What we expect of our Coaches and volunteers ( The Head Coach will emphasize team vision and expectations)

 

1.  Keep it Fun 

 

Football is a game, it's not life.  While there are wonderful life lessons to be learned from the game, we as 

 

coaches cannot be so caught up in pummeling our opponent that we forget this important principle. Kids should 

 

not dread coming to practice.

 

 

The best football players of today learned the fundamentals of the game many years ago.  This is in our job description 

 

as a youth football coach.  We cannot give our kids a 100 page playbook and expect them to memorize it in a 6 week 

 

season.  Simplify.  Teach.  This game gets more complicated the older they get.  Take the time now to focus on 

 

fundamentals, and teach them how to make a good block, how to catch the football, how to make a solid tackle, how to 

 

perform correct cheer stances. Etc.  Set them up for success in their future football career by laying a solid foundation 

 

now. Don’t just tell them, SHOW  them.

 

 

We are privileged to have a role in the shaping of some young people, and we need to take that responsibility seriously.  

 

Our kids should be the ones breaking up the fights in school, not starting them.  Our kids should be the ones leading by 

 

example with their grades, effort, and enthusiasm.  And if we expect them to lead by example, it starts with us.   This 

 

does not mean they have to gather up after every play and sing “We Are The World” .  We can encourage good 

 

sportsmanship and physical intensity at the same. I love to see players going as hard as they can between whistles, and 

 

after the play, helping each other up and going back to do it again.  We help shape Character.

 

 

Football has always been a physical game, with many injuries, and injuries are a normal part of most sports. However, 

 

the reputation for football has gotten worse recently with the research and media buzz about concussions in football. 

 

Can't we, as a general body of good coaches, do our part now before we have mandates on training and safety audits on 

 

our practices? Do we really need to do "bull in the ring" drills with our 10 year olds? Again, our goals are to make sure 

 

they come back to play the game, have fun, and grow into good people. Some injuries are avoidable.

 

 

Many of us reference our youth or high school football coach when we talk about who has made a big impact on our life. 

 

See beyond the scoreboard. You've got parents, neighbors, aunts and uncles involved (for better or worse). You've got 

 

little Willie’s little brother, who actually is fast and physical, and might play for your team someday, if  Willie has fun 

 

with it. To me, it's not just about the game of football, it's about relationships. In some of your eyes, our team and 

 

league may not seem like much, but it's an opportunity. I ask my fellow coaches the same thing I've asked my players; 

 

What are you going to do with what you've been given?