Strategies For Success in Operating a Football Program
Okay, I must admit, I am a procrastinator and I am very good at coming up with excuses for not blogging more. The bottom line is that I believe this is something that God has called me to do and I need to get off my blessed assurance and get going. One of my hopes is that this blog is the source of quality coaching material as well as being a blessing to people. Enjoy the material below, it is great stuff, borrowed from the University of Missouri.
Superior Personnel. Not just talent, but personnel. As in, who you are using and where you are utilizing them. Yes, a team needs highly skilled (fast, strong, talented) players. However, it needs football players more than it does athletes. Putting players in the right spot for your offense/defense is what makes your personnel. Make sure it is maximized
Superior Condition. Both physical and mental conditioning are vital. Strength of mind often determines strength of body.
Superior Attitude. Players need to be taught how to focus and to develop their mental attitudes. Too many times I've been around people who could not re-focus once some unfortunate happened. Their mental attitude was poor, and it typicall led to more 'misfortune' as they were unable to overcome that small bit of adversity.
Superior Teaching. I call it teaching, rather than coaching, because I truly believe we are teaching our players football (much like a professor teaches his class about chemistry). Coaching, well, that is merely the name I give to it. The coaching staff that can teach their players the proper techniques to execute their schemes will have a distinct advantage. It is easy to talk football, and hard to apply. Teaching movements, blocking, tackling, etc. are the things that win. What you know has very little bearing on the game, it's what your players know and can execute.
Fewer Mistakes. If you properly take care of the first 4, then, by the nature of your teaching, conditioning, attitude, and personnel matchup, your team should make few mistakes. Elimination of missed assignments, penalties, missed blocks, and missed tackles is the real proof of your ability as a coach.
Sell Your System. Decide what offensive/defensive system you will use. Totally sell your team that your system is the best. Make believers of them and use "propaganda" whenever possible. Make sure to use the words "our program" as opposed to "my program" (and even "their program"). Using "our", "we", "us", etc. helps bring everyone together and show that we are all in the same boat together. Convince them you have a well thought out reason for everything you do and everything they are asked to do. They must believe that what you are asking them to do is for their ultimate good. Sell your program to the public as well. This includes student body, faculty, parents, boosters, news media, and the 'future' players (elementary & middle school). What they think of you and your program is highly important. Their opinion and the environment it creates affects your players. The more successful you are in handling the people in these areas, the more success you should enjoy. Likewise, you will have fewer headaches and problem.
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS-
THE OPERATION OF OUR PROGRAM
1. SELECT AND RECRUIT TALENTED PEOPLE
What do I look for in all the people and players in our program?
1. Dedicated & Loyal
2. Positive Attitude
3. No Excuses
4. Burning Desire to Achieve
5. Great Work Ethic
If the people don’t want to do it our way, I will work to change their behavior or eliminate them from our program.
ATTITUDE
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past…we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude…I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you…we are in charge of our attitudes.”
by Charles Swindoll
NO EXCUSES
Any excuse for non-performance, however valid, softens the character. It is a sedative against one’s own conscience. When a man uses an excuse, he attempts to convince both himself and others that unsatisfactory performance is somehow acceptable. He is – perhaps unconsciously – attempting to divert attention from performance; the only thing that counts is his own want for sympathy. The user is dishonest with himself as well as with others. No matter how good or how valid, the excuse never changes performance.
The world measures success in terms of performance alone. No man is remembered in history for what he would have accomplished. History never asks how hard it was to do the job, nor considers the obstacles that had to be overcome. It counts only one thing – performance. No man ever performed a worthwhile task without consciously ignoring many a plausible excuse.
To use an excuse is a habit. We cannot have both the performance habit and the excuse habit. We all have a supply of excuses. The more we use them the lower become our standards, the poorer our performance. The better we perform, the less plausible our excuses become.
Next time you want to defend your sub-par performance, say instead (at least to yourself):
No Excuses!
Notice the startling effect this will have on your own self-respect. You will have recognized your failure. You will have been honest with yourself. You will be one step closer to the performance habit. You will be a better man for it. “We will be a better team!”
CREATE A TEAM ATMOSPHERE
LAWS OF TEAMWORK
These laws are necessary to understand and develop teamwork within your organization.
John C. Maxwell
LAW OF THE BIG PICTURE
Everybody on the team must contribute to winning. Everything starts with a vision – You have to have a goal. Winning teams have players who put the good of the team ahead of themselves. They want to play in their areas of strength, but they’re willing to do what it takes to take care of the team. They are willing to sacrifice their role for the greater goal. If the vision for achieving the big picture is embraced by everyone in the group, then those people have the potential to become an effective team.
LAW OF THE CHAIN
Winning Attitude – you have total control of your attitude. Be positive and be enthusiastic.
Team Matters More Than The Individual – No one player is more important than the team. As much as any team likes to measure itself by its best people, the truth is that the strength of the team is impacted by its weakest link. Allow for differences in lifestyles. Everyone on the team must take the journey – put aside all personal agendas and attitudes – everyone must be on the same mission.
LAW OF THE BAD APPLE
Attitude – To win at a consistent level it takes talented people with the right attitude. Good attitudes among players do not guarantee a team’s success, but bad attitudes guarantee its failure. The winner’s edge is in the attitude. Attitudes have the power to lift up or tear down a team; there are plenty of talented teams out there who never amount to anything because of the attitudes of their players. This is always true – bad attitudes are the result of selfishness. Get out of yourself and into the TEAM!
LAW OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Accountability – Teammates must be able to count on each other at all times.
Character + Competence + Commitment + Consistency + Cohesion = Accountability
When all team members embrace each of those five qualities, within themselves and with one another, they can achieve the accountability necessary for a team to succeed. Accountability begins with character because it is based on trust, which is the foundation for all interaction with people. If you want your teammates to have confidence in you, where they know they can count on you day in and day out, then you must be consistent. NO EXCUSES!
The strength of a TEAM lies in its trust among teammates. You need to know for certain that you can count on your teammates and they need to know that they can count on you!
LAW OF THE PRICE TAG
Pay The Price – Every team member must pay a price. There is no substitute for work. It is the price of success! There are no victories at bargain prices, if you want to reach your potential, you can never let up. To improve, change, or keep winning, as a group the team must pay a price, and so must the individuals on it. There is a cost of being part of a winning team Sacrifice, Time Commitment, Personal Development, Unselfishness, and Open Communication between players and coaches.
LAW OF THE PLAYMAKER (Catalyst)
Always compete – It takes no skill, speed, strength or ability to be a 6-second competitor. A 6-second competitor is an attitude and a habit! Not every man can start or make All-American, but everyone can compete 100% of the time. Develop great work habits. Practice and play as fast as you can. All the time! We need a locker room of 6-second competitors. Focus on your work ethic, not others – all you control is the commitment that you are making.
Make things happen – Winning teams have players who make things happen, that is why a team that reaches its potential always possesses playmakers! Every team needs playmakers if it wants to win consistently. Playmakers have these common characteristics: Communicative, Passionate, Talented, Responsible, Generous, Committed, Accountable and Influential.
KNOW YOUR STAFF & PLAYERS SHOW YOU CARE
DON’T EXPECT YOUR PLAYERS TO PASSIONATELY CARE ABOUT
OUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM IF YOU DON’T PASSIONATELY CARE
ABOUT THEM AS PEOPLE.
Coaches Job:
It is the coaches’ job to hold the athlete accountable to do everything necessary for the athlete to be a success. It is also the coaches’ job to love his players.
Athletes Responsibility:
To do what is right. Doing what is right is means practicing the following definition of Discipline.
OUR FOOTBALL TEAM BOTTOM LINE
1. BE ENTHUSIASTIC
2. BE A 6-SECOND COMPETITOR
3. KNOW YOUR ASSIGNMENT
4. PLAY TOUGH & PHYSICAL
1 PLAY AT A TIME
All your energy, focus and concentration on that 1 play. After it’s over, you have 100% focus on the next play.
COACHING AND TEACHING RESPONSIBILITY AND PHILOSOPHY
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
1. Let Your Players Know That You Care About Them! Trust Is Earned, Not Guaranteed
Communication is the most important thing between you and your players.
Developing a great relationship is vital for our team success.
2. Lead By Example. Be A Good Role Model To Your Players
Honest = Respect = Loyalty.
If you’re not 100% honest, you will have no credibility.
3. You Must Get Your Position To Believe That You Are The Best Coach And Teacher In The League. If The Players Don’t Believe, We Won’t Win
4. We Must Be Great Teachers
What you see on video is what you have coached. You are a teacher! Your teaching is evaluated by your player’s performance. Professors can have A, B, C, D, F students. We must have all A’s.
Keep things simple. Don’t over coach. Find the best way to teach. Teach fundamentals. Our goal is that each player masters the fundamentals at his position.
5. We Know What Must Be Taught – Staff Growth. Improve Schemes, But Have A Philosophy And Sell It To The Players
6. Utilize Teaching Aids
Change up procedure of meetings
Must use teaching aids
Video Breakdown (find a way to use it).
Marking Boards – accuracy of diagrams is critical – 75% of learning is
visual.
Practice and Scrimmage Video
Training Video
11. Must Be Consistent.
◊ All players must be team players and abide by the Team Covenant.
◊ We must have consistency in everything.
◊ Praise and criticize – all players. Players will notice any inconsistency in your player interaction. ◊ Coach toughness - Coach toughness - Coach toughness
◊ Coach 100% effort every play. Every Play Every Day! - Play Hard
◊ Players must be on time for every scheduled meeting or practice
◊ Attention to detail.
◊ Demand players to compete in everything they do.(6-second competitor)
12. Hard Workers On Field - Coaching
* Coach every play! Coach every play! Coach every play!
* Don’t stand in one spot. (Hands in pockets, arms folded not permitted in our program.)
* Get to where the action is.
* If coach stands around, so will players.
* No clinics on field. That’s why we meet and have walk-thru.
* Coach will run drill to drill just like the players.
* Players must run on the field - never walk.
* Players don’t lay on the ground. Players don’t put hands on knees.
* Demand enthusiasm, intensity and knowing assignment and playing tough and physical. BOTTOM LINE!
* Don’t be a screamer! Raise your voice when needed to change behavior!
Football Staff Office Hours
The basic rule is to work long enough, to get the job done. Should not get caught up in busy work, coaches need time to themselves during the season and off-season. A coach needs to be flexible, but understand that this is not an 8 to 5 job, but a profession. Do what it takes to get the job down; don’t shortchange the other coaches and or our players.
TEACHING PLAYERS TO COMPETE!
In every occupation it is visibly possible to see effort, but is it productive effort! Competition in an athlete comes from an inner feeling, a willingness to allow oneself to extend his or her body beyond mental desire.
So many athletes start out well, but don’t finish strong. Many of these athletes think they work hard. However, those that don’t finish strong are not competitive.
Once again the athlete who is consistent in effort is the most valuable type of player. The athlete that makes his body perform against all odds and against all levels of resistance is a competitor.
Throughout this total competitive effort, you see a burning desire without hesitation to get the job done. Look to see if a player is taking the easy way out of work. Is he avoiding physical contact by taking the long way around the play or deliberately arriving late at the point of attack.
Remember, initial effort counts, but finishing the play strong is sign of a good competitor.
While evaluating your player on the field, you must constantly critique him as a competitor! Is he a 3-second, 4-second, or 5-second competitor. We are looking for a “6-second competitor”.
You can coach and teach a player to be a great competitor.
PLAN TO WIN!
We have a very clear OBJECTIVE that all decisions involving this program are made. Win in the classroom and win on the field.
PLAN TO WIN – Time tested and infallible
1. Take Care of the Football – Win the turnover margin
2. Great Special Forces – Win the kicking game
3. We doesn’t beat ourselves – Elimination of mental errors/fewest penalties
4. Finish – Win the 4th Quarter
Know the Difference Between Winning and Losing
THE OPERATION OF OUR PROGRAM
1. SELECT AND RECRUIT TALENTED PEOPLE
What do I look for in all the people and players in our program?
1. Dedicated & Loyal
2. Positive Attitude
3. No Excuses
4. Burning Desire to Achieve
5. Great Work Ethic
If the people don’t want to do it our way, I will work to change their behavior or eliminate them from our program.
ATTITUDE
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past…we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude…I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you…we are in charge of our attitudes.”
by Charles Swindoll
NO EXCUSES
Any excuse for non-performance, however valid, softens the character. It is a sedative against one’s own conscience. When a man uses an excuse, he attempts to convince both himself and others that unsatisfactory performance is somehow acceptable. He is – perhaps unconsciously – attempting to divert attention from performance; the only thing that counts is his own want for sympathy. The user is dishonest with himself as well as with others. No matter how good or how valid, the excuse never changes performance.
The world measures success in terms of performance alone. No man is remembered in history for what he would have accomplished. History never asks how hard it was to do the job, nor considers the obstacles that had to be overcome. It counts only one thing – performance. No man ever performed a worthwhile task without consciously ignoring many a plausible excuse.
To use an excuse is a habit. We cannot have both the performance habit and the excuse habit. We all have a supply of excuses. The more we use them the lower become our standards, the poorer our performance. The better we perform, the less plausible our excuses become.
Next time you want to defend your sub-par performance, say instead (at least to yourself):
No Excuses!
Notice the startling effect this will have on your own self-respect. You will have recognized your failure. You will have been honest with yourself. You will be one step closer to the performance habit. You will be a better man for it. “We will be a better team!”
CREATE A TEAM ATMOSPHERE
LAWS OF TEAMWORK
These laws are necessary to understand and develop teamwork within your organization.
John C. Maxwell
LAW OF THE BIG PICTURE
Everybody on the team must contribute to winning. Everything starts with a vision – You have to have a goal. Winning teams have players who put the good of the team ahead of themselves. They want to play in their areas of strength, but they’re willing to do what it takes to take care of the team. They are willing to sacrifice their role for the greater goal. If the vision for achieving the big picture is embraced by everyone in the group, then those people have the potential to become an effective team.
LAW OF THE CHAIN
Winning Attitude – you have total control of your attitude. Be positive and be enthusiastic.
Team Matters More Than The Individual – No one player is more important than the team. As much as any team likes to measure itself by its best people, the truth is that the strength of the team is impacted by its weakest link. Allow for differences in lifestyles. Everyone on the team must take the journey – put aside all personal agendas and attitudes – everyone must be on the same mission.
LAW OF THE BAD APPLE
Attitude – To win at a consistent level it takes talented people with the right attitude. Good attitudes among players do not guarantee a team’s success, but bad attitudes guarantee its failure. The winner’s edge is in the attitude. Attitudes have the power to lift up or tear down a team; there are plenty of talented teams out there who never amount to anything because of the attitudes of their players. This is always true – bad attitudes are the result of selfishness. Get out of yourself and into the TEAM!
LAW OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Accountability – Teammates must be able to count on each other at all times.
Character + Competence + Commitment + Consistency + Cohesion = Accountability
When all team members embrace each of those five qualities, within themselves and with one another, they can achieve the accountability necessary for a team to succeed. Accountability begins with character because it is based on trust, which is the foundation for all interaction with people. If you want your teammates to have confidence in you, where they know they can count on you day in and day out, then you must be consistent. NO EXCUSES!
The strength of a TEAM lies in its trust among teammates. You need to know for certain that you can count on your teammates and they need to know that they can count on you!
LAW OF THE PRICE TAG
Pay The Price – Every team member must pay a price. There is no substitute for work. It is the price of success! There are no victories at bargain prices, if you want to reach your potential, you can never let up. To improve, change, or keep winning, as a group the team must pay a price, and so must the individuals on it. There is a cost of being part of a winning team Sacrifice, Time Commitment, Personal Development, Unselfishness, and Open Communication between players and coaches.
LAW OF THE PLAYMAKER (Catalyst)
Always compete – It takes no skill, speed, strength or ability to be a 6-second competitor. A 6-second competitor is an attitude and a habit! Not every man can start or make All-American, but everyone can compete 100% of the time. Develop great work habits. Practice and play as fast as you can. All the time! We need a locker room of 6-second competitors. Focus on your work ethic, not others – all you control is the commitment that you are making.
Make things happen – Winning teams have players who make things happen, that is why a team that reaches its potential always possesses playmakers! Every team needs playmakers if it wants to win consistently. Playmakers have these common characteristics: Communicative, Passionate, Talented, Responsible, Generous, Committed, Accountable and Influential.
KNOW YOUR STAFF & PLAYERS SHOW YOU CARE
DON’T EXPECT YOUR PLAYERS TO PASSIONATELY CARE ABOUT
OUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM IF YOU DON’T PASSIONATELY CARE
ABOUT THEM AS PEOPLE.
Coaches Job:
It is the coaches’ job to hold the athlete accountable to do everything necessary for the athlete to be a success. It is also the coaches’ job to love his players.
Athletes Responsibility:
To do what is right. Doing what is right is means practicing the following definition of Discipline.
OUR FOOTBALL TEAM BOTTOM LINE
1. BE ENTHUSIASTIC
2. BE A 6-SECOND COMPETITOR
3. KNOW YOUR ASSIGNMENT
4. PLAY TOUGH & PHYSICAL
1 PLAY AT A TIME
All your energy, focus and concentration on that 1 play. After it’s over, you have 100% focus on the next play.
COACHING AND TEACHING RESPONSIBILITY AND PHILOSOPHY
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
1. Let Your Players Know That You Care About Them! Trust Is Earned, Not Guaranteed
Communication is the most important thing between you and your players.
Developing a great relationship is vital for our team success.
2. Lead By Example. Be A Good Role Model To Your Players
Honest = Respect = Loyalty.
If you’re not 100% honest, you will have no credibility.
3. You Must Get Your Position To Believe That You Are The Best Coach And Teacher In The League. If The Players Don’t Believe, We Won’t Win
4. We Must Be Great Teachers
What you see on video is what you have coached. You are a teacher! Your teaching is evaluated by your player’s performance. Professors can have A, B, C, D, F students. We must have all A’s.
Keep things simple. Don’t over coach. Find the best way to teach. Teach fundamentals. Our goal is that each player masters the fundamentals at his position.
5. We Know What Must Be Taught – Staff Growth. Improve Schemes, But Have A Philosophy And Sell It To The Players
6. Utilize Teaching Aids
Change up procedure of meetings
Must use teaching aids
Video Breakdown (find a way to use it).
Marking Boards – accuracy of diagrams is critical – 75% of learning is
visual.
Practice and Scrimmage Video
Training Video
11. Must Be Consistent.
◊ All players must be team players and abide by the Team Covenant.
◊ We must have consistency in everything.
◊ Praise and criticize – all players. Players will notice any inconsistency in your player interaction. ◊ Coach toughness - Coach toughness - Coach toughness
◊ Coach 100% effort every play. Every Play Every Day! - Play Hard
◊ Players must be on time for every scheduled meeting or practice
◊ Attention to detail.
◊ Demand players to compete in everything they do.(6-second competitor)
12. Hard Workers On Field - Coaching
* Coach every play! Coach every play! Coach every play!
* Don’t stand in one spot. (Hands in pockets, arms folded not permitted in our program.)
* Get to where the action is.
* If coach stands around, so will players.
* No clinics on field. That’s why we meet and have walk-thru.
* Coach will run drill to drill just like the players.
* Players must run on the field - never walk.
* Players don’t lay on the ground. Players don’t put hands on knees.
* Demand enthusiasm, intensity and knowing assignment and playing tough and physical. BOTTOM LINE!
* Don’t be a screamer! Raise your voice when needed to change behavior!
Football Staff Office Hours
The basic rule is to work long enough, to get the job done. Should not get caught up in busy work, coaches need time to themselves during the season and off-season. A coach needs to be flexible, but understand that this is not an 8 to 5 job, but a profession. Do what it takes to get the job down; don’t shortchange the other coaches and or our players.
TEACHING PLAYERS TO COMPETE!
In every occupation it is visibly possible to see effort, but is it productive effort! Competition in an athlete comes from an inner feeling, a willingness to allow oneself to extend his or her body beyond mental desire.
So many athletes start out well, but don’t finish strong. Many of these athletes think they work hard. However, those that don’t finish strong are not competitive.
Once again the athlete who is consistent in effort is the most valuable type of player. The athlete that makes his body perform against all odds and against all levels of resistance is a competitor.
Throughout this total competitive effort, you see a burning desire without hesitation to get the job done. Look to see if a player is taking the easy way out of work. Is he avoiding physical contact by taking the long way around the play or deliberately arriving late at the point of attack.
Remember, initial effort counts, but finishing the play strong is sign of a good competitor.
While evaluating your player on the field, you must constantly critique him as a competitor! Is he a 3-second, 4-second, or 5-second competitor. We are looking for a “6-second competitor”.
You can coach and teach a player to be a great competitor.
PLAN TO WIN!
We have a very clear OBJECTIVE that all decisions involving this program are made. Win in the classroom and win on the field.
PLAN TO WIN – Time tested and infallible
1. Take Care of the Football – Win the turnover margin
2. Great Special Forces – Win the kicking game
3. We doesn’t beat ourselves – Elimination of mental errors/fewest penalties
4. Finish – Win the 4th Quarter
Know the Difference Between Winning and Losing
You win with:
Superior Personnel. Not just talent, but personnel. As in, who you are using and where you are utilizing them. Yes, a team needs highly skilled (fast, strong, talented) players. However, it needs football players more than it does athletes. Putting players in the right spot for your offense/defense is what makes your personnel. Make sure it is maximized
Superior Condition. Both physical and mental conditioning are vital. Strength of mind often determines strength of body.
Superior Attitude. Players need to be taught how to focus and to develop their mental attitudes. Too many times I've been around people who could not re-focus once some unfortunate happened. Their mental attitude was poor, and it typicall led to more 'misfortune' as they were unable to overcome that small bit of adversity.
Superior Teaching. I call it teaching, rather than coaching, because I truly believe we are teaching our players football (much like a professor teaches his class about chemistry). Coaching, well, that is merely the name I give to it. The coaching staff that can teach their players the proper techniques to execute their schemes will have a distinct advantage. It is easy to talk football, and hard to apply. Teaching movements, blocking, tackling, etc. are the things that win. What you know has very little bearing on the game, it's what your players know and can execute.
Fewer Mistakes. If you properly take care of the first 4, then, by the nature of your teaching, conditioning, attitude, and personnel matchup, your team should make few mistakes. Elimination of missed assignments, penalties, missed blocks, and missed tackles is the real proof of your ability as a coach.
Sell Your System. Decide what offensive/defensive system you will use. Totally sell your team that your system is the best. Make believers of them and use "propaganda" whenever possible. Make sure to use the words "our program" as opposed to "my program" (and even "their program"). Using "our", "we", "us", etc. helps bring everyone together and show that we are all in the same boat together. Convince them you have a well thought out reason for everything you do and everything they are asked to do. They must believe that what you are asking them to do is for their ultimate good. Sell your program to the public as well. This includes student body, faculty, parents, boosters, news media, and the 'future' players (elementary & middle school). What they think of you and your program is highly important. Their opinion and the environment it creates affects your players. The more successful you are in handling the people in these areas, the more success you should enjoy. Likewise, you will have fewer headaches and problem.
You Must Have Discipline Instill in each player at the very beginning what you expect of them in regards to: practice, equipment, locker room, dress, school work, training guidelines, relationship with teachers, coaches, teammates. Get rid of those who can't follow the rules. It's usually ok to have one jackass, but not 2, because they'll breed. You won't win with jokers and without discipline on the team, you have nothing. Be firm and fair. Teach and stress character, accountability, and self-discipline.
Be For the Players Do something extra for your players. Let them see you "going to battle" for them. They must see you throughout the year. Attend other sporting events. Be visible. If a player is convinced of your extra efforts for them, then he is more likely to give extra effort of his own. Be sincerely interested in them outside of football. Take pride in their achievements, both athletic and otherwise. Show interest in every player on the team. Remember, each one goes home and talks to their parents about their coach.
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