“PROGRESSIVE COACHING” Dave Potter Head Coach DURHAM FIGHTING EAGLES

1. “PROGRESSIVE COACHING” Dave Potter Head Coach DURHAM FIGHTING EAGLES

2. DURHAM FIGHTING EAGLES SIX CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 FIVE UNDEFEATED SEASONS 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 Won 61 of our last 63 conference games dating back to 1999.

3. The Physical and Mental Approachof theDurham Fighting Eagles

4. DURHAM FIGHTING EAGLES TRADEMARKS PHYSICAL PLAY DISCIPLINED APPROACH ACADEMIC SUCCESS

5. Build Toughness Build Aggression

6. DURHAM FIGHTING EAGLES Our Slogan: “It’s hard to play against us, but it’s even harder to play for us.”

7. Fun is not something you go in search of. Fun is a byproduct of hard work and success.

8. ADVERSITY Nothing develops character like adversity. EMBRACE ADVERSITY.

9. Kids don’t grow when things are easy for them. Don’t be afraid to push your kids hard. Do not bully them.

10. “Success is 85% attitude and 15% aptitude.”—Harvard Study

11. Through hard work, you earn the right to expect to win.

12. “Whose Ball Is It?”Fumble Drill There are two rows of players. Two players at once will participate in this drill. One coach puts the football in the face of Player A and yells, “Whose ball is it?” Player A responds, “My ball, Sir!” The coach then puts the football in the face of Player B and yells the same question, “Whose ball is it?” Player B yells back, “My ball, Sir!” “Face front,” says Coach, so that neither player can “cheat” by seeing the throw. Coach throws ball down the field in any haphazard direction. Both players immediately chase the ball. The first player there recovers the ball by falling to the ground and locking it in his arms, using the “fetal position.” The other player pulls, yanks and fights for the ball in an attempt to take the ball away. Feel free to allow the drill to get as physical as you are comfortable with. We will let the players battle it out for the ball for more than one minute, sometimes going as long as two to three minutes. It is important that players understand that the play doesn’t end when it is recovered by someone else. On the contrary, the play is just beginning. What we are trying to do is get each player to try and end up with the ball. Two other coaches run alongside of the players yelling “encouragement” as the players battle for the ball. This should be a physical, intense and mean-spirited drill. It is not for the timid or weak. The slower and less-aggressive boys will soon understand that it is far easier to recover the ball, if they can get to it first, than to get there second and have to fight for the ball. This drill encourages the slower, less-athletic player to get to the ball quickly. It is important to match the boys evenly in their initial attempts. Also, you can bounce the football in a direction where one player is more likely to recover it, making the drill easier and more successful for the lesser athlete. We don’t care nearly as much who “wins” the drill, as we do care about developing aggression and teaching the importance of the football. We usually end the drill when both players have equal possession of the ball.

13. “Whose Ball Is It?”Fumble Drill Our fumble drill is literally a fight. Lots of torn shirts, scraped elbows, bloody noses and a few tears. But it develops an Alpha-pack mentality. Here’s what to expect during our “Whose Ball Is It?” (1-on-1) fumble drills: BLOODY KNEES BLOODY ELBOWS BLOODY NOSES TORN SHIRTS DIRT IN EYES DIRT IN MOUTH TEARS LOST TEETH (give them a mouthpiece) Here’s what they learn during our “Whose Ball Is It?” (1-on-1) fumble drills: AGGRESSIVENESS IMPORTANCE OF THE FOOTBALL HOW TO PROPERLY RECOVER A FUMBLE FIGHT TO THE WHISTLE GETTING USED TO HAVING THEIR HANDS & BODIES ON OTHERS BEING ON THE GROUND NEVER QUIT DESPITE THEY’RE BLEEDING & HAVE DIRT IN THEIR EYES TEACHES EVEN THE SLOWEST & LEAST AGGRESSIVE PLAYER TO GET TO THE BALL FIRST (because it’s easier to get there first and hold onto the ball, than it is to arrive second, and then have to fight for it).

14. “Whose Ball Is It?”Fumble Drill

15. TURNOVERS AND MARGIN 2000 through 2006 opponents 2000 EAGLES—9 plus14 23 turnovers 2001 EAGLES—8 plus 8 16 turnovers 2002 EAGLES—6 plus 9 15 turnovers 2003 EAGLES—6 plus 16 22 turnovers 2004 EAGLES—7 plus 30 37 turnovers 2005 EAGLES—10 plus 5 15 turnovers 2006 EAGLES—3 plus 23 26 turnovers MARGIN (7 YEARS)--PLUS 105 fighting eagles turnovers—49 TURNOVERS fighting eagles opponents—154 TURNOVERS

16. THE “NICE” COACH Hides his lack of knowledge of the game, by saying he’s “not about wins and losses. He says he just wants the kids to have a good time.” Accuses others who complain about his team’s lack of success by saying that they don’t care about the kids, and that they are more concerned about wins and losses. He’s all about “niceties & soundbites.”

17. THE “BULLY” COACH Won’t discuss POSITIONS Won’t discuss PLAYING TIME. Won’t discuss his OFFENSE. Won’t discuss his DEFENSE. Won’t discuss Xs and Os. Won’t discuss his SCHEMES. Uses FEAR and INTIMIDATION as weapons with players and parents. Uses inappropriate LANGUAGE.

18. “It doesn’t matter if you are the best. What matters is that you are working to be.” --Chuck Priefer, Detroit Lions Assistant Coach