Welcome, Coaches to the Tuesday Night #swarmfbchat - glad to have you. go ahead and say HI - follow someone new - we will be going back to the Hour Long format!
We will use the Q1/A1 format - feel free to like/retweet as much as you want; ask other coaches questions too. Be sure to use #swarmfbchat in all tweets!
Q1: What is your criteria/rubric in selecting starters vs backups? What intangibles are "eye-catching" that can break a tie? Or, do you find a way to get all players at equal skill on the field? #swarmfbchat
Q1: What is your criteria/rubric in selecting starters vs backups? What intangibles are "eye-catching" that can break a tie? Or, do you find a way to get all players at equal skill on the field? #swarmfbchat
A1) Try to find as many places for a kid to be successful as possible. Number one thing is being able to tackle!!! After that we value speed and being able to play fast. Like my wrestlers on D bc they are tough and can tackle! #swarmfbchat
A1: I've never had to name my starters. We have a lot of 1 on 1's and compete throughout every practice. The guys who make plays play. It is my job as a coach to develop more kids' skills so we can rotate them in and they will make the plays that come to them. #swarmfbchat
A1: equal skill means we will try to play them all. Most important is who knows the scheme and can do it over and over again. If we don’t have that, then we will search for someone who can perform their task correctly again and again #swarmfbchat
Q2: What do you do in terms of increasing Football IQ? We know that film is important, but what else can we use to measure the increase in knowledge? #swarmfbchat
A1 : winter personnel meetings discuss 2 / 3 year position tracks for every player . Daily evaluations on fb IQ retention and talent develops depth chart over time. Players of like ability will find time important to be open book regarding depth chart kids deserve it #swarmfbchat
A1: if all things are equal it comes down to work ethic and commitment to the program which translates into more trust for that player over the other #swarmfbchat
A2: Hudl Playbook is huge. Allows players with access at anytime. JustPlay is really good, hard for us to afford it though being at a small school. PrePractice knowledge sessions and also meetings after practice with their position coach. Filming practice. #swarmfbchat
A1 cont: I always think of more after my initial tweet.... Bare with me... if there are two players of equal skill or that can help us...we have to find a way to get our best 11 on the field. Changed our base D from 4-3 to 4-4 because of 4 good linebackers 1 yr. #swarmfbchat
Q1: What is your criteria/rubric in selecting starters vs backups? What intangibles are "eye-catching" that can break a tie? Or, do you find a way to get all players at equal skill on the field? #swarmfbchat
A2) In regards to in season we integrate our team into our schools virtual platform. We have a class set up on @Schoology where we can post info, assign tests/homework, and evaluate their preparation. Treat it like a class #swarmfbchat
A2: I'm not a rush through practice guy, everything isn't on a clock. We do a lot of situational football and if something isn't right, we break it down and explain what is going on. A lot of our guys are visual/right there learners. Hudl notes is a great tool. #swarmfbchat
A2) During the summer we do football skills and drills after lifting and conditioning. The basics of defense and our scheme. We emphasize the top 10 concepts that hurt us the prior year and get our kids to understand why and how we stop it. #swarmfbchat
A2 formative and summarize assessments @JustPlaySS allows for app quizzes . FB IQ is a curriculum needs to be horizontally and vertically aligned through our program. Learning gaps w players r faults of poor teaching #swarmfbchat
A2: I and our HC teach a Football 101 course one day a week after our lift to develop Football IQ and eventually scheme on both sides of the ball...we assess them by giving periodic quizzes each month or so on the topics we cover #swarmfbchat
A2: I think alignment and assignment is really important. Talk it out. Where does everyone belong? Also kids want to know why, so don’t just have them do angle tackle for example, have them visualize running down a bubble while they’re doing angle tackle. #swarmfbchat
Q2: What do you do in terms of increasing Football IQ? We know that film is important, but what else can we use to measure the increase in knowledge? #swarmfbchat
A2 also beginning to utilize classroom flipping for installs . Post the install presentation and players must come in having watched it . Allows for better questioning and discussion. Let’s gain a deeper understanding instead of skimming the surface #swarmfbchat
A3: for each position that I have coached I figure out the top 3-5 skills that players need to master at that position. The Indy drills reflect that. Understanding that backups are still valuable but not expecting them to be as good as the starters. #swarmfbchat
A3 great question here! This starts after freshman year. Again what is this players track and how do we get him there. Strength n power is a great place to start it improves overall athleticism and it is a controllable #swarmfbchat
A1. Personally a few different options. Obviously to put the best 11 on the field to win the game. But then there’s work ethic, skill, and mindset. I’ve benched my All State WR for a freshman before. #swarmfbchat
A3) Depends on the kid and what their future role is. If they are a senior, get them really good at a few things give them a chance to contribute in some fashion. Young guys alignment, assignment, tackling and living in the weight room. #swarmfbchat
A1: We have a production chart that helps. Does that kid make an impact or just have potential? Also, if a player can help us, they play. May be 1,2, or 3 deep at a spot. May not get equal reps but if they are ‘above the line’ they get in most games. #swarmfbchat
A3: I want to build a player’s strengths )ex: if he can pass rush play him on 3rd down) if he continues to play hard and grasp the concept while producing at JV level, they can earn Playing time #swarmfbchat
A4: Secondary, again we do a lot of 1v1 and 2v2. That really helps me break down guys and give a lot of instruction on the fly, but also lets me taylor next day's indi drills on what we are struggling the most with as a group. Fundamentals 1st. Tackle, pedal, COD. #swarmfbchat
A2. My football IQ increased when I went to Nashville, TN for the @GlazierClinics along with these clinics. Learning from coaches of all ages all over helps me. I feel like I have grown since our season ended last year #swarmfbchat
A3: In the secondary it’s all about continuing to get the kids better in fundamental areas such as backpedaling, breaks, turn and run, etc...once they have a foundation there, they can start to figure out ways to overcome any of their shortcomings w/ great technique #swarmfbchat
A3: I think kids rise to the level of your expectations. If you treat a “backup” like a starter, then he will be ready as much as humanly possible. Obviously your starter starts for a reason, but 1 play away is a cliche for a reason. #swarmfbchat
Cannot forget the benefits of the jV experience . We talk about graduating players to the varsity each week. JV should get smaller each week as more depth is developed and players increas playing time in varsity action #swarmfbchat
If you have a windows PC the snipping tool will be your best friend! Don’t waste time with screenshot extensions when you can pin that to your taskbar! I also love l that I can add video to quizzes! Allows you to point out what leads to big plays #swarmfbchat
A4: team activity every month in the offseason. Culture building questions and activities. Quality focus each week. Raider Goals. Campout before first day of football. Midnight practice on first day of football. #GetOnTheBus#swarmfbchat
A4: position group coaches need to develop and know their dudes and have a great relationship with them. Impossible for the HC to do that with all 40-50 players. Build excitement for football in the community. #swarmfbchat
A3 sometimes I think we as coaches get in our own way. We often don’t play a player because we fear for them not succeeding instead of embracing the risk n showing them we believe in the good or bad ... might just be me .. I am a work in progress #swarmfbchat
Exactly. Mesh your scheme with your players schemes. Too many coaches get caught up in what a player can’t do and forget what they can do! #swarmfbchat
A lot of 1 v 1’s. Same skill level against each other or at least same size. If I see growth in someone who’s lesser on the depth chart, I move them up in the drills reps. #swarmfbchat
A3. A lot of 1 v 1’s. Same skill level against each other or at least same size. If I see growth in someone who’s lesser on the depth chart, I move them up in the drills reps. #swarmfbchat
We start with the universal things they know. Like on 1st Down you will get high percentage run! Then will get more situational! At its best our players can communicate like coaches. #swarmfbchat
A4: We might not be very good at this. We as a staff are a continuous improvement group. What do we need to work on to be better next week. We don't talk culture or TEAM growth. HOF HC, I think he just jedi mind tricks them into it, because we have good culture. #swarmfbchat
A1) film drills/ team periods, someone has to better. If we have more than 1 kid that can play a position they both play and the smarter kid will learn another position. There are a lot of carryover for certain positions. We love guys that pursue hard to the ball
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A4 the team is fluid it constantly needs TLC winter leadership training make it a curriculum. All lifting sessions r a mini lab In Ur teams climate. So important to be present and aware. Summer it’s all about TIME ! Creat experiences not just practice #swarmfbchat
A4) Meet every couple of weeks in the spring to make sure players are on the same page. A vast majority of our players are in an early bird lifting class@together that I teach. Nothing builds team unity and school culture like grinding with your teammates every day. #swarmfbchat
Give them why and the big picture. How by them doing their job they are helping out the whole D and visa versa. Knowing and understanding are two different things. When kids can talk “football” to each other it shows mastery, and that they truly understand the game. #swarmfbchat
I don’t know how he did it but my HC in HS used his mustache for power. Lol. Swear that thing controlled the weather. Anyone from TN High from 2000-2011 can vouch! Lol #swarmfbchat
A4: We might not be very good at this. We as a staff are a continuous improvement group. What do we need to work on to be better next week. We don't talk culture or TEAM growth. HOF HC, I think he just jedi mind tricks them into it, because we have good culture. #swarmfbchat
A2)
Hudl playbooks with film cuts
Formation recognition
Cheat sheets with formation and play tendency
Constantly remind/invite kids to watch more football
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A4 cont: (did it again) pet peeve is having 150 hash tags or phrases on your team. You should have 1 call that everyone believes in. One year we broke it down every. single. time. to “All In - Together”. Hear it over and over and it becomes the way you do business #swarmfbchat
A4) Also we run our strength program on @teambuildr so our kids can see the progress they and their teammates make. There are leaderboards and team feeds for each team so even if they are not in the same class they can see and recognize each other’s achievements. #swarmfbchat
A3 for me I prepare everyone the same but the reps my vary. I like to be able to go into a game with 6 or 7 DBs So it maybe that I just have to let the backup know he’s going to get more reps! #swarmfbchat
A3)
can you finish? Tackle
Can you get there to finish? Block destruction and movement keys
Align correctly and know your assignment
Most importantly can you compete? Don’t like getting butt kicked by starter?
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A1: #swarmfbchat Leadership capabilities. How do they play under pressure? Who can make the big play? Mental toughness. Being coachable. Those things are huge for me when setting kids apart.
If you can’t/won’t tackle you can’t/won’t play, period. From there...footwork, competitiveness, how you practice, how you lead, are you a work horse? Do you fight for more reps? Confidence level, film work...this one is like painting the perfect kid. #swarmfbchat
