Building a Program, more than just a team

Brian Kelly's talk from the 2012 Clinic

There are few gaps but I did my best to fill them. For example he never really told us about the 3rd quarter mentality and what YELLOW was on the practice plan.

Overview: It is really easy to find the best players and have the best team. However these teams don’t last. Building a program involves building people.

STAGES

1. Stability = Consistency

a.    You can’t start winning until you start losing.

2. Raised Expectations = Excellence

a.    In the classroom, At Practice, In the community

b.    When you see expectations are being met then raise them to the next level

3.  Championship = Competitive Greatness 

a.    Little things (being late, walking on field, poor academics) will get you beat. You won’t win a championship until you have gotten rid of all the little things that cause you to lose.                                                             

Use the locker room to reinforce the rules and mission. This is where the players spend the most time.

STAFF

It starts with respect. Respect the game. Respect other coaches. Respect the players.

Recognize special people in the program.

Trustworthy: What I’m doing or showing how much I give for the program. 

Selfless: There is not job too big or too small…

“WE” thinking… Along the same lines as teammates…The staff must work together as a “team”

 The A TEAM

This a collection players within the team that have achieved the following standards

1. Accountability

a.    The willingness of team members to remind one another when they are not living up to PERFORMANCE STANDARDS of the team.

b.    PEER ACCOUNTABILITY is the toughest to teach and develop

2. Appreciation

a.    ABILITY is God-given, BE THANKFUL

b.    PRAISE is Man-given, BE HUMBLE

c.    CONCEIT is Self-given, BE CAREFUL

3.Achievement

a.    Going far beyond the call of duty, doing more than what others expect

b.    It comes from striving and maintaining the highest standards. Looking after the smallest detail. And going the extra mile.

c.    Excellence means doing your best in everything in every way.

Q and A session

In regards to player discipline: You shouldn’t need to take more time from a coach and have the player do extra running. This only makes the player and NOW the coach mad. You need to take away what they love the most…PLAYING TIME or REPS in PRACTICE!

Q: What taking over a program, what are the first things to change?

A: The three things that need to be stressed first are:

1.    DISCIPLINE: Attention to Detail

a.    Be on time

b.    Proper dress

c.    Know your assignment

2.    WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT

a.    The atmosphere of the locker room

b.    Players need to come energized

3.    CONSISTENCY

a.    Players need to what to expect

           

You build INTENSITY through REPETITION. You need to coach on the fly and not have a clinic on the field. Use coaching terms that are short and easy to remember.

Use film to teach players. It is easier to teach a player when they can SEE what they did wrong.

WEEKLY PRACTICE (posted in the locker room)

MONDAY – MENTAL

            Install the game plan for the week.

TUESDAY – INTENSITY

            You will get more out of player when they know what to expect every day. Be consistent.

WEDNESDAY – WORKING

THURSDAY-PERFECT PRACTICE

            No thinking should be needed. Execute the plays and assignments.

FRIDAY-FOCUS

            Locking in on the task at hand. The players should not be “giddy”

SATURDAY-SUCCESSFUL

            GAME DAY

SUNDAY-ASSESSMENT

Coach Kelly showed a practice plan that was colored coded to indicate the speed of teaching and drills.

GREEN-GO…repetition.

YELLOW-not defined, I would think it would be up tempo with some Coach to Player interaction

RED-SLOW…teaching. There were only a few segments of red.

GAME by QUARTERS


1. FIRST QUARTER           
                START FAST: Play with Intensity and set the tone
2. SECOND QUARTER
                ATTENTION to DETAIL: Don’t let the game environment affect your assignment
3. THIRD QUARTER
                Make adjustments and carry them out
4. FOURTH QUARTER

                FINISH STRONG