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AFM Magazine


Letter From the Editor

Maximize your chance for success.
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It’s time for American Football Monthly’s annual look at new technologies in the game of football. We began this annual series in May 2000 because when it comes to technology, coaching is similar to many other jobs. Innovators and entrepreneurs are looking at ways to develop technology to make your job easier and to make you more efficient. For all that technology can do, it can’t add to the number of hours in a day.

Technology can be imposing, even to people used to being in charge, taking initiative and being leaders of men. And, let’s face it – when you’ve been doing something a long time, such as coaching football, change doesn’t come easily.

What we don’t want to do with this look at new technology is reinvent the way you lead your football teams. As with any other issue of American Football Monthly, we want to give you tools and ideas to increase your efficiency and opportunity for success in a game you already know a whole lot about.

Steve Schutt, president of Knowledge, Inc., a company that makes interactive playbooks for NFL and college teams, said the idea is to develop products that leave coaches “confident they can do what they always do – then do more.”

That’s what technology should be about for your football program. The new technologies described in this issue won’t call your plays for you – but they can quickly show you trends in your opposition’s play calling that will help you map out game strategy.

The speed at which technology helps you with coaching responsibilities such as play diagramming, analysis of your opponent’s plays and players and preparation of game film for your players to study gives you more time to do what you love – coach football.

For veteran coaches who believe technology is for the younger coaches, we share the story of St. Louis Rams special teams coach Bobby April.

Coach April didn’t know much about technological advances in coaching, but he did know that learning about technology would give him an edge when it came to finding a coaching job or taking his skills to the next level. He also knew he would never be a technology expert, so he learned what he could and committed to keep learning.

His story underscores an important point: Learn what you can, when you can, and the results should inspire you to want to know more. You’ll see the time you can save and you might see that basic technology knowledge and how to leverage it into a better prepared football team will take your players – and your career – to new heights. Besides, your colleagues are turning to these technologies in increasing numbers - possibly placing you at a competitive disadvantage.

These technologies are not restricted to NFL and major college staffs. You may not have the resources of Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen, who spent $700,000 on a new computer system when he went to Maryland, but in this issue we also talk about how high school coaches can implement cost-effective play diagramming software and use existing school resources for the rest.

As a coach, you strive to give your players the tools they need to be the best. We want AFM to give you the tools you need so you can be the best. We hope this look at technology is helpful.

As the managing editor of American Football Monthly I’d like to hear from you. If you have any comments on this or any other issue we cover, or ideas for stories you would like to see covered, please don’t hesitate to call me at (800) 537-4271, ext. 329, or e-mail me at skraft@lcclark.com. Remember, it’s your magazine, and your ideas are always welcomed.

Sincerely,

Scott Kraft
Managing Editor






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