September 3, 2010

Using Video in Youth Football Coaching

Dan and Tank Chalk Talk Update

This year I finally took our game, highlight,  scout, scrimmage, practice videos to the web to use it real time as a coaching tool.  For the last several years, we have sent clips around via DVDs or loaded a clip here and there on Flickr or YouTube.  But this year, I am filming practices along with games / scrimmages and I also developed a series of chalk talk videos based on our defensive play book.  The folks over at Hudl are also letting me demo their online video coaching software.

The parents love all videos.  They can see first hand what their child is doing in the drills and during the games.  It makes it easy for us as we determine the starters.  The parents also like the Chalk Talk videos because the can also learn the defense and they feel more involved.  Everyone on the team can see the videos.  We have a private video account and also our new Hudl acount which is also private to the team.  We are still using both video methods of sharing the videos as we become more familiar with Hudl.  The coaching staff’s initial impressions of Hudl is its FANTASTIC.

I am using three different cameras to shoot the video.  I have a small RCA Small Wonder Traveler EZ210, Canon PowerShot A560 Camera and recently purchased a JVC GZ-HD620 120 GB High Definition HDD Camcorder.  I use the RCA for close quarters filming, the Canon shot the Chalk Talk above and I just started doing some HD video this past week and its pretty amazing.  I am just a little worried I am going to drop the $500 camera.

Stay tuned as I use Hudl through out the season.  It’s pretty amazing!

Play for Fun and Winning is Funner.

Coach Parker
Keller, TX

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August 18, 2010

Youth Football Blocking Dummies

My blocking dummies finally arrived.
On back-order from Fisher for 2 weeks. I like the orange color. Had to pay retail too, but a pretty good price from Hit Run Score with a 15% coupon. Shipping was a little pricey.

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August 7, 2010

Linebacker and D-back Keys – youth football defense

Linebackers and Defensive Backs can read the keys of offensive linemen to learn the direction of the play.

1. Offensive linemen blocking down field means the play is a run.

2. Offensive linemen pulling in one direction generally means play is in direction of pull.

3. Offensive linemen drop stepping and setting up to block for pass protection means pass but also could be a draw or screen.

When reading your keys don’t get too excited and in a hurry and move to quickly. Be patient. A move in the wrong direction takes time to recover from.

LBs and DBs should take a small drop step with either foot while reading their keys. You first move should not be towards the line of scrimmage.

From Bud Wilkinson’s Football Winning Defense

Play for Fun and Winning is Funner.

Coach Parker
Keller, Texas

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August 5, 2010

Defensive Strategy – Youth Football

So here is my youth football defensive strategy plan for 2010

1. Stop the run, interrupt the pass.
2. Attack the Offense with Multiple looks
3. Dictate game flow
4. Scout scout scout
5. Equalize strength
6. Communicate and say again.

My defensive team will be called the Wolf Pack this season. Wolves communicate, hunt and kill prey together. As a defense we will play like Wolves attacking their prey.

Play for Fun and Winning is Funner.

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July 23, 2010

The Cast Protector for Youth Sports

The Cast Protector

The Cast Protector

A reader of my blog sent me a link to his new product, The Cast Protector.  He also sent me one to review.  The Cast Protector allows athletes to pad an arm cast andcompete safely under most if not all sport’s association rules  I like the design and it looks like it would be a great addition to your Team’s first aid bag. You just never know when one of your players will need one.  The product is around $50.   See the video for more details.

If you have experience with this product, please post in the comments.

© BrainScouts 2010. All rights reserved. This article may be republished for non-commercial and personal use but only if this Copyright Statement is included along with the URL http://coachparker.org. You may NOT, except with our express written permission, Distribute or Commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

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July 8, 2010

Youth Football Coaching – The Budget Process and Fundraising

About this time very year, youth football coaches from all over the US start putting their fall plans in place; roster, play books, recruiting, practice organization, coaches responsibilities, ordering uniforms and the dreaded fundraising and budget questions.  How much will it take to run our team properly?  When I first started coaching 20 years ago,  I never thought about our team’s budget.  I spent about $500 out of my own pocket and coached the team with some help from a few parents that also chipped in a few dollars or equipment here and there.  But after several years, my pocket book was a little lighter and decided to develop a budget for my youth sports teams.  Many volunteer coaches put in 20 to 40 hours a week to coach and buying new equipment each year gets to be very expensive.  At a conservative hourly wage of $12.50 / hour  at 10 hours a week with a 12 week season, your team could owe 2 paid coaches $3,000.  Which by the way, $3k  is an excellent one Fall season budget for a youth football team.

I know some of you may say, “No Way!”  Well, add up everything that is spent from your coaches, league, parents, and freebies you get and see how close you come to my budget number.  Let me do a quick breakdown of some of our major budget items:

  1. Advertising                                     $500
  2. Player Jerseys -                            $1500
  3. Coaches Uniforms                        $500
  4. Footballs                                          $300
  5. First Aid Kit / Supplies               $200
  6. Blocking Dummies                        $500
  7. End of Year Banquet                   $2,000
  8. Tournament Fees                          $500

If you do not have to buy your jerseys this is a huge advantage.  You can also save on your budget by reducing your End of Season banquet but I love the banquet.  Our budget is usually around $7,500 per Fall football season and we will have a few hundred dollars at the end of the season that we use to buy coaching videos or go to clinics.

Here are a few fundraising ideas:

  1. Sell product door to door – cookies, candy, bread dough, discount cards
  2. Casino Bus Trip
  3. Team Dinner / Breakfast at Restaurant get % Team ticket
  4. Corporate Sponsors
  5. Parent / Grandparent Donations
  6. Texas Hold’em Party
  7. Raffle / Sweepstakes
  8. Team Garage Sale
  9. Web Affiliate Program with Retailers
  10. Score Pass Cup at Games $1 for each TD
  11. Sell Breakfast burritos, donuts or Gatorades at games

I know this sounds like a lot.  But if you plan your budget and fundraising, just like you do you season, you will make your budget.  Plus, its great to have the right tools and equipment to teach your players.

If you have any fundraising and budgeting ideas let me hear about them.

© BrainScouts 2010.  All rights reserved.   This article may be republished for non-commercial and personal use but only if this Copyright Statement is included along with the URL http://CoachParker.org.  You may NOT, except with our express written permission, Distribute or Commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

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June 10, 2010

Bittersweet Victory KYA SR All Stars Youth Football

Last Saturday I coached one of my best games that I have ever coached, but it was a bittersweet victory over my oldest son’s TSOF KYA Colts youth football team, a Select team.  I coached the Sr KYA Spring All Star team, a spring rec team that played an exhibition game against the TSOF Colts, who had won their Spring Super Bowl.  We won that game, but I had to coach against my son which was tough.  We won 13-6 and I took a knee on the 4 yard line with 1st and goal in the last 2 minutes.

The KYA All Star team did everything right.  It all came together for them, just how our visualization had done the night before in practice, as I taught them how to visualize victory.  The thing I learned most from this game was Communication.  One of my assistant coaches, Coach Green, told the team to make sure they communicated throughout the game.  At half-time the backs told us the middle was wide open so we went to an I Formation from our Double Wing and ran the ball up the gut for 2 quarters.  I could not be any prouder of these players.  I was almost in tears after the game.  In only 8 practices we beat a very good Super Bowl team.

There were many standouts in the game, but the biggest stand out was the TEAM.  They played like a TEAM.

My oldest son was upset but he told me he would have beat me if he had been coaching the other team.  He said he knew how to beat me.  I will be proud again when the day my son is coaching youth football.

© BrainScouts 2010.  All rights reserved.   This article may be republished for non-commercial and personal use but only if this Copyright Statement is included along with the URL http://CoachParker.org.  You may NOT, except with our express written permission, Distribute or Commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

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May 21, 2010

COOL Clinic DVD Collection ’96-’10

COOL Mushroom SocietyI just received my COOL Clinic DVD Collection from 1996 to 2010.  COOL stands for Coaches of Offensive Lineman.  This is a society of NFL and college level offensive line coaches that hold an annual clinic just about blocking and offensive line play.

The entire COOL Clinic set includes 98 DVDs.  I reviewed the 2008 Clinc DVDs 2 years and loved the series, especially the session with Rex Ryan.  So I just dropped $400 for the entire collection.  I cant wait to start watching.  Stay tuned as I start posting my thoughts on each Year’s clinic.

If there is anything that I’ve learned as a youth football coach, its your offensive line must know how to block.  Football starts in the trenches.

© BrainScouts 2010.  All rights reserved.   This article may be republished for non-commercial and personal use but only if this Copyright Statement is included along with the URL http://CoachParker.org.  You may NOT, except with our express written permission, Distribute or Commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

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May 18, 2010

Keller Youth Assoc. All Star Football Try Outs

I am coaching the KYA Sr All Star team in their game on June 5, 2010 at 4pm.  We had the All Star team try outs last Sunday and the young men looked great.  They are mostly 6th graders going into 7th grade.  I’ve never coached an All Star team before and what a pleasure these young men were on Sunday.  They really knew football, had great base fundamentals and most importantly they were respectful when I was talking.  Plus all of them said yes sir in unison when they answered me.  Wow, parents and coaches of these young men, you should be very proud of them.

Unfortunately I had to limit the roster size to 18 and a few will not play in the game.  But to me, they are All Stars no matter if the play in the game or not.

As the Sr Select Coach for KYA this year, I hope these young men consider playing at a higher level in the Select league.  Select Try-outs are this Sunday starting at 2pm.

It’s only by challenging yourself can you achieve your true potential.

Coach Steve Parker
KYA Select Football – Sr Kanes
Keller, TX

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April 26, 2010

Keller Select Football 5th / 6th grade and 7th graders

I am very excited this week.  I was asked to coach the KYA Keller Select Kanes Senior Football Team.  This team is for older 5th graders,  6th graders, and younger 7th graders.  I will get the official age cut off this week but I think its 12 year old on or before 8/1.

If you are wondering what Select football is all about, let me explain.  In Select football, each player must try out for the youth football team.  The best players in the try-outs (in the coaches opinions) will be selected to the team, thus select.  One is Selected.  Keller Kanes football will be holding various try-outs through out May and June.  We must have our rosters ready to go mid July.

If you have been reading my blog, in the Keller area and have a youth football player in my age group that would qualify as a Select football player and or, you would like to interview for an assistant coaching spot, please contact me.  I am ready for the season to start!

Thanks,
Coach Parker  -  email -  coachparker at eparkers dot ORG
Seniors Head Coach
Keller Kanes
KYA Select Youth Football

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