By Tim Tobin, High School, College
and International Coach
1. Long Term
All of the clubs that I have worked with or spoke to that are now successful have strong youth programs which have developed the skills of their players and coaches by progressing them through the club’s programs. Starting with flag football and then advancing to youth contact and then to the senior program. Both the players and the coaches are able to become deeply acquainted with the style of play and do not have to adjust their knowledge to different systems or schemes.
2. Consistent Times
This should go without saying. However, having specific and consistent days and times for practice is vital for a team’s success. Based on my experience in Europe, two to three days a week around seven p.m. is the best schedule. Pick the days and times that cater to the majority of your players.
3. Education
Coaches at successful programs have a desire to get better. There are a myriad of ways to do this. Some which I have found and saw to be the most useful are coaching clinics with qualified instructors. Of course the best way to learn would be to go directly to the heart of football knowledge – an American university or successful high school (who are always open to teaching European coaches). However, this only can help one coach on his own dime. A fantastic alternative is an import coach who can teach an entire staff. My opinion is to bring in a successful retired high school coach who wants to see the world with his wife. Like my friend Daniel Weller who coached in Austria.
4. Recruiting
Getting players to replace the retiring older players is massive. Recruiting young kids to play at the lowest level is why successful teams stay on top. Something less understood internationally is how the game changes lives for the better, physically, mentally and socially. Football gives opportunities to young men that might be too big, slow or not athletic enough. With these young men football is their opportunity to compete and grow as a athlete. The coaches need to stress this to the kids and to the parents if they intend to be able to get interested in the game and to attract those who can be built into the players of tomorrow. Coaches and players also need go to schools, walk the hall ways and invite kids to come out and see what it is like. Have a young coach adopt each one of these new players that comes and visits and have that coach teach and take care of him. This will help with the retention of the new visitors. Constant advertising, news stories, publicity and even word of mouth still helps to this day. Two successful coaches who are close friends of mine and helped with this article started football due to an advertising clipping with a phone number to call. The calls Giovanni Manca and Jochen Kern made changed their lives and helped the sport in Germany and Italy.
5. Numbers
Without large and consistent numbers at practice, a club will not get better. Having non player coaches for each position group will keep the numbers at practice relatively high. Coaches cannot just be friends with players and must hand out consequences for no excuse no shows. For example, restricting playing time is the best way to deal with no excuse no shows. Numbers bring competition, competition brings energy, and energy brings effort. To make the numbers higher one idea is have the youth players practice with the senior team. It’s good for both teams if you run the same techniques and schemes.
6.Technique
Technique is the measure for success. In all my years of coaching I have never seen scheme beat technique when the team’s athleticism is equal. When working with players, you are building habits, good or bad. This means if you are teaching the players the right techniques, the movements eventually flow and the players become more confident. Techniques in blocking, tackling, catching, and passing have not changed in decades and should be taught everyday and at all levels, especially at the lower levels.
An old coaching saying is “Jimmy and Joe.” Let’s say Jimmy is the less athletic player and Joe is the stud. Technique will make the Jimmy a Joe. Joe with proper coaching will become a player to remember.
7.Stress Defense & Special Teams
Stress special teams while keeping the scheme simple. Work regularly on this phase of the game. Work two special teams at practice. The two most important plays for winning are Punt and Kickoff because of the importance of field position. Make sure starters are on these teams, and don’t allow them to take themselves off because they say they are tired. Keep preaching to the players that this part of the game is as important as offense and defense. During practice and on game day appoint a coach to be in charge of the Special Teams and depth chart. He needs to keep it updated daily. Younger players can become mature by playing on the return special teams. Defense should be stressed. If the opposing team can’t score, you at least have a tie. Special teams and defense work hand to hand.
8. KSS (Keep Schemes Simple)
Some coaches think the more complex fronts, plays, scheme and coverages are, the better the team. Quite a few teams do not even run proper man technique while attempting to teach complicated schemes from a college or an NFL playbook.. Another friend from Australia, Craig Wilson, had me come out to Perth, Australia to teach proper technique to the whole league of the state of Western Australia in 2011.
9.Off Season Training Off season is when players want to strengthen their weaknesses and improve on their strengths. Players need to take the off season as serious as the season. Another reason is that off season strength training keeps injuries down. Off season training ideas include – Yoga, Isometrics, Core Training, Nutrition Education, Power and Weight Training with football specific conditioning. A good way to do that is work technique integrated with your conditioning. My assistant in the Tusculum Weight room in 2014, Joshua Ross, now plays and coaches in Poland. He stresses the off season program to his Polish players.
10.Get References When bringing in imports, bring in a head coach first. That puts all the coaches and players on the same page. Therefore, he or she can serve as the person that the team looks at for direction. When looking into players in America and Canada, get players that can coach and play. I look for players that played on special teams and a couple of positions on the field. For example, a receiver and quarterback, or running back and defensive back would work well. Some coaches like a linebacker and fullback combination. Get those references from their coaches before flying them in. It is also just better to have the head coach bring in the imports.
About the Author:
Coach Tim Tobin has 9 years of high school and 14 years of collegiate coaching experience in the United Statesas well as 5 years overseas. He has coached on 4 nationally ranked college teams. Through his career he has coached 4 players to the NFL, 5 All Americans, and was the Samson Equipment Division II Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in 2011.