This chat is for Football Coaches interested in Continuous Learning and Networking #TXHSFBCHAT and sponsored by the best in Coaching Communication @SidelinePower
Tonight our topic is Keeping Kids on the Football Team...with participation dropping, we have to find ways to convince our kids of the value of football #TXHSFBCHAT
Adam Harvey, DB/ST at @Football_Steele in Cibolo. Glad to be here, but can’t wait to get started with the young men repping the Knights of Cibolo Steele next week. #TXHSFBCHAT
Q1: Celebrating and highlighting the playmakers is easy. How do you celebrate your everyday players? The players who work hard and contribute but go unnoticed? #TXHSFBCHAT
A1: One thing we started doing as a unit was shout-outs at post practice meetings. We had to execute three positive points about someone before breaking for the day. Usually, it was an older guy loving up a youngin. #TXHSFBCHAT
Q1: Celebrating and highlighting the playmakers is easy. How do you celebrate your everyday players? The players who work hard and contribute but go unnoticed? #TXHSFBCHAT
A1: I always like calling players out in front of the team and recognize the effort and work they put in. It helps keeps those kids going. Also pullin then and sayin stuff from time to one is always good! #TXHSFBCHAT
A1: This is something we don’t do enough. It is something I want to make a point of doing this year. I like the peer shout-out idea @coach_harvey18 shared #TXHSFBCHAT
A2: I think it’s important to show those involved what it means to be a family. We will not always get along. We will have trials and situations will not always be easy. But the tangible evidence of loving through thick and thin and the brotherhood is irreplaceable. #TXHSFBCHAT
A2: This is something tough, because we talk about the rewards of football coming later, such as career and life success. I think its important to bring in external examples who the kids can relate with #TXHSFBCHAT
A2: Athletes are just like our own children. They listen to us, but sometimes it seems like they listen to other people more. The more people we can bring to them, and give opportunity for positive relationships with, the more tangible the rewards become #TXHSFBCHAT
Q3: I believe one of the biggest challenges a coach has is to convince a kid to reduce selfish thought and do what's best for the team. How do you remove one's ego and put the team first? #TXHSFBCHAT
Coaches award helmet stickers on all levels; Varsity/JV/9, & Special Team & Scout Team players of the week. All of these players are recognized in front of the team each week. Cool to see backups or JV players with just as many stickers as our Friday night stars.
#TXHSFBCHAT
A3: I am passionate about this one! It very well could be the single most important thing we face too. With social media, everyone wants their clicks. With sports everyone wants their PT! As a coach, I want their selfless mindset to make the Steele Knights better. #TXHSFBCHAT
Q3: I believe one of the biggest challenges a coach has is to convince a kid to reduce selfish thought and do what's best for the team. How do you remove one's ego and put the team first? #TXHSFBCHAT
A3: Oftentimes I notice selfishness stems from an ego or because they have removed themselves from a team mind set. Egos can be delicate so each case is different but I have noticed team building exercises where you must depend on each other helps remove selfishness
#txhsfbchat
Grasping the 88 concept. There are 88 different starting spots on a football team. There has to be a spot on their to be had by many kids on the team. Doesn’t mean we are compromising quality though. #TXHSFBCHAT
A3: This is one of those areas where presentation is everything. You've got to build up the kid, while also talking about how important this is for the team. Ultimatums here make it a tough sell #TXHSFBCHAT
A3: I think helping them understand that it’s an opportunity to get on the field helps them understand better. If it’s framed in the context of making the switch will lead to more snaps they generally will be in favor of that. #TXHSFBCHAT
A4: We will always question and make sure they have thought through the decision. We never want to see anyone quit, but also understand it isn’t for everyone. If it were easy, many more kids would be playing. #TXHSFBCHAT
#TXHSFBCHAT Biggest thing is to find out why and if they can offer positive feedback. We always try to make them filmers and managers before the quit all the way.
A4: This is something I have thought a lot about lately. I think we need to not only start performing interviews, but start collecting their responses and use the data to help improve our programs. #txhsfbchat
Football may not be for everybody, but if we continue to accept the everyday kid quitting, then eventually we won't have many kids left to play on our teams. Constructive criticism from a player who didn't enjoy the experience can be more helpful than from within #txhsfbchat
A5: I think we need to have better answers. I think shaming the kids by saying they aren't tough enough isn't the way to do it. I think we need better answers to the concussion issue. Become more knowledgeable and be able to explain the safety measures #txhsfbchat
