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The Magazine for High School Football Coaches
mar/apr 2020
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CREATE COMPETITION IN your STRENGTH PROGRAM + One Conditioning Test for All Players + Split Strength Program into Three Seasons + Test Players with the Trojan Olympics + Host a Team Combine
impact
Coaching team to state title is cancer-stricken Georgia coach’s final act
5 Tips for Managing Anxiety related to Coronavirus
PLAYBOOK + Texas Unbalanced Counter + Red Zone Sprint 78 + Punt Block or Pass Rush + Quarters Coverage
Q&A with Syracuse
Coach Dino Babers Kentucky Legend Starts Signing Day Tradition 7 Tips to Avoid Over-Snacking | Inspirational Quotes 12 Positive Thoughts Before a Lift Share Football with Family
CONTENT
MARCHAPRIL
TRAINING & CONDITIONING
Create Competition page 10
11 One Conditioning Test for All Positions
Buddy Nobles
12 Split Strength and Conditioning into Three Seasons
GEORGIA COACH EARNS ELUSIVE STATE TITLE BEFORE PASSING ON P.08
14 Test Your Players in the Trojan Olympics 16 Build Mental Toughness with a Spring Combine 17 Wheelin’ Water: A Father-Son Bond
02
COACHING LEGEND
INNOVATOR’S SPOTLIGHT
NUTRITION
04 Dudley Hilton: A Welcoming Presence COLLEGE COACH Q&A
26 Football America Reflects on 30 Years of Service PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
06 Q&A with Dino Babers, Syracuse University Head Coach HEALTH: CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS
27 Increase Communication and Productivity with ProCom TECH CORNER
32 7 Tips to Avoid Over-Snacking 33 Honey Stinger: Healthy, Organic Sports Fuel FAMILY EXPERIENCE
22 5 Tips for Managing Anxiety 23 Q&A with a Sports Psychologist IN MEMORIAM
28 Sideline Power: Practice Timers and Play Clocks MENTAL PERFORMANCE
24 Remembering Florida Coaching Legend Corky Rogers USA FOOTBALL
29 12 Positive Thoughts to Have Before a Lift FUNDRAISING
25 The Football Development Model
30 Fundraising Headline
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34 Sharing the Football Experience with Family INSPIRATION 36 Motivational Football Quotes
18. playbook PRESENTED BY
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR We are living in uncertain times at the moment with the spread of coronavirus wiping out most of our spring plans. It’s important to take this pandemic seriously and follow the advice of experts. The CDC is recommending that all of us practice social distancing, which is forcing coaches to change the way we communicate with players. We are unable to gather our teams or monitor the gains our players are making in the weight room. Some players won’t even have access to weights or training equipment. In times like these, it is important for coaches to call on our leadership skills like never before. High school athletes are looking to us to set the tone. We have to exude confidence that we can all get through this together, while also striking a tone that there is work to do. We don’t know when, but eventually football will return. When it does, the teams that have been able to continue training and building chemistry will be the teams that gain an advantage. Find ways to communicate with your players through apps, chat groups and newsletters. Share at-home workouts and training plans virtually. Take this time to reassess your program and take advantage of the break from normal team activities by doing things you might not otherwise have time to do. If you would like to learn more about any of the topics we cover in this edition – or topics that are relevant to the social distancing/quarantine era of coaching football, we’d like to hear from you at fnf@ae-engine.com. Engage with us on our website, FNFCoaches.com, and social media, @FNFCoaches, and tell us if there’s anything we can do to help you get through this difficult time. Respectfully, Dan Guttenplan, Managing Editor
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COACHING LEGEND
A Welcoming Presence DUDLEY HILTON FOSTERS TEAM CHEMISTRY WITH ANNUAL TRADITION A Kentucky coach has started a tradition of welcoming eighth-graders to his program that is modeled after NCAA Signing Day. It has helped foster an environment in which players of all grade levels feel part of the team. BY DEREK SMITH
The Dudley Hilton Profile TEAM: Bell County, Ky., High School (1983-96, 2001-10, 2017-present) YEARS AS HEAD COACH: 46 ■■Bell County head coach Dudley Hilton’s experience coaching in college inspired his mock signing day for eighth graders
National Signing Day is about former high school recruits officially becoming a part of a new team, a new school and a new chapter of their lives. In Bell County, Ky., football coach Dudley Hilton understands the importance of welcoming future Bobcats to the program and holds his own version of National Signing Day. Before Bell County’s spring scrimmage, the eighth-graders who will be freshman at the high school in the fall take part in a mock signing day ceremony in front of the varsity players, coaches and parents. “It’s really gone over big for us,” Hilton said. “Our community really enjoys it. Just like the colleges, but we don’t put the hats down on the table.” The event helps the rising ninth-graders become more comfortable with the idea of playing high school football and makes them feel like they’ll have a role on the team the next four years, he said. “We get a good turnout and they do it because they want to be a part of the football program,” Hilton said. “It’s a way to get to know our eighthgraders a little bit better.” A mandatory, one-hour weightlifting class every day when school starts back in August supervised by Hilton lets the new freshmen know that expectations come with signing their “national letter of intent.” “When they come in that door they know
04
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they’ve got to work. We never take a day off,” said Hilton, who competed in football, basketball, baseball and track in high school in Springfield, Ky., earning a scholarship at Murray State. Hilton, 71, started the tradition when he began his third stint at the Pineville, Ky., school in 2017. He previously coached there from 1983-96 and 2001-10 with other stops at Breathitt County, Bourbon County, Taylor County and the University of Pikeville in between. “They asked me to come back again because they had their first losing season in the history of the school,” he said. “I got sentimental, and that’s one reason I came back.” Pineville, population 1,781, is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest near the Tennessee border, half way between Lexington, Ky., and Knoxville, Tenn. The 3A high school has about 650 students in grades 9-12. “They didn’t have anything to hang their hats on. If they don’t have football, what do they have?” Hilton said. “I didn’t realize that until I left. I’m a plain, old country boy. I can relate to country kids and they respond to me.” Hilton, who never has been an assistant coach in 46 years on the job, is seven wins shy of hitting the magic number of 400 victories. He’s won three state championships – two at Bell County and one at Bourbon County – and finished state runner-up in 2019.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 3
(1991, 2008, 1997 at Bourbon County)
2019 RECORD: 14-1 (3A state runner-up) COACHING RECORD: 393-123 ALL-TIME RANK: 44 ACTIVE RANK: 25 FAMILY: wife, Jan; son,
John Dudley; daughters, Pam and Jennifer; and four grandchildren.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
No. 2 all-time in wins in the state of Kentucky; inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2015; playing surface at Bell County High School named “Dudley Hilton Field.”
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COLLEGE COACHES’ CORNER
with Q&A syracuse coach dino babers BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
S
yracuse football has certainly had its
moments in the Dino Babers’ era. Upsets over Virginia Tech in 2016, Clemson in 2017 and a 10-3 record in 2018 have provided bursts of hope. Babers recently joined FNF Coaches for an exclusive interview. When did you get a sense that you wanted to coach for a profession? “At a very young age. I always dreamed of it from a very young age. The biggest thing that inspired me is how the men and coaches in my life influenced others to become leaders.”
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You spent almost 30 years as an assistant before your first head coaching job. Did you have a desire to be a head coach, or were you OK if that never happened? “There’s no doubt that when you coach as long as I had, there’s a period when you think it might not happen. It’s something you strive for, but you realize maybe it’s not in the cards for you. Maybe you don’t have that ‘it’. I came to peace with it. ‘OK, this is what I am, and I’m going to try to be the best at something.’ When I came to grips with the fact that I might not be a head coach, the man upstairs gave me an opportunity. I let him do the driving. I hang on as the passenger.” I’m sure you interact with high school coaches through recruiting. What advice would you give them? “I’m so proud of the high school coaches in America. For the most part, they do a fabulous job. They’re not rewarded financially like NFL or college coaches. They’re basically underappreciated. When I was really small, I saw a funeral
procession with my dad when we were near Houston National Cemetery. We were waiting for the hearse to go by, and I asked my dad what was going on. He said, ‘A person just passed away.’ I said, ‘Wow, this is really long.’ He told me it must be a wealthy person. The second time we saw that happen, the line was three times longer than the first. I said to my Dad, ‘This guy must be really rich because the line is longer.’ He looked back and said, ‘Actually, this person was a coach.’ It hit me more than ever before. Coaches are teachers. They may not be given what they deserve financially, but they’ll affect people in another way. Maybe that’s what we’re here for.” This time of year, so many coaches are looking to foster team chemistry and camaraderie. What do you do with your players? “The first thing at this time of year is the work in the weight room. We start with an older group and a younger group getting up early in the morning. They swear, grunt and make weird noises to move iron around. That brings out camaraderie about working hard. We’re eating together and going to the training room. The quarterbacks are having throwing sessions of their own. They’re actually doing it without coaches involved, taking ownership of the team. That lets our leaders and captains take control and lead by example without coaches being around.” What have you learned about strength and conditioning over the years? “I really see the spring as a time for growth, getting bigger, stronger and faster. We’re going to push these guys to the limit in the spring. When we get closer to the summer, they’ll hit maxes. At the end of the summer, we back off and maintain that strength going into August. Then we set ourselves up to get a fast start in September.” How do you keep the players rested during the season without sacrificing the gains they made in the spring? “Once the season starts, it’s more about maintaining. They’re not hitting those huge numbers and going for maxes. They’re lifting weights in the 75 to 85 percentile. They do more reps to maintain the strength they acquired in the early summer.”
Are you using any new technology that high school coaches should know about? “I think all of the stuff is really important. Our strength coach could give a better breakdown than I can. One of the keys in gaining strength is how much rest you get. We work to the 10th degree and also rest them to the 10th degree. Max rest is max growth. When it comes to GPS technology, my guy knows all of that.” If you could go back and give yourself advice at the start of your career, what would it be? “Surround yourself with good people. Every time you make a move, it’s not always about money. It’s about opportunity. Work with somebody you think will be around for a very long time, so you’ll have access to their knowledge and they can help steer your career. What would you give to work with Bill Belichick for three years? What about Vince Lombardi or Nick Saban? Whoever you hold in that regard, the point is it’s being with them that will have more value than extra money. Nobody can take knowledge from you.”
THE SUPER BOWL CONNECTION SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS QUARTERBACK JIMMY GAROPPOLO
credits Babers with getting him to Super Bowl LIV. Babers coached Garoppolo for two seasons at Eastern Illinois (2012-13), during which the team went 19-7 — a vast improvement from 4-18 in Garoppolo’s first two college football seasons — and the quarterback passed for nearly 9,000 yards. He threw 53 touchdowns and just nine interceptions during his senior season en route to winning the Walter Peyton Award, the Heisman Trophy of FCS football. “When I first saw him, I had just left Baylor with (Robert Griffin III), so I knew what a good quarterback looked like,” Babers said. “After the first couple of throws, I said, ‘He really shouldn’t be at a 1-AA level. He should be at a Division 1 school.’ It was a matter of time before his greatness showed.” Babers took particular pride in watching Garoppolo earn a trip to the Super Bowl with an NFC Championship Game victory over the Packers, where the quarterback attempted only eight passes. “He’s such an unselfish guy,” Babers said. “He never cared about how much he threw; he only cared that we won.” Babers attended this year’s Super Bowl in Miami to watch his former pupil. “The biggest takeaway was that both quarterbacks were using RPOs,” Babers said. “It’s one of those mechanisms the fans want to see, and it can win football games.”
07
INSPIRATION
Nobles Strong GEORGIA COACH EARNS ELUSIVE STATE TITLE BEFORE PASSING A Georgia coach who was dealt a cancer diagnosis before the start of the season made his final goal in life to watch his players win a state championship. They did just that in December. After the coach’s passing in January, the community remembered his impact. BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
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Irwin County coach Buddy Nobles had a habit of dropping by the office of the president of the booster club when he needed something, so Marty Roberts wasn’t surprised to see the popular coach in his doorway last August. A few weeks earlier, Nobles had come by to ask for a golf cart for preseason workouts. The coach didn’t have the energy he once had, and he knew the hot summer days would take a toll on him. This time, Nobles wasn’t coming by to ask for anything. “He said, ‘I have stomach cancer,’” Roberts said. “It was like you could hear a pin drop in my office. We cried a bit and hugged each other.” Roberts asked his friend how he wanted to handle the diagnosis. Did he want to step away from the team? Did he want to name his own successor? “He said, ‘I’m not leaving my boys,’” Roberts said. “’We’re not going to have a pity party for Buddy Nobles. I won’t take anything away from the seniors.’ He never thought about leaving.” Nobles had a particular affinity for this year’s group of seniors, as the Irwin County Indians had reached the Georgia Class A state championship game and lost each of the previous four seasons. Finishing the job was the last goal of Nobles’ life. Nobles’ Indians did just that. Irwin broke its 44-year state football title drought with a 56-14 win over Marion County in Atlanta Dec. 14. After the win, Nobles was helped on stage for his speech. “Ocilla, we did it,” said Nobles, lifting his finger to indicate Irwin was No. 1. “To our players, I’m just going to tell you right now … You guys are a team of destiny. If there’s been a better Class A team in the history of Georgia football I want to see them. “Without Jesus, you’ve got nothing in this world.” Nobles died in January – just over a month after his team won the state title. He was hospitalized in Atlanta after the state championship win and never got the chance to return to Irwin County High to
BUDDY NOBLES’ LASTING LEGACY SCHOOL: Irwin County High (Ga.) CAREER RECORD: 67-13-2 (6 seasons) REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: 5 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES: 5 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 (2019) STREAK: Irwin County has won 27 straight
regular-season games.
HISTORY: Nobles is the winningest coach in
Irwin County history.
celebrate with his team. He was released from the hospital into hospice care. “He was determined to see it through,” Roberts said. “He’s as strong-willed a person as I’ve ever met in my life. It was so hard to watch him go through it. I think it would have been a great season anyway, but they wouldn’t be denied for Coach Nobles.” Nobles’ funeral was at the Irwin County football stadium. His players wore their uniforms and marched around the track before the ceremony. They then lined the fence and saluted the hearse as it carried Nobles’ body to its final resting place. “He had a purpose all year long to stay alive for that championship,” Roberts said. “When he did, that’s when he passed away. It was heart-breaking. There were 2,500 people at the funeral. It was a fitting tribute to a fine man.” Denied state championships in four previous finals appearances under Nobles, the Indians were not going to let this one slip by. Irwin outscored its regular-season opponents by an average score of 42-5 on its way to a perfect 13-0 record. Nobles occasionally missed games during the season when he was hospitalized. But even then, he’d draw up a game plan from his hospital bed. During Nobles’ sideline absence, defensive coordinator Casey Soliday handled head coaching duties. The Irwin County agriculture department built Nobles an elevated stand to coach from when he could attend the games. On those occasions, he wore a headset and called plays while sitting next to his daughter. “Other teams even let us set up the
stand for road games,” Roberts said. “That’s how loved Buddy was in the football community. He’d FaceTime the coaches after all of the games he missed.” Once the Indians had the statechampionship game in hand, the Irwin County fans chanted “Buddy” until the coach put his hand on his heart and waved back. “He never got to shake everyone’s hands because he went right back to the hospital in Atlanta,” Roberts said. “He never got to celebrate the championship they always wanted.” When Nobles was present at the start of home games, Irwin players formed a circle around him and the wooden stand as Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” played over the loudspeakers. The song became a rallying cry for both he and Irwin County fans. Irwin went 67-13-2 under Nobles,
winning five region championships. Before arriving in Ocilla, he previously coached at Florida schools University Christian and Union County with Robby Pruitt and as head coach. He was also a member of Pruitt’s staffs at Fitzgerald and Coffee. Irwin County Schools Superintendent Dr. Thad Clayton issued a statement after Nobles’ passing, recognizing the coach for his impact on the community. “Irwin County Schools has lost a true man of God who will have an everlasting impact on many students, players, coaches and colleagues,” said Superintendent Dr. Thad Clayton. “Humbly, I ask all of you to join me in prayer for Tammy, Kasey, Kaleb, Kenley and family, as we pray to the Heavenly Father for comfort, provision, and thankfulness for His Grace and tender mercies.”
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■■Drum up innerteam competition in the weight room – you can even utilize online leaderboards and videos.
Create Competition March is the perfect time for a coach to drum up team-wide enthusiasm through competition in the weight room. Don’t let the offseason get stale by failing to call on the quality that binds us together in the sport of football: competitiveness. BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
The best strength and conditioning programs energize players with challenging lifts, innovative training ideas, and a healthy dose of motivation from coaches. That motivation does not come easy in the spring, so it’s important to call on the competitive nature of our athletes. In the spring, the weight room can still offer a structured, intense environment. Leaders emerge and much of the team hierarchy is decided before that
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first preseason workout. Let the results of your strength training competitions dictate who your next leaders will be. Design an offseason program that challenges players to compete with each other. Make sure every scheduled team function has a purpose – whether it’s building strength, speed, agility or team chemistry. While the athletes might not have the constant reminder of a scoreboard to measure their success, you can provide
them with motivators such as offseason awards, point systems or leadership opportunities. Spend time reviewing team values and goals. It’s the perfect time to eliminate bad habits and work to make weaknesses strengths. High school athletes thrive on competition. Pit teammates, classmates, position groups and peers against each other, and stress that the key to winning the offseason is winning each day.
One Conditioning Test for Players of All Positions One of the challenges coaches encounter when programming conditioning drills in the offseason is the vast disparity in thresholds between skill position players and linemen. The Tribe Test allows coaches to use one conditioning drill for the entire team. BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
THE TONY HOLLER “FEED THE CATS” METHOD TONY HOLLER IS THE
■■Southside High (Ark.) players complete speed drills.
Southside High (Ark.) strength coach Deerick Smith used to make his athletes do the standard conditioning drills – 110- and 300-yard shuttles and gassers. Those standard fare football intervals gave him a sense of which athletes were in shape. But they never really helped build team chemistry. If anything, the bigger linemen grew to resent the skill position players who could finish the repeats much faster. Smith sought out a conditioning test that leveled the playing field for all players. He wanted them all to run for the same amount of time while maxing out effort. He discovered the Tribe Test, a conditioning test invented by the William and Mary College sports performance staff. Here’s how the Tribe Test works: ■■ Each player partners up with another player. ■■ Both partners stand on the goal line. One is the tester, one is the spotter. ■■ The coach sets an amount of time for the interval and a turning point. (Many times, it’s five seconds and the 20-yard-line.) ■■ The testing player sprints to the 20-yard-line, touches the line, and sprints back as far as he can in five seconds. ■■ The spotter drops a cone at the finish point of the 5-second interval. ■■ The player gets 30 seconds of rest. ■■ He then tries to run farther than the last rep. ■■ The player does 12 reps.
“It’s much better than running 16-second gassers as a team because the elite dudes can run at 65-percent max effort and finish easily,” Smith said. “The linemen are working much harder.” What’s the significance of the five-second sprints and 30 seconds of rest? It mirrors the length of a football player and the time between snaps. “We want to do sport-specific periods,” Smith said. “We’ll do the same drill for different lengths of time with the volleyball or basketball teams.” Smith, who owns Smith Performance out of Arkansas, subscribes to the Tony Holler “Feed the Cats” training method. The track coach at Plainfield North High in Chicago believes all-out sprints are key to building speed, and he advises coaches to record, rank and publish results of any fitness drill. “That’s helped a lot,” Smith said. “Instead of seeing who’s the fastest, they compete against their own times.” Every Wednesday during the spring, Smith has his players perform the 40-yard dash as well as the 5-10-5 shuttle. “Everybody has a mark to beat,” Smith said. “I’ll post the top three results for the skill position players and the linemen. They get a chance to see the improvement throughout the course of the spring, and it inspires them to work hard so that they can be on the board.”
head track coach at Plainfield North High (Ill.). Here are the tenets of his “Feed the Cats” ideology. Sprint as fast as possible, as often as possible, while staying as fresh as possible. ■■ Never let today ruin tomorrow. Accept small gains. Make “Happy and Healthy” your priority. ■■ “Record-Rank-Publish” to feed the competitive nature of your cats. ■■ Always train in spikes. ■■ If you’re too tired to sprint your fastest, you’re not getting faster. ■■ Do strategic low-dose lactate workouts in-season to become more efficient at longer sprint distances. But always remember, lactate training is like a poison. Small doses stimulate, moderate doses inhibit, large doses kill. ■■ Promote-PromotePromote. Share your athletes’ successes with the world. Make track look fun. Remember, kids are good at what they like, and incredible at what they love. Grit is work in the absence of love. “The Grind” has somehow become motivation for people who don’t like their work.
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TRAINING & CONDITIONING
Split Strength and Conditioning Program Into three Seasons The key to any strength and conditioning program is to train athletes so they are peaking on the football field in September, October and November. Divide the other nine months into three seasons so that the players can accomplish the primary goal of the program. BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
THE IN-SEASON PHILOSOPHY JUST AS MCDONNELL
■■Kettle Morain (Wisc.) coach Matthew McDonnell
Like many head coaches, Kettle Moraine High (Wisc.) coach Matthew McDonnell doubles as the architect of the school’s strength and conditioning program. He has seen the difficulty of motivating athletes in the weight room for a football season that is six months away. That’s why he decided to break down his strength and conditioning program into three seasons. “We don’t change much, but our intent does change,” McDonnell said. “They shift their focus to what I want.” Here is McDonnell’s explanation of the three seasons:
GROWTH SEASON: Nov. through March After we’ve played our last game, it’s growth season. In this season, we are in the weight room heavily, with the focus on getting bigger, stronger, more explosive and tougher. We will be in the weight room four days per week. This season ends this first week of March. The first week or so will be used to teach proper lifting form as well as max-out testing, including the dot drill warm-up.
ATHLETE SEASON: March through June This season starts in the first week of March and continues until the last day of school. In this season, we are focused on developing the entire athlete. It’s less about getting bigger and more about functional movements and becoming more explosive. Here, we will teach proper movement patterns, including proper running form. We are now in the weight room three days a week and
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on the field or in the gym once a week. In the weight room, we still have the same focus, but we are now on the field more developing speed, agility, and flexibility. On the field, we will have circuits, which each coach having a different station with a different emphasis so that our kids get as many reps as possible.
COMPETE SEASON: June through Aug. This is the summer program. We will go five days per week. Compete season is a mix of growth and athlete season, with an added emphasis on getting into football shape. The workouts will be more varied to accommodate the broad range of goals. The added emphasis here is on being tough, culminating in surviving the “Tough Guys Win Test” – a brutal three-day speed, conditioning, and strength test, designed to push athletes to their mental limit. After the athletes pass the test, they are given a short day in the weight room the next day, before taking off for the weekend. When they report back on Monday, things start to transition to prepare for the start of the pre-season phase. These four days are split as follows: ■■ Lower Body ■■ Upper Body and Explosive Power (split weight room/field) ■■ Active Recovery (Stretching, yoga, hip hurdles, etc.) ■■ Lower Body ■■ Total Body plus speed/agility
has a long-term plan for each football season, he has a long-term plan for the entirety of each player’s career. He emphasizes the importance of building strength in the weight room for freshmen and sophomores – even at the expense of feeling fresh during games. The freshmen and junior varsity players are treated as redshirts, and they continue with the growth portion of their training plan right through the fall, often lifting on the same day as games. “We’re preparing them to play next year,” McDonnell said. “Our freshmen lift on game day. It depends on the schedule, but we’ll make sure the players at those levels get in their lifts.” The varsity players still lift heavy in-season, but just do fewer reps. “We try to maximize the strength gains but make sure they’re less fatigued,” McDonnell said.
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TRAINING & CONDITIONING
Test Your Players in the Trojan Olympics AN EVENT AND TESTING SYSTEM A MINNESOTA STRENGTH COACH DESIGNED TO WIN TITLES A Minnesota strength and conditioning coordinator has created a formula to measure pound-for-pound strength and absolute power for each player. When those two results are added together, he determines each player’s performance rating, which is a predictor of each player’s performance before he takes the field. BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
Ryan Johnson has been asked to speak at national analytics conferences and high-tech conventions, and he always makes sure to clarify that he is a high school strength and conditioning coach before he agrees to speak. Sometimes, the person extending the invite apologizes for the confusion and moves on to the next option. Sometimes, Johnson is given an opportunity so share his strength training philosophy. In those instances, the person on the other end of the line usually doubles down on the invite. Johnson has designed strength programs for 36 state champion teams in the Wayzata Public Schools (Minn.). For the three-time state champion football team, he is Director of Operations and Player Development. In 2010, he was named the NSCA Minnesota High School Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year. Johnson created the Trojan Olympics – a series of running, jumping, and lifting events. At the end of the Olympics, the results are compiled to provide the raw data for scoring. The highest point total individual is crowned the champion. All participants are then placed into categories based on their results. These scores are also posted on the weight room display board with the top three individuals in each grade. These scores incorporate the following exercises: Bench, Squat, Clean and Vertical Jump. ■■ TSR = Trojan Strength Rating: Sum of total (bench + squat + clean) multiplied by 58. This is a formula that allows coaches to measure poundfor-pound strength and favors a lighter athlete. ■■ PF = Power Factor: TSR + (21.1 x (Vertical Leap in Inches x 2.54)+36 x (Weight in Lbs./2.2)-1393)/15) This equation measures the absolute power of an athlete and favors a heavier athlete. ■■ PR = Performance Rating: A combined score of TSR and PF. This score provides the rank order of athletes that go on the board in the weight room and also serves as a predictor of performance outside of sport skill.
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The Trojan Olympics T-Score Bench Squat Vertical 40yd Dash Clean 20yd Dash Pro-Agility Broad (points) (strength) (strength) (power) (speed) (power) (speed) (agility) (power) 40 100 225 5.5 100 5.5 70 41 105 230 11 105 3.25 71 42 110 235 110 5.4 72 43 115 240 5.45 115 73 44 120 245 12 120 3.2 5.3 74 45 125 250 125 75 46 130 255 5.4 130 5.2 76 47 135 260 13 135 3.15 77 48 140 265 140 5.1 78 49 145 270 5.35 145 79 50 150 275 14 150 3.1 5 80 51 155 280 155 81 52 160 285 5.3 160 4.95 82 53 165 290 15 165 3.05 83 54 170 295 170 4.9 84 55 175 300 5.25 175 85 56 180 305 16 180 3 4.85 86 57 185 310 185 87 58 190 315 5.2 190 4.8 88 59 320 17 2.95 89 60 195 325 17.5 195 4.75 90 61 330 18 5.15 91 62 200 335 18.5 200 2.9 4.7 92 63 340 19 93 64 205 345 19.5 5.1 205 4.65 94 65 350 20 2.85 95 66 210 355 20.5 5.05 210 4.6 96 67 360 21 5 97 68 215 365 21.5 215 2.8 4.55 98 69 370 22 4.95 99 70 220 375 22.5 220 2.75 4.5 100 71 380 23 4.9 101 72 225 385 23.5 225 2.7 4.45 102 73 230 390 24 4.85 230 103 74 235 395 24.5 235 2.65 4.4 104 75 240 400 25 4.8 240 105 76 245 405 25.5 245 2.6 4.35 106 77 250 410 26 4.75 250 107 78 255 415 26.5 255 2.55 4.3 108 79 260 420 27 4.7 260 109 80 265 425 27.5 265 2.5 4.25 110 81 270 430 28 4.65 270 111 82 275 435 28.5 275 2.45 4.2 112 83 280 440 29 280 113 84 285 445 29.5 4.6 285 2.4 4.15 114 85 290 450 30 290 115 86 295 455 31 295 2.35 4.1 116 87 300 460 32 4.55 300 117 88 305 465 33 305 2.3 4.05 118 89 310 470 34 310 119 90 315 475 35 4.5 315 2.25 4 120
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TRAINING & CONDITIONING
Build Mental Toughness with a team Combine Athletes are motivated by strength and conditioning tests, particularly when they can compare their results to those of NFL players. By subjecting high school athletes to the rigors of NFL Combine testing, coaches can test their physical and mental toughness. BY DAN GUTTENPLAN ■■Boston College strength coach Phil Matusz
NFL COMBINE DRILLS IN ADDITION TO
position-specific drills, all players go through the following tests. 40-YARD DASH: These athletes are timed at 10, 20 and 40-yard intervals. What the scouts are looking for is an explosion from a static start.
Boston College first-year strength and conditioning coach Phil Matusz is bringing the NFL experience to high school football. The former body builder recently made the move to Massachusetts with recently hired head coach Jeff Hafley after spending six years as a member of the Ohio State staff. There, Matusz started a tradition of putting the football team through a week-long NFL Combine to test their mental and physical aptitude. Matusz continued that tradition at BC this spring, putting the players through an exact replica of the NFL Combine. The Eagles performed every intricate drill that the nation’s elite college players complete at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Ind. “I made it this way to really challenge the players’ mental approach,” Matusz said. “With this generation of players, there’s anxiety associated with testing. I feel as if my job is to train athletes through all aspects of human development – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.” Matusz started three seasons on the defensive line at Villanova (2007-2009) and, once certified, became the Wildcats strength and conditioning coach. He first introduced his Combines concept at Villanova and took to another level when he joined Ryan Day’s staff at Ohio State. Matusz said he plans to expand the regimen beyond the Buckeye Combines he instituted at OSU. “For athletes driven by testing, a Combine is
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motivation,” Matusz said. “I have 25 years of NFL testing data. I don’t post them before the Combine because I don’t want overwhelm them with too much information. But I’ll show them after if they match up well with some of the NFL greats.” While he doesn’t want to overwhelm his athletes with information overload, Matusz does intentionally put the players through some of the mental challenges of the NFL Combine. For instance, at the NFL Combine, players don’t always get the results of their tests right away. The players have to continue to give maximum effort without knowing how they stack up against other players at their position. Likewise, Matusz waits until after the entire Combine is completed to post his athletes’ results. “We have 70-something guys asking about every test,” Matusz said. “It’s the ability to forget about the last test, remain focused, and perform well on the next drill.” Matusz understands that sacrificing a week of training during growth season has its downsides, but he thinks the lessons derived from the Combine are worth the sacrifice. In fact, he’ll put the players through another Combine in the summer. “As a strength coach, you have to leave your ego at the door,” Matusz said. “Their sport is not weight lifting. My job is to enhance every skill set possible within the realm of human development to excel in the sport of football.”
BENCH PRESS: The
bench press is a test of strength — 225 pounds, as many reps as the athlete can get. What the NFL scouts are also looking for is endurance.
VERTICAL JUMP: The vertical jump is all about lower-body explosion and power. The athlete stands flat-footed and they measure his reach. BROAD JUMP: The athlete starts out with a stance balanced and then he explodes out as far as he can. It tests explosion and balance. 3 CONE DRILL: The 3 cone drill tests an athlete’s ability to change directions at a high speed. Three cones in an L-shape. SHUTTLE RUN: It is known as the 5-10-5. What it tests is the athlete’s lateral quickness and explosion in short areas.
Wheelin’ Water: A FatherSon Bond Sparks World’s Best Hydration Cart An Indiana football family was dealt a setback when a junior high athlete suffered a head injury after falling off a golf cart, effectively ending his playing career. The way in which father and son responded to that setback has had a positive impact on the way teams keep their players hydrated and healthy. BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
Steve Parks had every intention of making a huge impact on the football field when he suffered a head injury in 2002 that prevented him from playing contact sports for the remainder of his athletic career. He was just starting junior high, and as the son of a former football player, his dream was to make his mark on the game. Although he was never able to play the sport he grew up loving, his impact on the sport over the last 18 years has been immeasurable. After the injury, which occurred when Steve sizes. The 65-gallon trailer served as a one-stop THE WHEELIN’ WATER fell off the back of a golf cart, he volunteered as shop for coaches and players to hydrate for entire GUARANTEE a team manager of the local high school team. practices or games. WE ARE DEDICATED TO His father, Greg, saw him struggling to move the “The next move was to make carts that were provide the safest, cart filled with water jugs to and from practice smaller in size and volume of water, but safe and most user-friendly, and decided there had to be a better way. Even at dependable, for programs with lesser needs,” top-quality, best-built, 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, Steve struggled with the Greg Parks said. “These grew out of trainers that hydration carts in clunky design of the standard water carts. needed special requirements for their athletes but the world and make With the help of his son, Greg designed didn’t have the need for large volumes of water them available at an the first prototype out of a barrel cart and and had to work on smaller budgets.” affordable price. Proper hydration, lawnmower wheels. Many revisions later, they The Parks eventually offered systems ranging without sacrificing the developed the first hydration cart under the from 12 to 100 gallons. Accessories included safety and healthy wellWheelin’ Water brand. insulated covers, ice funnels, water filters and being of athletes, is Over the years, the Parks shifted the model hitch assemblies, which continue to help teams what we are about. from heavy, steel frames with wood handles to optimize the benefits of the carts. Utilizing the time and aluminum, stainless, food-grade components. The “Today we build the best hydration carts in the efforts of trainers, father and son were motivated to provide the world,” Greg Parks said. “My son Steve takes great coaches and players to safest, most efficient model for trainers, coaches pride in being a part of developing and building get maximum perforand athletes so that they could perform the a quality product that we stand behind 100 mance is what makes a winning program. all-important task of hydrating during training percent. I’m glad he’s on my team.” and competitions. Eventually, the Parks created several different ONLINE: WHEELINWATER.COM PHONE: 260-452-6478 FACEBOOK: WHEELIN-WATER-LLC models to benefit teams of all
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PLAYBOOK presented by TEXAS UNBALANCED QUARTERBACK COUNTER BY CHARLIE COINER, FIRSTDOWN PLAYBOOK
This is a concept that the Texas Longhorns have run in recent season. The closer you look, the more you realize that the Longhorns have a complete quarterback package out of unbalanced formations. It is very well thought out. The play we have drawn up for you is nothing special in as far as the scheme goes. What we mean by that is that it’s either a quarterback power or quarterback counter. Nothing revolutionary there, just gaining an extra man on two very common blocking schemes. What we were impressed with is how the offensive coaches knew what Oklahoma would likely be lined up in, and they took advantage of the backside defender’s man coverage responsibilities. We often point out here that college and high school coaches are more open to exposing their quarterbacks in the run game than at the NFL level, and that makes sense as the hits they take are not nearly as vicious. High school and college quarterbacks are also more easily replaced than NFL quarterbacks
during the course of a football season. However, you still are better off if you are going to run your quarterback to protect him in any way possible. Texas did a good job with this unbalanced quarterback counter because it lessened the possibility of a backside defender coming over the top and taking a free shot on the quarterback.
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RED ZONE SPRINT 78 BY CHARLIE COINER, FIRSTDOWN PLAYBOOK
We know that there are football fields full of 7-on-7 practices, tournaments and competitions this time of year. We hope that as you work on your drop-back passing game, you incorporate some of your other passing attack too as you go through the summer. It can be hard to be disciplined enough to run some play-action, boots and nakeds and sprint outs in 7-on-7, but we think it’s worth it. You might want to incorporate the red zone sprint 78 is an idea as you get into the thick of team 7-on-7 competition. We have provided our coaching points. ■■ F: Out Route ■■ Best release to a vertical stem. Sell vertical threat. ■■ Allow The Z to beat you down the field. Gain outside leverage by 10 yards and break to the sideline. ■■ Stay flat or work back to the QB.
Expect the ball low and outside. If the QB gives a “Go” call, turn and block first defender you see. ■■ X: Flat Route ■■ Outside release behind Z and X. ■■ Expand to flat with speed at 2 yards depth. ■■ Look over outside shoulder on third step. ■■ At 3 yards from the sideline, turn outside and give numbers to QB and sit. ■■ If the QB gives a “Go” call turn and block first defender you see. ■■ Z: Post Route ■■ Best release to vertical. Clear the F quickly. ■■ Get vertical in a hurry and take the top off of the defense. ■■ Break towards the near goalpost at 10 yards. ■■ If the QB gives a “Go” call, turn and block first defender you see. ■■ H: Protect Front Side. ■■ Y: Protect Back Side
PLAYBOOK presented by
PUNT BLOCK OR PASS RUSH…THIS WORKS BY CHARLIE COINER, FIRSTDOWN PLAYBOOK
Everyone likes to block punts. It’s one of the more explosive plays in football. It is every bit as deflating for the team that is punting as an interception or fumble. Today we want to focus on coaching a twist technique that — if executed properly — can be extremely effective against a spread punt scheme. It can even be used against a shield or rugby scheme depending on the splits of the punting team. The “Twist” technique is obviously not used exclusively for rushing the punt. This technique is executed exactly the same way when two defensive lineman rush a QB. The biggest mistake that young coaches make when they teach a twist to block punts is that they teach the two rushers to trade gaps. This is playing into the hands of the protection. In this diagram, if the Mike and Nose switch A gap responsibility, then the protectors will just trade them off. Sure, you might confuse the protectors every now and then, but normally the snapper and two guards will communicate the twist and use zone principles to pick it up. This is why the proper way to teach the twist to block punts is to get two rushers in the same gap. In order to do this you need to designate one rusher as a Penetrator and the other rusher as a Looper. In the drawing above the MLB is the Penetrator and the Nose is the Looper. The Penetrator (Mike) will attack the Snapper’s hip, and his job is to react to the Long Snapper. If the Snapper works towards the Mike, then the Penetrator will pick the Snapper as he tries to work this direction. The Snapper is more than likely trying to track the Nose as he loops around. The Looper should wrap as tightly as possible and get going to the block point. After the Mike picks the Snapper, he should continue to the block point. If the Snapper initially works to the Nose, then the Mike LB will chase the Snapper’s hip. This is where most twists get screwed up. The Mike LB does not want to cross the Snapper’s face if he works away. The Mike LB wants to use a “ricochet”
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technique off of the Snapper’s hip and stay in the front side A gap. This should free him up to the block point. This allows your twist to be effective regardless of which way the punt protection is turning. However, it is still a good idea to study the protection scheme for tendencies when you are attempting to block punts. If the Snapper always protects to his right or his left, then your job just got a lot easier. Normally you want your Penetrator away from the direction that the Snapper turns. This is why good defensive line coaches and special teams coaches spend a ton of time studying the Center/Snapper for protection tendencies. We have only used the Snapper and Guards for our example in this diagram. Any twist should be executed with this principle in mind. The rules hold true if it was a Guard and Tackle that you were executing the twist on. So the next time you coach up your scheme to twist and free up one of your players to the block point (or quarterback), be sure to make them understand that you are not just trying to trick or confuse the protection by exchanging two gaps. You are purposefully attacking one gap and freeing your blocker up with scheme and technique!
1. The Mike will go first using the ricochet technique. 2. The Mike will chase the near hip of the Snapper. 3. The Nose will cheat slightly off the ball. 4. The Nose steps at 45 degrees and comes off the MLB’s hip. 5. Both press the A Gap to the block point. 6. Better if the Snapper sets away from the ricochet.
Find hundreds of articles to help your program at fnfcoaches.com
One Place. All The Football. HELPING FOOTBALL COACHES, PLAYERS AND FANS AT ALL LEVELS: blog.firstdownplaybook.com
QUARTERS COVERAGE: COVER 4 VS. COVER 6 BY CHARLIE COINER, FIRSTDOWN PLAYBOOK
We want to take some time to show you the differences in two of our coverages. Today we have installed Cover 2, Cover 4, and Cover 6. Cover 4 and Cover 6 are two slightly different versions of quarters coverage. Cover 4 is pure quarters coverage in the back end of the defense. FirstDown PlayBook defines Cover 6 as quarters coverage to the strong side and two deep to the weak side. The two coverages offer a lot of similarities with how they are played. However, they also offer some subtle differences that will help you defend an offense based on their scheme as well as where they line up their dominant personnel. Often times these subtle differences are not revealed until after the ball is snapped.
The offensive formation will play a major role in how the two coverages play out once the ball is snapped. It is often as simple as how a defensive coordinator wants to play the single receiver in a 3Ă—1 set. If that single receiver is a dominant player the defensive coordinator may want to give the corner help to that side by playing Cover 6. This frees the weak side safety up to play the deep half and focus more on the single receiver. If the defensive coordinator is comfortable with the corner locking up on the single receiver, then Cover 4 may be the flavor of the day. The weak side safety can now read number three strong and let the corner do his work alone. As you can see there are subtle but yet important differences in the two coverages. This is one of the reasons that FirstDown PlayBook takes the time to draw up so many different fronts, coverages and formation fit combinations.
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HEALTH
5 Tips for Managing Anxiety Induced by Coronavirus Boise State Athletics, through its BroncoBOLD program, is proud to provide resources and support to community members facing physical or mental difficulties brought on by any of life’s many challenges, including the current coronavirus pandemic. BY DAN GUTTENPLAN and follow CDC recommendations. Pay attention to thoughts that breed anxiety and work to shift your focus. Limit Media Influence. While it’s helpful to stay informed, it’s also important you don’t allow yourself to be bombarded with anxiety-provoking news all day. Limit media consumption to a certain time frame or number of articles. Mute alerts on your phone. Tackle the Anxiety Paradox. Carl Jung said, “What you resist persists.” The more you try not to feel anxious, the more likely your anxiety will increase. When anxious feelings show up, notice and describe the feeling without judgment. Allow yourself to sit with uncomfortable feelings and anxiety will reduce overtime. Practice Self-Care. Get plenty of sleep, eat a balanced diet, practice mindfulness, spend time outdoors, and employ relaxation techniques when stressed. Good self-care keeps your immune system strong. Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Professional Help. If you experience mental health symptoms that interfere with daily life, enlist professional help from a licensed mental health provider. Call The NAMI Resource and Referrals Helpline: 1-800-950-6264 or The National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255.
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In 2019, Stephanie Donaldson, Boise State’s Director of Athletic Performance, Psychology and an expert in mental health and wellness, launched BroncoBOLD, an initiative designed to encompass and showcase all aspects of the department’s mental health programming for student-athletes, coaches and staff. Boise State Athletics regularly posts videos on social media and at BroncoSports.com/ BroncoBOLD, a website that also includes information for on- and off-campus resources relating to mental health. Bronco student-athletes and coaches wear helmet stickers, hair ribbons and patches in support of the BroncoBOLD initiative. Donaldson developed the following guide to help anyone coping with anxiety during this crisis. The coronavirus (COVID-19) has prompted unprecedented changes around the world. Sudden and unexpected events can elicit all kinds of emotions and thoughts. During a pandemic, it is normal to feel anxious, fearful or sad. Sustained high anxiety can make it difficult to respond in a constructive way. The following suggestions, based on psychological science, can help you deal with coronavirus anxiety. Focus on What You Can Control. There might be a lot that feels out of your control right now. Focus on the factors you can control. Develop an action plan to decrease risk. Practice good hygiene
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2 1
MORE INFORMATION FOR MORE INFORMA-
tion on the coronavirus, visit the CDC’s coronavirus page. CDC guidance on clinical signs and symptoms and infection prevention and control recommendations are available here. As with all information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that may impact the well-being of student-athletes, the NCAA Sport Science Institute encourages athletics departments to carefully review these materials with applicable institutional health care providers and other relevant campus personnel. They should implement any appropriate riskmitigating initiatives.
3 Questions with a Sports Psychologist on Coronavirus A pandemic can create feelings of anxiety and confusion for student-athletes. Playing football is a big part of a high school student’s identity. Having that taken away can create a need for intervention by a mental health expert.
GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES BEFORE AND DURING AN OUTBREAK At all times:
■■ Encourage your
Bill Cole, MS, MA, is a world-wide authority in performance psychology. Cole joined FNF Coaches for a brief Q&A on the effects of the Coronavirus for high school athletes. What do you suggest for athletes who are feeling overwhelmed or anxious after having their seasons come to an end? As coaches, we all know and encourage our athletes to control what you can, and let the rest go. That is the essence of peak performance training. “The letting go part is hard. It does not mean you must like what is happening. But it does mean you must accept what is happening. Acceptance does not mean you want it, or approve of it. It just means you accept reality as it is. You accept the cards you’ve been dealt. “Now, the big question is: As a mentally tough athlete, how will you play that hand? This is the challenge, the task ahead of you. What can athletes do to keep themselves motivated to achieve their athletic goals when there is so much uncertainty in the future? Many athletes normally don’t take time to plan or to set goals. This is the perfect time for that. Setting juicy goals gives juicy motivation. Take time to watch videos of the idols in your sport.
Read about their lives and careers and how they made it big. Dream big dreams. Get excited of what can be, once this COVID-19 is defeated. How can coaches connect with athletes with the new social distancing suggestions/rules in place? A new U.S. government-funded experiment shows that the virus can survive on surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel for up to three days. And air droplets can hang in the air up to six hours. Therefore, the distancing suggestions of six feet or two arms’ length sounds good, but we need to walk through “common air” to get to that distancing. Lots of unknown facts as of yet. Younger, healthier athletes may have more COVID-19 defenses, but a recent report said that even younger people’s lungs can be attacked in scary ways by this disease. Finally, a person who gets and recovers from COVID-19 may have up to 20-30 percent permanently-reduced lung functioning. All of this tells me to take a “better safe than sorry” approach. Train on your own for a while. Do virtual team training with athletes checking in via social media. Put the coach on Zoom video for a session. Capture training data remotely. Do all that to keep training in effect, to maintain motivation, and most of all, to stay safe from COVID-19 until all risk factors are known and well-defined.
staff or community members to protect their personal health. ■■ Post the signs and symptoms of COVID-19: fever, cough, shortness of breath. ■■ Encourage people to stay home when sick. ■■ Clean surfaces that are frequently touched – things such as shared desks, countertops, kitchen areas, electronics, and doorknobs. ■■ Limit events and meetings that require close contact. ■■ Stay up to date on developments in your community. ■■ Create an emergency plan for possible outbreak. ■■ Assess if community members are at higher risk and plan accordingly. ■■ During an outbreak in your area ■■ Send home or separate anyone who becomes sick. ■■ If you identify a case, inform people who might have been exposed. ■■ Continue to safely clean and disinfect the person’s area. ■■ Connect with your local health departments. ■■ Cancel large meetings or events. ■■ Put your infectious disease outbreak plan into action.
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IN MEMORIAM
Remembering Florida coaching legend corky Rogers Longtime high school coach Corky Rogers, who won more state championships than anyone in Florida football history, died in February after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 76.
No one in the state of Florida won more games than Corky Rogers. No one in Florida won more state football championships. No one was considered a better coach than Rogers. That’s how much of an impact Rogers — “just a high school football coach” as he used to say — made in his life. His family released a statement Feb. 27 saying Rogers “peacefully passed.” He had been in hospice care. “Thank you to the incredible support by so many during this time,” the family said. Charles Buxton Rogers IV died three years after retiring from the The Bolles School in Jacksonville because of declining health. He coached 28 years at Bolles and won a record 10 state championships (1990, ’93, ’95, ’98, 2002, ’04, ’06, ’08, ’09 and ’11). He had a shot at six more, but Bolles lost in the title game in 1996, 2003, ’12, ’13, ’14 and ’16. “Rest In Peace Coach Rogers,” Bolles said in a tweet. “Thank you for impacting generations of Bulldogs and the football community of Northeast Florida.” Rogers also spent 17 years at Lee High School and made his alma mater a state contender in the 1970s and 80s.
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Rogers went 465-84-1 during his 45-year coaching career. His Wing-T offense was highly regarded and often mimicked. His attention to detail and focus on fundamentals were rarely matched. Rogers’ 465 victories rank seventh nationally, and he is one of only 24 high school coaches to reach the 400-win mark. His winning percentage of 84.5 ranks fifth among those with at least 400 victories. Rogers was born and raised in Jacksonville, the son of Charles “Chuck” Rogers. His dad was captain of the 1934 Florida football team and a former Associated Press sports writer. Corky Rogers made it to final cuts in NFL training camps with Baltimore and Washington, both as a tight end and receiver. He left the insurance business shortly after marrying his wife, Linda, in October 1968, and took a pay cut to teach at Ribault Junior High and serve as an assistant high school coach. He started at Lee in 1972, embarking on a five-decade coaching career that touched the lives of thousands. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Linda, daughters Tracy and Jennifer, and six grandchildren.
COMMUNITY TRIBUTE A CELEBRATION OF
Rogers’ life took place at Deerwood Country Club in March, and drew around a thousand people, including several of Rogers’ longtime assistant coaches, rival coaches, and former players. Parents of some of Rogers’ players and longtime supporters from Bolles and Lee High School were there to remember the life of a coach and share stories about the impact Rogers made on their lives. “I lost a good friend. We were together since 1982 when he coached me,” said Wayne Belger, who played for Rogers at Lee then joined him as an assistant coach at Lee and Bolles, then succeeded Rogers as the Bulldog’s head coach. “I don’t know if it will happen again between two guys. I’ve shed a few tears, but shared a lot of laughs with these guys.”
The Corky Rogers Profile CAREER RECORD:
465-84-1
SCHOOLS: Jean Ribault High (1969-1971), Robert E. Lee High (1972-1988), Bolles School (1989-2016) STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 10 AWARDS: Inducted into
Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2002)
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR: 2004
USA FOOTBALL
USA Football and TackleBar® Team Up to Advance the Football Development Model
THE FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT MODEL WEBSITE
As the sport’s national governing body, USA Football designs and delivers premier educational, developmental and competitive programs to advance, unify and grow the sport.
recently launched a site exclusively for Football Development Model content at fdm.usafootball.com. The Football Development Model, built in alignment with the U.S. Olympic Committee’s American Development Model, instills fundamentals, develops better players, provides multiple entry points and game options, and creates developmentally appropriate skill instruction. By teaching the game in a fun and engaging way, leagues and coaches can more effectively meet players’ developmental needs based on their individual stages of growth and development. The website provides coaches and league administrators a deep dive into the model to best operationalize it. The site also showcases videos and quotes from top names across the sport who see the model as forward-thinking football to build better players and encourage even more to play. The stages of the model (5+, 8+, 10+ and 12+) also are clearly explained with suggestions for ageappropriate movements and skill development. The site is an excellent resource for league administrators, coaches and parents as they gauge the progress of a young player’s skill level and game readiness. High school coaches can explore the model and encourage youth leagues to put it to work by visiting fdm.usafootball.com/ hs-pledge.
USA Football has partnered with TackleBar® to provide a preferred player development tool for managing contact. As part of USA Football’s Football Development Model, TackleBar is included within the model’s “limited contact” category, serving as a teaching tool and stepping stone between flag and tackle. USA Football, with direction from experts spanning athlete development, sport and player health, built the Football Development Model for youth levels. It’s designed to make the game safer by reducing contact and teaching the game based on an athlete’s age, the skill they are learning, and game type. TackleBar equipment is highly compatible with USA Football’s emphasis on sound fundamentals, reducing contact, better players and providing multiple entry points and versions of the game across America’s favorite sport. “This is one aspect, although an exciting one, of our Football Development Model,” said USA Football Executive Director and CEO Scott Hallenbeck. “It starts with certified coaches teaching young players in a way that’s fun and matches their age and ability. TackleBar is an effective tool to learn form tackling and fundamentals
with limited contact. It’s a smart way to build skills and experience the sport.” While using the TackleBar tool, players wear traditional football equipment plus a TackleBar harness around their midsection that holds two removable foam bars on the lower back. The design teaches and requires players to use the proper shoulder tackling technique while wrapping up the ball carrier and pulling off a foam bar from the harness to end the play. With this approach, players learn to refine their technique without tackling a player to the ground. It’s a true simulation of live tackling without full contact. TackleBar is embraced by coaches, leagues and parents who want to teach the fundamentals of traditional football while limiting contact. Teams and leagues in 27 states and three foreign countries currently use TackleBar. High school and college football players use the TackleBar harness in practice to refine technique and skills through game-speed tackling drills while staying on their feet. USA Football will incorporate the TackleBar harness within its shoulder tackling teachings. “Being embraced by USA Football as one of the preferred player development tools under the Football Development Model is critical for us,” said TackleBar CEO Tim Healy. “From the beginning, our priority has been to preserve the great game of football by offering a safer, yet fundamentally sound way for kids to play. Since 2016, we’ve seen TackleBar bring more kids to the game, and we’re excited to partner with an organization that has our shared vision for strengthening the future of the sport.” Coaches nationwide gained insight on how to best integrate the TackleBar tool into their programs at the USA Football 2020 National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
USA FOOTBALL
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INNOVATOR’S SPOTLIGHT
Football America Reflects on 30 Years of Serving the Game Each month, FNF Coaches selects a product that makes the game safer or more enjoyable for players, and allows a representative from that company to share the benefits of the product. For the March edition of FNF Coaches, we’ll feature Football America. BY MARTIN WINKLER, FOOTBALL AMERICA DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER
Over the last 30 years, football has seen changes at an unbelievable pace. Traditional run-first offenses have been replaced with pass-heavy plays. Los Angeles lost two professional teams, only to see two of them return. The game saw exponential growth in popularity, fully cementing itself as America’s Game. But most importantly, the game’s focus has moved from adoring bone-crushing hits, to pushing for better player safety and care. But even as the game has evolved, at its heart, football is the same great game it has always been. It is a game of toughness, anxiousness, high drama, and the undying will to succeed, epitomizing the American Spirit. Since 1990, Football America has been helping players excel at the game they love by providing the latest equipment and apparel needed to play the game at the highest level. Starting out as a small sporting goods specialty store in San Antonio, Texas, we have since grown to become one of the largest and oldest continuously operating online football retailers in the country. While our customers have certainly changed over the
decades, we are still lucky to see some familiar faces from those early years. The kids that bought from us years ago are now making purchases for their own kids, and words cannot describe how humbled we are to know that, like football itself, we have been able to cross generations. The world is constantly changing. The game of football is constantly changing. But our mission has never wavered. The key to our success has been having a staff that, just like you, loves the competition and the spirit of football. And we will keep working hard to make your football fun and enjoyable. It is our expertise and our passion for the game that has been our cornerstone, and we vow to keep it that way. Yes, the game has certainly changed. But we are proud to be football’s constant. Being able to serve our coaches, our players, our teams, and our leagues for more than a quarter of a century has been an absolute honor. We look forward to serving you for another 30 years and beyond, and we cannot wait to see where football takes us next.
ONLINE: FOOTBALLAMERICA.COM PHONE: 866-816-9892 FACEBOOK: @FOOTBALLAMERICA ADDRESS: 1003 E NAKOMA ST., SUITE 104, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78216
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TWITTER: @FB_AMERICA
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Increase communication and productivity with ProCom Headsets Each month, FNF Coaches features a product that can be used by coaches to improve the coaching experience. These products can either be used in practices, games or in the weight room. BY FRANK GIRARDI, PRESIDENT OF PROCOM HEADSETS
As a football coach for the past 35 years, I have seen countless changes to the game. With my background of being both a coach and a design engineer, I found myself in a unique position of being able to bring new technologies and innovations to the game I love. My philosophy has always been not to be a copycat company, but to be innovative by “Bringing Tomorrow’s Technology Today” to all levels of football. This started in 2002 when I created APEX Sports Software. APEX revolutionized the way film editing was done. Our patented voice recognition data entry system was a decade ahead of its time and saved coaches countless hours each week. The reporting package offered by APEX still remains the best ever. I’ve now brought that same passion and innovation to sideline communication. Over the past three decades I have coached at both the college and high school level and used every communication system on the market. Some were better than others but none were perfect. While several filled the coach to coach communication needs, as the father of three high school and college quarterbacks, none filled my other need — coach to player communication. With that in mind, I started ProCom. ProCom is the only headset system on the market to seamlessly combine coach-to-coach and coach-to-player communication. This innovation has already begun changing the game. Why invest thousands and thousands of dollars on something you use less than a dozen times a year? With ProCom, your investment is not only for game use but every practice, giving you way more bang for your buck. Use it for practice now and for games in the near future. This year, I’m extra excited for what ProCom brings. In addition to all of the other advances we offer, ProCom is now the only company to offer both traditional belt packs as well as all-in-one headsets with the ability to mix and match to fit
each coach’s individual preference. Current and past all-in-ones have several limitations and we didn’t want to release an all-in-one until it was on par with its belt pack counterpart. We now have that with our X12A All-in-One. The same output power, durability and functionality of our X12 with voice announcements and smart boom technology put our All-In-Ones miles ahead of the competition and we couldn’t be more excited for it. For nearly two decades my team and I have led the charge when it comes to new technologies to help advance our great game. I am proud of the product that we have created at ProCom, with multiple channels, no base stations, increased output power, digital displays and countless other features. However, what I am most proud of, like APEX, ProCom has set the standard, as now you see other longtime companies in the headset communication field trying to emulate what we already have created. This goes back to “Bringing Tomorrow’s Technology Today.”
IF YOU’RE INTERESTED
in finding out more or want to check out a demo, please reach out to us using one of the methods below.
ONLINE: PROCOMHEADSETS.COM EMAIL: SALES@PROCOMHEADSETS.COM PHONE: 724-337-1400 TWITTER/FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM: @PROCOMHEADSETS
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TECH CORNER
Practice Timers and Play Clocks Keep Your Team on Schedule Clock management is key in football. Whether it’s using a practice timer to keep drills on schedule or a play clock to keep a game moving, the data provided by these time-keepers is crucial to conditioning athletes in clock management. BY MATT STARR
When looking for a practice timer or play clock, the basics are pretty straight-forward. It has to be visible from pretty much everywhere on the field, and it has to be easy to use. When it comes to practice timers and play clocks, it MUST be visible. Look for something with high contrast background and numbers. It should be large enough to easily see from 100 yards away. Anything under 13 inches per digit is really not going to cut it. LED is always a good way to go because it is more visible in bright sunlight, but you have to be careful because not all LEDs illuminate with the same intensity. Unless your practice timer and play clock are mounted on a trailer, they are probably out in the elements all year round. Thus, a weatherproof design is critical. Once you have considered all of these characteristics you also have to look at user functionality. No one wants to dig up their field to trench power and communications lines to a new timer or play clock, so look for a clock with wireless capabilities. Wireless frequencies are more and more dependable. Double-check the frequencies against your headsets and any other wireless equipment in the stadium to limit interference. When using a practice timer you should be able to script out the entire practice and then let the practice timer worry about it. But you don’t want to spend 30 minutes with a push button remote trying to program the clock segments. Look for a system that incorporates a touch screen controller. Being able to quickly and easily set multiple segments with programmable time lengths for each segment lets you focus on coaching instead of watching the clock. Additional versatility would come with additional modes such as two-minute drill mode, operating play clock and game clock simultaneously, or automatically resetting the play clock to shorter intervals. As for play clocks, ease of use from anywhere on the field is equally as important. Wireless capabilities are beneficial for cutting out the in-box time keeper. Using an on-field, wireless wrist- or belt-controller for the play clock is convenient and efficient. As a coach you spend a lot of time prepping and pushing your program to victory. Instead of dealing with another variable in student clock managers, get the technology that lets you be in control.
ONLINE: SIDELINEPOWER.COM PHONE: 1-800-496-4290
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I’M MATT STARR, FOUNDER
and CEO of Sideline Power. Sideline Power works to find and bring cutting-edge technology to the football industry in order to help coaches win. Sideline Power has partnered with FNF Coaches to create an educational article each month on various innovative products. It’s time to get #PoweredUP with this month’s featured product, portable sound systems.
MATT STARR FOUNDER AND CEO, SIDELINE POWER
SIDELINE POWER LLC IS THE NO. 1 CHOICE IN COACHING COMMUNICATION
providing a wide variety of coaching headsets, end zone cameras, sideline replay and other technology needs for all athletic programs.
MENTAL PERFORMANCE
12 Positive Thoughts to Have Before a Lift Like any physical activity, weight-lifting performance can be impacted by negative thoughts and anxiety. Breaking through mental barriers is paramount for an athlete who is looking to maximize his performance in the weight room while decreasing the risk of injury. BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
BILL COLE, MS, MA SPORTS PERFORMANCE PSYCHOLOGIST
12 NEGATIVE THOUGHTS TO AVOID NEGATIVE PRESSURE
■■Dismiss negative thoughts before stepping up to the bar.
We’ve all seen the athlete who gets in position for a lift in the weight room with no intention of executing it. Weight-lifting is one of many physical activities that is dependent on the belief of the athlete that he can execute the task at hand. Sports performance psychologist Bill Cole, MS, MA, founder of Mental Game Coaching in Calif., has authored essays sharing ways in which athletes can overcome self-doubt and anxiety to maximize their performance in the weight room. When that self-doubt and anxiety manifests itself in the weight room, it often results in “clarking,” or failure in the middle of a rep. “Lack of commitment to the lift is what causes clarking,” Cole said. “It’s human nature sometimes to hedge your bets, particular when anxiety about potential danger is involved. But this mental approach is not helpful.” Cole asserts that as a lifter walks up to a large weight, his mind begins playing tricks on him. He wonders how the weight will feel. He pictures possible disaster scenarios. He strategizes what he’ll do if the lift starts badly. He works out ways to force himself to make the lift. And he comes up with excuses if he fails. These are emotional responses rather than rational ones. The unnecessary noise in the head causes tension in the body. These distractions block the athlete from making a great lift.
By the time the lifter actually gets to the bar, he is torn between wanting to run away and hoping he can get start the rep. Those affected by that noise might even think, “Oh, what the heck. Hurry up. Just get it over with. Lift the stupid thing.” And of course this results in a hurried, non-committed attempt that almost always ends in failure. Commitment to the lift prevents clarking. This gives mental clarity and intensity that is targeted on one thing – success. Lifters who commit and succeed have the following thoughts before an attempt. ■■ This is an all or nothing deal. If I put my hands on that bar, I’m going all out. ■■ No guts, no glory. I’m going for the glory. ■■ Get intense, focus in and rock that thing! ■■ After I make this, I’ll take a nice break. ■■ Nothing wrong with backing off before I touch the bar. But once I touch it, I’m all in! ■■ Watch this fly off the rack. ■■ I’m all in on this. ■■ This is my destiny. ■■ I don’t care how it feels. That’s irrelevant. I’m committed. ■■ Watch this explode! ! ■■ You’re a beast. Slam this_ ■■ I OWN this_ !
comments like these amplify expectations, and zoom the athlete into the future mental time zone, focusing on results. Results only come as a byproduct of having a present, now process focus. This is an “in the moment” focus, not a future focus. If you execute your lifts step by step and maintain present focus, you should get the proper results. Avoid these 12 thoughts before a lift: ■■ Let’s see how it feels. ■■ I’ll give this weight a shot. ■■ This is not really my comfort zone. ■■ Ok, let’s see what happens. ■■ If I make this, I’ll take a nice water break. ■■ If it feels OK, I’ll keep going. ■■ Dang. This is pretty close to my PR. ■■ How much weight is that again? ■■ I can always bail out if it doesn’t feel right. ■■ I hope this doesn’t feel too heavy. ■■ What if I fail this one? ■■ This would be embarrassing to miss.
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FUNDRAISING
5 tips for a successful football fundraiser In order to make it to football season, you have to make it through football fundraising season. Tackling a football fundraiser is practically a sport all on its own. Follow these five steps and breeze through your next team fundraiser so you can get back to the gridiron. BY RILEY BROWN, SNAP! RAISE COMMUNITY RELATIONS SPECIALIST
At Snap! Raise, we know how difficult it can be for coaches to run successful fundraisers. That’s why we built our team fundraising platform specifically with football coaches and athletes in mind – and how we’ve been able to help youth and high school football teams across the country raise over $30 million for their programs. Here are five simple football fundraising ideas to help your program get the most out of your next fundraiser. Fundraise at the right time. At Snap! Raise, we’ve learned through thousands of football fundraisers that timing can make or break a fundraising campaign. Due to a variety of factors including location, seasonality, and competing fundraisers, there are ideal times to run a football fundraiser, and there are times when it’s not such a great idea. Our football fundraising experts in the field work with our data and engineering teams at Snap! Raise HQ to guarantee your football fundraiser runs at the best time and gets game-changing results. Get your team energized. For young athletes, football team fundraising used to mean having to wash people’s cars or selling a product like cookie dough door-to-door. These tactics took valuable time away from practice and studying, and worst of all, they were painfully ineffective. Fortunately, with Snap! Raise, football fundraising is as easy as sending a few texts and emails. For
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ONLINE: SNAP-RAISE.COM
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an added boost, Snap! Raise gives participants the opportunity to win prizes if they achieve their individual and team fundraising goals. Lean on your community for support. Your community supported your program through years of tedious chocolate bar sales and car washes. They will definitely support you when the ask is even less. Communities love their Friday night lights and are eager to support their team; they just need to be asked. Check in with your participants. By the time a Snap! Raise fundraiser goes live, 90% of your team’s work is done. However, that last 10% is crucial. Snap! Raise is far and away the easiest fundraiser idea available to high school sports teams and educational programs, but your athletes are still accountable for how the fundraiser performs after launch. Through the Snap! Raise program dashboard, your coaching staff can easily keep tabs on your athletes’ participation.
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help. They also want to know that their support is making a meaningful impact. After your football fundraiser is over, share what you have been able to achieve with the funds you raised. It gives your donors a clear idea of how they helped and makes them feel more invested in the success of your program.
EMAIL: SUPPORT@SNAP-RAISE.COM
football coaches! Get your subscription at fnfcoaches.com
Show your supporters the impact they are making. Your community members want to
PHONE: 206-285-0906
SOCIAL: @SNAPRAISE
“Snap! Raise is a breeze. It’s convenient for my guys. We don’t have to waste days to fundraise.” –KEAUNTEA BANKHEAD, COACH, LYNNWOOD HIGH
WHAT DOES SNAP! RAISE DO? SNAP! RAISE IS A COM-
plete fundraising solution built to give your group back the only thing you can’t buy more of: time. Snap! Raise’s data-driven process expands each program’s network of potential supporters, leading to significantly more funds raised than through other fundraising methods in dramatically less time. Our online platform allows you to easily process donations, track your progress, and complete a successful fundraiser in just 28 days.
EAT. SLEEP. PLAY. REPEAT. There’s always time time for for aa BUBBA BUBBA burger. burger.
FNF v1.indd v1.indd 11
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NUTRITION
7 Tips to Avoid Over-Snacking Athletes should not deny themselves snacks when they’re hungry – it’s the body’s way of signaling that it needs nutrients. However, there are ways to plan the day to limit nutrient-poor snacks in favor of better options. WINNING THE WAR AGAINST SNACK ATTACKS
Day after day, I hear athletes complain about their (seemingly) uncontrollable snacking habits. Some believe they are hopelessly, and helplessly, addicted to chocolate. Others believe eating between meals is sinful and fattening. They bemoan they are addicted to sugar and can’t eat just one cookie. Snacking is all or nothing. Despite the popular belief that snacking is bad, the truth is that snacking can be helpful for active people. Athletes get hungry and need to eat at least every three to four hours. That means, if you have breakfast at 7 a.m., you’ll be ready for food by 10 or 11, particularly if you exercise in the morning. By 3 p.m., you will again want more food. For students and others who exercise mid to late afternoon, a pre-exercise snack is very important to provide the fuel needed to have an effective workout. Here are seven tips for making snacks a part of your sports diet. Eat an early lunch. Why wait to eat at noon when you are hungry now? If needed, eat a second lunch instead of afternoon sweets, to energize the end of your work or school day. A planned wholesome meal is far better than succumbing to sugary snacks or stimulant drinks.
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Don’t under-eat meals. Snacking problems
commonly occur when athletes under-eat meals, only to over-indulge in snacks. Inadequate breakfasts and lunches can easily explain why snacks can contribute 20 to 50 percent of total calories for the day. Eat before you get hungry. Hungry athletes tend to crave sweets (and fats) and can easily eat too many donuts, chocolate chip cookies, candy bars—foods with sugar (for quick energy) and fat (for concentrated calories).
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I ENCOURAGE MY CLI-
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Eat protein at breakfast. One way to eliminate a
mid-morning snack attack is to have a proteinrich, satiating breakfast (such as 3 eggs + avocado toast + a latte for 500-600 calories) as opposed to just a packet of oatmeal (only 100-150 calories). If you’re thinking of your next meal, eat. Thinking about food nudges you to eat. If you were to never think about food, you’d waste away to nothing. Eliminate high-calorie evening snacks. Too many athletes skip meals by day, then attack the snacks at night. They eat the whole pint of ice cream, too many chocolates, and/or nonstop chips. The better bet is to fuel by day and diet at night by eliminating high-calorie evening snacks. Don’t diet. Dieting athletes commonly report the most concerns about snack attacks. As one athlete complained, “I’m hungry all the time.” If that sounds like you, and you feel hungry within the hour after you eat a meal, experiment with eating heartier meals.
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ents to convert snacktime into mealtime. Instead of reaching for cookies, candy, caffeine, and other typical snack foods, they opt for a peanut butter and banana sandwich for an early lunch at 10 or 11 a.m. (As long as they have a flexible eating schedule, no need to eat a donut just to bridge the gap to the more traditional eating time of noon.) They then can enjoy a later second lunch at 2 or 3, which gives them energy to be productive throughout the last hours of the workday. By enjoying two lunches instead of snack foods and one lunch, they generally end up eating more quality calories and fewer sweets. An example of a mini meal: ■■ Whole-grain English muffin + nut butter ■■ Oatmeal cooked in milk + dates ■■ Hummus + baby carrots. The benefits of being well fed are fewer snack attacks, more energy, and easier weight management.
NANCY CLARK MS, RD, CSSD ■■Nancy Clark, MS, RD counsels casual and competitive athletes at her office in Newton, Mass., (617-795-1875). Her best-selling Sports Nutrition Guidebook and food guides are available at NancyClarkRD. com. For her online workshop, visit NutritionSportsExerciseCEUs.com.
Honey Stinger: Making Healthy, Organic Sports fuel Taste Good Many coaches find it difficult to provide great-tasting energy snacks for their players so that they can maximize their team performance in training and competition. Honey Stinger makes that job easy for coaches. BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
HONEY STINGER PRODUCTS ORGANIC WAFFLES:
A thin layer of honey sandwiched between two thin waffles, inspired by a traditional Dutch stroopwafel. A category leader and now a classic, Honey Stinger Organic Waffles are the original energy waffles. They’re easy to digest, taste delicious, and quickly absorb into your system.
Beaumont High (Calif.) coach Jeff Steinberg learned quickly last season that – if he wanted his players to listen to his halftime speech – he needed to wait until after he was done speaking to have the trainers distribute Honey Stinger Organic Waffles. “We thought there was a big difference in energy coming out of halftime when we handed out the snacks,” Steinberg said. Honey Stinger makes convenient, nutritious and great-tasting energy foods, including Waffles, Energy Chews, Protein Bars, Cracker Bars and Energy Gels. The products are made with organic, all natural ingredients, and loaded with honey as natural energy source. Steinberg learned about the product while watching UCLA practice last spring. The Bruins are one of 275 NCAA teams that use Honey Stinger at practice or in competition, along with 25 NFL teams and all eight XFL teams. Steinberg committed to a partnership with Honey Stinger at a coaching convention prior to the 2019 season. After feeding his players the Organic Waffles in practices and games last season, he’s hoping to test other products this season. “The kids loved it,” Steinberg said. “We were handing them out at practice. If kids looked sluggish
or needed a pick-me-up, we’d hand them out.” Honey Stinger products can be used before, during or after exercise since honey is rich in carbohydrates. ■■ When eaten before exercise, honey becomes released into the system at a steady rate throughout activity. ■■ When eaten during exercise, honey helps muscles stay nourished longer and helps delay fatigue to keep the body energized. ■■ When eaten immediately after exercise, a combination of carbohydrates and protein helps refuel and decreases muscle soreness. Honey Stinger Director of Sales Shannon Grasser said the company will look to expand its reach in the high school game in 2020 by offering heavily discounted packages for team orders. “There’s a lot of miseducation out there with younger athletes on how to improve their skills and performance,” Grasser said. “Proper nutrition is a very important piece of training. Beyond high quality ingredients and functional foods, our key focus is we want our products to taste good so the athletes enjoy what they’re eating. This is especially important with young athletes as they can be picky eaters.”
ORGANIC ENERGY CHEWS: Formulated
specifically for healthconscious athletes, these bite-size and naturally-flavored soft chews are sweetened with honey and contain 70 percent RDA of Vitamin C. Smaller and softer than other chews on the market, they don’t stick to your teeth, help fuel working muscles, and taste amazing!
10G PROTEIN BARS:
Honey-formulated, post-workout bars with 10 grams of whey protein, calcium, antioxidants, and 23 vitamins and minerals. With over 25 percent USDA certified organic honey, these bars taste great with no gluten containing ingredients and no trans fat.
ONLINE: HONEYSTINGER.COM EMAIL: SALES@HONEYSTINGER.COM PHONE: 866-464-6639 TWITTER/FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM: @HONEYSTINGER
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FAMILY EXPERIENCE
Sharing the Football Experience with Family Finding time for family during the season can be a difficult proposition for any coach, particularly when there are young children at home. Sharing the football experience with your kids can be beneficial for all parties involved, including your players. BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
THE IMPACT ON THE PLAYERS CANNON AND ELERICK
■■Stroud High (Okla.) coach Chris Elerick and his family
Stroud High (Okla.) coach Chris Elerick enjoyed doing the “typical coach’s kid stuff” growing up as the son of Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame coach Phil Elerick. Chris started by chasing tees after kickoffs, later became a water boy, then a ball boy, then a stat-keeper, and finally a high school football player on his father’s team. “For me, it was a great way to grow up,” Chris Elerick said. “It’s really a part of why I enjoyed raising my kids in the profession.” Like many coaches across the country, Elerick now shares the football experience with his own children. Last fall, he coached his twin sons, Grant and Drew, for the final time. Both seniors will play at Louisiana’s Northeast State in the fall. “At 47 years old, being a coach’s kid and a head coach for 24 years, I start to think about what a special professional this is,” Elerick said. “It was a special time getting to coach my own kids. That’s something that will always be special to me.” Elerick didn’t wait until his sons were in high school to begin sharing his profession with them. He remembers his sons as first-graders walking from the elementary school across his practice
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understand that exposing children to high school football at an early age comes with some risks, but they feel the tradeoff is that their players learn to be more respectful and responsible around children. “Unselfishly, I think it’s vital for young men to see me interact with my children and wife,” Cannon said. “It measures out some responsibility when kids are in the locker room. My children can hear what they say, and they understand the importance of that. It matters what kind of music they listen to.” Just as Cannon relies on his players to model responsible behavior, Elerick expects his coaches to model good family values. “I want them to see us being husbands, fathers and good members of the community,” Elerick said. “It’s a good thing to say you want them to grow up to be good Dads. It’s better to show them.”
field to get his wife’s office. Sometimes, they’d stick around for five or 10 minutes and watch their father in action. “I’d give them a high-five on the way,” Elerick said. Elerick’s kids later followed the same path he did as a coach’s son – from water boy to ball boy to stat-keeper to high school player. Brantley County High (Ga.) coach Geoff Cannon is going through the early stages of that process now, with three sons in elementary and middle school and a 3-year-old daughter to boot. His oldest son, an eighth-grader, is the first one to run into the woods to chase a ball that is kicked through the uprights. His youngest son, 9, is a water boy. “I think it’s important to communicate to my coaches on staff that children are always welcome here,” Cannon said. “They’re welcome in the field house offices and on the field. If they want a job on Friday night, they can have one. I do that because I know how important my family is to me.” Cannon also allows his boys to go inside the huddle during practice, hang out in the locker room, and ride the team bus to and from games. The children of his assistant coaches are welcome to do the same. “I know that the guys who work with me want to have that same flexibility,” Cannon said. “They’re away from their kids just as much as I am, and I know it’s just as hard for them.” ■■Brantley County (Ga.) coach Geoff Cannon and his sons
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INSPIRATION
Many of the best football coaches and players provide inspiration to the people around them on a daily basis. We often present quotes from former players/coaches on Twitter @FNFCoaches. The following quotes received the most buzz from our followers.
PREPARATION
I want the players to deal with a harder situation in practice than they’ll ever have to deal with in the game.” –Bill Belichick
In the absence of feedback, people will fill in the blanks with a negative. They will assume you don’t care about them or don’t like them. –Pat Summitt
POSITIVITY
Talent determines what you can do. Motivation determines how much you are willing to do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” –Lou Holtz
If you think the cost of success is high, wait until you get the bill for failure.” –Charles E. Ragus
TEAMWORK
People who are in it for their own good are individualists. They don’t share the same heartbeat that makes a team so great.” –Bear Bryant
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TWO SYSTEMS TO HELP YOU WIN EVERY SNAP Build the most critical defensive skill within your athletes
SHOULDER TACKLING SYSTEM Built in partnership with the Seattle Seahawks, explore a foundational approach to tackling to develop better defenders and build a more efficient and physical defense. This free system is endorsed by the NFL and USA Rugby. It starts with instruction, drills and coaching points to help your players with regards to Fundamentals and Leverage.
ADVANCED TACKLING SYSTEM Created with international and multi-sport tackling expert Richie Gray, the Advanced Tackling System focuses on fitting every element of how your team tackles together. From execution in-game to practice planning to film breakdown and drills, this system is a comprehensive and cohesive approach that will change the way your team approaches tackling.
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