Each pre-season I hold a few important meetings with my assistant coaches. It is imperative that all coaches are on the same page once the season starts. I am the Head Coach & Offensive Coordinator of my team and here are the topics I cover during my coaching meetings. We usually have three meetings before the season starts.
Meetings Topics
- Installing the Offense and Issuing Playbook. Each coach will receive the offensive playbook. Each position coach will meet with me. We will talk about key coaching points, offensive philosophies, and playbook vocabulary. I will develop the individual position practice schedule and go over it with each position coach.
- Install Philosophies and Goals for the Season. We will talk about what our keys to victory are and what we want our team’s overall identity to be. We will discuss our team’s philosophy and what is expected from the players and the coaches. We do not really talk too much about our general goal which is to win the league championship-we will talk about our daily goals more so. Before each practice we will set a goal, which is to “get better today“. After practice we want to be able to say we improved as a team, we worked hard, we improved as football players both physically and mentally, and most importantly we want to say we handled ourselves with class and great character today. Youth Football is not all about the X’s & O’s or Wins/Losses, it is about the positive development of children.
- Practice Schedule and Operation. I will summit a practice script for the first day of practice. The first day of practice is all about setting the tone and introducing how practices will be operated on a daily basis. I will make an overall practice blueprint and give them to the coaches. I will make practice plans for each practice. The general structure and pace of practice stays the same each day, but may change slightly day to day depending on what we need to commit more time to. Example, if I feel we need to improve more on our run blocking, we will commit more time to it in practice. It is important that all coaches know what they are required to do so that practices are flowing smoothly and are productive. A good coaching staff is organized and operates practices safely and effectively. Remember, championships are won in practice.
- Defense. Each coach will be given a defensive playbook. Each position coach will meet with my defensive coordinator and discuss key coaching points, defensive philosophies, and playbook vocabulary. The DC will develop the individual position practice schedule and go over them with each position coach.
- Special Teams. All the coaches will receive a special team playbook from my special teams coordinator. We will go over our ST philosophy and the implementation of our entire kicking game. We practice special teams mainly as a team, which means no individual position work. We will have the kickers, long snappers, and holders practice before practice starts- otherwise we practice specials teams as a team.
- Safety. I will make sure all my coaches understand Pop Warner’s new national rule changes, regarding practices. We will go over all contact drills and how we will operate them safely. As a coaching staff we will operate all football drills and conditioning drills safely. We will be informed and prepared for anything.
Good Luck!
