Coaches I greatly appreciate the input...I will work on the mental toughness with my kids.  They definitely are lacking in that department.  I have preaching believe in yourself to them since the first day of practice.  Hopefully it will kick in.  We have 3 games left and these kids are every bit as talented as the kids we have played thus far.  I've been going krazy trying to get them to fight and never give up, punch them in the mouth early and often like in our practice sessions.  We'll see what happens....

The original poster gave the example of players who are aggressive in practice but not in the game.  In that circumstance, moving them to another position is a huge wake up call.  As a coach, I know they can do it but for some reason they are refusing to do it in the game.  If I have tried everything else and can't motivate the player then I will move them.  At my school, I can't bench a player for lack of aggression because our system requires equal playing time.  Because of this, I have had to find ways to get the message across in other ways.  Over the years, taking a kid and moving them to another position has worked in most cases.

If you refuse to be aggressive in the game, we will find someone else who will be aggressive in the game.  Sending them to the D line is hopefully going to piss them off because they want to be a linebacker.  You could send them to be a corner, safety, end, or on the bench (which I can't do).  It doesn't matter, the intention is the same, either bring it in the game or you won't be at that position.

This is very interesting.  The original poster wasn't clear about how much of his team had this problem, but I gather it was most of them.  In such a circumstance, would you try a big shuffle of positions roster-wide?

This is very interesting.  The original poster wasn't clear about how much of his team had this problem, but I gather it was most of them.  In such a circumstance, would you try a big shuffle of positions roster-wide?

Only once have I had to do a big shuffle and it wasn't because of lack of aggression in games versus practice.

Usually it is only one or two players and the rest of the team realizes that I am not joking around when I say that they will be moved if they don't do their job in practice and in the game.  I also give players plenty of opportunity to prove to me that they have earned the right to play a position before I move them.  I am not moving players on a daily basis or at will.  I was just giving an example of a technique that has worked for me in the past if all else fails in this specific circumstance.  To sum it up, "Earn it" in practice and the games or else we will find someone else that will. 

If the whole team was doing this and I had tried other methods and none of them worked, I would pick the alpha male (who is probably your captain) and move them to another position first.  I would tell the alpha that if they want to earn back the right to play linebacker they were going to have to prove it on the D line (or wherever you want to put them) in practice and the game.  I would be clear that what I needed from them was aggression in the game as well as the practice.  I would then move on to the next highest player on the totem pole and work my way down till I had their attention and they realized that I am not putting up with my players bringing it in practice but not the game.  Most alpha players have never had this happen to them in their playing career in any sport let alone football.  If they are truly the alpha, you will get a reaction from them and the team that will put to rest laying down on game days.  You see, I am not benching the alpha, rather I am challenging their status on the team.  I would replace the alpha at linebacker with my most aggressive player that I had and give them the chance to take their position.  Yes - I want to shake the team up at this point and I want people to earn the right to keep their positions.  At my school I can't bench the alpha for lack of aggression but I can challenge their status by moving them.  It will have a dramatic affect.

It is no different than giving an a$$ chewing to your alpha.  The rest of the team will respect you more for treating them the same as everyone else and it sure gets everyone's attention.  I always hated playing for coaches that favored certain "star" players and I vowed never to do that as a coach.  If you want to be a captain, leader or alpha on our team, you better have thick skin and you will be the first one I use as an example if you mess up.  I have removed players from being a captain and replaced them because of this very fact.  You have to earn it.  I expect a lot of my captains and don't tolerate lack of leadership.  To me, if the whole team is not being aggressive in the games but they are aggressive in practice I need to start at the top to fix the problem. 

The more I think about this situation the more I feel that I would also look at myself in the mirror and ask what can I do differently because if the whole team is doing this then I am doing something wrong and I need to fix me first.

Only once have I had to do a big shuffle and it wasn't because of lack of aggression in games versus practice.

Usually it is only one or two players and the rest of the team realizes that I am not joking around when I say that they will be moved if they don't do their job in practice and in the game.  I also give players plenty of opportunity to prove to me that they have earned the right to play a position before I move them.  I am not moving players on a daily basis or at will.  I was just giving an example of a technique that has worked for me in the past if all else fails in this specific circumstance.  To sum it up, "Earn it" in practice and the games or else we will find someone else that will. 

If the whole team was doing this and I had tried other methods and none of them worked, I would pick the alpha male (who is probably your captain) and move them to another position first.  I would tell the alpha that if they want to earn back the right to play linebacker they were going to have to prove it on the D line (or wherever you want to put them) in practice and the game.  I would be clear that what I needed from them was aggression in the game as well as the practice.  I would then move on to the next highest player on the totem pole and work my way down till I had their attention and they realized that I am not putting up with my players bringing it in practice but not the game.  Most alpha players have never had this happen to them in their playing career in any sport let alone football.  If they are truly the alpha, you will get a reaction from them and the team that will put to rest laying down on game days.  You see, I am not benching the alpha, rather I am challenging their status on the team.  I would replace the alpha at linebacker with my most aggressive player that I had and give them the chance to take their position.  Yes - I want to shake the team up at this point and I want people to earn the right to keep their positions.  At my school I can't bench the alpha for lack of aggression but I can challenge their status by moving them.  It will have a dramatic affect.

It is no different than giving an a$$ chewing to your alpha.  The rest of the team will respect you more for treating them the same as everyone else and it sure gets everyone's attention.  I always hated playing for coaches that favored certain "star" players and I vowed never to do that as a coach.  If you want to be a captain, leader or alpha on our team, you better have thick skin and you will be the first one I use as an example if you mess up.  I have removed players from being a captain and replaced them because of this very fact.  You have to earn it.  I expect a lot of my captains and don't tolerate lack of leadership.  To me, if the whole team is not being aggressive in the games but they are aggressive in practice I need to start at the top to fix the problem. 

The more I think about this situation the more I feel that I would also look at myself in the mirror and ask what can I do differently because if the whole team is doing this then I am doing something wrong and I need to fix me first.

Believe Me I have and am asking myself that question...how/what can I do different to get these guys to perform on game day.  I lost my alpha male our second game and didn't have my next best stud the very next game (3rd game)  because his parents have him in boy scouts.  The rest of the the Team are alot of first year players.  I did not shake up my roster because I felt we are right on the cusp of breaking the performance issue until last weeks (the 3rd game) when we were just horrible and I ended up playing some plays with ten kids at times because I had kids that were out of it. (didn't want to go into the game, I was fuming) I always start with my studs to bring it hoping the other kids would catch fire.  I am under weight rules within the tackle box.  I will be moving some players around.  I am searching for coach Dave Potters thread on aggression.  Would love to read that if anyone has the direct link.  He has alot of posts on here  🙂

I am searching for coach Dave Potters thread on aggression.  Would love to read that if anyone has the direct link.  He has alot of posts on here

Coach, I have PM'd you.  Feel free to give me a call.

--Dave

Coach - I commend you for asking the tough questions.  I would clarify one thing.  If your two top players went down for whatever reason then you will have a new alpha on the field.  That is where I would start.  From what you just described in your post, you have an entirely different problem from what I first thought when I read the beginning of this thread.  It sounds to me like you need to train the players that you have left that it is their time.  They are going to have to step up.  They will have to assume that leadership role that was lost when your alpha went down. 

Now, more than ever, you are learning the importance of developing all your players.  You cannot just rely on talent.  Our high school has had three of our captains go down this year.  One has signed a D1 letter of intent and another is a D1 college talent.  Our team is experiencing the same pains that you are going through.  Our number one priority is getting ALL our players and coaches to believe that we can still win.  We have to find new players that will assume that leadership role.  We have to demand that all players execute on all plays.  It is a struggle.

I would take up coach Potter's offer and give him a call.  In my short time here, I have come to respect his experience and opinion.

If the whole team was doing this and I had tried other methods and none of them worked, I would pick the alpha male (who is probably your captain) and move them to another position first.  I would tell the alpha that if they want to earn back the right to play linebacker they were going to have to prove it on the D line (or wherever you want to put them) in practice and the game.  I would be clear that what I needed from them was aggression in the game as well as the practice.  I would then move on to the next highest player on the totem pole and work my way down till I had their attention and they realized that I am not putting up with my players bringing it in practice but not the game.  Most alpha players have never had this happen to them in their playing career in any sport let alone football.  If they are truly the alpha, you will get a reaction from them and the team that will put to rest laying down on game days.  You see, I am not benching the alpha, rather I am challenging their status on the team.  I would replace the alpha at linebacker with my most aggressive player that I had and give them the chance to take their position.  Yes - I want to shake the team up at this point and I want people to earn the right to keep their positions.  At my school I can't bench the alpha for lack of aggression but I can challenge their status by moving them.  It will have a dramatic affect.

Darn...the only time I tried something like that, it seemed to contribute to my getting canned as HC.  But that team was a bad situation anyway, so probably nothing lost...people on Delphi's single wing etc. forum had been telling me to run away from there.

Coach, I have PM'd you.  Feel free to give me a call.

--Dave

One of the BEST CALLS I've ever made.  Thank You Greatly Coach Potter can't say thank you enough.  Thank You coaches for your input.

One of the BEST CALLS I've ever made.  Thank You Greatly Coach Potter can't say thank you enough.

Coach Rob, the pleasure was mine.  I enjoyed it.  Feel free to call anytime.

--Dave