“It takes a unique person to strap it up and go out and hit people. It’s even more unique to have the mental and physical makeup of an offensive lineman, a gentle giant. To be bigger and stronger than anyone you know. To be humble enough not to need all the attention. To be crazy enough to go through practice, mean enough to physically dominate some one else, and smart enough to pick up on the playbook and never, ever be allowed to make a mistake. Linemen don’t play for the attention, the money, or the women. They play for the love of the game. Every lineman hates practice because their practice is the hardest. But the game is a drug. It keeps you coming back no matter what. Linemen play with the knowledge that everyone else depends on them to win. They only want respect from teammates, opponents, and family. They play for the pure satisfaction of giving it everything they have and coming through when everyone is counting on them. They play to win. They play for the pure essence of the game.” – Ryan Jordan, Former Offensive Lineman -

There is no doubt about it, linemen are a unique breed.  LinemenInc is a unique camp.  Are you up for the challenge?  LinemenInc 2008 is just 13 weeks away…

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! 

Registrations for LinemenInc Camps 2008 are already starting to roll in.  we even have our first player from the Lone Star State of Texas!  Welcome Jake Holliman of Rockwall-Heath High School!  Rumor has it we will also be seeing our first players from just north of the Texas border in Oklahoma!  As the word about LinemenInc spreads, our enrollment grows well beyond California. 

Coaches already committed to LinemenInc 2008:

 Long Beach, June 21-23:  Gary Bernardi – UNLV, Bill Bedenbaugh – University of Arizona, Josh Darnell and Monterio Witherspoon – Azusa Pacific University, Gordon Steinman – Menlo College, Rich James – Long Beach City College, and we’re just getting started!

Stockton, June 28-30:  Jim House – UNR, Kerry Locklin and Derek Frazier – Fresno State, Jeff Remington and Richard Sanchez – Sacramento State, Jason White – Humboldt State University, Gordon Steinman – Menlo College, Matt Diskin – Shasta College, Kevin Nishihara _ San Jose City College, Jon Walker – American River College, and the list is growing!

“To get what we have never had, we must do what we have never done.”  When it comes to football and winning championships, truer words were never spoken.  You’ve heard me say it before that the same amount of effort will always produce the same results.  You have to do something different.   You have to do that which you may have never done.  Going to camp, even the same camp again, will only benefit you if you try something different.  Perhaps it’s being stronger this year or in better condition for camp.  It might simply be you having to dig deeper than ever before to improve your results.  Whatever it is, the responsibility is all yours.

FYI – LinemenInc 2008 is just four months away…

 

We’ve just returned from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Convention, held in Anaheim, Ca.  Before we head out for the Southern California All-Sports Clinic in Irvine, I thought I’d share a little from the AFCA.

Among the many coaches speaking at AFCA, I sat in on Mark Mangino, University of Kansas, Bill Snyder, Former Kansas State Head Coach, John Robinson, former Head Coach at USC, UNLV and the NFL L.A. Rams, Terry Donahue, former Head Coach UCLA, Frank Beamer, Head Coach Virginia Tech, and Dick Bumpas of Texas Christian University.

Ted Tollner, the San Francisco Forty-Niners Offensive Coordinator, held a very interesting clinic on game planning.  Basically, it was how he and the Niners coaching staff prepare for game day.  He also discussed “Football Temperament” and how it applies to players.  The following is a list of attributes that Coach Tollner believes players must have.

1. Work habits – A player must have a good attitude and a strong commitment to his work.  He must be as committed to practice as he is to playing the game.
2. Toughness – A player must have a mental toughness to keep going even after a beating.  He must continue to work day in and day out to prepare for the next game regardless of the last loss. 
3. Durability – A player must be able to bounce back and be willing to make the long haul both physically and mentally. 
4. Love to play the game – A player must love the game and have a strong inner discipline to play the game. 
5. Unselfishness – A player must be willing to give of himself to his fellow teammates if they are to become better themselves and at times may even have to be a cheerleader. 
6. Discipline – A player must be well disciplined.  He must show up on time and be prepared for work.  He must commit to workouts during and out of season.  He must learn his play book. 
7. Ability to learn – A player must possess an ability to learn what to do, how to do it and when to do it. 
8. The right guy – Find the guy who can get the job done.  He may not always be the proto-type or best looking for the position. 

I find it helpful to review list’s like Coach Tollner’s.  It’s not that I don’t already know the information but that over time it can be forgotten.  Nothing wrong with a refresher!

So, coaches, what attributes do you look for in a player?

Players and parents, what attributes do you look for in your coaches?

After going through hundreds and hundreds of photos from LinemenInc 2007 and I’m talking about near 1000 total photos, and dealing with numerous computer obstacles, we are happy to announce that photos from both LinemenInc Camps are finally posted!

There were so many that we had to create four different files for them.  The first group is found on the web site photo page.  There you will find all of the award shots of players and coaches receiving their Gladius or sword.  The next array of photos is of coaches working the camps and finally, photos of players at camp.

We hope all of you had a great season and improved in some way as individuals and as teams.  Now that the season is ended and our Holiday break is nearing its end, it is time to consider the future.  There is lots of off season work to be done both in the weight room and in the team room.  Mark your calendars for LinemenInc 2008, June 21-23 in Long Beach and June 28-30 in Stockton.

In January, we will be attending the AFCA Conference in Anaheim, the All Sports Clinic in Irvine and the All Sports Clinic in Burlingame.  February will find us at the Clinic of Champions in Reno.  So coaches, if you’ll be attending any of these events please stop by and say hello.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year!

LinemenInc 2007 is now over.  If you didn’t attend as a player or a coach you missed out on a great opportunity to build, learn and improve.  LinemenInc Stockton, was yet another great camp.  Over 165 players and coaches spent three days praying the heat wouldn’t arrive and on the third an final day, it showed up.

Weather wasn’t the only hot thing in camp that day.  We saw some great Gladiator Championships being fought on the grass and marveled at some of the surprises.  Aaron Smiley, of Seaside High, who ended up being the only one of five players who said they were going to attend camp, showed up solo and lit up the place.  This 5’9″ – 185 lbs. Senior, took two Championships in his Garrison and went home with the Most Inspirational Sword.  This is the second time in three years that a Seaside player has won the award.

Many thanks to the University of the Pacific, for hosting us in this our fourth year.  A big thanks to our coaching staff, Bill Bedenbaugh, University of Arizona, Kerry Locklin, Fresno State, Jason White, Humboldt University, Gordon Steinman and Brook Vasconcellos, Menlo College, Matt Diskin, Shasta College. Dave Tipton, formerly of Stanford University, and Aaron Thigpen, Gamespeed Performance Training.

A big thank you to all of our high school coaches and LinemenInc Staff, Larry Tabke, Harry Tabke, Jeff Tabke, Will Tabke, Nick Gould and Mike Wiley.  Without these people, LinemenInc would not exist.  And to our wives, Karin Tabke and Kathy Reinders, who allow us our passion of coaching and all the sacrifices that go with it, a big hug of thanks.

This fall, when you are in the trenches of a game, and the guy across the line from you is giving you all that you can handle and then some, you’ll have to wonder, “Did he go to LinemenInc?”  Don’t let the opportunity pass you by next year.

If you attended camp and would like to share your experience, please leave a comment on this blog.  Have a great summer, gentlemen.

“The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.”  – Vince Lombardi -