K I S S

You must brief to ensure the lowest common denominator on the team understands.

 Simplifying as much as possible is crucial to success,

Our blocking rules are pretty simple: protect the inside gap. So the first rule was to 'block down.' At one school I coached we had an inside tackle who could not execute properly against various looks like a stack on his inside gap. So we instructed the team & coaching staff to greet him when their paths crossed the 'BLOCK DOWN.' It eventually stuck.

S Q U A T

Thanks to coach Schrader for this one. In addition of you can squat down on the toilet to do #2, you can squat properly.

OFFENSIVE LINE CREED

There's a whole bunch of people who do not realize this. I used to say, 'If all of the people at the POA, even I could run through the hole & gain yardage:'

http://footballscoop.com/news/offensive-lineman-creed/

LEADERSHIP

 

GEORGE S. PATTON

Stored WWII General

Leadership is the single greatest factor in any team's performance.

The leader's ATTITUDE sets the tone for the entire team. The leader drives performance . . . or doesn't. 

EXTREME OWNERSHIP

EXAMPLE

The team sees EXTREME OWNERSHIP in their leaders, and as a result, the emulate EXTREME OWNERSHIP throughout the chain of command down to the most junior personnel.

People do what people see. As the team leader you must set the highest example that you want them to aspire to. More difficult each season with all the distractions that the team faces everyday, especially if you are hired from the 'outside,'  & not a professional educator.

Who knows the story behind the picture. What an example of EXTREME OWNERSHIP!.

Furthermore, "you have to own it." Good leaders take ownership of failures, seek guidance on how to improve & figure out a way to overcome challenges on the next iteration." That's like field & halftime adjustments. 

LEADERSHIP

Today, I read chapter 5 of John Maxwell's book "Good Leaders Ask Great Questions." I think it should be required reading for all coaches, especially head coaches. There are all kinds of great tips on how to develop as a leader. I have read most all of his books on Leadership & Attitude. This is one of his best. His tenet is that 'Leadership is Influence.' He wrote a book years ago with that title. In addition, he states, "Your ability to influence others will be the single greatest factor in your success as a leader."

Coaching Point

Sorry that I have not been posting here. I have been on my EQualizer Facebook page. I will try & re-post here as well.

So I read 'RED PLATOON' by Clinton Romesha, a Medal of Honor winner, about a battle in Afghanistan. A very good read. In the book he talked about playing platoon-on-platoon football before deployment: Brad Larson proved to be astonishingly fast. In addition, 'Whenever the QB drew back his arm to throw, Larson knew exactly where the ball was heading . . . Just by looking at the QB's eyes & angle of the QB's forearm & with his speed was able to make a beeline for that spot & destroy whoever was the target.'

Advice:

Keep this in mind when coaching your free safety next season.
Interesting what you can pickup when reading a totally unrelated football book.