Tell me what you think.....

[Kurb]

you don't suck as much as skew

You are growing as a person already.

[Bones McCoy]

you trying to get them pumped up or put them to sleep

Fiz you are too predictable

[AKPantherFan]

You should make promise #4.

Promise although they will work hard, they will have fun. Because after all, they are kids and that is ultimately what it is all about. Should be the most important thing on the list IMO.

Good Luck and make sure you have fun also!

I made a pledge that they have to sign, on it it says they "promise to have fun"

I am for the kids having fun, this is not the NFL.

[Kurb]

Remember these too.

Soft Zones

Pull your best DLineman into coverage

Leave the Running Game when it is working

Always start the older player

[AKPantherFan]

Ya emphasize having fun over everything else.

how old are the kids ?

real little dudes- 7

there is a catch 22 though. I dont run a playground, its a football team IMO- their parents didnt pay $400 to watch them horse around.

with that, I expect every kid to have fun, but i expect hard work too.

even at this age group, if a kid is not paying attention he will get hurt. Then its on me.

Its my job to keep them focused.

But I want them all to look back and smile on the season.

[AKPantherFan]

Remember these too.

Soft Zones

Pull your best DLineman into coverage

Leave the Running Game when it is working

Always start the older player

ahahaha- the true road to victory!

[Johnny Rockets]

I made a pledge that they have to sign, on it it says they "promise to have fun"

I am for the kids having fun, this is not the NFL.

When I coached baseball and I noticed the kids in a bit of a lull during a not so exciting drill I would yell out at the top of my lungs:" What is baseball???!!!!" and they would yell back "FUN!"

It was the mandatory response we set that up from day one and the kids seem to like it and I would do it throughout practice. Might sound kind of corny but it worked on 10 year old kids and I had many parents compliment the idea. Seems their old coach was a bit of a hard-a$$ and took the enjoyment out of the game.

That was 7 years ago and I ran into one of the kids about a week ago at the gym (who I didn't recognize cause he changed so much) and he said hello told me how much fun he had on that team and how well he is doing in high school ball now. Really puts into perspective what kind of impact you can have on a kid without ever realizing it.

[The Question]

what kinda roids you gonna give em? XD

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Tell them every game they lose they have to buy you a beer. (Just hope they suck really bad)

[dexterpyro]

I think you got to make it fun....its kids....u mkae them hate sports now, they we never be good citizens or whatever.....i cant stand Coaches of LL or Pop warner acting like The Chin or Bob knight....sports should be fun win or lose

[Dingo_ate_Babies]

teach them to chop block.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

teach them to chop block.

or cup check

[AKPantherFan]

I think you got to make it fun....its kids....u mkae them hate sports now, they we never be good citizens or whatever.....i cant stand Coaches of LL or Pop warner acting like The Chin or Bob knight....sports should be fun win or lose

Fun is important, but lets be honest, the kids aren't stupid and its not fun to lose.

We have not lost a game in 4 years. Seriously. I think thats cool, but at the same time it doesn't allow a coach to teach kids how to deal with adversity.

We have a lot of 1st year players this year so I anticipate loss or two, but its a great opportunity to encourage hard work and determination.

I honestly don't care if we lose every game (that would suck though), but i expect the kids to give 100%. I don't deal kindly to laziness, especially when you have teammates relying on you.

So all I will ask of them is their best, I think every coach should get that out of their players.

[pstall]

Great stuff ak.

You can have fun AND high expectations, even with young kids.

I coached more baseball than I did football but my practices were tough but fast. My goal was to get the kids to challenge themselves and more or less coach and call other players higher.

As long as kids know their roles and what is expected, I never talked about wining or losing, I just assumed we were going beat the other guy every time and we would get better and better each week.

Ya also have to know your group. If the contract works for them then do it. Each kid is different as you know.

But heck, the kids are easy, its the insanely delusional parents that made me stop coaching.

Good luck