Making Yourself an Invaluable Assistant Coach

John Rice Defensive Coordinator Santiago High School Corona, CA

CD POWERPOINT PRESENTATION & DVD AVAILABLE FOR $5

Outline
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Know/Develop your personal life priorities Maintain your loyalty Improve your professional knowledge Take Ownership of a particular Task or area Cross-Train yourself Strive to be a technician on the practice field Cultivate and maintain professional relationships with other school staff 8. Build a meaningful relationship with your players 9. Dont do anything to embarrass the HC or the program

What are your personal priorities?

What is the most important thing in your life? What are you willing to give up to be a great (successful) football coach? Is a career in coaching more important than family? If your wife (significant other) asked you to give up coaching for the sake of your relationship or family, would you do it?

My Priorities: 1. God 2. Family 3. Job 4. Football

1. Maintain Your Loyalty to Your Head Coach and the Program

Never disagree publicly with the head coach
One Voice for the staff with players
We decided instead of The HC says so, so well do it

One Voice for the staff with parents/boosters One Voice for the staff with other school teachers/staff/administration One Voice with the media (print & internet) Dont tolerate or be a part of dissention among staff outside a staff meeting Beware of parents who approach you in confidence and express a displeasure with the head coach Being loyal 90% of the time isnt good enough. *If you cant abide by this code of conduct, it is your responsibility to find another job! When you leave a job, watch what you say Its a small world.

Common Misconceptions Held by Assistant Coaches

Head Coach is Superman
He is subject to the same distractions as all staff
Stress from job, family, economics, etc

Head Coach is a mind-reader

At the appropriate time, relay your concerns with him. Dont assume.

Head Coach doesnt value your opinion if he doesnt implement one of your ideas.
Idea may be a good one, but doesnt fit

2. Improve Your Professional Knowledge

Staff Development
Learning from other coaches on your own staff
One on One with other coaches on your staff Staff presentations by staff members on various subjects

Attending Clinics:
Improve your knowledge of current trends in your area of coaching responsibility Whats new? Investigate how someone else may be doing it differently Look for the One thing Improve your weaknesses as well as improving your strength Go see whats going on on the opposite side of the ball Get as many perspectives on a subject as possible Make professional contacts; introduce yourself to coaches; dont be afraid to walk up and introduce yourself to ANYONE. Follow up with phone call and /or email Avoid the assumption that because you havent heard of a speaker, he cant teach you something Avoid the assumption that a coach who hasnt won a championship cant teach you something

2. Improve Your Professional Knowledge

You owe it to your head coach (and the program) to constantly improve your knowledge of the game. There are several ways to do this:
Staff Development
Visiting other staffs-Make time available; communicate with the HC as to your restrictions/availability to make trips to visit staffs. Make it a priority.
Prepare a detailed list of questions/info that you will cover/ask on visit Ask if videotaping of meetings is allowed. Ask if you may obtain copies of practice/games. Respect their answer if no. When watching practice, pay attention to coaching methods to see if there is anything in a position coaches methodology that you can adapt. Several Examples: Specific verbage used by coach to teach a technique (tuck n tap, run through the ballcarrier) Breaking down a skill into its parts in a way which you may not have thought of or utilized before

3. Take Ownership of a particular Task or area

Examples:

Video Alumni Representative Youth Football Liaison Recruiting Advance Scouting Self Scouting Quality Control Academic Counseling NCAA Clearinghouse Study Hall Staff Development Staff Video Library

Improve Your Professional Knowledge

1. Study successful coaches, past and present Coaching Biographies In-depth media interviews (magazine or newspapers) 2. Purchase/Study Coaching Instructional Books and Videos on all aspects of the game 3. Subscribe to professional organizations, (national and local) (AFCA , state & local coaching organizations) 4. Utilize online coaching magazines 5. Form and maintain relationships with coaches on all levels Via telephone, text, email, online chat.

4. Cross-Train

yourself

Make a concerted effort to learn as much as you can about another position on the same/opposite side of the ball
1. Ask your head coach if you can switch/change coaching positions periodically 2. It will help you see the big picture 3. It will increase your knowledge of the game 4. It will make you a more valuable coach (flexibility for head coach) 5. It will make you more valuable in scouting and video study situations

5. Strive to be a technician on the practice field

Utilize Effective Teaching Techniques Always have a plan Show, dont tell Dont give a clinic on the field Be able to adapt on the run if necessary Save any disagreement with coordinator or head coach for the coaching office afterwards No more one more rep when the whistle blows Be aware of all time periods in a practice plan; be quick in transitions to work with other position groups

5. Strive to be a technician on the practice field

Use Teaching Progressions to maximize productive sequential skill building and eliminate wasted practice time. When you are introducing a new skill, Break the skill down into its individual techniques Teach the individual skills separately Isolate body parts to teach the skills. Teach the skill in backwards sequence
Example: skill to be taught is a combo block for an offensive lineman Put them in a fit (exact perfect hand position on a defender while olineman is on:
1. Knees only 2. Standing stationary 3. Teach the approach 4. Put it all together

Effective Teaching Techniques

Address all of your players learning styles Written information (plays, drills, techniques Visual Information for Visual Learners: Video of drills, techniques, and game footage Walk-throughs of new techniques before practice

Effective Teaching Techniques

Always have a daily plan; never wing it
Period 1 2 Time 5 min 5 min Drill Agility Warm Up Stance, Alignment

3
4 5 6 7

5 min
5 min 5 min 5 min 5 min

First Step
Key Read & React Run Key Read & React Pass Block Protection & Escape Angle Tackle

8
9

5 min
5 min

Open Field Tackle

Forcing Turnover

Effective Teaching Techniques

Teach the end result first: Example--making a tackle: Skills in chronological order Block Protection & Escape Approach Contact Finish Teach in Reverse order: Fit & Run-through, Approach & Contact Block Protection & Escape

Effective Teaching Techniques

Use teaching Circuits when desirable
4 Drill Circuit 5 minutes each Groups of players travel From drill to drill High repetitions No clinic on field Demonstrate/organize pre practice Drill set up beforehand

Drill for skill 1

Drill for skill 2

Drill for skill 4

Drill for skill 3

Effective Teaching Techniques

Use teaching progressions to plan & implement drills (generic sample for defense)
Progression 1 Skill Stance

2
3 4 5 6 7

Alignment
Key Reads/Reactions Block Protection/Escape Pursuit Tackle

Effective Teaching Techniques

Use teaching progressions to plan & implement drills (generic sample for running backs)
Progression 1 Skill Stance & Alignment

2
3 4 5 6 7

First step & Course

Mesh technique Ball carraige & security Balance and specific cuts Pass Protection Route Running/Catching

6. Cultivate and maintain professional relationships with other school staff 1. Custodians, groundskeepers, maintenance workers, secretaries, other teaches, other sports coaches, administrators 2. Introduce yourself to people 3. Acknowledge their presence when you see them. 4. Use their name 5. Attend school events (assemblies, award ceremonies, graduations) 6. Attend other sporting events (volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball, swimming, water polo, etc) 7. Custodians and the principals secretaries run the schools

6. Build a meaningful relationship with your players

Each player on a youth football team should feel they are an important part of the teams success, though they might not share the same abilities and talents. Anyone can coach the great athlete or the coachable player What about the physically challenged team member or the difficult or attitude problem? Each player on a youth football team should feel they are an important part of the teams success, though they might not share the same abilities and talents.

6. Build a meaningful relationship with your players

Essential Non-Spotlight roles Team Leadership Counsel Player-Faculty Liason Special Teams Captain Study Hall Team Leader Wt. Room Group Leader Team Academic Tutor

6. Build a meaningful relationship with your players

Make an effort to greet them by name daily Pre practice meetings Pre practice Stretching/cals Ask them about their personal life Family Outside interests or hobbies Favorite sports teams Favorite athletes/heroes/role models Make an effort to spend time with them off the football field Weight room Position Group Actvities (BBQs, Meals, Etc) Team Related Functions: Trips/Camps/Picnics Make an effort to Meet their parent(s)/guardians Set athletic and academic goals with them in a private setting at the conclusion of the football season Build Esprit de Corps (group pride) Healthy competition with other position groups Weights, conditioning, fund raising, GPA, etc T Shirts, Hats, etc

Review
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Know/Develop your personal life priorities Maintain your loyalty Improve your professional knowledge Take Ownership of a particular Task or area Cross-Train yourself Strive to be a technician on the practice field Cultivate and maintain professional relationships with other school staff 8. Build a meaningful relationship with your players 9. Dont do anything to embarrass the HC or the program