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Finishing Strong© More from this issue
We’ve reached the
midpoint of the season. You spent your spring and much of the summer
training your players, evaluating
up and coming talent, and refining your game plan – adding
a few wrinkles that you picked up from the pages of American Football
Monthly and coaching clinics you might have attended.
The end of
summer marked the beginning of the football season with the introduction
of preseason camp. For me this was a great time
of the year, because the true
teaching took place in preseason camp. You don’t have to start preparing
for another team for at least two weeks, therefore you could focus on fundamentals
such as refining a receiver’s footwork in his routes. Also, there were
no distractions, school isn’t in session and at the professional level
we were shipped away from our families.
And then the season starts, and every team is bound with great expectations and
facing one ultimate question: ‘How good is this team?’
For instance, how well does the team handle adversity? Preseason camp lets you
know who works hard and who’s learned their playbook. Each athlete acts
differently when it comes to game time. In my experiences, a player who was overlooked
during practice will shine in a game, and vise versa.
By now many of those questions have been answered. Hopefully everything is working
according to plan. All the prep work has resulted in your team playing well.
You are preparing for the final push into the playoffs, searching for the ultimate
goal, a championship.
But I’m sure, for many, reality is a little harsher. Your team is either
not playing up to its ability or they are flat out struggling. Unfortunately
I have faced this situation more than once in my career. As a result I have created
a guideline for which I used to ensure my team finished strong. 1. Keep a Positive Demeanor
Staying upbeat and positive is crucial to your leadership approach.
Players feed off their coach. If they feel you have lost hope
they will lose confidence in what they are doing and eventually
lose confidence in you. To me, confidence allows decent athletes
to play well and good players to dominate.
2. Spend Time with Your Players
It is difficult to motivate an athlete unless you actively show
interest in the player as a person, not just an athlete. What you
learn about a player off the field will allow you to instruct him
better on the field. You make that player feel important, which
will improve his impression of being part of the team and motivate
him to play just a little bit harder than he might have otherwise.
3. Keep it Simple
Simplify, don’t add. Stay true to the system you implemented
in the beginning of the season. A drastic change to your playbook
shows lack of belief in your system and creates confusion. If anything,
focus on the plays you installed. Ensure your team can execute
them flawlessly.
4. Adjust Practice Schedules
Borrowing from point three, when you get a better understanding
for how your team functions adjust practice accordingly. If it
appears your players are worn out from practice and school, lighten
up practice. Shorten the days you have already designated as high
contact, tough practices.
5. Emphasize Special Teams
This may not sound like much, but special teams can really provide
a spark. The history of football is marked by many games that have
been decided by a big special teams play. Special teams can quickly
change a game and great skill is not required. The key to special
teams is relentless, consistent effort.
6. Reinforce your Goals
The season can be extremely hectic. Once you get rolling – meetings,
practice, and games, etc. – next thing you know, the season
is over. Sit down with your staff and players, review what you
set out to accomplish in the beginning of the season. It could
reinvigorate the team.
For more coaching points from NFL Coaches visit our website www.NFLCoaches.com
or email the offices, info@nflcoaches.com. Also look for the NFLCA
Affiliate Membership Club, which launches this fall.
NFLCA Quick Facts
NFL Coaches’ Salaries
In
an effort to improve the earnings of NFL coaches, the National
Football League Coaches Association began to collect salary
surveys from their members
in 1999. During this time, the average NFL coach’s salary has
increased nearly 37 percent, from $180,449 in 1999 to $246,545 in 2004.
Below are
the 2004* average salaries, and years of experience for NFL assistant
coaches:
|
Position Coach |
Avg. Salary
|
Yrs. of Exp. |
Assistant D-Backs
D-Backs Coach
Assistant D-Line
Defensive Line
Defensive Assistant
Defensive Coordinator
Linebackers
Assistant Special Teams
Special Teams
Offensive Assistant
Offensive Coordinator
Assistant O-Line
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Tight Ends
Wide Receivers
Strength Assistant
Strength
Assistant Head |
$145,000
$213,888
$143,333
$246,176
$103,076
$599,444
$217,812
$100,200
$246,052
$88,000
$466,250
$109,000
$265,192
$211,104
$169,869
$216,343
$67,700
$182,068
$295,000 |
4.5
8.7
4.7
9.4
6.6
14.6
8.6
4.1
11.8
2.3
13.4
2.2
7.5
11.7
6.1
10.5
5.2
13.1
21.5 |
*The NFLCA has collected half of their sample
respondents for 2004 |
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