Do you need to make some BIG fixes to your squad?
My suggestion is … focus on the “little things”.
I think many times as coaches it is easy to get caught up thinking that some “shiny” new scheme might be the answer to woes your team may be experiencing… maybe adding a play… introducing a new “wrinkle”… a different pre-game routine… any enticing “magic bullets” that might be available.
But alas, there are no magic bullets.
If you examine what successful teams are doing, and how they are doing it, I think you will find that regardless of scheme, the good teams… the GREAT teams are well coached. Well-coached teams do all of the “little things” very well.
Here is a checklist of “little things” that I have used as a self-evaluation at different times during the season
Penalties
- How many are you accruing?
- What type?
- How can you improve in this area?
- Are you allowing or correcting these things during practice?
Film… examine/ study and GRADE film of your players… of both practice and game.
- How is their technique?
- Are they aligned correctly?
- Do they execute their assignments correctly?
- Do they give good effort?
If you are not examining these things during the week by evaluating practice film, do not expect much improvement during the game.
Here is a link to my thoughts on grading film – Film Grading
And here is an editable film grading tool that you can download and use to streamline your film grading and evaluation: Film Grading Tool
And here is a video that explains the features of the tool and how to use it:
Game plan
- Was it correct… did your opponents do what you anticipated?
- Did your coaches have input, understand, and buy into the game plan?
- Did your players understand the plan?
- Did you execute the plan… if not, where was the breakdown?
Here is a link to all of my posts on game planning: Defensive Game Planning, All Posts, Forms, and Videos
Practice Time
- Are you efficiently using your practice time?
- Do you set a daily practice schedule?
- Do your coaches know what to expect prior to practice?
- Do your players know what to expect prior to practice?
- How much time are you allocating in each area… fundamentals, game plan, special teams, etc.?
Here is a link to my thoughts on practice planning: Practice, Not a Minute to Spare
Here is a post about our weekly work schedule: Weekly Workflow
And a practice schedule template you can download: Practice Template
Coaching staff
- Are you efficiently using your coaches during practice?
- Are you efficiently using your coaches during the game?
- Do your coaches understand your scheme?
- Are your coaches doing a good job of teaching your scheme and techniques?
How is effective is your communication from coaches to your players?
- Play calling
- Signaling
- Sideline adjustments
- Substitutions
How effective is your communication between your coaches?
- Press box input
- Between each series
- Adjustments
Here is a post on Game Organization – Game Procedures
How effective is your kicking game? How much practice time are you allocating to special teams?
Often fine-tuning and focusing on a few of these “little things” can give you the BIG fix that you are looking for.
Remember – You Can Do More… your brain is lying to you…. Don’t Believe It!
Jeff Floyd – youcandomore1@yahoo.com