The 5th Down

© More from this issue

          
American Football Monthly crosses into new territory with the beginning of a new cutting edge feature – THE 5TH DOWN. So much of the game of football happens outside the playing lines whether it be preparation, motivation, off-season training, analyzing your future opponent, dealing with an over-obtrusive administration or handling sensitive issues with your team members, such as playing time. It’s a new department and a new opportunity to share ideas, anecdotes and stories relative to your program. The first topic for THE 5th DOWN is finding ways to sell the ‘me’ player on the ‘team’ concept. Here are some responses we received on the subject:

---

From Kevin Atkinson
Head Coach • Keller High School, TX

“This is Indian Law #4 here for the Keller Indians. The off-season is where you build this within your team. I want our kids to not think “I’m getting stronger... I’m getting faster to help me become a better football player”... I want them thinking “I’m getting stronger and faster so I can help my team better”... in today's world that is a challenge and if you wait until August you will be too late.

We preach everyday that if you help your teammates get what they want... then in the end you will receive what you want plus more; i.e., If I am a Offensive Linemen... I want to help our RB reach a thousand yards rushing... that not only helps the RB receive great accolades. But will help you become noticed as well.”

From Paul Engen
Assistant Coach • Appleton North High School, WI

“I just finished my 43rd year of coaching. Forty two (42) years as a high school coach and one year coaching as a graduate assistant. Presently, I am coaching at Appleton North High School in Appleton, WI. Appleton North is a Division I school with an enrollment of 1,740 in grades 9-12. The Appleton North Football Program works on building the “We” concept by placing the following demands on the players and coaches:

1. The words ‘Please, Excuse Me, and Thank You’ are a requirement placed on every player and coach in our program during the school day, at practice and meetings. These are the basic rules we have for the entire program. I am not a big believer in having many rules. But the rules we have, I am willing to go to war over. I don’t want to waste valuable time enforcing a rule just to win a battle. We want to win the war.

2. Every coach is to address the athlete by their first name. If you choose not to use their first name, then coaches are expected to add the ‘Mister’ in front of their last name. Placing a Mister in front of their names usually means the coach is not happy with their performance or attitude.

3. Negative language is never allowed by players or coaches.

4. We have stadium clean-up after all home games and money earned from this project is used to adopt a North family at the holiday season.

5. We have a community service project at the Appleton City Octoberfest. We clean the garbage cans during the day starting at 10:00 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m. We receive a donation from the Appleton Chamber of Commerce; all money is donated to the local Salvation Army for their Adopt-a-Family program during the holiday season. All members of the team (grades 9-12) and all coaches are expected to help with this project. This past year, a number of the parents volunteered to help.

6. Finally, a quote by John Ruskin appears on all correspondence sent to the athlete and the parents. “The greatest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, rather what they become by it.”

---

We want to hear from you….next month’s topic for THE 5TH DOWN is playing time. How do you deal with it? What anecdotes do you have? What’s the best and fairest way to deal with this subject? Send your anecdotes, ideas, and reflections to AFM’s Managing Editor Rex Lardner: rlardner@lcclark.com.

NEW BOOK!

Digital Download - 304 Pages of Football Forms for the Winning Coach