As a first year head high school coach, you may be swamped right now with school and practices about to start. However, this is when organization can keep you afloat.
Every year before your season starts, you need to begin planning down to the smallest detail what needs to be covered. As a head coach, you realize the X’s & O’s are not what you spend your time on. Scheme is important, but only in terms of how well you know it and how well you teach it. The bigger issue becomes your organization. In my first job, I did not delegate. I hired a bunch of guys I did not know very well and, therefore, did not leave anything up to chance. I quickly learned that not delegating means you become swamped and, as a result, do a lot of things but never as well as you should. So first, hire a staff that you trust. I like having a mix of young guys who are fired up drawing on napkins and always scheming and veterans who know the drill. That is, how to get things done, etc. I also try to hire people based off of personal recommendations. I like to hear from a fellow coach I respect, saying “you need to hire this guy”. You will have a lot of people approaching you. My advice is to make sure you vet them completely and try to work with guys in which you have a connection.
Once you have that staff in place, begin planning. We have our workout schedules done by January, purchasing done in March, last hires done by April, practice schedules done in May, our install done in June &. Equipment distribution lists are done in July. In addition, every detail is mapped out. We have three parent meetings – one in January about workouts/ recruiting/ academics; one in May regarding summer workouts/ required paperwork/ camps, & and one in August about the upcoming season/ fundraising. We meet as a staff three times as well. We try to lay the ground work in January then come together assessing progress and adjusting target goals. We recently had our final meeting as a staff on Saturday to review roles and overall organization for the season.
At our pre-season staff meeting, each coach is handed an agenda, calendar, schedule, responsibilities sheet, playbook, install schedule, practice schedules, scripts & and assignment sheet. We do this so there is no confusion as to what is to be done throughout the course of the season and when it is to be done. We review each item as a staff. That way, if there are any questions, they get addressed right away.
Following the meeting with the head coach, the coordinators break off with their position coaches to review scheme & and install. That is the fun part. I try to float between the two rooms so I know what is going on with each side of the ball. We finish the meeting as a staff and I review special teams. As the head coach, I take on that role and make sure everyone knows what we are doing related to special teams.
Finally, we wrap up with a review of items discussed and a Q & and A session. Before leaving, I let everyone know the date of our coaches BBQ. We do it at the end of training camp. It is a good release from the grind of training camp.2014-2015 Meade Mustangs Football Calendar Pre Season Meeting Agenda