Staff Selection 

Q: Which is more important? 
A. -  Having the right players or 
B. - Having the right coaches?

Most coaches would answer this question #1, but it’s absolutely #2.

As coaches we all know that players certainly can and do matter, but the right coaching is the most important thing that will determine your teams and players overall success.

In a recent interview Head Coach of the New England Patriots, Coach Bill Belichick said this "Good players can't overcome bad coaching, it's impossible"
​
At Calloway Football we agree 100% with Coach Belichick. It is critically important to hire and put together a quality coaching staff that meets the following criteria.

Picture
"Good players can't overcome bad coaching, it's impossible" 
​- Coach Bill Belichick, Head Coach New England Patriots
Foundation and Criteria to Putting Together a Quality Staff

Ensure assistant coaches have Knowledge of their position — or a willingness to learn. If you can find coaches with experience, outstanding. But you may have to train them as you go in that case they have to be willing to learn.

Chemistry with the other coaches on your staff. You’re going to be spending a lot of time together. Make sure you’re going to want to. One bad coach can make for a miserable season. The entire staff MUST be on the same page and enjoy coaching together or failure is almost certain.

A willingness to follow head coaches lead. The head coach is the captain of the ship. The people on your staff MUST to be able to accept that.

The right personality - You have to know the personality of every coach and make sure they’re a team player.

Before ever allowing a coach to be on staff, make sure your coaches fully understand and agree to the following:

1. They will follow your lead at all times.
2. They will stand up for the coaching staff in every situation.
3. They have to be on the same page and have each other’s back at all times, no matter what.
4. A divisive personality will not be tolerated.

All assistant coaches must be 100% on board with this philosophy or DO NOT allow them onto your staff.

Executive Roles

Coaching Role / Position
Responsibilities 
Head Coach
  • Responsible for the entire team structure & direction
  • Must be a good leader & decision maker
  • In youth football will often fill one of the Coordinators roles
Assistant Head Coach
  • Second in command to the Head Coach
  • Runs practices when the Head Coach is absent
Offensive Coordinator (OC)
  • Develops, installs, and evolves the overall offensive philosophy
  • Develops and installs the offensive game plan for each game
  • Calls the offensive plays on game day
Defensive Coordinator (DC)
  • Develops, installs, and evolves the overall defensive philosophy
  • Develops and installs the defensive game plan for each game
  • Calls the defensive plays on game day
Special Teams Coordinator
  • Responsible for special teams game planning
  • Kick / Kick Return
  • Punt / Punt Return
  • Extra Point & Field Goal
Additional Notes
In most all cases in youth football the coaches in a executive role are also coaching a position group.

Offensive Positions Coaches & Roles

Coaching Roles / Position 
Responsibles
Offensive Line Coach 
  • May be the most under-coached position in youth and middle-school football
  • Responsible for run blocking and pass protection
  • At least two coaches in this role is ideal
  • A strong OL coach is key to your team’s success
Quarterbacks Coach
  • QB is the most important position on the field
  • Must understand:
    • The offense you’re running
    • Defensive coverages
    • The overall game itself
  • Must be a teacher, not a drill sergeant
Wide Receivers Coach
  • Two WR coaches is ideal:
    • One for inside (Y&H) receivers
    • One for outside (X&Z) receivers
Running Backs Coach
  • Coaches the RB run game, screen game, and pass protections

Defensive Positions Coaches & Roles

Coaching Roles / Position
Responsibles
Defensive Line Coach
Defensive End Coach
  • Two coaches in this role is preferred
  • Split up into interior line and DE
  • If you’re short a coach, use one here instead of two
Linebackers Coach
  • Two LB coaches is ideal
  • Teaches run/pass schemes and technique to the Mike, Will, Buck, Dog, & Rover positions
Defensive Backs CB Coach
Safety Coach
  • Two DB coaches is ideal
  • Split up into CB and Safety
  • Coaches run/pass schemes and technique to cornerbacks & safeties
Picture
Unbreakable Coaching Rules

We have developed four unbreakable coaching rules based on over three decades of experience.

RULE 1: The Head Coach is in Charge
The head coach sets the philosophy, tone, & direction for the entire team. If an assistant coach can’t abide by that, he can’t be on the coaching staff.

RULE 2: Coaches Should Never Disagree Publicly
Coaches should never disagree with one another in front of the team, individual players, or parents for any reason at any time. When disagreements arise, the coaches discuss it as a staff in private, in a professional manner.
Once the head coach decides the outcome, it is over. End of conversation.

RULE 3: Coaches Should Always Show a United Front
A coach cannot get into a negative or finger-pointing conversation with a parent or someone else outside the coaching staff.If a coach sides with a parent against the head coach, that coach must be removed from the staff immediately. If he wants to act like a parent, he can go be a parent.
Publicly, coaches should only express support for the head coach and other members of the staff. In cases where an outsider has a legitimate point, the coach can take the matter to the head coach in private, without the outsider.

RULE 4: Never Discuss Another Player
Coaches must never discuss a player’s role or performance with anyone who is not that player’s parent.
First Coaches’ Meeting

The purpose of your first coaches’ meeting is to make sure your staff is all on the same page. In general, there are several topics you want to cover:

  1. Your philosophy on every topic, setting clear expectations
  2. Your offensive philosophy and the basics of the playbook
  3. Your defensive philosophy and the basics of the playbook
  4. Make sure each coach fully understands his role and responsibilities.
  5. Make sure each coach understands the practice structure and what each coach’s role is during practice
  6. Make sure you cover each rule in detail.
  7. Make sure every coach is in 100% agreement.
  8. Cover all of the important dates for the season: Practice start date, practice days/times, dates of interest for your League, etc.
  9. Discuss and outline the desired method(s) for staff communication during the season: Email, text, phone, etc.
  10. Ensure everyone is on the same page or it will not work.

Additional Navigation
Training Center Home
Premium Member Library
​Online Store
Staff Selection, Management and Development 
Parents Meeting and Parents Management 
Practice Foundation and Fundamentals
Offensive Introduction and Identity
Offensive Philosophy and Position Profiles
Offensive Line Pass Protection Basics
Defensive Basics
Defensive Philosophy
Tackling Basics

Document Download 
Proudly powered by Weebly