General Youth Coaching Principles
Coaching an NFL Flag League
As an NFL Flag coach, your main goal should be to create a fun and safe learning environment for your players. Whether you are an experienced coach or a novice taking the reins of your first team, there are several things to keep in mind as you begin your NFL Flag season.
Not all of these things are just as an NFL coach would do, but then, this isn't the NFL. However, one of the fun parts of NFL Flag is that the skills your players will practice and play with are just like those of their NFL heroes: passing, catching, defending, etc. This connection to the real-life game they see every week is one you should feel free to emphasize.
Everybody Plays
NFL Flag games were designed specifically to make it easier for every player to have a role in a team's success. While size and skill certainly will come into play when the action starts, your coaching should emphasize the "working together" aspect of the games.
Tackle Tackling Early
Don't let your practices dissolve into a giant pile of rambunctious kids. For both their safety and your sanity, make sure to discourage any tackling or roughness early on. Remind them that they won't help their team in a game by tackling or being rough.
Sportsmanship Rules!
Help your players be good sports. After a game, shake hands with or do a cheer for the other team. Applaud good play by both sides. Treat officials with respect. While imitating you, your team won't even know it's being taught a good lesson.
Let Them Play Football!
The temptation to be another Don Shula or Bill Walsh will have to wait. This is NFL Flag. While teaching football skills and strategies is important, keep your lessons as simple as possible. As your team grasps the basics, move on to more advanced ideas. Overloading young players with too much information too early can cause them only confusion...and you headaches.
Have Fun!
We thank you for your volunteer service. NFL Flag couldn't happen without you. But remember, this is fun for you, too.
Coaching tips are offered by Jerry Horowitz, retired head football coach at John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx, New York. Horowitz guided John F. Kennedy High to the 1984, 1991, 1994, 1996, and 2000 New York City High School Football Championship. In 1984, 1996, and 2000 John F. Kennedy High won the New York State High School Football Championship.
KEYS TO COACHING SUCCESS
Keys To Coaching Success
Have a Plan for the Season
Have a game plan for yourself, your assistant coaches, your players and parents. Make sure you keep it focused and you set the proper expectations prior to your first practice.
Your First Practice
This is your most important practice of the year. This practice will set the tone for your players, coaches and parents. Make sure it is organized, has high intensity and that everyone is involved. Have a fun game or drill to end practice with that everyone will remember and look forward to doing again in the next practice.
Drills: What drills will your players need to work on to implement your offensive and defensive game plans? Put these together in a logical order starting from very basic fundamental drills to more complex. Drills will help your players improve their game and your strategy. here.
The Importance of Time Management
Managing your practice time is the most difficult task for any coach. You never have enough time to run enough plays, practice every drill and cover every possible play. Prior to the start of the season is the time for you to think of ways you can maximize your practice time effectively.
Letter to Parents and Players
Once you receive your roster for the upcoming season, the first thing you''''''''''''''''ll want to do is send an email to the parents and players introducing yourself and setting expectations for the team, players and parents. In most cases, your letter will be the first time your players and parents hear from you as a flag football coach.
Here is a list of items to address as a flag football coach in your letter to players and parents:
Coaches: Names, Titles, Contact Information
Location: Practice and Game Fields
Schedule: Practice and Games
Team Goals: Have Fun, develop friendships, teamwork, skill development
Coaching Philosophy: Practice Expectations
Communication: Team Announcements via Phone, Text, Website, Social Media
Volunteers: Team Mom, Snacks, Other
Equipment: Required Player Equipment
Parents: Practice at home with your player
Handling Issues: How to bring up issues or concerns with coaching staff (not at practice or games)
Pre-Season Goal Setting
Setting goals will help you provide a road map for your team’s season. The most successful coaches in football all set goals. Setting goals is the most important task in coaching because the goals you set will guide your team strategy, coaching, practices and games for an entire season.
1. Team Goals.
Team goals will set the mission for your season for your coaches, players and parents (if applicable). Make sure you are setting realistic goals for your team based on your team personnel. This can be a delicate balance - you do not want to set your goals too low or too high. Make sure you challenge your coaches and players. If , get your coaches and players input well when constructing your goals for the season.
2. Coaching Goals
Communicating Effectively with players and parents
Teaching players the fundamentals of the game
Motivating your team effectively
Utilizing Positive Reinforcement with your players
Being Fundamentally Sound
Being Competitive in Every Game
Being Accountable to your team
Have Fun no matter the outcome of the game
3. Player Goals
Commitment to Practicing with 100% Effort at every practice
Have Fun no matter the outcome of the game
Accountable for Myself, Family and Team
Practice at 100% Each Practice
Improve My Skills
Be A Leader
4. Parent Goals
Encourage and Support My Player
Positive Reinforcement
Let The Coaches Coach and refs officiate the games
Teach and Practice at Home
The First Practice
Finally, the first practice for flag football is here. What an exciting time for every flag football coach, player and parent.
You have already emailed your letter to your team and parents. Now it''''''''''''''''s time to fulfill the goals and expectations you''''''''''''''''ve set for the team. The first practice is the most important practice of the year. All of your players, coaches and parents will have your full attention.
Spend the first few minutes introducing yourself to your team. Introduce your coaches and your goals for the team (play as a team, focus, improvement a particular skill). You will also need some sort of ice breaker. Have the players introduce themselves and announce one of the following:
Favorite Football Player / NFLTeam
Favorite Football Position
School and Grade
Now is a great time to ask for volunteers (for the practice and also for the whole season). This is your best chance to get as many volunteers as possible for your Team Parents, Assistant Coaches, Practice Coaches, and Photographer.
Every practice must have a schedule. If you do not have a schedule, you will fail. Break the practice schedule down into periods. Break the periods down to numbers so you can tell your assistant coaches what period to work on with your players. Clear communication is critical for your success. All you have to say is “Coaches, we are now in period x”. It also makes it easy to follow for your volunteer practice coaches and parents. Yes, give your practice schedule to your parents. This will get your parents more involved and they will feel more a part of the team.
The first practice should be light on plays and heavy on fundamentals. Some of your players may not have played in a while or at all.
Here is an example of a practice schedule with time periods:
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM Warm Ups
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Flag Football Fundamentals: QB/Center Exchange, QB/RB Exchange
2:30 PM – 2:40 PM The Proper Flag Football Stance by position, offense/defense
2:40 PM – 3:00 PM Defense Fundamentals:
Flag Pulling
Utilize drills and team scrimmages to evaluate the skills of each player to allows you to determine what positions each player can have the most success playing.
By the end of your first practice or two, and depending on the age of your teams (very young kids will take longer), players should have been taught the following flag football fundamentals:
How to put on flag
How to properly pull a flag
How to properly catch a football
How to properly throw a football
How to properly hand off a football
How to properly receive a hand-off
How to snap (hike) the football (QB/Center Exchange)
The proper pre-snap stance for QB, RB, WR Defense
Defense - how to Back Pedal
Defense Angle Tackle – how to properly pursue a ball carrier
How to huddle up and break the huddle
Coaching Tips For Parents And Referees
Coaching Tips: For Parents & Referees
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See also: Coaching Overview Coaching Principles
General Principles for Parents
Athletes and coaches will not be able to perform at their best if parents do not have a clear understanding of the philosophies of the youth football program. The following is a suggested guideline for parents:
1 Understand the daily pressures a child faces. Football should be an outlet and place for a player to have fun. Encourage your child and allow him or her to have a good time.
2 Remember that your child learns more from your actions than your words. Practice good sportsmanship by being respectful to players, parents, and coaches on both teams.
3 Parents should appreciate the efforts made by both teams. There is nothing wrong with applauding a good play made by the opponents.
4 Parents should support the coach, as long as the coach follows proper coaching guidelines. Parents should understand that most coaches are volunteers. It is inappropriate for a parent to coach a player who is on the field. Not only does it devalue the coach, it also confuses the player.
5 Parents should not embarrass their child by calling attention to themselves through loud or rude behavior.
6 Don''t be a coach - be a parent. Offer encouragement and positive reinforcement. A sure way to dampen your child''s enthusiasm is with constant criticism.
7 Parents should encourage discipline by having their children arrive on time for practices and games.
8 Parents should help their children realize that belonging to a team requires commitment. Regular attendance and being prepared are necessary for the team to function smoothly.
9 Parents should volunteer their services whenever possible. This shows the participants the value of being a team player.
10 Parents should respect the officials and their calls. It is okay to disagree, but inappropriate to disparage.
The Referees'' Responsibilities
1 On the youth level, referees always should be aware that the participants are new to the game. Often, it is their first experience with organized sports.
2 Be familiar with rule modifications and their implementation.
3 A referee can act as a teacher by explaining a rule or call that is made.
4 Make calls consistent with the level of play.
5 Insist that the playing field and equipment are safe for the children. Use good judgement in assessing weather conditions (e.g. cancel games immediately in the event of lightning).
6 Promote good sportsmanship through respectful behavior to both coaches and teams.
Coaching tips are offered by Jerry Horowitz, retired head football coach at John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx, New York. Horowitz guided John F. Kennedy High to the 1984, 1991, 1994, 1996, and 2000 New
Players Skills Drill
