In football, not everyone gets to be the quarterback or the star running back. Someone has to be up front blocking. In volleyball, not everyone gets set up to hit the ball and not everyone gets to be the setter. In basketball, not everyone gets 20 shots per game or gets to shoot threes.
Every sport has positions and jobs that are crucial to the team’s success but they are not positions that grab glory and attention. It is easy for the “linemen” in a sport to feel unappreciated.
As a coach, how did you try to make the “linemen” of your sport feel appreciated and important.
Mike Tracey- UTHS, Alleman
I think this is a great question for football. The easy way out for me to answer was to quote Bo Schembechler: "THE TEAM, THE TEAM, THE TEAM."
We handled this in two different ways. We continuously stressed the fact that the lineman will be the group that wins or loses for us. Our offensive lineman were held in high regard by players and coaches and media alike.
We stressed the fact that when anyone on our team was interviewed after a successful game, the credit must go to the line first. My youngest son, who I did not coach, was a very successful starting quarterback at Alleman, and he heard me say this so much to other people that he answered his media questions that way. My son very rarely agreed with much of what I said, but he bought into that philosophy of praise for the linemen.
Lastly, we operated under the principle that any kid can try any position. Our coaching staff very rarely made the wrong decision about where our kids were placed on offense.
In order to give every kid a chance at their desired offensive position, we used an old but effective way to deal with this. In this scenario, we offered the player and his family the chance to make their case. They first had to tell us which players' position they wanted. I would then schedule a meeting between the lineman and the offensive skilled kid, and their parents or guardians.
At this meeting , the lineman could make his case as to why he should be moved to a skill position. He had to state his case as to how we needed to evaluate him. The lineman and his family had to present their opinions to the skilled kid and their family. Basically, the lineman had to tell the skilled kid and his family why he, (the lineman),should take that player's position.
The lineman, and or his family , often canceled the meeting or just didn't show. Quite honestly, I never had to mediate this type of meeting.
They had their chance to question the process and result, but did not take advantage of it.
Bob Anderson- Williamsfield
Keeping people happy when you have a star is difficult for coaches, I agree. A key is for you to show your role players what can happen if they do their job. It is something you have to find a way to convey, if you want that team to succeed.
I always go back to our 97 team that made it to the Elite 8. We had a star and at least it appeared that everyone was happy with that. When you’re winning all the time things fall into place a little better. We were actually better the year before but things just didn’t fit together as well. I do think what I learned that year did help in 97.
What did I do to make those kids understand that if they do their job we'll win? I was lucky those kids just caught on. I think every year you'll face things that you ask yourself, “How do I sell the things it takes to win?” That will be your job year in and year out.
Tom Engebretson- United
During our preseason camp and early season workouts the running backs did all the same blocking drills and technique drills as the lineman. It really helped the backs appreciate and respect the lineman's preparation. This just wasn't done to gain respect, it was also so our backs would develop blocking skills. In our system it was essential for our backs to be good blockers. In most of our drills we did not separate the lineman and backs. When our backs went against our lineman in drills they usually realized the significant skills the lineman possessed. For some of our power plays we used lineman in the blocking backs position. We used the lineman because the play became more effective but it was also a motivator for the backs to become as efficient as the lineman.
Our play caller Ben McIntosh was also the line coach and he spent hours upon hours working with the line. Ben was our most experienced coach and highly respected by all in our program. I think that gave our lineman credibility because Ben spent so much time with them and it was very apparent to the team how important the line was. When Ben would ask players for technical information it was always his lineman. He knew they were in the trenches and had a feel for what was happening. That also helped the line gain respect.
Whenever we posted stats the top line was always reserved for the lineman. We would list total team rushing yards and place all the lineman's names next to the yardage. The backs would be listed under the lineman. It also helped that we had many sportswriters in the area that would give our lineman the credit they deserved in their articles. Most importantly our backs were genuine in their appreciation for the line. Most of our backs understood the importance of good line play and would give them appropriate credit in media interviews.
I don't think I have ever been around a football program that didn't heap praise on the lineman and insinuate that they were so much more important than the backs. That is great but I have also seen that backfire. You don't want to build animosity between the two groups.
Greg King- Sterling
As a former offensive lineman, I always stressed the importance of having a good offensive line. I would sometime bring a coach or player down. I would give them a football and tell them to run it 15 yards. I would say then, “See anybody can run a football!” As an OL, I always told them you have the hardest and most important job on the football field. Blocking someone is the most unnatural thing to do on the football field. I let them know that you are not going to get any accolades until after the season. Their week to week honors came from me and their OL coach. They had to understand for us to be successful, they had to hit someone every play. When you have a good team, you have a good OL.
The biggest hurdles I faced was when a position like TE had an overabundance of players. Many times I would “suggest” that they move to the OL. Would you like to be the 4th TE or would you like to be #2 at an OL position or possibly start. I would also make sure they know that this is what is best for the team. As an OL you only have to be quick for the 1st 3 steps. I also sold it to them as would you like to be a slow TE or a fast OL??
Coaching the OL is usually easier than any other position when it comes to their mentality. You did not have to coach them with “kid gloves”. You could be hard on them. At the same time you did have to have some down time, where you get to joke around with them. They needed to know that you cared about them and at the end of the day had their and the team’s best interest at heart. They understood they were going to work harder than anyone else. My OL also understood some important principles. 1. Don’t think it only hurts the ball club! 2. Gravy is the big mans ketchup. In other words they were going to work hard, but it also had to be fun.
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