guys liked knowing exactly what was expected of them and where they were supposed to be every day,” he says.

In attempting to build a well-rounded program, Isernia also reached out to RPI’s fans and alumni. “Like some of our players, many alumni were taking a wait-and-see approach after I was hired,” he says. “Initially, they were hesitant to invest in our product because they didn’t know if the coaching situation was going to continue to change from one year to the next.

“One way I connected with the alumni was by holding a golf outing and talking to them about our program while emphasizing my commitment to stay here,” Isernia adds. “I also explained how they could get involved and help. Slowly but surely, they saw we were doing things the right way, and they got on board.

They liked that our kids were helping out at different events in the community and how hard we played on the field.”

In Isernia’s first season, the Red Hawks finished 5-5, a solid first step in what he hopes is a long and successful journey at RPI. “We want to build a culture of consistency, continuity, and sustainability so that our players and fans know what to expect from one year to the next,” he says. “If you look at the best programs, most of them have coaching staffs that have been together for years. That’s what we want here.”

Alumni Connections

Past vs. Present

Management OFFSEASON 2014 10 Coaching Management

was open to any program alumni, but there was a misunderstanding that guys had to have a full team to participate,” says Wiker. “We were planning on fielding a renegade team composed of individual sign-ups, but a lot of people didn’t know that. Several guys approached me in the days before the tournament asking how they could play, and I told them, ‘Just come out, and we’ll get you on a team.’”

With an eye toward improvement, Wiker and his staff also have a list of additional changes to make next year. “I want to purchase T-shirts for everyone who participates instead of just the winners, because the shirts can then serve as free advertising for the event,” he says. “In the future, I also think we’ll cut the length of the games in half. Holding three rounds of 40-minute games with breaks in between really added up time-wise.”

Overall, Wiker is proud of the tournament’s first year and pleased that it helped develop connections between past and current Sequim players. “The event provided the opportunity for our alumni to get to know our 2013 team,” he says. “I think it created a sense of community and camaraderie between all the guys. It’s important to me that our alumni still feel involved and welcome in the football program.” CM

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At Sequim (Wash.) High School, alumni square off against current players in the program’s 7-on-7 Community Football Tournament, which Head Coach Erik Wiker calls, “the perfect blend of safe and fun.”

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SEQUIM GAZETTE

During Sequim (Wash.) High School’s 7-on-7 Community Football Tournament, there were times when players lined up against opponents who were old enough to be their fathers. This uneven assignment wasn’t an error, however. It meant the event had done its job of bringing program alumni and current players together.

Held last summer, the double-elimination tournament was made up of eight teams—four with former players, four with current varsity and j.v. athletes—who squared off for a trophy, T-shirts, and bragging rights. For Head Coach Erik Wiker, the goal was to bolster support for his team from former players.

“I like traditions and activities that involve the community,” he says. “I have always admired the alumni game the Sequim basketball program puts on, and I wanted to do something similar for football. With injury liability and a lack of numbers in our small community, I knew a fully padded, 11-on-11 contest wouldn’t fly. Someone on my staff brought up the idea of a 7-on-7 tournament, and I thought it would be the perfect blend of safe and fun.”

The date of June 8 was chosen, and Sequim’s two practice football fields were booked as the tournament’s site. “We put a few advertisements in our local paper, posted it on our team’s Facebook page, and relied heavily on word of mouth,” says Wiker.

Sequim put in four teams—one each for varsity skill positions, varsity linemen, j.v. skill players, and j.v. linemen. Three alumni teams formed from the classes of 2004, 2006, and 2010, and there was a “renegade” squad from a mix of years.

Although most of the former players were from the program’s past 10 years, Wiker was pleased to see a handful of athletes in their 30s and 40s.

There were seven games total, each consisting of two 20-minute halves. Offensive possessions began on the 40-yard line, and the team had three plays to go 15 yards, another three attempts to gain 15 more yards, and then four plays to get into the end zone. The tournament came down to a battle between the 2004 and 2010 squads, with the elder players taking the title.

Although the tournament was successful in bringing alumni and current players together, Wiker says there were a few initial bumps along the way. Originally, he had hoped to use the event as a program fundraiser by having the booster club sell concessions to the fans in attendance, but that didn’t sit well with spectators. “A lot of people thought the food was free and turned it down when they realized they had to pay,” Wiker says.

In addition, there was some confusion on who could play. “The tournament

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FOOTBALL PROGRAM

2013 Seniors

Coaches and Staff

tRAiNeR

Anthony DeMarco

Left to Right: Bruce fixelle, Adam Preciado, head Coach Bob Valli, Mike hook, Mike McCour t

Top Row (L-R): Ryan Madden, Do Hwan Kim, Sean Coffey, Joe Hernandez, Troy Henderson, Austin Cardo MiDDLe Row (L-R): Dong-Kyu Rhee, John Funiciello, Derek Han, Joe peluso BoTToM Row (L-R): evan Ceballos, Christian Van Clef t, Tristan Mizrahi

Left to Right: Dan Apice, Kenny Schultz, Ray Kim

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Q&A

Back on Track

Ohio Dominican University’s Casey Williams reaches for the end zone to score in a 57-14 win over Grand Valley State University.

Q&A with Bill Conley | ohio dominican university

joe volpi & ODU SPORTS INFORMATION

When it comes to turning a college football program around, few things are as critical as recruiting talented players. So it’s no surprise that Bill Conley has done just that since becoming Head Coach at Ohio Dominican University in 2010.

After a 2-8 initial campaign, which was the school’s first year at the NCAA Division II level following its move from the NAIA, the Panthers have improved every season of Conley’s tenure. They went 7-4 in 2011 and finished 8-3 the following year. Then, last fall, the team posted an undefeated regular season record and finished 10-1 and ranked 12th in the country.

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At season’s end, Conley was named the AFCA Region Three Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. In addition, 20 of his players won Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors, the most in the league.

Prior to leading the Panthers, Conley had established himself as one of the premier recruiters in all of college football. An assistant coach at Ohio State University for a combined 17 years, he brought in highprofile recruits such as Eddie George, Terry Glenn, and Chris Gamble, helping to elevate the Buckeyes program and bring the school a national championship in 2002.

A 1972 graduate of Ohio State, Conley spent a dozen years coaching in the high school ranks before landing his first coach-

ing position for the Buckeyes in 1984 under then-Head Coach Earle Bruce. Four years later, he returned to the high school level as Head Coach at Dublin Coffman (Ohio) High School. But when John Cooper asked him to rejoin the Ohio State program as Recruiting Coordinator in 1991, he found himself back with the Buckeyes for a third time.

Following the 2004 season, Conley worked for several Ohio media outlets before being hired by ESPN in 2007 to serve as a national recruiting analyst. In this interview, he discusses the secrets to his recruiting success, his time away from coaching, and what appeals to him about working at the NCAA Division II level.

CM: How have you been able to turn around the Ohio Dominican program?

Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2014 15

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Conley: There’s no magic to it. I’m an old-school coach, and I think self-discipline is the key to success. As such, I have tried to instill in the players a sense of responsibility. If they take care of their academics and attend all the team meetings and workouts, they begin to recognize what they need to do to be successful on the field. It can be tough at first, but if you stay the course when you’re struggling, you’ll get the players to buy in.

What are your secrets to recruiting?

It’s critical to identify who are the major decision makers in the process and talk directly to them. Beyond the player you’re targeting, others often have key information and influence that can help you land the player.

For example, Chris Gamble, who was an All-American player at Ohio State, was born in and attended high school in Florida.

There were almost no Northern schools recruiting him when we got involved, but in talking with his coaches and his family, I learned that his mother had a lot of influence on him, and she wanted him to attend school outside of the South. Knowing this,

we were able to appeal to both her and him.

We still had to work hard to land him, but because I knew what was important to his mother, Ohio State had advantages over other schools.

I also think my experience coaching high school in many different places—small rural towns, middle-class suburbs, steel towns, and upper-class areas—has allowed me to become comfortable recruiting players from different backgrounds. Once, when I was recruiting for Ohio State, I flew to Florida and met with a recruit in a house that only had three rooms. Later that day, I flew to Toronto and spoke to a recruit who lived in a mansion. So many college coaches have never been exposed to the diversity of high school football, and I think it hurts them when it comes to recruiting.

to summer employment and internships, which are major selling points at this level.

How has the recruiting process evolved during your career?

The media has altered it significantly.

The increased television exposure of teams that are not major powers means kids are looking at more schools. So if you’re a smaller program, you have some selling points that you didn’t have in the early 1990s.

But there are negative changes as well.

One problem is that players are committing to schools earlier in their high school careers.

This puts pressure on recruiters to make offers sooner, which can lead to mistakes.

At that point, programs haven’t found out enough about the player to know if he’s a good fit.

COACHING MANAGEMENT FOO After spending time at a major In Division I program, whatSalsbury was it like to

What are your recruiting strategies at Ohio Dominican?

I like to emphasize our great location to recruits. Most D-II schools are in small towns, but we have the advantage of being in Columbus. Not only is there more for players to do here, but there’s greater access

Nov/May

go back to the high school level?

It was tough, but I recognized that making that initial jump from high school to Ohio State was really unheard of. I’d been able to do so because Coach Bruce was my position

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Q&A coach when I played at Ohio State, so he knew me personally. After he left, I didn’t have the national connections to stay in college coaching. However, the benefit to that second stint as a high school coach was that it allowed me to develop good relationships with other coaches in the area. This was something that appealed to Coach Cooper when he was looking to improve his recruiting and helped me land a position on his staff.

R O

TOTALLY SELF-CONTAINED HEADSETS by:

What drew you to the media side after you left Ohio State in 2004?

I was still young, and I wanted to stay involved with the game as much as I could.

I started by writing a book about my time recruiting for Ohio State, and then I worked in media locally for a while.

When ESPN approached me, I realized it was a way to utilize my skill set and passion for evaluating players. I was able to bring a certain level of expertise to the process, which was fun.

What brought you back to the sidelines?

I’d always planned to coach again. The only reason I hadn’t looked sooner was because I enjoyed working at ESPN so much.

I figured I had enough connections that I could get an assistant coaching job, but I was open to anything. The Ohio Dominican job appealed to me because I knew Bill Blazer [Ohio Dominican Athletic Director at the time] and the program had a good reputation. It would also allow me to remain in the Columbus area.Ultimately, I was drawn back by the competitiveness of the college game.

What do you like about the Division II level?

I really think it’s the best of both worlds.

The players bring their lunch to my office, and we watch film or talk, and you can develop great relationships with them. But then on Saturday, we’re playing on national television. I also like working with studentathletes who make academics a priority.

Your teams have compiled more than 10,000 hours of community outreach since you were hired. How do you get players to step up in this area?

The key is exposing them to the opportunities. Most of the athletes really enjoy it once you introduce it to them. One of our biggest programs is with the local VA hospital. The players go there and hang out with patients or drive them around the grounds when there’s an event. Our players know these are the men and women who gave them the freedom to play a game, so they are honored to help them. CM CoachesNetwork.com

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making

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player

count Scout teams can be the secret to a team’s success. Top coaches offer advice on motivating and providing direction to these behind-the-scenes players. | By Patrick Bohn Before each game, the defensive players at Centreville High School in Clifton, Va., select a “Defensive Beast of the Week.” The award is given to the individual who has contributed the most to the unit’s success during practice.

Prior to their 2013 regional playoff game against Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas, Va., the players gave the award to senior Tony Curry.

None of this is unusual, except Curry rarely played defense, lining up primarily as a reserve running back on game day. However, the week before the playoff game, Curry spent his practice time playing quarterback for the scout team.

“Stonewall Jackson’s quarterback, Greg Stroman, had run for 400 yards and seven touchdowns in the two weeks before our game,” says Centreville Head Coach Chris Haddock. “I knew the defense needed to be prepared for his athleticism and thought Tony would be best able to replicate it. He gave the guys such good looks in practice that we were able to keep Stroman in check and win the game.”

COVER STORY

At Kansas State University, Head Coach Bill Snyder has implemented a system in which scout players work side by side with the first string and their position coaches.

Above, he talks with running back Charles Jones, who has served as a prep squad player for the past two years.

COVER STORY

While Curry’s role in the victory wasn’t apparent to anyone besides the Centreville players and coaches, his performance highlights the impact scout teams—also called prep squads—can have. Charged with running an opponent’s schemes during the week, the players who comprise scout teams are usually overshadowed by those who shine on

scout team player is toughness. “Because they’re going up against first-teamers who are frequently bigger, stronger, and faster than they are, it’s critical your prep team players maintain the ability to deliver and take a hit throughout practice,” he says. “So when my staff and I watch film of our early practices, we identify players we think can do that.

He cites several benefits to filling out the prep squad this way. “For one, I know those players are going to give maximum effort because they realize they’re one step away from seeing regular playing time,” Richardson says. “Additionally, it provides scout players more reps since they’re going against the first team, not waiting for the starters to

“When we’re playing a fast-paced offense, we’ve decided that the best thing for us to simulate is the speed of the opponent’s play calling, not the plays themselves. Rather than teaching our offensive scout team how to run plays without huddling, we use two scout teams at once. As soon as one play ends, the second scout team jumps in.” Chris Haddock, Centreville HIGH SCHOOL, CLIFTON, VA. the weekends. But top coaches know scout team players are an integral part of their program’s success and they develop strategies for getting the most out of this vital area.

SCOUT ‘EM OUT

While most colleges have the luxury of using redshirt freshmen or walk-ons for their scout teams, high school coaches need to carefully decide which players will fill roles. “The mentality that your scout team is just a group of unskilled guys you throw out there to serve as cannon fodder for your starters doesn’t work,” says Haddock. “You need to identify players who can help your starters prepare for your opponent each week in practice.”

One of the things Dominic Saltaformaggio, Head Coach at East Jefferson High School in Metairie, La., and his staff look for in a

“For example, this year, we had an athlete who was ineligible because he had just transferred to our school,” Saltaformaggio continues. “But he was a strong kid, both physically and mentally, so we put him on the scout team. One week, he had to simulate an opponent’s dual-threat quarterback.

He spent the entire practice sprinting and getting hit hard, yet he was always able to get right back up and run the next play.”

Kyle Richardson, Head Coach at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, S.C., doesn’t go far down his depth chart when choosing players for his scout team. “We usually have 15 to 18 players on each side of the ball who are going to contribute during games,” he says. “After I’ve figured out who those guys are, I put the next 22 on the scout team.”

their time While it’s crucial for scout team players to focus on mimicking the opposing team each week, coaches have to be thinking ahead as well. Today’s scout team star may be tomorrow’s All-American.

So how can coaches evaluate if their prep team players are getting better within the team’s own system?

At Kansas State University, Head Coach Bill Snyder conducts a game-like scrimmage for scout team performers on Fridays under the watchful eyes of the assistant coaches. The Wildcat system of plays is used and the game is competitive.

“The key to making it work is that our coaches are evaluating them using the same criteria they use for our starters,” Snyder says. “Having the position coaches there to grade the players on all aspects of their performance, especially effort, provides those players with important feedback. It is a great way to give them a level of attention they don’t normally get.”

finish taking the bulk of the snaps.

“Finally, it is the best way to help our first-teamers prepare because they get to face a mix of seniors, juniors, and sophomores, which more closely mimics the skill level they’ll see during games,” he continues.

“If your starters aren’t going to be playing against 11 freshmen on Friday nights, why should they do so throughout the week?”

Haddock does something unique with his Centreville squad. Every player in his program is required to learn both an offensive and defensive position. This means his best backups are capable of easily filling a scout team role on both sides of the ball.

“For example, when our first-string defense is practicing, we’ll take the top defensive players left over and put them on our offensive scout team,” Haddock says.

“This has really helped increase the quality of the looks we get from the scout team.”

ALL IN

Once coaches have identified the players who will make up their scout team, the next step is getting them to buy into their roles.

Bill Snyder, Head Coach at Kansas State University, makes sure they are fully integrated into the team.

“The toughest thing for scout team players is fighting through the daily grind,” he says. “Football deals heavily in positive attitudes and intrinsic values, but most guys don’t want to be on the scout team. So getting complete commitment from the players can be difficult.”

Snyder achieves this, in part, by having scout players work side by side with the first string and their position coaches. “Our scout team players watch film with the unit PATRICK BOHN is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: pb@MomentumMedia.com.

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they’ll be going up against in practice,” he says. “That allows them to interact with the position coaches and feel more connected to what that coach is trying to accomplish.

“Then, at the end of practice, the position coaches address the scout players who worked against their players,” Snyder continues. “The coaches let the scout team members know that they appreciate what they’ve done to get the starters ready. Kids really respond to gestures like that.”

Shawn Elliot is the Co-Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach at the University of South Carolina, and he works closely with the Gamecocks defensive scout team. He says coaches can get scout players on board by reminding them that their performance is being carefully watched.

“Scout team players need to know that you know who they are,” Elliot says. “When our staff is breaking down film, we pay attention to the looks the scout team players are giving our starters and take notes on who is standing out. And they know that— they know we’re evaluating their play.”

Garin Higgins, Head Coach at Emporia State University, takes a similar tack. “I tell players that even though they’re on the scout team, we’re invested in them, and that I’m always asking assistant coaches about their effort and performance to see who is ready to move up the depth chart,” he says.

“You have to make sure players on your prep

team know you’re committed to them getting better and preparing them for the future if you want them to accept the role they’re currently in.”

Saltaformaggio stays on top of his scout team in a more hands-on way—by coaching it himself. “I was on the prep team throughout my entire high school career, so I have an affinity for those guys,” he says. “I see way too many high school head coaches who just throw their scout team to the side for an assistant to work with. But when our freshmen come on board and see me coaching the scout team, they know I take the unit seriously. So they take it seriously as well.”

At Centreville, Haddock relies on a basic incentive for his scout team. “I tell my players that if they don’t give good looks when they’re working as the scout team, they won’t get on the field during the upcoming game,” he says. “That ensures they give maximum effort.”

Richardson finds that keeping the scout team players mentally fresh goes a long way.

He keeps this in mind when planning practices. “If your scout team knows that they’re just going to spend 45 minutes every day taking shots from your starters, they’re not going to give a good effort,” he says. “So we do a couple of things to keep them focused. First, they only spend about 15 to 20 minutes in each practice actually running our opponent’s scheme. The rest of their scout team

oneS-on-ones When the scout team is not giving starters the best possible opposition during practice, it can be tempting to place firststring players into scout roles. “Sometimes, my defensive coaches

will be frustrated with the looks the offensive prep team is giving their unit, especially if we’re playing a team that runs a unique system,” says Kyle Richardson, Head Coach at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, S.C. “So they’ll start asking if they can go up against our first-team offense.”

Richardson resists the temptation. “The biggest problem is it takes my offensive players away from what they need to do,” he says. “I need to make sure they’re prepared to execute our game plan, and I can’t do that as efficiently if those players spend time running another team’s offense.

I tell my coaches that would be like a teacher informing their class that there will be a test on the Civil War on Friday and then taking class time on Thursday to discuss World War II. “And honestly, our starters won’t give the defense a much better look than the prep squad anyway,” Richardson adds. “They’d have to learn the system from scratch, just like the normal scout team does, and their learning curve would be similar. Whatever minimal gains we’d make on defense would be more than offset by losses on offense.”

work involves strategizing with the coaching staff in the film room, analyzing what types of looks they’ve given the starters, and talking about how they can improve.

“We also make sure those 15 to 20 minutes are broken up into five-minute segments and that they occur at different times each day,” Richardson continues. “The more variation you give players, the more you keep them on their toes, and the sharper they’ll be.”

Prep work

Even when scout players are fully committed, there are challenges in getting them ready to learn a new system every week. The key, according to coaches, is to break things down piece by piece, starting in the film room.

“Young players don’t always understand defensive calls right away, so it’s important that those early film meetings focus on the formations your opponent uses, not specific techniques used by their players once a play is in motion,” Elliot says. “For example, if the defense you’ll be facing runs a zone press, make sure your players understand where they’re supposed to line up in that formation and where to go when the ball is snapped. That’s a lot more important than spending 10 minutes coaching them on the way a specific player sheds a block.”

Snyder’s system of having scout team players stay with the units they’re facing makes prep time more efficient. “Another benefit to our system of having our scout team units break down film with starters is that the coaches can instruct both groups at the same time,” Snyder says. “If we’ve got our scout team defensive line watching film with our first-team offensive line, our offensive line coach can tell both groups of players, ‘When they call this play, everyone on their defensive line shifts about six inches in another direction.’

“Not only is the coach able to address two groups at once, he can describe the formation in a more detailed way than a coach who hasn’t seen that formation as much,” Snyder continues. “That can really take your scout team prep to the next level.”

Once players move onto the field, organization is critical. “The scout team coaches identify the formations we want to use, draw them up, and put them in a book they keep on hand during practice,” Haddock says.

“The players see these same pages, so if the coaches need to make a change, all they need to say is, ‘Guys, let’s go back to play 15 and adjust something’ and everyone knows what that means.”

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COVER STORY

Richardson tries to keep things rolling along by echoing his own team’s playcalling terms when possible. “It’s tough to keep two sets of calls in your head at once,” he says.

“So if our opponent runs a play that we run, we use our terminology. That makes it easier for the guys to remember their responsibilities.”

broke it down as much as we could, but eventually, we just had to move on to more important things.”

“You’re spending a few days trying to learn a system your opponent runs all year, so you have to be willing to accept that things aren’t going to be perfect,” Haddock says. “For example, if we’re preparing to play

to learn the techniques they need to be successful against the offense.

“The same holds true when we’re playing a fast-paced offense,” he continues. “As a coaching staff, we’ve decided that the best thing for us to simulate is the speed of the opponent’s play calling, not the plays themselves. Rather than teaching our offensive

“I often take the scout team out for pizza, just me and them. That’s a fun time and it makes the guys feel appreciated ... We also look for other ways to integrate them with the rest of the team. When we go to road games, the offense travels on the same bus together, as does the defense. This allows the scout team guys to be on the same bus as starters.”

Dominic Saltaformaggio, East Jefferson High School, Metairie, La. What happens if you’re preparing for a team that plays a style your team doesn’t?

“You can’t worry about perfecting everything,” says Saltaformaggio. “We rarely threw the ball last season, so when we went up against passing teams, we had to work with our scout team offensive linemen on getting into the proper stance to pass protect. We

against a team that runs the triple option, we’re not going to worry about our scout team quarterback making the right read on every rep or his pitch being 100 percent accurate. We just need the play to look similar to what our opponent will run. If the guys are lined up properly and move in the right direction, that’s enough for the defense

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scout team how to run plays without huddling, we use two scout teams at once. As soon as one play ends, the second scout team jumps in. This means we can’t work as much on specific plays, but we feel it is a good tradeoff.”

When it comes to working with individual scout team players, Saltaformaggio

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COVER STORY

focuses on what his athletes can replicate.

“Your kid might not be as athletic as the player he’s standing in for, but you can coach your guy on the opposing player’s tendencies,” he says. “How does the wide receiver break off his route? Does the running back hit the hole, or bounce to the outside?”

Not getting tied up in specifics also holds true if you need to move a player from his natural position to simulate an opposing player. “Think about what’s most likely to impact a game,” Higgins says. “If you’ve got a 6-foot-5-inch tight end that you’re using on your scout team to mimic an opponent’s tall wide receiver, would you rather spend time teaching your tight end the exact way the wide receiver runs or instructing your cornerback on how to defend a fade route against a taller player?”

MERIT BADGES

While starters receive lots of praise for their on-the-field contributions, the work of scout team players typically goes unnoticed.

So it’s critical that coaches honor these nonstarters for their contributions. At Kansas

State, Snyder goes above and beyond traditional forms of recognition.

“We name scout team players of the week, like everyone else does,” he says. “But we don’t stop there. The player who wins that award joins the regulars at the team hotel the night before each home game. And if we’ve got room, we take them on the road as well.”

Saltaformaggio regularly lets his scout team players know they’re important in both formal and informal ways. “I often take the scout team out for pizza, just me and them,” he says. “That’s a fun time and it makes the guys feel appreciated. And then there are plenty of smaller gestures I can make as well.

“For example, we don’t award helmet decals just for making a great play in a game.

Scout guys get them for doing well in practice,” Saltaformaggio continues. “We also look for other ways to integrate them with the rest of the team. When we go to road games, the offense travels on the same bus together, as does the defense. This allows the scout team guys to be on the same bus as starters.”

Rewarding scout players can be especially important if it includes experienced

upperclassmen. “I feel for those players because they give so much to the program,” Higgins says. “But I also don’t want to give them false hope by promising playing time.

So when we have players committed to continuing in that role, I look for other ways to honor them.

“This past season, we had a senior on the scout team who had appeared in just a handful of games during his career,” Higgins continues. “I made sure to call his name out after practice so the whole team knew he was contributing. I also had him lead the squad onto the field before games. That made him feel like he was a big part of the program.”

It also helps to recognize the scout team’s efforts publicly, since fans have little idea what the players are doing in practice. “If you win a big game, give credit to the scout team when you’re interviewed,” Richardson says. “Even if you praise them a lot after practices, their role in a victory can be overlooked in the immediate aftermath of a game. But mentioning their contributions after a game can mean a lot and lead to even more victories.” CM

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Circle No. 116

Strength & Conditioning

Connor Shaw lost only six fumbles over the last two years as the University of South Carolina’s starting quarterback, thanks in part to the team’s focus on grip strength training.

holding on

It may not be glamorous, but grip strength training is an important component of the University of South Carolina’s weightroom work.

By Joe Connolly, Justin Markley, & Michael Pimentel

Grip strength is one of the most underrated and neglected aspects of training football players. Most people don’t even think about its importance until it changes the course of a game.

There’s no better example of this than the last play of the first half in the 2012 Capital One Bowl between the University of South Carolina and the University of Nebraska. With seven seconds remaining and the Gamecocks down 13-9, South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw took the snap, pump-faked, and launched the ball toward the goal line where three of his receivers were flanked by four Nebraska defensive backs. Each player in the pack

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Strength & Conditioning

leapt for the ball, but wide receiver Alshon Jeffery came down with it, turned, and dove into the end zone to give South Carolina the lead as time expired.

Many praised Shaw’s scrambling and the timing of Jeffery’s jump, but very few noticed the impact grip strength had on the play, starting with Shaw’s pump fake. The success of this movement relies on the quarterback’s ability to make it look like the ball is going to be thrown, so he needs to apply the same force as if it is going to be released. Without a firm grip, this can result in a fumble.

Next, Jeffery showcased his grip strength by bringing in a ball that six other players were fighting for. Frequently in Hail Mary situations, multiple hands are in contact with the ball, and more often than not, the player with the strongest grip comes down with it.

Jeffery’s touchdown shifted the momentum of the game, as the Gamecocks rattled off an additional 14 points to eventually win 30-13.

Whether it’s a defensive lineman shredding through an opponent’s block, a cornerback attempting to jam a receiver at the line, or a running back fighting against a strip attempt from a linebacker, grip strength is essential in football. We have made it an integral part of our program at the University of South Carolina.

object with the thumb and opposing fingers (see Figure One, below). The support grip is when the fingers take on the majority of a load (see Figure Two, below).

There are a variety of concepts and equipment implemented in training for grip strength. Tools such as fat bars, kettlebells, pull-up bars/balls, and even a household towel can be used.

One of the exercises we utilize at South Carolina is the isometric hold with a jersey.

The athlete is required to complete a pull-up using a jersey without losing his grip. The jersey helps build grip strength because it is less stable than a bar or other firm object.

pays off in the weightroom as well. As an athlete’s grip becomes stronger, he gains better grip endurance when weight training, resulting in a greater work capacity. The reason behind this is the concept of “radiant tension,” which occurs when an object, such as a barbell, is effectively squeezed. With a firmer, stronger grip on the bar, the athlete produces more tension, creating an increased physiological response throughout the set.

Continued squeezing causes the tension to be dissipated throughout the rest of the body.

For example, let’s look at a shoulder military press or bench press. Attempting

GRIP BASICS

Figure One: Pinch grip

Figure TWO: Support grip

Using unstable tools forces the athlete to balance himself, resulting in greater proprioception. This exercise is especially beneficial when training for football, because our athletes become acclimated to gripping jerseys, which they often have to do on the field.

Another exercise we do is the fat bar reverse-grip curl to overhead press. The fat bar offers a greater grip challenge than a standard barbell due to its larger circumference.

We have the athlete stand in an athletic stance with hands in a pronated position.

With shoulder blades depressed and retracted, the athlete curls the bar up to his collarbone. From this position, the athlete presses the bar over his head and brings his head through his arms, locking elbows and squeezing shoulder blades together.

We also utilize the farmer’s walk to work on the supporting grip action. We set the implement at the start of a prescribed distance (typically 20 or 30 yards) and have the athlete grip it at the start line. Then, he walks with the weight held away from his body, constantly squeezing the handles.

either of these movements with a loose or open grip will cause the bar to stray from its path, resulting in a potential safety risk and inconsistent performance by the athlete.

When a firm, closed grip is used and tension radiates through the body, the bar path will be much smoother. In turn, this will both lead to more efficient lifts and ensure safety.

The positive impacts of a developed grip can be seen in a variety of ways when training athletes, including better repetition endurance. In a movement where grip can be a limiting factor, such as high-rep heavy pulls like dead lifts, cleans, and clean-pulls, a stronger grip will lead to more reps. Athletes are also likely to see increased strength gains as a result of grip training, particularly when it comes to testing new weights on a lift.

Because grip strength will not be a limiting factor in their success, the individual may be capable of working with heavier loads.

Contrary to popular belief, grip strength involves more than just the hand. In fact, 35 muscles are utilized when moving the forearm and hand, and most of these play a part in gripping.

For starters, solid grip strength wouldn’t be possible without the elbow joint. When programming for grip, it is important to train the flexion and extension actions of the elbow in order to keep a balance between its anterior and posterior muscle insertions. This results in better elbow stability, which in turn leads to increases in grip performance.

It is also important to incorporate a variety of wrist and forearm positions when training for grip, such as extension, flexion, ulnar and radial deviation, pronation, and supination. Using different movements ensures that athletes maintain balance between the forearm flexors and extensors, which helps prevent injury.

The final piece in training for grip strength is the hand. There are two primary hand movements to consider: flexion and extension. All of the muscles, bones, and joints in these areas work together to form the three different grip actions—crushing, pinching, and supporting. The crush grip is the action of closing the fingers against a resistance. The pinch grip occurs when an athlete grasps an

WEIGHTROOM BENEFITS

Besides the advantages that grip strength provides to on-the-field performance, it

Joe Connolly is in his third year as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of South Carolina football team. Justin Markley, working on his master’s degree at Michigan State University, and Michael Pimentel, working on his master’s degree at Bridgewater State Uni­versity, completed summer internships at South Carolina in 2013. Connolly can be reached at: Connollj@Mailbox.sc.edu.

28 Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2014

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INJURY PREVENTION

Even with all the performance and training gains grip strength provides, it is important to remember that the first priority of strength and conditioning is injury prevention. Athletes in training are going to get sore and run the risk of an overuse injury.

With that in mind, coaches should employ various preventative techniques during all weightroom sessions.

When it comes to grip training, taking care of muscle tissue should be the top priority. If the tissue is healthy, it is less likely that an athlete will experience an overuse injury.

Stronger tissue also leads to a stronger grip.

There are several ways to prevent injuries to the muscles and tissues associated with grip, including self-myofascial release techniques and static stretching progressions.

Self-myofascial release techniques deal predominantly with tissue health. Whenever a muscle contracts and relaxes—which it does almost constantly when training for or competing in athletics—it accrues tension.

The stronger or more frequent the contractions, the more tension builds up in the muscle fibers, where adhesions, or “knots,”

can eventually develop. These can be experienced as palpable nodules or tight bands of muscle tissue. Knots are especially common during weightroom work because as athletes lift greater masses, they force their muscles to produce stronger contractions.

experience pain when performing an action or find their range of motion limited. The same could be said for the extensors.

Releasing this tension will not only ease discomfort and provide freedom of movement, but will allow the athlete to achieve a

After myofascial release is completed, the athlete needs to stretch the area to regain any reduced flexibility or range of motion. To accomplish this, they should use a static stretching protocol of elongating the muscle fibers in the flexors and extensors.

Adhesions can restrict the athlete’s range of motion. If they remain untreated, and the athlete performs a movement that pushes him beyond this limitation, injury can occur in the form of muscle strains, pulls, tears, and even tendonitis.

The muscles in the forearms and hands that are used for grip are no different than any other muscles in the body and are prone to developing adhesions. If the flexors are carrying tension or knots, the athlete may

full contraction, resulting in greater grip strength. In order to release tension, different implements can be utilized to perform self-myofascial release. To begin, an athlete needs to select an object that is appropriate for the area they will massage. For example, an athlete performing myofascial release on the forearm should use a golf or lacrosse ball rather than a softball (see Figures Three and Four on page 31).

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Figure Three: Flexor self-myofascial release

Figure Four: Extensor self-myofascial release

Figure Five: Static stretch, first progression

athlete begins by sitting at a table or lying on the floor. They should position their forearm on top of the ball so the flexors are in contact. Then, have them gradually work the ball across the proximal end of the forearm while applying pressure and utilizing a small, rocking motion throughout. The athlete should slowly apply pressure across the entire soft tissue area, all the while feeling for knots in the muscle.

To break up the adhesion and release the tension in a particularly sensitive area, the athlete should relax their muscle and position

the ball underneath the troubled spot, slowly putting pressure on it for up to 30 seconds.

Athletes should be advised against pushing too hard and causing the muscle to lock up, which makes it more difficult to break up the adhesion. Once they have successfully treated the tension, they can move on and search for other knots. Then, flip the arm over and repeat for the extensors.

After myofascial release is completed, the athlete needs to stretch the area to regain any reduced flexibility or range of motion. To accomplish this, they should

use a static stretching protocol of elongating the muscle fibers in the flexors and extensors.

The first progression of the stretch has the athlete standing at arms’ distance from a wall.

Have them place their hand flat up against the wall in a supine position above parallel (see Figure Five, above). If their flexors are particularly tight, they might not be able to do this movement, in which case they should slide their hand down the wall to a more comfortable position. Then, they should remain in the stretch for 30 seconds to a min-

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Strength & Conditioning

Figure Six: Static stretch, second progression

ute. The athlete should continue this stretch until they can comfortably get their arm above parallel. To stretch their extensors, the athlete can flip their wrist to a pronated position and again attempt to place their palm flat against the wall.

Once the athlete can accomplish this stretch, they can move on to the second progression, which occurs on the floor. While on their hands and knees, the athlete will externally rotate their arms and place their palms flat on the floor with their fingers pointing toward their knees and their wrists facing out

Figure Seven: Static stretch, third progression

(see Figure Six, above left). From this position, the athlete can progress the stretch by gradually applying more pressure and moving the palms up the floor until a desirable position is reached. To stretch their extensors, the athlete can flip their hands so their wrists are pronated.

The final piece of the progression calls

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for elevated hands so the athlete can increase the range of their stretch. Have the athlete kneel by a bench or box and repeat the same stretching motion (see Figure Seven, at left).

From this position, they will be able to put more pressure into the activity than they did against the wall or floor.

In order to save time during a workout, a coach can fit these stretches into other lifts or warm-ups. For example, the “inch worm� stretches the hamstrings but can also easily work the flexors and extensors by telling athletes to keep their palms flat against the floor. Another is pairing wrist flexibility with stretching the psoas.

Although grip is often overlooked when it comes to strength training, a little emphasis can make a big difference during crunch time. Grip strength is something every football coach should grab onto, because you never know when you might need a Hail Mary. 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.

COACH U P : 5 0 R U L E S FO R BUIL DING COMMITT E D, CONF D E N T, A N D M O T I VAT E D AT H L E T E S A N D T E A M S C O A C H U 50 R U LES F O R B U IL DING CO MMITTE D, CO NFI DENT, AN M O T I VAT E D AT H L E T E S A N D T E A M S C O A C H U P : 5 0 R U L E F O R B U I L D I N G C O M M I T T E D , C O N F I D E N T, A N D M O T I VAT E AT HLETES A N D T E A M S CO ACH UP: 5 0 RUL E S FOR BUI L I N G C O M M I T T E D , C O N F I D E N T, A N D M O T I VAT E D AT H L E T E A ND TEAMS C O A C H U P: 5 0 RUL E S FO R BUIL DIN G COMMI T E D , C O N F I D E N T, A N D M O T I VAT E D AT H L E T E S A N D T E A M COACH U P : 5 0 R U L E S FO R BUIL DING COMMITT E D, CONF D E N T, A N D M O T I VAT E D AT H L E T E S A N D T E A M S C O A C H U P : 5 B UIL DING COMMITTE D, C ONFI DEN RULES F OR A N D M O T I VAT E D ATHL E TE S AND TEAM COACH UP : 5 0 RUL E S FOR BUI L IWritten N G by performance CO M M I TGreg T Shelley, E D , Ph. D., who C works O Nwith FI DEN consultant AtopNcollege D programs M O Taround I V AtheTcountry, E D “Coach A TUp”Hcontains L E Tadvice ES AN TE AMS COACH UP: 50 RULE on enhancing motivation, building stronger teams, developing FOR BUIL DING COMMI TTE better leaders, establishing more effective communication, CO NFIDE NT, AND M O and T I VA improving athlete mental confidence.

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Pull it. Push it. Increase leg strength and power with it. TDS durable sleds can be towed with an adaptable harness or pushed with hands.

Choose from six different models to fit your budget and needs.

Receive a five percent discount by ordering before April 30, 2014, and mentioning code #P3A1T4M. Visit the New Yrok Barbell Web site for more information on these and other training aids.

New York Barbells • 800-446-1833 www.NewYorkBarbells.com

Circle No. 515

VIRTUALLY IMMOVABLE

$150

for the entire season A four-page “mini-program” with a template to insert the visiting team’s roster.

Price based on a team-specific mini-program…

Contact us for pricing on multi-team options.

Contact Mark Goldberg, 607.257.6970 ext. 11 mg@momentummedia.com

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 “overbuilt” construction that will suit any affiliate or gym with its immovable capacity. The standard Monster Rig is built with 11-gauge, 3” x 3” steel tube uprights. This is a virtually immovable piece of American-made training equipment.

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

Circle No. 530

STRONGER HIP MUSCLES

The Power Lift Pro Select Multi Hip is an ideal piece for every strength and fitness facility to help facilitate the development of the hip muscles. Hip flexors and extensors as well as adductor and abductors can be performed on this Power Lift piece. Standard features on Power Lift’s Multi Hip machine include a large, adjustable footplate to fit many sizes of users, and a work arm that can rotate 360 degrees and be positioned at any of the 24 different settings, along with an adjustment to set the height of the work arm proportionate to the user. The Power Lift Pro Select Multi Hip comes with a 300-pound stack that provides 150 pounds of resistance.

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

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Circle No. 127 36 Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2014

CoachesNetwork.com

Company News

Guide to Synthetic Turf

NORDOT® AllWeather Adhesives

PLAYER PROTECTION

LIGHTNING STRONG

NORDOT Adhesives have a long history of worldwide success for the total glue-down and/or seaming of synthetic turf football fields as well as other sport and recreational surfaces.

Their one-part curing urethanes are easy to handle and can be used in any weather the installer can work-from sub-freezing to desert-like temperatures, and in damp, dry, or windy conditions.

Fifty years ago, AstroTurf ® invented synthetic turf, changing the landscape of sport forever.

Today, it continues to pioneer turf technology, delivering unrivaled systems for multi-purpose and sport-specific applications.

Benefitting from a half-century of research and development, focused on player protection and product longevity, AstroTurf is able to offer and honor the most secure warranty in the industry.

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

RECENT INSTALLATIONS: Oklahoma State University (photo included) Rice University Auburn University Boston College The Ohio State University UCLA

RECENT INSTALLATIONS: Furman University Montana Tech Dalton High School, GA Mount Paran Christian School, GA Quincy University Chattanooga Christian School, TN

PRIMARY ADVANTAGES:

PRIMARY ADVANTAGES:

AstroTurf’s 3-D turf system features the RootZone, a layer of fiber designed to encapsulate infill. The RootZone® reduces the unsightly rubber splash seen on other turf fields. Perhaps more importantly, it offers significant player protection benefits. By keeping rubber in place, the RootZone promotes uniform shock attenuation. Additionally, independently funded research from Michigan State shows that AstroTurf’s RootZone reduces torque (the joint-twisting force) by encouraging proper cleat release.

PowerBlade Bolt is everything you expect from a synthetic turf system. Bolt delivers extraordinary performance, aesthetics, and safety to help you achieve more.

Bolt provides a stronger, more resilient fiber system. Its lightning bolt-shaped angles create a stronger vertical axis, causing fibers to remain upright with less breakdown. Bolt’s shape reflects light for lower luster and more natural looking field. Bolt exceeds the most stringent industry requirements for simulated wear by more than two times.

AstroTurf ® 800-723-TURF www.astroturf.com See ad on page 5 Circle No. 526

Shaw Sports Turf 866-703-4004 shawsportsturf.com See ad on inside cover Circle No. 532

®

With their key handling properties, outstanding end properties (tenacious grab, long-term durability, and extraordinary water-resistance) plus a strong reputation of 40+ years for successful installations, it’s no wonder professionals choose high green strength NORDOT® Adhesives for outdoor installations.

The above photo shows NORDOT® Adhesive being applied by airless spray in the total glue down installation of a synthetic turf football field. The turf will be unrolled on to it, creating a tight, strong, long-lasting, and waterresistant bond while allowing for proper drainage of porous surfaces.

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

Shaw Sports Turf is a worldclass manufacturer of synthetic turf, representing quality and innovation with over 1,500 installations, including highprofile installations such as the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Arkansas.

Shaw Sports Turf is part of Shaw Industries, a world-renowned flooring provider and a wholly owned subsidiary of BerkshireHathaway.

Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2014 37

Team Equipment ULTIMATE TRAINING TOOL

SECURE PROTECTION

The Snap Attack Football Machine has 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. Elevation changes are quick and easy with the Snap Attack, and the machine can also be locked in for precise repetition.With a lowered position at ground level and realistic angles, the machine snaps the ball to any depth in shotgun and pistol formations for extra points and punts.

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

Circle No. 519

ULTIMATE FIT

Four integrated technologies come together to deliver the ultimate in helmet fit, comfort, and protection with the EPIC Varsity Football Helmet.

This product engages the Orbital Cinch Strap for dynamic helmet retention.

Protection is the mission of the DFLX compression liner and the Poron® XRD™ foam inside provides improved comfort and enhanced protection. Coolness is achieved with the In-Vent Exhaust System. Contact the company for more information or go online to get yours now.

M.A.S.A. • 800-264-4519 www.sportsadvantage.com

Circle No. 510

ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE

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

Circle No. 506

CONVENIENCE & RELIABILITY

Every team needs a convenient, reliable water system.

The Wheelin’ Water Hydration Systems provide the convenience and reliability that coaches want. Made in the USA, these systems ship fully assembled. No worry of time-consuming or improper assembly. The quality of construction is unsurpassed. They are easy to maneuver, and most models fit through a standard doorway. Wheelin’ Water Hydration Systems will provide your team with years of service.

Wizard Sports Equipment • 888-964-5425 www.wizardsports.com

Circle No. 508

SECURE ATTACHMENT

As the ultimate in performance, the Lightning 7 girdle utilizes permanently attached hip, tail, thigh and knee pads featuring the new Spider Web EVA foam.

Soft thigh pads are ultra-light in weight, and hip pads extend to promote security of the iliac crest without impeding athletic execution. This product is fabricated of 80-percent Nylon and 20-percent Spandex with a 100-percent Polyester mesh gusset. It includes a two-inchwide waistband with Spandex Elastomer.

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

As the most dynamic in protection, the Thunder 7 girdle utilizes permanently attached hip, tail, thigh, and knee pads featuring the new Spider Web EVA foam.

Hard thigh pads implement high-impact plastic cores, and hip pads extend to promote security of the iliac crest without impeding athletic execution.

Fabricated of 80-percent Nylon and 20-percent Spandex with a 100-percent polyester mesh gusset, this product includes a two-inch-wide waistband with Spandex Elastomer.

The Universal Cart Clamp allows the Snap Attack Football Machine to mount onto any cart. It is uniquely designed to fit any round or square mounting post or pedestal from two and a half 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. It also quickly and easily detaches the Snap Attack for use in snapping drills.

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

Circle No. 520

Circle No. 509

CLEAR COMMUNICATION

PADDING FOR ANY POSITION

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 belt-worn 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.

The XFLEXION™ Shoulder Pad offers better protection and better flexibility in a pad designed for any position. Utilizing Xenith’s patented Aware-Flow ® Shock Absorber Technology coupled with cantilever straps, Xenith’s XFLEXION is one of the most innovative pads that has been introduced. The XFLEXION system features floating chest and sternum plates which converge to provide greater flexibility. Contact the company for more information or go online to get yours now.

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

M.A.S.A. • 800-264-4519 www.sportsadvantage.com

38 Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2014

Circle No. 535

Circle No. 507 CoachesNetwork.com

More Products DESIGNED FOR WORKING ADULTS

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES

American Public University • 877-777-9081 www.studyatapu.com/sports

California University of Pennsylvania • 866-595-6348 www.calu.edu/go Circle No. 523

American Public University offers more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs designed for sports and health science professionals, coaches, athletic directors, and working adults like you—completely online. American Public University has been nationally recognized by the Sloan Consortium for effective practice in online education. Classes start monthly with eight- and 16-week courses.

Circle No. 522

PROMOTE HEALING

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common issues faced by athletes.

Studies show that a combination of targeted calf stretching and heel support provides the most significant relief and promotes healing. Athletes can be pain-free in 2Steps™. The pairing of ProStretch® Plus and Tuli’s® Heel Cups is a proven and easy-to-use solution that provides both the immediate relief and longterm healing needed to keep athletes on their feet.

Medi-Dyne Healthcare Products, Ltd. • 800-810-1740 www.medi-dyne.com Circle No. 525

The 12-month, 36-credit Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion at California University of Pennsylvania is 100-percent Web based. The flexibility of the online program allows professionals or military personnel, who would be precluded from attending graduate school in the traditional sense, to complete the M.S. program while still maintaining their full-time positions. For more information and a list of degree programs, contact Cal-U.

IMPROVED SUPPORT

The AS1 Pro features a newly engineered performance fit that implements a more ergonomic cut for improved support and control. The speed-lacing system uses coated round laces that thread more easily through the wide-open lace eyelets and allows for quicker application and removal. The vertical strapping system helps secure the ankle and reduces the risk of injury.

This product is designed for use with the right or left foot.

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

Circle No. 524

Product Launch

Portable Compression Therapy

HydroChill™ Evaporative Cooling System

PowerPlay™ www.powerplay.us 855-797-7529 Circle No. 536

Shaw Sports Turf 706-217-9690 www.shawsportsturf.com Circle No. 521 Unique features:

• Not just lab tested— tested in real field applications over three years • Evaporative cooling is the same way the body cools itself by sweating

CoachesNetwork.com

Benefits for the user:

Unique features:

• Shown to reduce turf temperatures by 50 degrees • Provides maximum benefit when it’s hottest • Athletes can focus on the task, not the temperature

• Weighs less than one pound • Eight hours of battery use • Three ports for cold and compression

Benefits for the user:

• Accelerates removal of lactic acid following training and improves circulation curing swelling, soreness, and fatigue • Reduces severity and duration of injuries • Treat up to three athletes or locations at once power Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2014 39

DIRECTORY

Advertisers Directory

BETTER TOOLS FOR BETTER

PERFORMANCE

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

Increase strength, endurance and flexibility.

Improve speed, agility and athletic performance.

Overcome barriers to athletic training.

Safety Super Bungie Kit – Increases speed, improves endurance and withstands the most rigorous athletic training. Features high-strength, large-diameter Bungie Cord with industrial-strength steel snaps.

www.turfcordz.com

To order, visit our website or call:

800-886-6621 Circle No. 123 40 Coaching Management OFFSEASON 2014

/NZCordz

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

107 . . . . Active Ankle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

112 . . . . Medi-Dyne. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

109 . . . . Aer-Flo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

118 . . . . New York Barbells of Elmira. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

105 . . . . American Public University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

114 . . . . NSCA National Conference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

102 . . . . AstroTurf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

111 . . . . Porta Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

116 . . . . Athletic Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

117 . . . . Power Lift. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

106 . . . . Bison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

121 . . . . Power Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

120 . . . . Bullet Belt (Lane Gainer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

119 . . . . PowerBlock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

104. . . . California University of Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . 6

125 . . . . Rogue Fitness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC

126 . . . . Coach Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

110 . . . . Salsbury Industries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

108 . . . . Coaching Management Program Service. . . . 12-13

122 . . . . Samson Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

127 . . . . Coaching Management Mini-Programs. . . . . . . . 36

100 . . . . Shaw Sports Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC

101 . . . . Cramer Protective Apparel by Stromgren. . . . . . . . . 2

124 . . . . Sports Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC

113 . . . . GearBoss by Wenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

123 . . . . TurfCordz/NZ Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

115 . . . . M.A.S.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

103 . . . . Wizard Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Products Directory Circle #. Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page #

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

524 . . . . Active Ankle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

535 . . . . Porta Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

528 . . . . Aer-Flo (Bench Zone�). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

529 . . . . Power Lift� (Full Body Squat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

527 . . . . Aer-Flo (Cross-Over Zone�). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

534 . . . . Power Lift� (Multi Hip). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

522 . . . . American Public University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

511 . . . . Power Systems (Safe Plyo Boxes). . . . . . . . . . . . 35

526 . . . . AstroTurf� . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

517 . . . . Power Systems (Smart Indoor Ladder). . . . . . . . . 36

501 . . . . Bison (�Big B�). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

533 . . . . PowerBlock�. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

505 . . . . Bison (goalposts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

536 . . . . PowerPlay™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

523 . . . . California University of Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . 39

530 . . . . Rogue Fitness (Monster Series Rigs). . . . . . . . . . 36

509 . . . . Cramer (Lightning 7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

531 . . . . Rogue Fitness (Ohio Bar) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

506 . . . . Cramer (Thunder 7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

518 . . . . Samson (Functional Training Rack Series). . . . . . 36

504 . . . . Future Pro (goalpost padding) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

512 . . . . Samson (Glute-Ham Assist). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

500 . . . . Future Pro (line markers). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

532 . . . . Shaw Sports Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

510 . . . . M.A.S.A. (EPIC Football Helmet). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

521 . . . . Shaw Sports Turf (HydroChill™) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

507 . . . . M.A.S.A. (XFLEXION™). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

519 . . . . Sports Attack (Snap Attack). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

525 . . . . Medi-Dyne. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

520 . . . . Sports Attack (Universal Cart Clamp). . . . . . . . . . 38

513 . . . . New York Barbells (medicine/slam balls). . . . . . . 35

503 . . . . Wenger (GearBoss�/GearBoss II™). . . . . . . . . . . . 34

515 . . . . New York Barbells (TDS durable sleds). . . . . . . . . 36

502 . . . . Wenger (GearBoss� lockers). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

516 . . . . NSCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

508 . . . . Wizard Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

514 . . . . NZ Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

CoachesNetwork.com

TrAining PerFecTed

Powerful, precise repetition. The versatile Snap Attack Football Machine has the ability to switch quickly and effortlessly from kickoff to passing to punting and to snapping positions. Rapid fire and multiple ball drills are all a part of the Snap Attack’s repertoire.

The two powerful motors create a near instantaneous recovery time and furnish the power needed to put the football anywhere on the field. The solid polyurethane throwing wheels grip the ball for an accurate spin, but do not damage the leather football.

If you are looking for thousands of precise repetitions or game-like variability of passed, kicked or snapped balls every day‌ this is your machine.

P.O. Box 1529 | 2805 U.S. 40 | Verdi, NV 89439 tf 800.717.4251 | ph 775.345.2882 | w sportsattack.com Circle No. 124

Circle No. 125