Is there an appropriate time to "Blow the Top Off?"  Yup! 

However, coaching by fear and intimidation only works if they fear you and are intimidated by you!  These days most kids are not motivated by same. 

Find another way

I just got done teaching in a place where HS and MS coaches were looked down upon for NOT doing stuff like that because certain influential schoolboard members thought coaches had to be "fiery" in order to be good.

Football is a sport that is coached more through cliches and fitting certain stereotypes than any other.

--Dave

However, coaching by fear and intimidation only works if they fear you and are intimidated by you!

Regardless of how well fear and intimidation works, I'd argue that it doesn't work as well as progressive positive teaching.

--Dave

Real experiences of a kid who wants to play high school football...his Dad is a hs fball coach

8 years old- two practices, parents pulled him out for safety reasons. The “ coach” who clearly was out of prison, getting his jollies having older veteran players teeing off on newbies....no pads, no instruction....just live action.

10 years old- flag for spring, thought football was an hour of conditioning followed by blocking and pass catching. Enjoyed the games even tho due to numbers, playing with 13-14 year olds rarely thrown a pass- played for very inexperienced youth coach, often only min plays despite attending 100 percent of practices. Parents intervened when min play rule wasn’t observed. Team blown out in every game. Coach quit mid season.better exp after coach replaced.

11 better exp same .org, different coaches. Still bad as coaches not on same page, practices focused on wing t for a month, scrapped it after first scrimmage....kid started and played oline....a bit of defense. Clearly improved but weak team with sad sack kids who gave little effort in games. A lot of quitting on the field and “ ygotta want it” speeches. Lost every game for two seasons....one td scored all year.

12- other .org folded due to numbers and management...new org- tougher kids, more exp coaches....winning was the goal. He got better....tougher, more physical...but played less and was unhappy even tho team made playoffs....roster with 30 kids dropped to about 14 as kids quit over lack of play time. Driving an hour each way to away games, warming up for an hour, then sitting bench....sad kid.

The kid is in 7th grade, lifts weights for football and plans to attend flag camps....high school coach Dad just hoping poor youth ball experience doesn’t steal the desire for HS ball. Dad keeps mouth shut , avoids criticism of coaches....just encouraging kid to train, work hard, learn, know role....take advantage of opportunity given....will be joining a team and org that has professional rep and clearly is well organized. Let’s hope this is a better exp.

I absolutely understand that this guy has nothing to do with our situation moving forward. He gets to cherry pick from the new kids during evaluations, but the way he chooses to conduct his evaluations, at least last season, will probably not effect us getting the players we need to be successful. I'm not using him as motivation for our kids. They're 11-12 year olds, they realize dude is a douche bag. We got bumped 1st round of the playoffs last year and our returning players are hungry. I've been having quite a few over the house for the past several weekends since my son is on the team and these kids are getting tighter by the day. Shaping up to be a special year for these kids.

I can't wait for his arrogant ass to ask for a scrimmage. Gonna shut it down with the same kids he tried to ruin this wonderful game for

Why tho??  Scrimmages are not for vendettas.  If the guy is beneath you... don't go down to his level.

My high school did not have a football team.  That's probably why I love it so much now.

Real experiences of a kid who wants to play high school football...his Dad is a hs fball coach

8 years old- two practices, parents pulled him out for safety reasons. The “ coach” who clearly was out of prison, getting his jollies having older veteran players teeing off on newbies....no pads, no instruction....just live action.

10 years old- flag for spring, thought football was an hour of conditioning followed by blocking and pass catching. Enjoyed the games even tho due to numbers, playing with 13-14 year olds rarely thrown a pass- played for very inexperienced youth coach, often only min plays despite attending 100 percent of practices. Parents intervened when min play rule wasn’t observed. Team blown out in every game. Coach quit mid season.better exp after coach replaced.

11 better exp same .org, different coaches. Still bad as coaches not on same page, practices focused on wing t for a month, scrapped it after first scrimmage....kid started and played oline....a bit of defense. Clearly improved but weak team with sad sack kids who gave little effort in games. A lot of quitting on the field and “ ygotta want it” speeches. Lost every game for two seasons....one td scored all year.

12- other .org folded due to numbers and management...new org- tougher kids, more exp coaches....winning was the goal. He got better....tougher, more physical...but played less and was unhappy even tho team made playoffs....roster with 30 kids dropped to about 14 as kids quit over lack of play time. Driving an hour each way to away games, warming up for an hour, then sitting bench....sad kid.

The kid is in 7th grade, lifts weights for football and plans to attend flag camps....high school coach Dad just hoping poor youth ball experience doesn’t steal the desire for HS ball. Dad keeps mouth shut , avoids criticism of coaches....just encouraging kid to train, work hard, learn, know role....take advantage of opportunity given....will be joining a team and org that has professional rep and clearly is well organized. Let’s hope this is a better exp.

Excellent point, Steve. Back to Mahonz' original post, I think you'd get similar (if not worse) answers if Fangio had asked:

Tell us about your youth football coach by finishing this statement: "My youth coach was the reason I ..."

The more I do this, the more I see my role as helping my players to stoke a passion for the game . . or at least not extinguishing that passion. Last year, I saw my first group of 8th graders move on to HS. For many of them, it was a culture shock. No more "football welfare", much more responsibility on the players' shoulders from a commitment standpoint (weights, camps,etc.), 2 way starters in youth finding themselves on the 3rd string, etc. For many of those players, the love for the game carried them through the rough spots. From my perspective, the local HS programs seemed to really separate the "talkers" from the "doers". 

Spoke to 2 young men on our team last night as both have made it clear they will NOT continue to play HS football for the local football factory. Both cite the HC as the reason. One played a season in his program. The other heard enough from his buddies.

Got a more clear picture of this situation this weekend. Spent some time with some former players, one who plays for this HS coach. I now believe that my former players who refuse to play for him just aren't up to that level of commitment. Nothing wrong with that and nothing wrong with setting a standard that's too tough for some people. Also, nothing wrong with refusing to be "Uncle Coach" to everyone, either.

I am so thankful for the high school coaches i had. Ide say they are the top reason i started coaching.

37% is not surprising, disgruntled back ups lol

Link if you can please

Sorry I missed this. Took me a while to find it. Threads come and are gone into the archives in a week.

https://www.milehighreport.com/2019/5/23/18636694/fangio-credits-coaching-success-with-start-among-high-school-ranks

Pretty sure we just lost a couple of seniors who will now play lacrosse year around....ouch

...played the sport every year.
...went on to play at the next level.
...became a coach myself.
...love watching the game now.
..."Whorfin"
..."Shasta"

I cant remember what "Whorfin" means...but "Shasta" means none of the above.

If shrooms was legal in my state ide say Shasta too lol

Ask any kids who is not held to any accountability standards off the field how they feel about being held accountable and, I submit, many will gripe and complain.  Especially if they are currently involved in doing so.

Ask any kid who has endured all 4 years of HS Ball and Most will say they miss the Competition and Brotherhood.  Not many would even mention the "Torture" of practices. 

However!  I do know a few "Coaches" who made lives a living hell and are still despised for same, long after they left.   

One of the sayings in the Bible goes a long way in Coaching.  Do unto others!  Simple. 

jmho

However!  I do know a few "Coaches" who made lives a living hell and are still despised for same, long after they left.   

One of the sayings in the Bible goes a long way in Coaching.  Do unto others!  Simple. 

jmho

So true. Last season, we had a few former players who were too heavy for our age division come out as General Assistants. A part of our regimen is to send them on a slow jog around the goal post while staying together as a group. We sometimes (rarely) use bellies to discourage certain behaviors. For example, if I find water bottles or trash on the field after practice, I will have them do 5 bellies for every bottle I pick up. I blow the whistle, they hit their belly during their slow lap. Anyway, the GAs would blow the whistle just to f*ck with the team, grinning their tails off. I was really disappointed by that. I felt that they really missed the point when they were playing for us. We didn't blow the whistle for some sick joy. Is that how our players perceived us? Or was it just immature A-holes who couldn't contain themselves? Either way, the point was missed.

One of our coaches, when he gets his turn to teach, comes out really blustery as if he's issuing a warning. The way he barks, I can't help shake the feeling that he's unhappy that the team hasn't been delivering in whatever area he's going on about. Film and stats suggest otherwise. If they're doing a good job, let them know and encourage them to keep it up. Save the flamethrower for when you need it. Otherwise, they start blowing you off.