Old school coaching habits vs. todays players
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/andy_staples/03/05/coachi…
To sum up the article, it talks about how coaches can no longer take the old school approach with players, both physically and mentally. It goes on to list how old coaches treated players, and how they were able to mold them into tough individuals, whereas today coaches are on their toes with players in fear of backlash by the media and the athletic department.
I wanted to see what kind of coaches those of you who played any type of football encountered and how you think it affected you.
I'll go first: My high school DC had throat cancer and could barely yell. He made up for this by routinely beating players for mental mistakes. He grabbed facemasks, slapped helmets, punched should pads and more. The head coach was as physically imposing, but tended to yell, degrade and make public examples of players. It sounds rough, but damn we were good. We had no D1 talent, but these guys whipped us in to shape and kept our heads in the game. Between the two, they have won 5 state championships. (graduated HS in 2001, pre social media)
March 10th, 2010 at 12:42 PM ^
I'm old school at heart. I had coaches in wrestling and football that were very tough. I did well in that enviornment. I wish I was good enough to go play basketball for Knight or play football for Bo.
I understand the backlash today and the need to protect kids against guys that are truly abusive vs just old school guys. It's hard to see from the outside sometimes, but some of these tough guys were truly the best thing for a lot of kids.
When people make the argument against these kind of guys I tell them to look at what happened when Bo died. Giant football players bawling their eyes out, because of what he meant to them. If you asked them 2 years after they met him what they thought of him they would have probably wanted to kick his ass. It's later on that they appreciated what he did for them.
There is a line between abuse and extreme motivation, but good coaches should know how to walk it.
even if the coach is walking the proper line, you still have whiners out there that will run to the media or parents when they don't get their way. Seems like RR ran into a whole pack of them. I wanted a coach that would be harder on players. However, I never expected the outcome and how niave the public would be to believe anything the media tells them. Then you get the after-effect of our opposition piling on with no one to check them. Hopefully, our new AD can address once we get some things in the rearview. Go Blue!
Agreed, that's where the whole social media aspect comes in. Its so much easier now for an athlete to publicly show his contempt on Facebook or Twitter. You could really only complain to your parents before then. My dad played under Bo, so if I complained, I was told to suck it up.
Iron sharpens iron.
an old adage but it seems to fit the model of the old school coach.
Remember that phrase? Whenever some old person said it to you, you thought it was complete and total BS. Now you understand that sometimes (maybe even a lot of the time) they were right.
Few humans are as hard on ourselves as we should be; we let our own bad habits slide, and are OK with less than our best far too often. We are good friends with good enough. Good parents, teachers, and coaches understand the things that help to build character. They push us to do our best, even if we don't appreciate it in the heat of the moment. We might even dislike them at the time; years later, we appreciate the lesson.
I throw up in my mouth and mourn for the future of our country when I see parents bending over backwards to be their kids' best friends. Not doing well in school? It's the teachers' fault or the school's fault! My precious child would never be irresponsible, and it's the school's job to enable him when he is. Never mind that this will serve him poorly in the future.
Coach is making you work hard? He points out your bad habits? Transfer to a school where the coach praises you all of the time, and always lets you do the things you want to do.
Public humiliation is a bad thing, but momentary shame and embarrassment brought on by your own failings can be a powerful positive motivator. Teaching, coaching, and parenting require artistry to understand when to apply tough love and when to apply encouragement. Too many folks believe that blowing enough sunshine will empower our youngsters to achieve all that they dream. I am thankful to many of my coaches, my teachers, and my parents for challenging and pushing me, so that I expanded my horizons. I would never have achieved much if left to my own devices.
I had a coach that used to hit us with his whistle (on a lengthy lanyard--didn't feel good). He was a total dick.
Yeah, there is some crossing the line in that case. A whistle to the helmet made a lot of noise but didn't hurt. I'm totally against breaking the skin.
I have no problem with a old school coach, just as long he doesn't cross the line with the players.
My wife and her brother coach varsity girls softball. Parents are crazy. They cut an 8th grader (from the 8th grade team not JV) and the same night they got an e-mail from the parent accusing them of keeping kids because their parents were involved in the booster club or they were taking money under the table. So it just isn't in the major sports now. Every parent thinks their kid is a superstar, and just because they played a certain position on a summer team, whether it be rec or AAU, that is their position. They complain about stats constantly. Nothing is about the team anymore. I don't see how people coach in today's society.
March 10th, 2010 at 11:22 PM ^
I don't think they should hit players, but ppl today are way to sensitive. Let them slap them up a lil if they are slacking.