Looking for some help...

[MapleLeaf]

This is more suited for one of the other forums, but I was hoping for some exposure before it gets moved by the mods.

I've taken on the responsibility of joining a coaching staff of a newly formed peewee football team. Only two of us has ever played the game before.

What suggestions do fellow forum members have for a fledgling football team of 9, 10 and 11 year olds who have never had exposure to the game other than from TV?

If you were to try to focus on three or four things to try to make the year and their experience positive what would you suggest we do?

Thanks to all who contribute in advance.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

As a veteran pee wee coach I can say this:

1) Don't be a drill sargent. Make pracitces fun and get everyone involved.

2) Make the plays simple to learn and no double revers flea flicker QB options.

3) Make each player feel he is part of the team and that they have an important part in the teams sucess.

4) Stress winning with grace but losing with character.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Don't keep score. Instead, at the end of the game ask the kids if they had fun. At this point in their lives, that is more important.

 

[MapleLeaf]

As a veteran pee wee coach I can say this:

1) Don't be a drill sargent. Make pracitces fun and get everyone involved.

2) Make the plays simple to learn and no double revers flea flicker QB options.

3) Make each player feel he is part of the team and that they have an important part in the teams sucess.

4) Stress winning with grace but losing with character.

...do you know of any online sources for guidelines to coaching drills for kids this age?

I remember the ones from my university days, but are they applicable?

What did you find is a good split of drills to scrimmages? 50/50?

 

[Hostile]

I want to echo what Cajun and Big Dog already said and add one thing, focus on teaching them the rules of the game, not how to cheat to win.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Don't keep score. Instead, at the end of the game ask the kids if they had fun. At this point in their lives, that is more important.

...game last year to see if my boys would be interested in playing this year, their first year of eligibility.

I'm not being critical of the coach, but the kids I watch were on the punishing end of what became a 68-0 drubbing. I was abit diturbed to see kids on the sidelines crying and giving up excuses to their coach not to go in.

From what I could witness the coach handled it with grace, but I already have nightmares of a similar situation.

Our town has never had a football team, not even high school. Here it's hockey, hockey, hockey! I'm worried about creating enough of a buffer between the kids and the results of their first ever season so they will return next year.

 

[scottsp]

Just know going in, the toughest things to teach youngsters are the very basics of football: running, blocking, and tackling. This is especially true of kids who have not played full contact before.

They will naturally want to run around an opponent rather than through. I would really focus on these three items for a few practices before getting into plays and scrimmaging too much. Typically, it takes some time before the newbies get the hang of it. Do teach your kids how to properly run, block, and tackle.

And yes, make it fun. Be creative in how you go about it. You should do fine.

 

[MapleLeaf]

I want to echo what Cajun and Big Dog already said and add one thing, focus on teaching them the rules of the game, not how to cheat to win.

... we just held our mini camp and we went in shirts and shorts just to get the kids used to some of the drills, the positions and the rudiments of how to play the game. All these little guys wanted to do was hit.

To make matters even worse I think the majority of them feel like it's Madden 06 and they are expecting similar success on the field as they have in the tube.

My hope is that we can get this rag tag group to gel together and take the field each and everytime despite our record.

 

[Hostile]

... we just held our mini camp and we went in shirts and shorts just to get the kids used to some of the drills, the positions and the rudiments of how to play the game. All these little guys wanted to do was hit.

To make matters even worse I think the majority of them feel like it's Madden 06 and they are expecting similar success on the field as they have in the tube.

My hope is that we can get this rag tag group to gel together and take the field each and everytime despite our record.

It's a good goal David.

I'll tell you something that usually is a fun way to do running drills. Teach them some simple military cadence songs for while they are running. If possible use stuff about the team name and if it can be funny stuff about teasing you and the other coaches even better. It gets them laughing while they run.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Just know going in, the toughest things to teach youngsters are the very basics of football: running, blocking, and tackling. This is especially true of kids who have not played full contact before.

They will naturally want to run around an opponent rather than through. I would really focus on these three items for a few practices before getting into plays and scrimmaging too much. Typically, it takes some time before the newbies get the hang of it. Do teach your kids how to properly run, block, and tackle.

And yes, make it fun. Be creative in how you go about it. You should do fine.

...in the league we are running our mini camp now, during the summer holiday we will run a five day camp in pads and each position coach will be taking his group and running through position specific drills at four other sessions on their own.

Camp will assemble again at the end of August and by the second week of September we begin play.

Have we allotted enough time for these kids?

 

[MapleLeaf]

It's a good goal David.

I'll tell you something that usually is a fun way to do running drills. Teach them some simple military cadence songs for while they are running. If possible use stuff about the team name and if it can be funny stuff about teasing you and the other coaches even better. It gets them laughing while they run.

...it's been over 20 years since I was in military cadets, Canada's version of ROTC. Do you have any that you can remember? PM me with a few if you can remember them - it sounds like a brilliant idea.

 

[Hostile]

...it's been over 20 years since I was in military cadets, Canada's version of ROTC. Do you have any that you can remember? PM me with a few if you can remember them - it sounds like a brilliant idea.

What's your team name? I'll try and come up with a few.

 

[the kid 05]

like others have said : team unity is number 1, make sure every one is apart of it.

 

[MapleLeaf]

What's your team name? I'll try and come up with a few.

... Martensville Mad Dogs?

 

[Hostile]

... Martensville Mad Dogs?

Okay,an easy one first.

See the team all dressed in blue?

The Mad Dogs are coming for you.

Then do the count off.


You can come up with rhymes for colors easy.



One for the boys to razz you. This is always fun for them. It's like rebellion during drills.

Coach Yee, Coach Yee why do you look so green?

Somebody peed in his canteen.

Count off...



To start a fire you need some logs.

To win a game you need Mad Dogs.

Count off...

 

[MapleLeaf]

Okay,an easy one first.

See the team all dressed in blue?

The Mad Dogs are coming for you.

Then do the count off.


You can come up with rhymes for colors easy.



One for the boys to razz you. This is always fun for them. It's like rebellion during drills.

Coach Yee, Coach Yee why do you look so green?

Somebody peed in his canteen.

Count off...



To start a fire you need some logs.

To win a game you need Mad Dogs.

Count off...

...those are great! I'm going to give them a shot.

 

[Seven]

Okay,an easy one first.

See the team all dressed in blue?

The Mad Dogs are coming for you.

Then do the count off.


You can come up with rhymes for colors easy.



One for the boys to razz you. This is always fun for them. It's like rebellion during drills.

Coach Yee, Coach Yee why do you look so green?

Somebody peed in his canteen.

Count off...



To start a fire you need some logs.

To win a game you need Mad Dogs.

Count off...

Awesome! Other than these being stuck in my head for a week that was pretty good, off the cuff.

I noticed your "cheating" comment earlier Hos. I used to coach 8 and 9 year olds and it amazed me how often some coaches taught that. I agree that you've got to make it fun first, or you risk the chance of burning them out with sports all together. Bad thing IMO for such a young age. Sports can be a good tool for kids in consuming idle time.

GO MAD DOGS!!

Hey, you know what would be cool is if you kept us updated on the progress. Maybe a couple of the kids could send you an email and you could post it and members could answer questions and/or correspond. Give 'em the 'ol rah rah from afar. Let them know we're rootin' for 'em. Just a thought.

At any rate Good luck David.

 

[Chief]

Need an assistant that can install the wishbone?

Seriously, good luck David.

 

[RCowboyFan]

I posted another thread about BP's DVD, Backyard Drills its called. Probably bit Expensive side, but probably worth checking it out, if you can afford it.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I posted another thread about BP's DVD, Backyard Drills its called. Probably bit Expensive side, but probably worth checking it out, if you can afford it.

Was just coming in to post a link that you shared.

https://www.asseenontvnetwork.com/vcc/procede/backyarddrills/216568/