Lessons of Coaching Football Babies

So I thought about starting another blog, or some other medium for me to remember these lessons of coaching I've been accumulating from coaching the Almaden Jr. PeeWee football team. However, I realized I probably wouldn't put more than one or two posts on there. So might has well hijack this blog for another purpose. So here goes. Things I've learned while coaching 9-11 year olds playing football.

Fundamentals are the most important things to learn, the hardest things to find time for, and the first things that go when stressed. But they are the keys to victory
- Getting the snaps from the center to the QB/Ball carrier. Without this, nothing happens.
- Firing off the snap. Being the first off the ball on offense or defense is 9/10ths of the battle.
- Playing till the whistle. Go 100%, at all times. Even if it's a mistake, make it all the way.

The Devil is in the details.
- Stances. All parts of it: feet, legs, hips, chest, shoulders, arms, hands, head.
- Splits. The team's we beat have tried to do too much with this.
- First steps. Offensive line play is all technique and heart.
- Knowing the snap count. Must know it cold.
- Getting in and out of the huddle. If we're going to get all the details right, start with this.
- Going full speed in all drills, to and from parts of practice, in and out of the huddle. This translates in the games
- Knowing the plays (as a coach) from all angles and so well you could recite them upside down and backwards.
- Knowing who is on what teams, lines, etc.
- Special teams is all about repetition and positioning.
- You must have a way of getting plays in and out of the huddle fast, without tiring your players out from running back and forth from the sideline.

As a coach of 10 year olds, I need to learn to be a teacher, not a fan.
- Make sure you're building from success rather than correcting from failure
- Teaching too much takes away from aggressiveness
- Yelling all the time is not helping them learn, helping them love the game
- Encourage; don't ever put them down
- Winning and doing well is important, but more so is building up these boys into young men. School, teamwork, self-respect, confidence, and discipline are all more important than winning
- Don't over-drill. Making things competitive makes them fun
- There are 11 players on either side at all times. Only 1 of them is going to have the ball. If you only watch what happens to the ball carrier, you're missing out on coaching 95% of your team.
- Emotions can be helpful if your team responds positively to it. Otherwise, you're only clouding your own judgment and view of the game.
- Discipline and self-control starts from the coaches. Don't let the game get to you.
- Don't over coach on game days.

Go Mustangs!