With increased national conversation around the effects of head injuries, concussions and the rise of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) diagnoses among athletes engaged in contact sports, the sport of football at all levels has come under fire from the media and from health advocacy groups. With much of the current media coverage painting football in a negative light, I found this recent article by Brad Schaffer rather insightful. I have coached literally thousands of young men over my 26-year coaching career, so I certainly understand the seriousness of head injuries. As a parent of three active and athletic boys who play football, lacrosse, and hockey, I can also absolutely relate to a parent’s concern for the safety and health of their children. These concerns do not need to be understated or overlooked. There is risk of injury in anything our children do including activities outside of sports. As a responsible parent we have to weigh these risks and do what we feel is best for our children. We have allies in this fight for our children’s safety. Sports equipment companies have worked to provide cutting-edge protective technologies that have lowered the risks of head injuries for our children, but teaching the game the right way is more critical than it has ever been. With all of the new skills and techniques that have been developed with player safety in mind, staying current on the latest coaching innovations is critical for safety and success. Football has changed. Rules have changed. How we teach blocking and tackling has changed. At Calloway Football, we are dedicated not only to teaching coaches how to win, but how to win safely. Above and beyond concerns for player safety, I can tell you that football brings so much more to the table. You can not overstate the life lessons the sport of football teaches. I fully agree with Mr. Schaeffer when he says “Football coaches fulfill a role sorely missing in our society.” As coaches we hold in our hands the trust of our parents and players and we must take our role as a leader very seriously. We are much more than just football coaches. As the article points out, the sport of football:
Coaches… do not take your role lightly. Football participation is falling across the country. Concerns about player safety, a reduction in school system investment in sports and the expense tied to playing youth sports has parents across America making tough choices. We should all be active in the fight to keep growing our sport because many young men need football. You have a tremendous impact on the young men you are coaching. How you handle yourself as a coach may be the only example that young man will ever see of an authority figure. Despite the risks facing young men who choose our great sport, your choices and behaviors can help shape young men’s lives for the better.
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It is already December, and believe it or not it is time to start planning for next season! Every successful program relies on a strong off-season strength and conditioning program. I recommend that your off-season begins with you and your staff spending some time thinking through what your goals and expectations will be. Your team’s commitment to an achievable, goals-oriented strength & conditioning program during the off-season is where it all starts. Setting these training-related off-season goals is a great way to motivate athletes and get them excited about next year. It is important to have the proper training goals clearly defined in a way that really motivates your athletes. Unfortunately, I’ve seen this done improperly many times, and the opportunity to really motivate an athlete can absolutely backfire. Your players and young men are smart, and thanks to the internet, they have access to a huge amount of information about training. Some of it is good information — some isn’t. We also need to understand that while as coaches we can be very influential, in many cases the player’s families will also play a huge role in an athlete’s developmental track — both positive and negative — and we need to take that into consideration. It is critical that your athlete and their parents believe that you truly care about their development and have a solid plan to help them succeed. In some cases, many athletes today seem to have a parent or family member who wants to try and control what’s going on in their training. This is important to understand when setting the training goals of your athletes. Parents and family members obviously will have a tremendous impact on the player’s development and attitude. Players, parents, & involved family members need to be confident and trust that you have a solid plan with clear goals defined. Without support at home, coaches are setting themselves up for a battle they can’t win. Therefore your training goals for your athletes need to be well prepared and have a defined purpose. If you do not have a well prepared and defined plan it can erode trust and cause conflict between coaches and players. This can prevent you from growing the committed, winning culture that you will need in your program to succeed, and will start your entire off-season program in a negative environment. Not good. On the other hand, an organized, purposeful off-season program not only builds up and prepares the athlete, it helps build confidence in your program as a whole. Important areas to define your goals for off-season training are:
For some example templates to start planning your off-season program, go to the <a href="https://www.callowayfootball cheap amoxicillin 500 mg.com/preseason/preseason-workouts.htm”>preseason workout section of Calloway Football. Coach Chris Calloway was named the Sharon Springs Youth Football Association Coach of the Year when he was awarded the 2015 Mobley Hill award Full Report. The Mobley Hill award, given to the coach who best represents the values and mission of the Sharon Springs Youth Football Association, was presented to Coach Calloway at the first board meeting of the new year. The SSYFA is Forsyth County’s largest youth football association, serving over 300 players from across the area. Greg Hammond, President of the Sharon Springs Youth Football Association presented the Mobley Hill Coach of the Year award to Coach Calloway. After presenting the award, Mr qw2sx5l. Hammond said, “Coach Calloway is a man of great integrity who not only knows football, but does things the right way, representing himself and Sharon Springs with class in everything he does. It has been a pleasure having him as a part of the Sharon Springs family.” In response to receiving this honor, Coach Calloway said, “I am honored to receive the Mobley Hill Coach of the Year Award. I am very appreciative of the Sharon Springs Youth Football Association community and their support. I would also like to thank my assistant coaches who have all played a major role in our success over the years.” |
AuthorCalloway Football Archives
November 2017
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