Where I could possibly see your grief ...have a question.

Why aren't you coaching?

Before you complain...... Volunteer

To be honest there are not enough good coaches.  If you take out the daddy ball side of coaching from youth football there will not be enough coaches.  Or, this is what we have always been told.  It is a volunteer basis so you are going to get what you get.  The fall back excuse is always, "Pick up a whistle and you do it if it is so easy!"  This is still rec football it isn't competitive and the bottom line is that the INFC wants as many kids to play as possible.  This puts the kids, family, and coaches in a bad situation.  This will be my last year coaching after 7 years of coaching.  I can count on 1 hand the number of coaches I have seen that are truly coaches.  I see a lot more guys who sign up to coach, and do nothing more than stand around with a blocking pad, or shoot the **** for 2 hours 3 nights a week.  Maybe they don't know any better?  Or, the coach who is only coaching their own child.  Or the coach who is coaching to make sure their child is a starter or in a glamour position.  Don't get me wrong I appreciate all these guys giving up their time to help kids.  If it wasn't for all the volunteer coaches a lot of these kids wouldn't be allowed to play football and  the INFC wouldn't be able to make their payrolls.  A lot of things are wrong the way the INFC is ran, but one thing right is the amount of people who volunteer whether their intentions are in the right place or not.  We need more good coaches and less sports agents out on the field.  I think it also starts with the high school coaching staffs.  The high school coaches should be more involved at the youth level taking ownership of the programs, and making sure their next generation of players are taught the right way to block, run, and tackle.   just my 2 cents.

BINGO, Mr. Stoops!   I agree with most everything you've posted here.  It's obvious you've "Seen the Elephant," to quote an old military phrase. 

The one thing we DO disagree upon is your statement that INFC is recreational and not competitive.  Having directed a youth association that included basketball,  I realize the INTENT of the programs are recreational, but the end product was VERY competitive.  I believe that to be the case with pretty much all youth “rec” programs, including those of the INFC.  Nothing wrong with that, actually, though the purity of recreational activities must be preserved for the welfare of the youth who need the social/physical values embedded within such youth organizations.  Thus, it becomes absolutely IMPERATIVE that coaches insure ALL participants benefit from the youth athletic/activity organization.  Therein lies the rub.  My experience has been, MOST coaches are more competitive than recreation oriented.  Especially the coach who is there because his kid is playing for that team.  Again, nothing wrong with that, basically, as long as the HEAD COACH makes sure the recreational aspects are included for those not yet so talented.

Yeah, we all can see flaws – perceived or real – in the INFC program.  No organization which encompasses such an abundant number of youth and the infrastructure required can avoid controversy and even criticism.  Just the policies, procedures, and rules alone are so intricately developed to insure the recreational aspect of the program is foremost.  Many who are advocates for the competitive position, however, want success on the field of play to be emphasized.  I seldom find myself criticizing the INFC, as I am familiar with their daunting task.

One area you mentioned I feel is especially important to cultivate in the INFC program is the involvement of high school coaches in the INFC infrastructure.  In my opinion, not many HS staffs have much involvement.  To their own detriment, I believe.  Pre-season clinics are available, but in MY opinion, seem to be more related to economics than long-term improvement of the youth.  I may be totally wrong in this, as I'm not as familiar with those efforts as are others.  Regardless, the influences and support of high school coaching staffs would be most beneficial.

Perhaps I should end this with the assurance that in no way am I disparaging all INFC coaches!  Over the past years, I've observed many admirable coaches and teams which benefited from what I call “life skills” imparted by those coaches.  Enjoyable, productive experiences have/will encourage kids of all levels of talent to continue to participate, and with the help of quality coaches, improve to the point of being valuable members of higher level teams.  Thank you, INFC, for providing those opportunities to the youth in our communities.

After your explanation like I first said I could understand your grief! And take back my question of why aren't you coaching.

You do have strong valent reality points, my only thing is so many parents that haven't tried to coach get on here and complain and that is still my question to that type of "Player Agent" that's my name for parents lol.

And the problem with youth sports is parents for the most part ...from 6u to HS. And the second most is a youth coach coaching for the wrong reasons and thinking they know it all....in Any Sport.

This is my 13th yr (coached before had kids) and I do understand what your saying...some coaches can learn from others and some egos won't let them!! Shoot with your credentials you can come coach for me any day!!

I haven't been able to read all the comments and probably won't, but I can tell you that I for one have been and still am guilty of some of the problems with Youth Coaching that you have stated. I have spent way too much time during practice discussing game plans that should have already been discussed before practice or should be discussed after practice. I have spent way too much time "Installing" game day preparations for the upcoming opponent. As I have predetermined who was going to play where and why they were going to play there without trying other kids out at those positions. Also, I have been the coach that would drill my "star" players more than my "12 play kids".

I evaluate my coaching several times through out the season every season and try to become a better coach from it. I have been coaching Youth Football for 5 years and Wrestling for 6. So I have grown up as a Coach, Parent, and Husband through these few years. I can honestly say without any guidelines telling me what to do and what not to do I have had Rough times and I have had Good times. I don't remember losses and I don't remember wins from my first years and I can assume I won't remember today's losses and wins here in a few more years, but I can tell you this, I remember each kid I have ever coached and I remember where they were before I coached them and how far they have gone since they have been with me. I remember picking them up from their homes where they didn't stay more than a month or 2 at a time. I remember kids staying the night and having nerf gun fights with them all night then we're all tired come the next morning when it's game day. I would do just about anything for each and every single kid on my team even if they are not the "Star" player. I have learned so much from my mistakes in the way I have coached over the years and I have corrected so much too. I have been very blessed to have the coaching staff that I have now which allows us to put our heads together as volunteer parents who have never played more than the HS level of football and come up with great practice plans that will make a difference in our kids when they get to their HS coach. I'm not perfect, but I do believe that I have a lot to learn still yet and that the way we coach our team is beneficial and has almost done a 180 since the first couple years of coaching.


If I could give anyone advise that is a new coach I would say use the material available to you if you don't have someone to "Mentor" you. USA Football has been very useful and just be a go getter for information it's out there. If you lose a game don't worry, just figure out why you lost and fix it. If your team isn't tackling well then teach them proper tackling and find a fun drill that they can do 1000 times if that's what it takes. Proper drilling and lots of reps per kid is a lot more important than winning your ball game Saturday. Keep consistent, coach with a Smile 24/7. I have said this many times, even if you think they're not watching you they are so what you do is what they will do. They feed off your attitude, your gestures, your Smile. Make them want to look for you after they made a tackle just so they can run over with excitement and give you a high five because once you have their attention like that from then on you are their future, you are who they are when they get older. Your only as good as your team so coach them all up and watch how much better they become.


Like I said I have been this guy the Original Post is talking and still am this guy, but I do believe every minute I am out on the field and off the field I do my best to correct my coaching and my coaches coaching to make us better so we can teach our kids how to play football and not just yell at them on Saturdays with stuff like "Tackle!" "Run Harder" "ARE YOU SCARED!" Instead we try to be more informative and helpful to the players. I hope you all can read this guys post and really understand what he is saying, I don't believe he is trying to be disrespectful and I don't believe he is just trolling. What he says has a lot of meaning and is something I think about all the time even with my own team.

Thanks for the Post, it was about time I stepped back and evaluated my actions as a coach this year.


~ Strategy
Coach Hargrove
Catoosa 4th Grade HC

Strategy, from your post, I'm thinkin' you're the kind of guy I'd like to have coaching ALL the INFC teams.    There ARE a good # of caring, dedicated coaches who are capable of more than chastising their teams for not winning.  And your involvement with other sports over such a long period of time is admirable.  But what impressed me most is the mention of involvement with your team outside the actual football practices/games.  THOSE are the positive influences on the life-skills I mentioned previously.

Thanks for what you - and those like you - do for our youth.  As a former teacher myself, I quickly recognize the difference in the ones who are there for the right reasons.