QuestionI coach at Harford Technical High School (small 1A high school population: <1200). The Varsity Head Coach wants to start a very strict policy that will combine the JV and Varsity Football Teams 100% of the time during practice. This also means JV will be running a complex West Virginia type playbook on both sides of the ball. He feels this is the only way to improve the Varsity Program. I feel very different. I feel the lack of attention to JV kids and inappropriate learning pace will cause the JV teams to suffer everywhere. Most of our kids have never played football before high school, they know very little about the game and require a great deal of base learning and fundamentals before they can even be considered safe to put on the field. Please let me know your expert options on this matter. If you think it is a good idea or not and if you have ever seen this work. Thank you very much for your time. The more responses the better.
AnswerGreat question. I have seen it be very successful at small schools I have coached at (400 kids) and struggle at bigger schools (1200 kids). At a smaller school, the kids do get attention. They are in individual drills, get group work, etc.
However, just this past fall I saw our J.V. just get pushed to the side (I am no longer coaching there). I agree with you completely that the kids will be standing off to the side killing grass, being bored, and hating football if they are not involved. Maybe you can get a session of practice where the JV is by themselves so they can get the needed instruction you have mentioned. Keep me posted, I am interested to see what happens. Coach B.
[email protected]
coachfromthestands.com
