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AFM Magazine


 - More Solutions to Problem #11

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Continued from:
32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You'll Face this Season

Problem 11: On field game/time management issues... what can be done if this is a problem within your coaching staff?

We designate one coach as our time management coach, which is usually the coach(es) in the press box since they are away from the pressures of the crowd, players, officials, etc.

Keith Wheeler, Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach
Holbrook Roadrunners (AZ)


This problem is eliminated in staff meetings. The Head Coach has a responsibility to provide leadership in this area. The component to this is: preparation and planning in which the Head Coach gives specifics and details in preparation of your next opponent. This outlines the planning ( game-plan) and also eliminates friction in game/time issues. This will be proven by the application of the game and how everybody interacts.

Ron Price, Assistant Coach
Santa Rosa High School (CA)


This is another reason we are a no huddle team. We are always in a two minute drill. It is much easier to slow a team down than it is to speed one up. All of our plays in practice are called using the no huddle system. This has caused us to film our practice scrimmage sessions and make corrections the next day during individual periods but we get more reps during practice using this system.

Randy Pinkowski, Head Football Coach
C.B. Aycock H.S. (NC)

This one needs to be resolved in the coaches office. Usually, this can occur if you haven't done your homework. Game/time management should be a part of practice at some point in time each week in preparation. If you have a coach assigned to handle certain phases and he's not getting it done, then you have to be prepared to take over or get someone else to do the job.

Sam Harp, Head Football Coach
Danville High School (KY)


Nobody is perfect and I think every coach can think of a time where he probably made a mistake in field game/time management issues. However, the true measurment in my opinion of a great coach is that the coach admits his mistake and seeks a remedy to that mistake so that he will try not to make the same mistake twice.

Jared Van Acker, Head Varsity Football Coach
Galax High School (VA)


Better know what you don't know. We have a clock coach and the coordinators help the head coach with penalties. Having a system of who is responsible for everything is valuable.

Bob DeLong, Offensive Coordinator
Xenia High School (OH)


Who's in charge? Who delegates what to whom? Who is responsible for what? Who backs up whom? These are the questions that have to be resolved long before you get into a game. It is the head coach's responsibility to build cohesiveness among his staff. There needs to be a real bonding. The importance of relationships cannot be overemphasized. The measure of the quality of a relationship is how we choose to treat one another.

Larry Payne, Assistant Coach (retired)
North Bend H.S. (OR)


Maybe duties need to be reassigned and maybe someone needs to be put in charge of it. Communication is the best way to combat anything within a coaching staff, so if there is an issue with something the coaches can sit down and discuss what needs to be fixed and fix it.

Zak Bessac, Head Coach/OC
Warner Park, Madison (WI)


I can not emphasize enough that, regardless of the size of the staff, all members have game duties and assignments. We do not want a staff to be fans on the sidelines. The obligation of each staff member is to continue to teach and coach during every minute of the game. Proper teaching lends itself to good time management by the entire staff. As regards field time management, two things: (1) game/time situations need to be addressed and practiced during week-long preparation. Situations such as two minutes prior to half, holding the lead, needing to come from behind, knowing the number of time outs available, etc. needs to be a part of every week's work. (2) The Head Coach, in conjunction with communicating with the coordinators, is responsible for the time managenent of the game. Again, preparation and situational practice remains the key to good time management.

Ron Stolski, Head Football Coach
Brainerd High School (MN)


I personally flood our assistants with paperwork in the game day packet and we begin this packet at our first scrimmage to get assistants involved in managing a game. Secondly, they must provide ready sheets, depth charts, etc. for the JV and frosh games we have on Monday, so they understand the process and importance of completing these. To do a better job this season, we are speeding up the rep tempo in practice and will keep play callers and signalers on the sideline to duplicate game night situations. Even our defensive coaches must be off the field and then look at the video of team practice to see what may have happened instead of being on the field. Behind the defense for example. In addition, we have sped up the number of plays we run from our script in team period, and will not stop practice at all or very rarely to teach and correct. Instead we will sub a player, coach him up, and then after video correct the next day. Finally, as a staff, here in July, we are meeting now weekly one-on-one or in groups of 2 or 3 coaches to be more familiar with our scheme, our decision making and to receive input from our assistants. This pre-season and pre-practice communication as well as post-practice video review are the keys.

Steve Hopkins, Head Football Coach
Basehor-Linwood H.S. (KS)


You need to make sure that all the coaches know their responsibility and it is very structured. A coach that tracks timeouts and a coach that has all depth charts available are a few examples. Communication is key; each coach must know what their job is and must accept the role they have on game day.

Joe Pearson, Head Coach
Solanco High School (PA)


Practice this same type of situation during practice. Creating a realistic game-like situation at practice would reduce this issue. Create this same type of situation at practice and run it as part of your every week practice.

Gerald Aubrey, Asst. Coach

We spend a lot of practice time on situational football. End of half, end of game, up a couple TD's, down a couple TD's. Clock management issues`are the head coach's responsiblity and a checklist and practice situations will alleviate these issues.

Harry G Bellucci, Head Football Coach
Hartford Public High School (CT)


Same as question #10- Planning- Preparing- Discussing and Accountability.

R. Scott Thompson, Head Football Coach
Montgomery Lonsdale JHS (AL)


Again, coaches need to pull together and get it straightened out. The head coach is the final judge of this. If coaches can’t be organized, how can the team succeed?

Allan Amrein, Head Coach
Kennedy Middle School, Hays (KS)


Again, one must practice all possible solutions. Create a check list, which will probably be lengthy of all things the staff can think of that could happen---AND THEN PRACTICE THEM. LEAVE NOTHING UNDONE.

Jerry Parrish, Retired head coach
North Kitsap High School (WA)


I take over. I am the last word. If I have to take off the phones and run it alone I will. I hate to do it. If we are having problems with clock management then there is too much talk and not enough action. Time to simplify and get the job done.

Thomas Taylor, Teacher/Football Coach
Weir High School (WV)


We haven't had this problem, but I guess if we did we would assign one of the assistants to specialize in this area. As for the players knowing the situations they just need to rep the situations like 2 minute drill, end of game, etc.. The first time they encounter it shouldn't be in the game.

Barton W. Miller, Offensive Coordinator
Trinity High School, Camp Hill (PA)


HC and/or coordinators must spend more time preparing beforehand. Staff meetings should take place to discuss changes necessary to improve.

Ron Moore, Defensive Coordinator
Azle High School (TX)


After 41 years of coaching only one person should be assigned the responsibility of watching the clock. The head coach. A chart guy is counting the clock and watching the officials wind the clock. Pregame discussion with officials about who will be calling timeouts is critical.

Louis Farrar, Head Coach
Charter Oak High School (CA)


The communication of your expectations are paramount as a head coach. There should be no gray area when you explain your expectations to the rest of your staff. This should be done before the day of the game, preferably some time during the week before. However, you also need to let your coaches coach. They need to feel comfortable on the sidelines with what they are doing. Again, this environment can be encouraged if the head coach communicates his expectations clearly.

Andrew Cotter, Head Football Coach
Moreau Catholic High School (CA)


You must actually practice special situations such as: 1) taking a knee to end a half or game; 2) spiking the ball to stop the clock; 3) running through your two-minute drill with a live clock. (It is my responsibility during practice to actually keep a clock when we run this situation.) If we fail to get a first down we actually practice running the FG team onto the field, lining up, and executing the kick; 4) we actually practice running plays which take the ball to the middle of the field and getting down on the ground to set up a FG try; 5) and taking a safety when you have the ball deep in your own territory late in the game with the lead. If you want to be successful in a game with these unique situations your MUST PRACTICE them.

Joe Bosley III, Assistant Football Coach
Hereford High School (TX)


I have been fortunate over the years not to have a major turnover in staff. All our coaches are responsible for a position. All our coaches are made aware of what their game responsibilities are. This is my job as the Head Coach. If we make a mistake, I have to be responsible and make corrections.

Ed Sadloch, Head Football Coach
Cedar Grove High School (NJ)


Re-define coaching roles. Review game / time management situations. Practice critical game / time management situations more.

Thomas A. McDaniels, Head Football Coach
Massillon Jackson H.S. (OH)


Again, this is a coaching staff issue, and if the coordinator responsible for getting the play or defense in can't improve, then I (as head coach) might take over the responsibility myself. Sideline organization doesn't just happen, it needs to be coached and worked on/talked about before going into an actual game. We accomplish this by practicing it (again, stiuationally) and in pre-season scrimmages.

John R. Mackay, Director of Athletics/HFC
St. George's School (RI)


At which time we go to the line with the called play being no play. It was good for 15 yards per game last season and only one offensive offsides against us. As an offensive coach, I am always okay starting at 1st and 5 or getting a key 3rd down conversion because the other team has been sucked into our rhythm.

Sam Nichols, Head Coach (MI)






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