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AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Finishing Strong

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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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