Coaches Manual

COACHES MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

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COACHES CODE OF ETHICS COACHING EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES GOALS FOR THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM STAFF EXPECTATIONS STAFF MEETINGS COACHING STAFF POLICIES PRACTICE GUIDELINES EXPECTATIONS OF A GOOD COACH DISCIPLINE OUTLINE AND PLAYING TIME PRACTICE RESPONSIBILITIES PRACTICE ORGANIZATION GAME DAY RESPONSIBILITIES COACHING PHILOSOPHY GOALS FOR SUCCESS

COACHES CODE OF ETHICS

The function of a coach is to properly educate students through participation in interscholastic competition. The interscholastic program is designed to enhance academic achievement and should never interfere with opportunities for academic success. Each child should be treated as though they were the coach’s own and their welfare shall be of utmost importance at all times. The coach must be aware that he or she has a tremendous influence, either good or bad, in the education of the student athlete, and shall never place the value of winning above the value of instilling the highest desirable ideals of character. The coach must constantly uphold the honor and dignity of the profession. In all personal contact with the student athlete, officials, athletic directors, school administrators, the state high school athletic association, the media, and the public, the coach shall strive to set an example of the highest ethical and moral contact. The coach shall promote the entire interscholastic program of the school and direct his or her program in harmony with the total school program. The coach shall be thoroughly acquainted with the contest rules and is responsible for their interpretation to team members. The spirit and letter of rules should be regarded as mutual agreements. The coach shall not try to seek any advantage by circumvention of the spirit or letter of the rules. Contest officials shall have the respect and support of the coach. The coach shall not indulge in conduct, and will NOT incite players or spectators against the officials. Public criticism of officials or players is unethical. Before and after contests, rival coaches should meet and exchange friendly greetings to set the correct tone for the event. A coach shall not exert pressure on faculty members to give student athletes special consideration.

COACHING EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES I. Coach’s Professional and Personal Relationships and Expectations The need for precise job description specifications is becoming obvious with the stronger emphasis on credibility and accountability in coaching. There is a need for criteria to measure coaching accomplishments within the framework of school district objectives for their activity programs. These major performance areas stand out above others: A. Rapport: A coach must be able to develop a good rapport with any number of individuals and groups: team personnel, the student body, the professional staff (faculty, administration, maintenance, etc.), the community as a whole, spectators, officials, fellow coaches, media representatives, and the parents of his/her players. Good rapport and an image of competency are invaluable for the coach. B. Cooperation: The district expects a positive give and take relationship between all individuals associated in any degree with the comprehensive program. Coaches must work hand in hand with their athletic director, principal, and other members of their staff. C. Leadership: Diligence, enthusiasm, honesty, and love for the game are all part of a professional pride that should be exhibited by any coach. Personal appearance, dress – all should be exemplary. Dressing appropriately for practice, following practice schedules, and building positive attitudes are very important. D. Discipline: Every facet of discipline is the coach’s responsibility. Individually, the coach becomes a model of all that the program represents – observation of school codes, training rules, rules of the game, ideals of good sportsmanship, behavior of participants throughout the season – at home or away. The desire to do your best, to win with class, and to lose with class should be emphasized. Staff, players, and spectators should be motivated toward your established discipline goals. E. Improvement: A coach must constantly take advantage of opportunities presented for selfimprovement. Attendance at district meetings, rules clinics, special workshops, and clinics in specific fields and similar in-service training programs are a must. Keeping abreast of current literature in professional journals, newspapers and magazines are excellent ways of utilizing enrichment materials to improve in areas of weakness or affirmation.

GOALS FOR THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM The ultimate goal of the football program is to produce individuals who will be able to successfully cope in life both personally as well as in their career choices, and to develop a total program that would become a model of success and efficiency. I. As coaches, we will make a definite effort to build student-athletes that are well-rounded mature individuals. To achieve this, we will: · encourage a broad scope of experiences in different sports. · treat our athletes as young men and young ladies and expect them to act accordingly. · give our athletes responsibilities for small things they have to accomplish (lockers, being on time, care of equipment, laundry procedures, etc.) · expect our athletes to be where they are supposed to be, when they are supposed to be there, and doing what they are supposed to do. · encourage our athletes to participate in other school activities. II. As coaches, we will make every effort to train our athletes to be leaders. In developing leadership, we will: · become involved with our players and demonstrate a sincere desire to be a help to them. · teach our players that being a leader is not being overbearing, but it is simply being interested in other people and making them feel a part of the team. · teach our players that a leader must have integrity so that a mutual trust can be developed among teammates in order that they will believe in each other. · teach the players to compliment and praise one another. · teach players to be themselves and not to act out a role they think is one of being a leader. · teach the players that everyone has the ability to be a leader if they will develop those abilities. · seek to develop pride in our players. We want them to learn that the feeling they have in themselves, their role on the team, their progress, and their value to the team is pride. · teach our players to develop self-respect and a belief in themselves. As coaches, we must respect them as individuals and show them that we believe in them.

· give our players the opportunity to speak to the team to develop speaking skills important to being a leader. III. As coaches, we will encourage our athlete to achieve academic success. To help them, we will: · stress that the learning experience in the classroom is the number one reason for being in school. · recognize achievement in their academics through, i.e., good report cards, making the honor roll, making a class project, or being in the honor society. · keep a weekly grade check on the progress of our athletes in class. · encourage athletes to take advantage of tutorial time offered by the school. · require compulsory attendance at tutorials if an athlete is not doing well in a class. · visit with teachers who have our athletes to check on attitude, effort, and conduct in class. · instill in our players that being an athlete does not mean special privileges, but it means more is expected of them. IV. As coaches, we will make our athletes concerned in regard to their mannerisms, dress, and general appearance. This will include: · teach our players that how they look and act is the primary area where a person builds a healthy self-concept of himself or herself. · require specific dress for practice where all athletes are dressed alike to promote team unity. · as coaches, be dressed alike to convey the idea that how we dress and look is important. · on special days (games or special events) require special dress. · require our players to show and practice healthy personal hygiene while keeping their hair clean and general appearance neat.

STAFF EXPECTATIONS Staff – The success of any program is determined by 2 ingredients: 1) People 2) Attitude Positive Qualities in a Staff 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Loyalty Commitment (to family, to the program and to each other) Competitive Strong work ethic Unselfish (No EGOs) Passion for the game Honesty Good Communicator

WORK WITH ME, NOT FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PET PEEVES 1. I told them (be accountable) 2. Confusion (Never Clear) 3. Spotters (See it, can’t fix it) 4. Yellers (Not teachers) 5. Pouters 6. Lack of class 7. Ego-maniacs 8. Courtesy Call (Let Me Know) 9. Time Watchers 10. Complainers 11. Unprepared (Meetings, practice, games) 12. Non-flexible 13. No detail for the little things.

STAFF MEETINGS Every coach is expected to meet on the following occasions: 1. We will meet as a staff several times during the summer. The purpose of these meetings is to become familiar with one another and better learn the offensive and defensive schemes that we will employ during the season. 2. We will have a short meeting at the conclusion of each and every practice session, scrimmage and game unless otherwise instructed by the head coach. 3. At all functions that involve team participation, all coaches, unless previously arranged, are expected to be in attendance.

COACHING STAFF POLICIES Coaching Relationships 1. There can only be one head coach. 2. Disputes between coaches should never happen in front of players. Handle all problems in my office. 3. Loyalty – I expect our staff to be loyal to not only me, but to everyone, including the administration, faculty, other coaches, and players. 4. Communication – All things go through me. If there are any problems, talk them over with me. I expect everyone to voice his or her concerns and suggestions on how we can get better. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but as head coach, I will make the final decision. Hopefully, that decision will be ours, but once we make it, accept it and carry out the task. 5. Knowledge – Coaches must know the offense, defense, and special teams. Each of you needs to understand schemes to better your knowledge of the game. Any changes in the offense, defense, or special teams must result in a joint decision with me. 6. No second-guessing will be tolerated. 7. The main objective of an assistant coach is to bend all of his efforts to make the program and squad more successful. 8. Staff Unity – We must have great unity to be successful. We must not take decisions personally, and we cannot let our egos take away from staff unity. 9. Be prudent and thorough with all tasks. 10. Be positive – not negative. I have never met a negative person that was successful. 11. You are the head coach of your position – become an expert at it. Take care of your kids. 12. Take care of all duties assigned to you – take pride in this. 13. There is always work to be done. Don’t waste time. 14.To make a mistake and admit it is not nearly as bad as making a mistake and not admitting it. If you are a good coach, you will not have any trouble admitting a mistake. 15.Remember, you can always tell a good coach by how his players play.

PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR COACHES 1. Keep our facilities neat. 2. Wear issued clothes to practice. 3. Be prepared and always on time to meetings. 4. Be great teachers in the classroom and on the field. 5. Coach a player like you would want to be coached. 6. I want up-tempo practices; coach on the run. 7. Coach through repetition, do the same drill and technique over and over until it becomes habit – coach from routine. 8. Demand the players to FINISH everything on the practice field. Do not overlook a thing. 9. Never send a player off the field without the head coach’s permission. 10. Strive to make your group the best on the field. 11. Don’t argue or discuss problems on the field with other coaches. 12. Never lose your poise on the practice field. 13. Make sure your players are properly equipped. 14. Planning and preparation in your practice schedule = winning football games. We must be detailed in our planning, so we don’t waste any time in practice. 15. Make sure your drill work is set up early and is designed to simulate game situations. 16. Always have a name for your drills. 17. Keep drills short, snappy, crisp and positive.

DESCRIPTIONS OF A GOOD COACH 1. LOYALTY – Above all, the most important. 2. How his player’s play. 3. Relationship he has with players. Will they put it all on the line for their coach? 4. Has knowledge of fundamental techniques employed in all phases that he coaches. (Offense, Defense, Special Teams) 5. He makes thorough preparation for carrying out his responsibility at the practice session. He personally assumes the responsibility for preparing any necessary chart and drill situations to accomplish smoothly and efficiently the teaching expected of him on the practice field. 6. He is constantly probing his own thinking in order to assure that he is covering effectively all phases of the game for those players over who he has direct teaching responsibility. 7. He comes to practice every day with enthusiasm for teaching the game. This is not easy to do when situations occur during the day. Just like the players, don’t take problems to the practice field. 8. He is willing to devote his time tirelessly to all phases of the program – practice, counseling, film review, academics, game day – with the realization that success results when those things are controlled. He fully realizes that to gain an extra amount of excellence, much time and effort is required. 9. The real mark of an outstanding coach as opposed to the average coach is found in his willingness to personally assume responsibility for thinking out an assignment, and for creatively attacking problems in all phases of the program. The average coach acts only on a direct assignment, awaits for an exact spelling out of the assignment, and functions only to the extent that an assignment is literally spelled out. 10. He works constantly to seek new knowledge to become a better teacher. He is willing to go to clinics or visit other coaching staffs. 11. He provides solutions and not just problems.

PRACTICE RESPONSIBILITIES Dressing Room: Pre-Practice 1. Unlock dressing room and supervise. 2. Help out with taping. 3. Get players dressed and out of the dressing room on time. 4. Check out equipment left out the practice before and pick-up equipment left out before you report to the practice field. Field Set-up and Practice Equipment: Pre-Practice 1. Take out practice equipment a. Ball Bag b. Kicking Tees c. Scrimmage Shirts d. Helmet and shoulder pad repair kits. e. Medical kit with ice bags. f. See that managers get water ready. 2. Set-up field equipment and stations a. Put pads on sled. b. Dummies out and stationed. c. Cones. 3. Supervise players as they report Field Clean-up and Practice Equipment 1. Put all field equipment away. 2. Take all practice equipment in and check to see that it is all there. 3. Responsible for keeping all equipment in good working condition. Medical Needs and Taping 1. Take care of all taping and medical problems. Equipment Coordinator 1. Check out all equipment and handle check in. 2. Repair equipment when needed.

PRACTICE ORGANIZATION 1. Pre-Practice – Have a plan and purpose for this time. 2. We will go through a structured warm-up period. 3. Players will line-up with seniors at the front and freshmen at the rear. 4. Special Teams 5. Team pursuit / Team time-up 6. Individual Drills 7. Group Drills (inside, perimeter) 8. 7 on 7/Pass Protection/Inside Hull 9. Team (Offensive/Defensive) 10. Goal Line period (tackling/short yardage) 11. 2 Minute Drill 12. 4th Quarter Conditioning 13. WOW (Words of Wisdom) 14. Coaches meeting/film review/practice schedule

GAME DAY RESPONSIBILITIES Defensive Coordinator Meet with head coach (discuss game plan) · Taping/Equipment · Go out with QB/RB/WR · Sidelines – Defensive call/Headset with defensive coach in booth · Check out opponents offensive personnel during warm-ups · Make halftime adjustments for the defense Special Teams Coordinator Issue Game Day soft wear · Taping/Equipment · Special teams depth chart/sideline organization of all special teams · Charge head sets the night before the game · Observe opponents kickers/punters/return men · Drive equipment van to all away games · Go out with QB/RB/WR · Get back coach · Assist in soft wear clean-up Press Box – Offensive Head-Set Assist with issue of game day soft wear · Pre-game assist with taping · Go out with QB/WR/RB · Press Box communication – offensive head-set with offensive coordinator · Assist with soft wear clean-up · Observe defensive personnel during warm-ups · Help with halftime adjustments for the offense/defense · Game day tape and camera Press Box – Defensive Head-Set Assist with pre-game taping · Press Box communication – defensive head-set with defensive coordinator · Observe opponents offense during warm-ups · Assist with halftime adjustments · Assist with game day soft wear clean-up · Go out with QB/RB/WR · Assist defensive coordinator with game day preparations · Assist with check of head-sets before game Sideline Coach Assist with pre-game taping · Assist with Issue of game day soft wear · Go out with offensive/defensive line · Assist with halftime adjustments · Assist with game day soft wear clean-up · Get back coach · Be medical liaison between head coach and medical staff · Assist with offensive personnel substitutions

COACHING PHILOSOPHY Be a Motivator: 1. Develop PRIDE within each player 2. Develop PRIDE within your team 3. Teach that every play of every game is a matter of personal and team pride Be Demanding: 1. High Performance Level 2. High Intensity 3. Monitor Improvement Be Consistent: 1. Done right every time 2. Expectations regarding effort is the same for every player Be Enthusiastic: 1. Encourage great effort 2. Praise great effort 3. Sell the kids on our program & what we can accomplish Be a Communicator: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Grades & Citizenship Visit with each player Discipline (hold kids accountable) Try to find what makes each kid tick

GOALS FOR SUCCESS 1. Commitment 2. Unselfishness 3. Unity – come together as never before 4. Improve – Everyday – as a player, person and a team 5. Develop mental toughness 6. Self-discipline – Accept nothing less than your best 7. Great Effort 8. Enthusiasm 9. Eliminate mistakes 10. Never give up – don’t accept losing 11. No self-limitation – Expect more of yourself 12. Expect to win 13. Consistency 14. Leadership 15. Responsibility