#swarmfbchat Archive

The ONLY defensive-themed chat on Twitter! Talking all things Defense and Game Planning. Tuesdays at 9pm EST.

Tuesday June 14, 2016
9:00 PM EDT

rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:00 PM EDT

Welcome Coaches to our weekly #swarmfbchat - great to have you here; Start with intros and use our hashtag in all responses! #sharingideas
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:01 PM EDT

Tonight, #swarmfbchat will be talking about keeping your players involved during practice. Let's share our knowledge and experiences!
CODY_GARDNER Jun 14 @ 9:02 PM EDT

Cody Gardner, Free Agent Let talk "D"! #swarmfbchat
Coach_CTyson Jun 14 @ 9:02 PM EDT

Cantrell Tyson WRs/S Coach Marion County High (Guin, AL) #swarmfbchat
CoachEddieYoung Jun 14 @ 9:03 PM EDT

Eddie Young, HC/OC Lajeunesse HS, Windsor, ON #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:03 PM EDT

Ryan McCartney DC Seymour HS, Indiana 20 years in coaching #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:04 PM EDT

Good to see/have our usual suspects joining us for #swarmfbchat...first Q in a few minutes....
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:05 PM EDT

Once again, we are discussing how to keep your players involved in practice..avoid the standing around and watching issues. #swarmfbchat
coachdober Jun 14 @ 9:05 PM EDT

Phil Dober, ILBs/DC, Clements HS, TX #swarmfbchat
TJ_Football Jun 14 @ 9:06 PM EDT

Jerry Smith, HC Thomas Johnson HS, MD #swarmfbchat
CoachCurran42 Jun 14 @ 9:06 PM EDT

Bobby Curran Co-Defensive Coordinator & LB Coach. Loyola Blakefield. Towson, MD #swarmfbchat
CarsonRileyDad Jun 14 @ 9:06 PM EDT

Matt Smith DC Chambers Academy LaFayette, AL #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:08 PM EDT

Q1: Tell us what your HS program looks like..3 levels, 2 levels, more/less? Total players. #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:09 PM EDT

A1: We will have 3 levels and around 100 kids total. Largest group this school has seen in a number of years - very excited. #swarmfbchat
Z_QUEZ Jun 14 @ 9:09 PM EDT

Zane Quesenberry, DB coach, Pulaski, Va #swarmfbchat
CoachCurran42 Jun 14 @ 9:09 PM EDT

A1. 2 levels, JV/V. #swarmfbchat
coachdober Jun 14 @ 9:10 PM EDT

A1: 3 levels, around 120 kids #swarmfbchat
Z_QUEZ Jun 14 @ 9:12 PM EDT

A1: 2 levels- V/JV; HS coaches work a lot with MS team also as they practice at the HS as well. #swarmfbchat
TJ_Football Jun 14 @ 9:12 PM EDT

A1. 2 levels of about 90-100 players total #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:13 PM EDT

Q2 is coming right up - see some new guys - don't be shy - tweet an intro and join us! #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:15 PM EDT

Q2: Do you practice as ONE large group or do you coach in your own level? Likes/Dislikes?Issues? #swarmfbchat
CoachCurran42 Jun 14 @ 9:17 PM EDT

A2: Last year was the first with all together. Gave us much more flow from level to level. Larger groups, faster reps #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:17 PM EDT

A2: We will coach all indi groups as ONE unit (9-12) and only split for Team Periods. Helps with having limited coaches #swarmfbchat
CoachCurran42 Jun 14 @ 9:18 PM EDT

A2: always a concern getting "my guys" reps. Want them as ready as possible. Having 2 position coaches in each helps. #swarmfbchat
coachdober Jun 14 @ 9:18 PM EDT

A2: separately. Lots of reps/teaching/gameplan specifics for varsity players. Con: not as much hands-on with subvarsity kids. #swarmfbchat
CoachCurran42 Jun 14 @ 9:19 PM EDT

A2: we would mix for team and have the JV be our scout team and vise versa. Once the routine was established, worked well. #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:19 PM EDT

Do you feel that coaching all as one unit for all/portions keeps the kids involved? Less standing around? Quality coaching? #swarmfbchat
TJ_Football Jun 14 @ 9:19 PM EDT

A2. Previously coached separate teams/levels. Next yr plan is to split staff. Goal is to have all coached the same way. #swarmfbchat
CarsonRileyDad Jun 14 @ 9:20 PM EDT

A1: 45 or so players 7-12 we run our jv and varsity together. Has worked well for us, just avoid having varsity hit Jv #swarmfbchat
TJ_Football Jun 14 @ 9:20 PM EDT

A2cont. Love the thought of separate teams but development is more important. My focus is now on ensuring ALL players develop. #swarmfbchat
CoachCurran42 Jun 14 @ 9:21 PM EDT

Absolutely keeps the young guys engaged. They're eager to learn. Older guys take leadership role. #swarmfbchat
CarsonRileyDad Jun 14 @ 9:21 PM EDT

A2: Rep together, typically Jv will do drills but when we go more specific into game plan young guys help run scout #swarmfbchat
Z_QUEZ Jun 14 @ 9:21 PM EDT

A2: All levels together during Indy periods to get younger guys those fundamental reps, sep. during team/small group periods #swarmfbchat
coachdober Jun 14 @ 9:22 PM EDT

@rmacblue more standing around with big groups. Especially subvarsity kids standing bc varsity takes precedence and most reps. #swarmfbchat
TJ_Football Jun 14 @ 9:22 PM EDT

@rmacblue I dont think it is possible to do w/o cheating the upper level players. #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:22 PM EDT

@coachdober Is this due to lack of coaches? #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:25 PM EDT

Q3: So, if you have a small staff - what things do you do to maximize the staff you have while keeping kids productive? #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:27 PM EDT

From what I can tell - most of us have small staffs/limited staffs - curious as to how your practice is run with multi levels #swarmfbchat
CoachCurran42 Jun 14 @ 9:28 PM EDT

A3: my old school had a small staff. The key for us was shorter periods, keep them moving. Mix in 5 min conditioning periods #swarmfbchat
CarsonRileyDad Jun 14 @ 9:28 PM EDT

All coaches have O/D duties. We attempt to do drills where DL/LB work together or S/CBs together to have more than 1 set of 👀 #swarmfbchat
TJ_Football Jun 14 @ 9:28 PM EDT

A3. Limit the time in the periods. Make the practice plan flow with quick transitions. #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:28 PM EDT

@CoachCurran42 I agree - we try to NEVER have a period more than 20 (team) min - most are near 10. #swarmfbchat
CarsonRileyDad Jun 14 @ 9:29 PM EDT

A3 All coaches have O/D duties. We try to do drills where DL/LB work together or S/CBs together to have more than 1 set of 👀 #swarmfbchat
coachdober Jun 14 @ 9:30 PM EDT

A3: quick-moving practice. Complementary groups together to maximize both sides of ball getting coached. #swarmfbchat
Z_QUEZ Jun 14 @ 9:31 PM EDT

A3: if a coaching staff is prepared day-in day-out top to bottom standing shouldn't be an issue. #swarmfbchat
Z_QUEZ Jun 14 @ 9:31 PM EDT

A3 cont. You should have a plan for all kids, as each person has a role on the team & they should know it! #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:31 PM EDT

For us - the varsity staff coaches all indi/small groups; we only break for Team - and we try to run 3-4 teams at once! #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:32 PM EDT

So, what happens during team: Frosh v JV and 1 v 1 and 2 v 2 on varsity. No time to stand around! #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:34 PM EDT

@coachdober Yup = hard to motivate those guys; not getting a good look either. Rough. #swarmfbchat
CODY_GARDNER Jun 14 @ 9:36 PM EDT

Feel the most standing around time comes during special teams. If you are out 3 plays, you have a 50 yd sprint, rotation fixed #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:37 PM EDT

Q4: So, here is the big question: What do you do at practices that keeps all players involved? Sessions? Coaching? Tempo? #swarmfbchat
CoachCurran42 Jun 14 @ 9:37 PM EDT

Our special team periods are INDY time. We all take a group and run drills. Gunner, KO, etc #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:38 PM EDT

@CoachCurran42 I think this is underutilized - break of ST like you do any other team - shouldn't do team ST each time. #swarmfbchat
Z_QUEZ Jun 14 @ 9:40 PM EDT

A4: Kids will know the schedule & drills during each period before prac. (Covered in pre prac position meet) #swarmfbchat
coachdober Jun 14 @ 9:41 PM EDT

A4: practice tempo #1. High-energy, high-intensity from Indy all the way through team. Sub often in team and coach on the fly. #swarmfbchat
cahsfbchat Jun 14 @ 9:42 PM EDT

A1 2 levels. roughly 70-80 players. #swarmfbchat
Z_QUEZ Jun 14 @ 9:42 PM EDT

A4 cont. I also find that tempo is very key, keep guys rotating. Plus having good variety in drills keeps guys motivated. #swarmfbchat
cahsfbchat Jun 14 @ 9:44 PM EDT

A2 Practice as individual teams. I like coaching my own kids, but i think combining could be beneficial for both teams. #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:45 PM EDT

We really don't have any more Qs for this topic - need to have more chatter to get ideas flowing. Summer is tough on chats! #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:46 PM EDT

Also, all coaches have experience and value - we have plenty of us here - need to tweet out and keep the chat "alive". #swarmfbchat
Derick_Pitts Jun 14 @ 9:47 PM EDT

A little late to the party but Derick Pitts D-Line Coach Blue Valley West HS Overland Park, KS.#swarmfbchat
cahsfbchat Jun 14 @ 9:47 PM EDT

A3 combine similar position groups, work on drills that apply to all of them. #swarmfbchat
CODY_GARDNER Jun 14 @ 9:47 PM EDT

How many on the roster to 2 platoon vs 1 platoon? #swarmfbchat
Z_QUEZ Jun 14 @ 9:50 PM EDT

Energy from the coaching staff is also 1 of the biggest motivations in my opinion, if u dont want to be there neither will they #swarmfbchat
cahsfbchat Jun 14 @ 9:51 PM EDT

A4 trying to run more plays in team time this year to get more guys in. Rep drills during spec teams for players not involved #swarmfbchat
nonmathaphobe Jun 14 @ 9:51 PM EDT

@CODY_GARDNER #swarmfbchat it depends on what positions you want to platoon?
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:55 PM EDT

Thanks to the coaches who participated tonight; perhaps summers are too tough to keep this weekly?? #swarmfbchat
rmacblue - Moderator Jun 14 @ 9:58 PM EDT

Perhaps I can get some issues that came up from camps this week - use them as topics..DM those to me. #swarmfbchat