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AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Evaluation: The One Constant

by: Jonathan Smith
Quarterbacks Coach, University of Idaho
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As coaches, we've all heard these terms...

Coachability
Ability to Learn
Willingness to Learn
Ability to Trust
Willingness to Trust

Leadership / Good Teammate
Team before Self
Responsibility
Help Others

Competitive
Play their best
Seek Challenge
Instinctive Ability
Toughness
Athleticism

Explosiveness
Explosive Fashion @ POA
Explosive Fashion in open field
Ability to Bend
Athletic Position

Change of Direction
Re-Direct without wasted movement
Balance
Never move in wrong direction

Ball Skills / Handwork
Synchronized Hands & Feet
Hands in appropriate fashion
Hand-Eye Coordination

This article is an attempt to identify some guidelines that may be employed when evaluating football players. Schemes are cyclical---they have come and gone for years. One of the few constants in our business is the search for, and the subsequent development of, quality players. I have strived to identify some characteristics of superior players that can be applied to all positions. Players that possess these qualities and programs that nurture these characteristics will have the greatest opportunity for success over time.

Coachability is a vital characteristic that a player must possess if they are to reach their full potential. Will the player be receptive to learning new concepts that he might feel that he has already mastered? Further, will the athlete be willing to learn concepts that he initially fails to grasp the significance of? All players must possess the following four characteristics if they are to be considered as coachable:

1) The Ability to Learn. Players are constantly asked to learn new techniques and strategies early in a week, and to execute them at a high level on the weekend. There is not a lot of time for players to get multiple repetitions during the week, so there ability to comprehend ideas quickly is vital.

2) The Willingness to Learn: Too many of the most talented players have experienced success early in their careers---success based primarily upon their natural ability. Consequently, they lapse into thinking that they will always be successful doing things their own way. A coachable player will be eager to learn, and in constant pursuit of improvement. The passionate desire to learn and improve is the primary characteristics of a coachable player.

3) The Ability to be Trusted: Trust is a two way street. For the athlete to be coachable, he must trust the ability and knowledge of the coach. Athletes who are found to be trustworthy are more likely to offer this type of trust to the coach. Therefore, when evaluating the coachability of a prospective athlete, consider his level of trustworthiness in his current environment. If he can be trusted, he is more likely to trust you.

4) The Willingness to Trust: Players who display a willingness to place trust in the coaching they receive will most likely become your high achievers. Often, this willingness must be offered on faith at the outset. Players who can be comfortable with this process are more likely to see the advantages of being coachable, and ultimately experience great gains in commitment and athletic ability.

Another crucial characteristic of a quality football player is competitiveness. Football is driven by competition. Competitiveness must be considered as an internal desire to attain excellence in performance, regardless of the external circumstances. Identifying and developing players that are competitive by nature provides teams with the greatest opportunity for success. When you look for players that are competitive you should search for players that will play their best---always. Competitive players do not go through the motions and let the clock run out. Every snap is an opportunity to compete and see where you stack up against the opponent across the line. True competitive players will seek out the greatest challenges. Players that look forward to testing their own ability against the best there is to offer are truly competitive. They do not get their satisfaction from defeating an inferior opponent. They want to be matched up against the best and defeat the best.

Competitive players will also display an instinctive ability to rise to the occasion. Coach John Wooden has described competitive greatness as an ability to be at your best when the circumstances dictate that only your best will get the job done. We have all coached players that possess the innate ability to make the play when it absolutely needs to be made. When the ball is in the air, and two players are battling for it, the truly competitive players will come down with it. When it’s third and short, and you need a stop, there are those players that come up with a tackle for a loss. These are the innately competitive players that you want on your team.

Competitiveness cannot exist without toughness. Physical and mental toughness are a must for any competitive player. The best competitors are the ones that continue to battle even after setbacks and disappointments. They will manage their mental energy to perform their best when the circumstances indicate that their best will not be enough to succeed. When things get difficult, this toughness is displayed by competitors. They become motivated to get over the hurdles in front of them, or “dig down” a little deeper to finish the job right.

Leadership has been described as the ability to influence others to achieve positive outcomes. Leaders who possess this ability often help themselves, others, and ultimately the team to achieve beyond expectations. Quality leadership is displayed through consistent positive actions, along with the assumption of responsibility for the self and the group. The good leader is, in effect, the good teammate. He will offer encouragement, reprimand, and assistance---whatever--- whenever necessary to lift the spirit and performance of the team. The good leader will demonstrate a willingness to put the team agenda before their own personal agenda, and will live the example of leadership on and off the field. At times, the effective leader will demonstrate an ability to be a good follower, spotting opportunities to ‘bring out the best’ in their teammates. When evaluating a prospect, examine his actions and consistent display of responsibility in the team setting to recognize his potential.

When evaluating a player’s athleticism, three criteria that must be considered are:

1) Explosiveness, 2) Change of Direction, and 3) Ball Skills/Hand Work. We all value the athlete who is explosive at the point of attack; the athlete who can make the big hit. However, the athlete who can display suddenness, flexibility, and balance while playing at a high rate of speed will possesses a non-contact explosiveness that can create competitive advantages. An athlete that gains separation from defenders when closely pursued or closes the gap on a ball carrier from a seemingly impossible angle is a player with this type of explosiveness. This type of athlete will also show this explosiveness from an ability to bend his knees in the appropriate fashion instinctively.

Explosive athletes will have good numbers in the vertical leap and the Olympic lifts. The ability to play in this explosive fashion is directly linked to the ability of the athlete to change direction. Players who can change direction have the ability to redirect without wasted movement. Athletes who possess superior change of direction skills rarely take a step in the wrong direction. When evaluating the ability of an athlete to change direction, consider how quickly they can regain maximum speed after coming to a stop. Is this ability displayed suddenly, and with the correct body position? Athletes with great ball skills will have superior hand-eye coordination. The ability to catch the ball naturally, with the hands in a variety of positions, is a great evaluation tool for not only ball skills but also hand work. Athletes who possess this skill will most likely demonstrate a superior ability to react with their hands while competing. This is vital for success at all positions including linemen that need to use their hands. Lineman that have the ability to catch balls thrown in awkward positions commonly keep their hands in the appropriate position in pass protection or pass rush.

This topic can obviously go into further detail and can be expanded on. Again, the goal of this article is to bring a starting guideline for coaches of every level to evaluate characteristics of players at every position. The evaluation process is not only for those who are looking to acquire players. It is also vital for teams attempting to develop players already in their programs. Evaluation is an ongoing process that is the lifeblood of our profession. This topic has created great conversation in our office. We would welcome further insight into this process.


Jonathan Smith is the Quarterbacks Coach at the University of Idaho. A former quarterback at Oregon State, Smith threw 55 touchdown passes for the Beavers and was tutored under former OSU coach Dennis Erickson. He can be reached at jsmith@uidaho.edu. Idaho defensive assistant coach Dave Brunner also contributed to this article.





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