Coach to Coach: Thanks for the Memories

In 2010, I wrote my first article for American Football Monthly. In that article I told the story of how Hall of Fame Coach George Allen returned to coaching at the age of 72 to coach my college football team at Long Beach State University. The experience of writing that article and the positive response that I received from coaches around the country far exceeded any expectations I may have had about the joy of writing and sharing  my ideas. What was supposed to be one article has turned into several years of articles. Getting to share my experiences and thoughts regarding this great and crazy profession has been a real joy.

Along the way, I have had the opportunity to get to know many of you through your emails, conversations at coaching clinics and other events. One thing that has been evident throughout this experience is that there are some great coaches who share the common bond of love for this sport. The truth is that while there are a few who earn a tremendous living coaching football, the majority rarely cash checks that cover their expenses. Most coaches coach simply for the love of the game and the relationships that are forged on and off the field. 

One of the more challenging aspects of writing a monthly column is trying to write on topics that most coaches can relate to and ones that are also current. In looking back at the topics that we covered in Coach to Coach, I am very proud of the things we talked about and the responses that I received on a monthly basis. After writing about offensive and defensive strategy, coaching philosophy, program building, safety issues, practice planning, off-season and in- season program structure, career planning and much more, the one thing I was always impressed by was the ideas and experiences that many of you shared with me regarding each topic. These contributions were valued and they helped make me a better coach.

It was apparent that the articles that dealt with emotions and issues of character were your favorites. The article that I wrote in 2011, regarding a player that had overcome great personal obstacles  and  my incorrect  evaluation of his football skills to become a starter and all-conference player, garnered some of the most heartfelt feedback that I received. Another article that elicited much response was the description of my “Loving Wednesday” practices.

In that article, I shared how the implementation of a simple bonding exercise forever changed my program and changed the way I coached. These issues of the heart seemed to be the most popular topics. This reinforced my belief that most coaches are in this game for the right reasons. We coach for a chance to make a difference in the lives of our players and to positively impact the community in which we coach.

Personally, one of the great things about writing Coach to Coach was that it forced me to formulate and articulate my thoughts on a vast number of coaching issues. Having ideas and philosophies is one thing but conveying those ideas in 1,400 words or less is another. I have found the art of self-analyzing and articulation to be great for clarification. In today’s coaching world, efficiency is a must. Writing Coach to Coach has forced me to be efficient in my thoughts and ideas as it relates to many aspects of coaching.

In revisiting the Coach to Coach articles, I certainly have a couple of favorites. One article, however, has impacted my coaching more than any of the others. “7 Concepts in Developing a Winning Mentality” is the article I personally liked the most. When I wrote that article in 2011, I was very interested in why some athletes overachieve while others fail to reach their maximum potential. I had coached players on both sides of that fence and I wanted to identify the characteristics of the successful and maximum achievers. In preparing my ideas for that article, I researched many great athletes as well as athletes who we would consider “busts”. Although I found that there were as many reasons for success as there were for failure, successful athletes shared definite commonalities. These commonalities were the basis for my “7 Concepts in Developing a Winning Mentality” article. After the article was published, I received many emails from coaches at every level. I appreciated the feedback and input from the coaches who added their thoughts and extrapolated on mine. In the end, the article and subsequent conversations helped shape my thoughts on developing a process for my coaches, my players and myself to form a winning mentality on a daily basis.

In looking back on the past few years, I can’t help but be amazed at how much our game has changed. In 2010, the word tempo as it pertains to football had to be explained. There were only a few teams experimenting with a fast-paced, no-huddle system. The idea that by 2013 the entire football landscape would be reshaped by coaches who thought that running close to 100 plays per game should be their norm was inconceivable.

In 2010, who would have guessed that the word concussion would be the hot topic that it is today. The thought that defensive players would be held accountable to the point of ejection from games for simply doing what they had been taught since they started playing football would be considered heresy to the  football purist. However, that’s exactly where we are today. What was once considered a great play is now considered reckless endangerment to both parties involved. 

Player safety is now the leading discussion among coaches, players and parents of athletes at every level. In 2012, I wrote an article addressing this important issue. In the article I described how, in an attempt to protect my players from head injuries, I had changed my practice schedule and the level and intensity of our daily contact drills. Many of you responded to the article with your experiences and ideas regarding player safety. I enjoyed reading your ideas. It is apparent that all of us are affected by this issue. The game has changed and coaches, players and fans have changed as well. Hopefully these changes will ensure the strength of the game for years to come.

As we approach the 150th anniversary of the first collegiate football game, we can all be assured that the evolution of the game is far from complete. Just this week, ESPN announced that they will be showing games from the newly formed A-11 football league. Football where all 11 players are allowed to catch or carry the football is a new twist on the game we know. Publications like AFM (who was the first to report on the A-11 concept six years ago) and columns like Coach to Coach will continue to present the game in all of its forms and provide a platform  that encourages discussion pertaining to it. It has been a pleasure playing a small part in this process. I have enjoyed being able to share with and learn from coaches throughout the country. I hope my ideas and my experiences have been both entertaining and educational in some small way.

I will continue to work with AFM in various ways and I look forward to being a guest writer on occasion. If you would like to get in touch with me, the best way is at bryonhamilton@att.net.  Thanks for reading my articles and I wish you great and continued success at making a difference in the lives of the young men you are blessed to coach.