Coaching is a business of communication.  We communicate ideas, plans, goals and expectations.  Poor communication will result in poor coaching and poor player performance.   

Players need to be given clear and concise direction.  They should always go into a situation, practice or a game, with a clear understanding of what is expected of them.  Be prepared; know what you want to say and how you’re going to say it. Shooting from the hip often results in miscommunication.  Without proper communication taking place, we set the player up for disaster and ultimately ourselves.    

Here are a couple of suggestions to improve our communication skills:  Talk with your players daily.  Let them know the good, the bad and the ugly of what they are doing.  This lets them know where they are within the squad, reinforces the good things and eliminates the bad.   

Evaluate their performance from the day before.  Don’t spend a ton of time on this as you don’t want it to appear to be a brow beating.  However, pointing out yesterday’s mistakes goes to insuring they won’t repeat today.  Keep it quick, concise and positive.   

On the field, corrections must take place immediately.  Again, it doesn’t have to negative.  Instead of pointing out what was done wrong, re-coach what needs to be done correctly.  This will inherently point out the mistake without actually drawing attention to it, and it keeps you in the positive.  The more improper reps the more likely the wrong behavior will continue so make corrections as they happen, not at the end of practice.   

Always coach with enthusiasm, intensity and positive ness; your players will feed off of this and reflect it in their performance.  Be consistent and fair in your coaching so that the players will learn to trust you.  Teach don’t yell.  Yell to be heard over noise or distance, not to coach.  Yes, yelling is sometimes appropriate when trying to make a point but it should never be the norm or the style of coaching.  I never want my players to be practicing with their heads down, tails between their legs, fearing the next verbal assault.   

Get to know your players by asking personal questions.  These don’t need to be deep probing questions but light general stuff about their day, their classes or even weekend plans.  Expressing an interest in their personal lives shows that you care about them beyond the football field.  Remember, you’re building a relationship through these communications.  When a player knows his coach cares about him he is more apt to make a better effort so as to not displease the coach.  These personal communications may also help to head off future problems that can affect the player’s performance.   

Always end practice on a positive note, not a negative.  Players should never leave the practice field or the locker room feeling down or bad.  You want them to want to come back the next day, not dread it.  If you had to kick a players butt during practice you better be patting him on the back at the end.   

Be the coach they expect you to be, be the man they need you to be.  All too often we loose sight of the fact that we’re dealing with young men who often need positive direction in their lives.  They come from a variety of backgrounds, upbringing and family situations.  As coaches, it is our responsibility to coach many of the aspects of their lives and we need to be prepared and willing to do so.  I used to tell my assistants that if coaching football was all they signed up for they needed to rethink their position.  A coach wears many hats and we need to embrace them all.    

Spring ball is already here for some of us and just around the corner for the rest.  I hope these tips will help us all to be the best coaches possible and thereby help our players to be the best possible.    

LinemenInc 2008 is only three and one half months away.  We would like to welcome our first coaches and players from Utah!  Coaches Aaron Nissen and David Spence, players Nick Nissen and Garrett Spence from Delta High School, Delta, Utah.  Sounds like a great road trip guys!