Program Planning for a Championship Season

1. Program Planning for a Championship Season Springfield Tigers 2005 Class A State Champions Photo – Minnesota State High School League Presented by Paul Dunn Head Coach – Springfield Tigers Email – paul.dunn@springfield.mntm.org

2. Core Beliefs • BELIEF IN A MOTTO • YOUTH PROGRAMS • STRENGTH & SPEED • DELEGATION • FAMILY • Coaches, Parents, Student-Athletes, Community

3. Create a Program Slogan or Motto • TIGER PRIDE! • Do what’s right, because it’s right – even when no one is looking • Add a theme for each team and vary each year – ones that are good, reuse. • Front door vs. Back door • Count on me • When better is possible, good isn’t good enough • Act/Work like a champion today • MAKE THIS SLOGAN THE MOUTHPIECE FOR YOUR PROGRAM IN THE COMMUNITY – Once the community has bought in…. Life gets much easier!!

4. Summer Camp • Non-padded camp • We run 2 sessions over 3 days – average 108 kids a year at the camp over the last 7 years • 3-7 grade (cost to athlete $25) • 3-5PM Mon.-Wed. • Stations – basic football skills, games, high energy ensure the kids have fun with the game of football • Introduce and explain your motto... Any cool traditions that are already present in your program • Punt Pass and Kick Competition – Give awards at half time of your first home game - Let kids in free with their camp t-shirt on • Generate Excitement about your Football Program!! 2004 Elem. Camp Photo by Pete Hedstrom,Springfield-Advance Press

5. Summer Camp (cont.) • 8-12 grade (cost to athlete $30) • Skills work • Speed Work • Put in your base offense and defense • Educational research says that retention is higher as concepts are reinforced at varying intervals during a given year • We are finding we spend less and less time each year on scheme and more on technique because the kids “know” the offense 2004 High School Camp Photo by Pete Hedstrom, Springfield Advance-Press

6. Summer Camp (cont.) • Put on by Tiger Pride, LLC in conjunction with the school and the City of Springfield • - Solicit donations from area business to defray costs • Pay your coaches as well as you can! Take care of them! They work hard enough during the season - to expect them to do this free or as a donation is taking advantage of your staff – Don’t forget to pay yourself…. 1999 Camp Photo by Kellie Dunn

7. Summer Camp (cont) • Bring in guest coaches • Keeps camp fresh and helps both players and staff to grow • Pay mileage, a stipend, lodging, etc. • Make the Camp FUN, NOT WORK!! • The kids will work when they report to practice!!!! Image courtesy of The Graphic Edge, Inc.

8. Parent Relations • Watermelon Feed • Parent Meeting • Goal setting • Elect captains • Expectations • Procedures • Rules • Grievances

9. Delegation • Give every member of your staff ownership of some phase of the game. • Explain the techniques you want and let them run with it – try not to micro-manage • Give up some control of your program to ensure that all coaches are engaged on Friday night • Lighten your load by spreading the weight • Give credit where it is due… and personally take responsibility if something goes wrong • You must show loyalty to expect it….. Photo by Scott Jones, Springfield Advance-Press Pete Hedstrom – Scout Team, Equipment, Managers, Time Outs/Clock issues (Volunteer Coach) Jeff Briard – Defensive Coordinator Paul Dunn – Head Coach Paul Arnoldi – B-Squad – Tower Communications, passing game Brady Schwab – B-Squad – Special Teams, Field Set-up/Equipment

10. YOUTH PROGRAMS • Promote and Market Tiger Football Camp • 5-6 grade flag football • 7-8 junior high full pads • Why not more? • Control of instruction • Prevents negative experiences • Focus on Fun • Come “home” to football

11. Youth Programs Cont… • JH Coach MUSTS 1. Run YOUR offense and defense 2. Use YOUR terminology 3. Play everyone  winning is a by-product • Varsity Coach MUSTS • Be visible • Make kids feel important • Meet with all kids

12. Jr. High Program Photo by Neil Neidt • Do not allow your coaches to go their own way • Define the skills to be learned and instruct them on HOW you want them taught. • They need to run both YOUR offense and defense • They need to use your terminology • Avoid, if possible, the use of parents as coaches

13. Jr. High Program (cont) • Be visible at their practices • - Show up unannounced and step in and teach (if they are teaching your stuff, that shouldn’t be difficult) • Make sure those kids know who is in charge of the program, but treat your Jr. High coaches as equals. • THESE COACHES ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR FUTURE AND ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT COACHES IN YOUR PROGRAM! Photo by Neil Neidt

14. Jr. High • FORM TACKLE! Keep hitting to a minimum! • Talk about hitting constantly! Do it very little outside of games - Limit negative exposure to contact – but build a culture that rewards and encourages it Photo by Neil Neidt

15. Jr. High Program (cont) • Play all of your players! You never know who will develop late and help you in the future! • Winning is NOT the focus of this program. • Give your players a basic understanding of your scheme, develop basic football skills and have fun playing the game!! • Invest in their equipment • Make the kids feel important • Attend games if possible Meet with all sixth grade boys during the spring to promote Jr. High Football!!!

16. Create a “Hitting” culture • Create an environment where physical play is the norm. • Award hard hitting form tackling • Slobber Knocker T-Shirts • Talk about hitting constantly • Legal use of violence Photo by Neil Neidt

17. Create speed in your program • Literally teach the kids how to run • Cleans, plyos and quick feet • Repeatedly drill athletes on how to run! • Do not assume that they know how! • Straight lines • Eliminate wasted motion (cross body) • Body lean • Run on toes etc. • Work on it every day! Speed is your friend! Photo by Neil Neidt

18. SPEED & STRENGTH • NECESSITIES! • Teach & Review Proper Running & Lifting Form • OUR SUMMER SYSTEM • Mandatory Number of Lifts • Chart attendance and progress • Accountability & Competition • Penalty = commitment run

19. Live and Die with your SENIORS! • They have done what you asked throughout their career • They need to reap whatever they have sowed – good or bad • The only time you should play an underclassman is if you, the team and the public can clearly see that he is obviously the better player Photo by Neil Neidt Photo by Neil Neidt

20. Seniors (cont.) • If the players in question are equal or you aren’t sure, play the senior • If you don’t do this, you have just shown your entire program that off season training, commitment and the time veteran players have invested in your program is of little value. • You must show loyalty to expect it…. Photo by Neil Neidt Photo by Neil Neidt

21. Seniors • Do not be sucked in to a yearly youth movement. If your seniors are not getting it done, look hard in the mirror and let them get what they deserve. • Let your younger kids have their success in your b-squad program – let them be the big fish in the little pond, not a little fish in a big pond

22. Athlete Specialization • Small schools can not afford it • Encourage team members to compete in other sports year around • Limits athlete burn out • Be involved in actively supporting them in other activities • Attend games • Assist with fund raisers • Build relationships with coaches and coordinators of other activities – you need their support Photo by Neil Neidt Photo by Neil Neidt

23. Spread the Gospel • Be visible in the community • Be visible at school events • Do charity work • Let the public see you working for a variety of causes • Be engaged and talk the football gospel at every opportunity • Let the public talk football with you…… Photo by Neil Neidt Photo by Neil Neidt

24. Administration/Faculty Relations • Cooperative Climate – be engaged. • Avoid “My way or the Highway” mentality • Give administration credit even when they have given less than enthusiastic support • Remember that “not funding” and saying “no” are two totally different things • Budget reductions…… funding coaches, transportation, staff development, uniforms, equipment

25. Fundraising • Tiger Football Camp Sponsorships • Burger and Brat Feed • Tiger Pride Packs • Apparel Sales

26. Family • Give your family opportunities to be involved • Include them whenever possible • Support system – you need their support to make success fun • Time together while you are working • Field prep, camps, film breakdown, banquet, mailings etc. • Incorporate their ideas - this gives them ownership in the success of your program. • Set aside time to support them • Be aware of time issues • Focus on them as much as possible Photo by Jim Dunn Photo by Kellie Dunn Photo by Pete Hedstrom Photo by Kellie Dunn Photo by Kellie Dunn

27. Press Relations • When things are going well, it’s always the kids……… • When things are going poorly, it’s always you. • Never criticize your team, individual players or your staff in the press. • If you want loyalty, you have to show loyalty…

28. Year End Banquet • Closure to season • Invite all contributors to your program, players, parents, managers, cheerleaders • Guest speaker • Highlight film • Team and media awards • Important to acknowledge all of the people who help you put a quality team on the field.

29. Program Timeline March 15 – Fundraising – Camp Sponsorship • April - Develop camp brochure • April - Clinics • May 15 – Team Meeting • Summer Weight room • Camp info. • Refocus team • June – August summer weight training • July – 3rd week Tiger Football Camp (stay consistent on date so families can plan) • July – Burger and Brat Feed - put on by coaches and their wives • August – Practice/season • Nov./Dec. – Banquet • Dec. – Feb. College Recruiting season, Self scout.

30. Acknowledgements • Photos – Pete Hedstrom, Kellie Dunn, Neil Neidt, Jim Dunn, Scott Jones, The Graphic Edge, Inc. • Technical Assistance – Brady Schwab, • Concept – Ron Robinson, Rich Sherman, Robert Fink, Lyle Gomarko • Proofing – Kellie Dunn, Jeff Briard • Layout – Pete Hedstrom • Tiger Football Coaching Staff