Coaching Football's "Little Things"

One of our Associate pastors presented the message this past Sunday. It has been resonating in my head since I heard it. It sounded so much like some things that I’ve heard Nick Saban say that I decided to dig a little deeper.

I guess most of you have heard about Saban’s process. He credits it, the Process, as being the KEY to his team’s success over the years. (I think getting some assistant coaches who will stay for a few years might help too!) Anyway….

What our pastor said that really stood out to me was: “Instead of setting goals for things that we want to accomplish, set goals to embody the character traits of WHO you want to be.” Let me “splain…”

Everybody makes New Year’s Resolutions. For example, “I want to read 12 books this coming year— 1 a month.” Or “I want to lose 20 pounds this coming year— 2 pounds a month.” Sounds good, right?

Well, how about changing those “things” goals to “character” goals? Instead, set a goal to become a “full-time reader.” Or… “I want to be a healthy, active adult.” I’ve heard it said that “Leaders are readers!” I’ve challenged those of you who follow this blog to become “Students of the Game.” How do you accomplish this “character” goal? One of the best ways is to read! And, secondly, what does it take for you to become a “healthy, active adult?” You know!!!

Let’s focus squarely on football for a minute. How many of us have set a “thing” goal of: “We want to win a state or conference or city championship?” That’s great until the chance to accomplish that goal goes out the window during the season! Now what do you do? How do you motivate the players after that??!! There’s nothing to work for; you’ve already missed your “thing” goal for the season!!!

Shift your focus. Get everyone’s mind on the process and not the outcome. Change that goal to: “We want to be a Champion in everything we do!” How do you accomplish THAT???

It does not involve just winning football games. It is a process of developing “winning attitudes and behaviors.” There’s not enough time nor space to write about those attributes here. Suffice it to say that… IF you sit down with your staff (and then with your Seniors/Leaders) and discuss: “What does a “champion” look like?” and… “What does it take to BE a “champion?” You will get some great discussion going!

Please write me and let me know what you discover. Or… if you want to explore it further. Happy New Year!!!

Remember a few years ago when the “Smart People” said that “So and So’s QB is just a System player. He’ll never succeed in the NFL!” Wrong! They were mocking the Mike Leach’s; Lincoln Riley’s and Urban Meyer’s of the college football landscape.

NOW… everyone is saying: “HAVE a ‘System.” I’ve been saying that on here for years. I’m a Wing T guy— always have been; always will be. Tubby Raymond (who kinda “invented” this offense) called it a System of Offense since its founding.

I see unsuccessful coaches who flounder because they DON’T have a system. They keep looking for answers. When something doesn’t work in a week or so, they give up and move on to the next “best” thing.

A note of interest: 2 of the 6 state champions in Virginia football this year run the Split-back Veer as their base offense!!! Reallllllllly???!!! Don’t those coaches know that the Split-back Veer went out of style back in the 70’s??? I guess not. The coach, whom I know well, who won our Division 4 state championship with the Split-back Veer doesn’t give a flip that he runs an “antique”/out of date offense. It works. He knows it. His staff knows it. His players know it and… they believe in it. Their school has been running it since (yep!) the 70’s!! And they were young this year. They’ll probably win the state in their division again next year! And… I bet he won’t change offenses!!!

Find an offense AND defense that fit your program. Study it! Learn it! Teach it! But… most importantly: STICK WITH IT!!!