coaching management 16.10

Coaching ManagementF O O T B A L L P O S T S E A S O N E D I T I O N 2 0 0 8

VOL. XVI NO. 10 ■ $7.00

■ Coaching Your Son■ Strength

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CONTENTSCoaching ManagementFootball EditionPostseason 2008

Vol. XVI, No. 10

COVER STORY

High Drama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20From last-second heaves to well-timed gadgets, sometimes you just have to take a chance. Here’s how to tilt the odds in your favor.

LEADERSHIP

Coach Dad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Coaching your son can be a rewarding experience, as long as both of you are prepared for the unique challenges your relationship may face.

STRENGTH TRAINING

Strong Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41Four veteran strength and conditioning coaches share their thoughts on bodybuilding exercises, stretching, and getting the most out of athletes.

HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS

Stepping In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Despite losing almost every starter from a state championship team, this Michigan high school didn’t miss a beat and won a second-straight title.

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41LOCKER ROOM Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2New A-11 offense spreads the field … ACC adopts NFL-type policy on re porting injuries … Head shaving leads to hazing accusation … Move-ment on an early signing date … How heavy is too heavy? … Division III questions remain.

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Why would a coach leave a highly successful team to take over a struggling program? Rock Island (Ill.) High School’s Vic Boblett has the answer.

COVER PHOTO: DOUG BENC/GETTY IMAGES

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TEAM EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52FOOTBALL FACILITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54POWER RACKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59STRENGTH TRAINING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60MORE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

OVERTIME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD

New Offense Gains AttentionTired of seeing their Piedmont (Calif.) High School team strug-gle against opponents from schools nearly twice its size, Head Coach Kurt Bryan and Director of Football Operations Steve Humphries went back to the drawing board after the 2006 season. They combed coaching manuals looking for ways to level the playing field,

but were underwhelmed by the available choices. So, the pair designed a new offense that is making waves in California and attracting attention from coach-es near and far.

Their creation—named the A-11 offense—makes all 11 offensive players potential receiving threats by giving them all eligible receiver num-bers (1-49 and 80-99) and plac-ing them in a scrimmage-kick formation. In the base A-11 formation, the center lines up with a tight end on each side, two backs line up behind the linemen with one at least seven

yards behind the line of scrim-mage, and two groups of three receivers flank each side of the linemen. Through shifting and motion, the five ineligible line-men are not determined until moments before the snap, leaving the defense uncertain about who it needs to cover.

As long as the backs are seven yards behind the line of scrim-mage and no one is in posi-tion to receive a hand-to-hand snap from the center, the set

up legally qualifies as a scrim-mage-kick formation. This means the normal numbering rules requiring at least five play-ers wear a number between 50 and 79, and are thus ineligible receivers, don’t apply.

“After researching the rule book, we came up with the A-11 as a way to make everyone a potential vertical threat,” says Bryan. “Since we had never seen this before, we went through a long process to make sure it was legal. We submitted it to the NFHS, and they looked at it and said it looked fine. We then brought

it to the California Interscho-lastic Federation, who said the same thing. They reviewed it from every angle that you could possibly imagine. ‘Was it a travesty to the game? No. Was it an unfair act? No. Was it deceptive? No.’ It’s just another strategy.”

With the associations’ stamp of approval, the Highland-ers got off to a rough start by dropping their first two games of the 2007 season while scor-

last year and ran its two-back, West-coast offense the rest of the time. With nine starters returning on offense for 2008, Humphries and Bryan expect-ed to use the A-11 as much as 85 to 90 percent of the time.

Humphries and Bryan say feedback from referees and opposing coaches has been very positive. High school and college coaches inundated the Piedmont staff with ques-tions about the offense to the point where they decided to produce instructional DVDs, create an installation manual, hold coaching seminars, and design a Web site to handle requests for information about the A-11.

But praise has not been uni-versal. Football purists have sounded off on online mes-sage boards and in coaching forums, claiming the offense goes against the spirit of the scrimmage-kick formation rule. Opponents of the offense are calling for repeal of the scrim-mage-kick numbering exemp-tion, which would likely mean the A-11 couldn’t function. Four states have issued inter-pretations that prevent use of the A-11, and the offense is expected to be discussed dur-ing the NFHS Rules Commit-tee meeting in February.

Bryan and Humphries argue that regardless of any efforts to make the offense illegal, this type of approach is inevitable as athletes get faster. “The game is not going to become slower and more methodical over the next 10 to 25 years—it’s going to become faster and more innovative,” says Bryan. “People who love football—players, fans, and coaches—are starving for something new. Is this offense going to turn the world upside down? No, but it’s fresh and innovative.”

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The A-11 offense, developed at Piedmont (Calif.) High School (shown in white), uses a scrimmage-kick formation numbering exception to make all 11 players potentially eligible to catch a forward pass. Although it’s been cleared for use in 40 states, some people feel the offense exploits a loophole that should be closed.

More information about the A-11 offense can be found at: www.a11offense.com.

ing a total of nine points. After film study, player feedback, and some tweaking, however, the offense clicked and Pied-mont reeled off seven straight wins before losing in the play-offs. Considering Bryan’s initial goal for the season was to fin-ish .500, the A-11 experiment exceeded expectations.

“We told the players this was going to be trial by fire,” says Bryan. “We were literally mak-ing adjustments every day after practice.”

Piedmont used the A-11 about 60 percent of the time

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College teams can’t use the A-11 as a full-time offense because NCAA rules state that to qualify as a scrimmage-kick formation, it must be obvious a kick will occur. Still, Bryan and Humphries believe college teams have six to eight opportunities per game to use the A-11. San Jose State University used A-11 plays several times last year, and the Piedmont coaches have fielded queries from 40 college teams, including some that began the season ranked in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision top 25.

ACC Regulates Injury InformationFrom playing rules to eligibil-ity guidelines, college foot-ball coaches work under an array of directives from mul-tiple sources, including their schools, conferences, and the NCAA. But until now, there was nothing telling them how and when to release injury information. Due to an effort by coaches themselves, the Atlantic Coast Conference has implemented a system similar to the NFL’s for providing inju-ry information to the media.

The guidelines state that medical personnel for each team, rather than coaches, will report each Monday which players are scheduled for sur-gery or out for the season. Each Thursday, within 90 min-utes of the end of practice, teams release a list classifying each player as definite, prob-able, questionable, doubtful, or out. No other injury infor-mation is released during the week. “It’s certainly out of a coach’s realm of expertise to discuss orthopedic proce-dures, and this policy takes some of the pressure off trying to speculate whether a kid will or won’t play,” says University of North Carolina Head Coach Butch Davis.

The ACC adopted the new approach in order to keep

coaches from having to answer media questions about medi-cal issues and allow teams more time to evaluate the status of players. In the past, ACC coaches typically released a full injury report each Monday.

“This idea originally came up during our coaches conven-tion, so we put it on the agen-da for our ACC spring coaches meeting,” says North Carolina State University Head Coach Tom O’Brien. “The consensus from the meeting was that this is a good idea for us.”

O’Brien says athletic train-ers and team physicians are able to provide a more accu-rate report on Thursday as opposed to Monday. This reporting process will also keep coaches from comment-ing on injuries of a personal nature and having to worry about violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects the privacy of personal health information.

“We’re not medically trained. This policy gets us out of the


Tom O’Brien, Head Coach at North Carolina State University, likes the new Atlantic Coast Conference guidelines that call for teams to release limited injury information every Monday and follow up with a full injury report every Thursday.

business of answering ques-tions about injuries,” says O’Brien. “Getting an accu-rate injury report out on Mon-day after a Saturday game is almost impossible because you can’t really tell at that point if someone can make it or not.”

There is no penalty in the ACC for not reporting injuries or for providing inaccurate reports, but O’Brien isn’t worried about the lack of enforcement mea-sures. “I think it’s pretty appar-ent if reports are not accurate, but I don’t believe anybody would do that,” he says. “I trust my fellow coaches to give us their best faith estimate.”

A Close Shave With HazingWhen a Michigan mother picked her son up from a high school team football camp in June and found that the fresh-man’s head had been shaved, she was not pleased. In fact, she was angry enough to go straight to a Board of Educa-tion meeting and utter a word no coach wants associated with his team: hazing.

The local press ran with the story, and Goodrich (Mich.) High School Head Coach Tom Alward and Athletic Director Al Martus had their hands full. “Unfortunately, the mother didn’t go through the proper steps for filing such a com-plaint, which is to come to me first,” Martus says. “Needless to say, I was surprised, the coach was surprised, and so were the board members.”

Alward and Martus also had a difficult question to answer: Can shaving heads as a team activity be considered hazing? Looking further into the inci-dent, Martus concluded it was not. “There were 10 freshmen at the camp, and only three of them got their hair cut,” he says. “It was strictly a volun-teer situation, and he volun-teered.”

From there, Alward and Mar-tus met with the parent and son to talk about Martus’s findings. “I explained why it was not a hazing incident and was open to her ques-tions,” he says. “But she was already on the same page as the coach and I and was sorry the whole situation had been blown out of proportion in the first place.”

However, haircuts at future Goodrich summer football camps have been banned. Alward told Martus that rather than deal with the fallout from a similar scenario, he decid-ed to keep student-athletes out of situations that might include peer pressure.

While the incident at Goodrich High was resolved peacefully, it exemplifies the difficulty of knowing exactly what con-stitutes hazing. Mary Mad-den, Associate Professor at the University of Maine’s Col-lege of Education and Human Development, who recently co-authored a study on hazing with fellow Associate Profes-sor Elizabeth Allan, says the line is thinly drawn. “Without more specific details, I cannot

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say whether the situation in Michigan was hazing or not,” she says. “However, shaving heads can be a hazing activity.

“It’s all in the context,” she continues. “Who is encourag-ing whom to have their head shaved? Did the people who had their heads shaved feel like they had to in order to be accepted into the group? If the adults in the situation are confused about whether an incident was hazing, then the kids are surely confused, too.”

Misunderstandings over a true definition of hazing was a major finding of the study, “Hazing In View: College Students At Risk,” released in March. It involved over 11,400 college students at 53 institutions across the country, who were also asked about their high school experiences.

Although a head shaving incident at Goodrich (Mich.) High School was deemed to not be hazing, the line is sometimes hard to draw. A recent survey found that half of college athletes had experienced hazing activities, but only nine percent said that they had been hazed.

“There is a huge gap between how many students have actually experienced haz-ing behavior and how many realize or admit to it,” Mad-den says. “By our definition of hazing, half of the college population has experienced some kind of hazing, but when asked, 91 percent say they’ve never been hazed. They jus-tify or exclude the behavior they’ve participated in by min-imizing the seriousness of it or saying they didn’t do anything they hadn’t agreed to do.”

Allan and Madden define haz-ing as “any activity expected of someone joining or partici-pating in a group that humili-ates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.” In the over 300 in-person interviews the two researchers conducted, many students used the words “low-

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level hazing” to describe an incident, but Madden says there really is no such thing—hazing is hazing.

“What’s low-level for one per-son might not be for some-body else,” she says. “We would ask athletes if there is hazing on their team, and they would say, ‘Oh no, we don’t have hazing, it’s not allowed.’ But when we asked if there were initiation activities, they would say, ‘Oh yeah, we have rookie initiation.’ In many ath-letes’ minds, initiation was not hazing, so that justified the activity for them.”

Another important trend the research revealed was that almost half the college stu-dent-athletes in the study said they had experienced at least one hazing behavior in high school. “College coaches are trying to deal with something that has already been normal-ized for athletes through their high school playing experi-ence,” Madden says. “While it may be more difficult for high school coaches because students don’t live on cam-pus, it is very important that they make an effort to prevent hazing behaviors in the first place.”

Prevention is key, and the take-home message from Allan and Madden is that more discussion needs to happen. “Have con-versations with your athletes about what is involved in pow-er dynamics and groupthink,” Madden says. “We want stu-

dents to develop a moral com-pass and make ethical deci-sions. If we can teach them to analyze a situation and make a good decision, we’re teaching these kids an important life skill they will carry with them.”

AFCA Proposes Early Signing DateAfter two years of discussion and debate over the idea of an early signing date for football, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has sub-mitted a proposal to NCAA Division I coaches that would establish an early signing peri-od during the third week of December. If approved by the coaches, the measure would go to conference commission-ers. The earliest the new sign-ing period could go into effect is December 2009.


“We polled all our stakehold-ers on the early signing date, which includes Division I head and assistant coaches, and high school coaches,” says Grant Teaff, AFCA Executive Director. “The third week of December is the most likely date, because there is already a dead period in the college season at that time. We have to be careful because the high school coaches prefer not to have a signing date during the season and some states have playoffs that don’t end until the third week of December.”

This is not the first formal proposal for an early signing period. In June, Southeastern Conference coaches voted 9-3 for a single early signing day in late November a year after voting 3-9 against the same proposal. Conference presi-dents and athletic directors quickly denied the proposal

For more information about Allan and Madden’s study, including a down-loadable copy of their initial findings, visit: www.hazingstudy.org.

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Top high school players may soon have an additional opportunity to sign a National Letter of Intent. A proposal submitted by the AFCA would create an early signing period during the third week of December. Here, K.J. Williams, from Norman (Okla.) North High School, commits to Texas A&M.


for it,” says Teaff. “For several years, we never had a consen-sus for an early signing date. I think that’s changed because of the large number of early com-mitments we’ve been seeing.”

However, not all college coaches are completely on board. Some are concerned that any early signing peri-od would cut down on the amount of time they have to get to know players. Others oppose one because they feel it could create more recruiting advantages for larger schools. They fear schools in talent-rich areas such as Texas and Florida could sign top pros-pects during an early period before schools in other areas have a chance to travel and make a full recruiting pitch. Some coaches also argue that powerhouse programs could lock up top recruits in Decem-ber, leaving them more time in January to recruit other play-

ers who might normally go to a mid-major school that has shown them more attention.

“Any new rule is going to have upsides and downsides for certain programs,” says Teaff. “What we have to fig-ure out is which option is most advantageous to the most people, and that’s what we’re trying to do now.”

A Growing Weight Problem You don’t have to be a coach to see that football players, especially linemen, are a lot bigger than they used to be. Two decades ago, the aver-age NFL lineman weighed 281 pounds—today, he weighs more than 315 pounds. And new research shows this trend hasn’t been limited to the pro-fessional ranks. High school and youth players are bulking up more than ever, and the results aren’t all positive.

A study published in January’s Journal of the American Medi-cal Association looked at more than 3,600 linemen across all classifications of Iowa high schools and found that 45 percent were overweight and nine percent suffered from what would be considered severe obesity in adults. Iowa State University PhD student Kelly Laurson and Dr. Joe Eisenmann, an Assistant Pro-fessor of Exercise Physiology at Michigan State University, used the players’ height and weight to calculate each ath-lete’s body mass index (BMI).

“The number of overweight athletes was not unexpected, but the really important find-ing from this study is that such a high percentage of the line-men fall into the extreme cat-egories of obesity,” explains Eisenmann. “For adolescents, there are no classifications for ‘superobesity,’ so we used the adult cut points based on BMI and found that a surpris-ingly large number would be

because under the rule only players who had not taken official visits would have been eligible for the signing day.

“We wanted to allow a guy who has grown up always wanting to go to a certain school to sign early,” says Mis-sissippi State Head Coach Syl-vester Croom. “Then, he could take one official visit which would come after the official early signing date. If the early signing day is in December, players can take all five official visits, probably during the sea-son, and then we still wouldn’t know if he would sign with us or not.”

Proponents of an early signing date are hoping to cut down on the amount of recruiting done during the season and eliminate situations in which coaches continue to recruit players who have made early verbal com-mitments. Rivals.com reported

that almost 200 recruits from the 2008 class de-committed at some point during the recruiting process. “With so much recruiting done during the season, you have to enter-tain recruits after a game and they become the focus of what you’re doing instead of the game,” says Croom.

Croom feels that little will change by implementing an early signing period in Decem-ber because it wouldn’t allevi-ate heavy recruiting during the season. Some have suggested an early signing in August, but Teaff says this idea has not been supported by the majority of those polled by the AFCA. Despite disagreement over the timing, though, Teaff says most coaches do favor some form of an early signing period.

“The idea wouldn’t be this far along if the coaches weren’t

To read a recent Coaching Management article on the debate over an early signing date for football, go to our Web site at: www.CoachingManagementOnline.com, click on “Football,” and then click on “Decision Day Debate.”

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considered superobese if they were adults.

“That level of obesity can carry some very detrimental health consequences,” Eisen-mann continues, “including Type 2 diabetes, early heart disease, elevated blood pres-sure, and certain cancers. It also puts the individual at risk for many orthopedic prob-lems, particularly if they main-tain that weight as an adult.”

Since the study was pub-lished, Laurson and Eisen-mann have been criticized by some football coaches who note that BMI is not the best indicator of a lineman’s health because it fails to account for the athlete’s muscle mass, which is typically much great-er than that of their non-foot-ball playing peers. “To some extent that’s a valid argument, because BMI does not sepa-


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rate lean mass or muscle mass from fat mass, so some players whose BMI classifies them as overweight may in fact be in good health,” Eisenmann says. “But when kids start getting into the superobese category, they must have quite a bit of fat mass even if they also have quite a bit of muscle.”

The problems extend beyond high school players. Another study, published in the Octo-ber 2007 issue of the Jour-nal of Pediatrics, looked at 650 Michigan youth football players ages nine to 14 and found that 45 percent were overweight. Of those, 42 per-cent qualified as obese based on criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Inter-national Obesity Task Force.

What does this new informa-tion mean for coaches? For

Although coaches typically love the idea of their players getting bigger, a study of high school linemen in Iowa found about 45 percent were overweight based on their body mass index, and nine percent were severely obese, which could put them at greater risk for health problems as they age.

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those with overweight and obese linemen who perceive bulking up as their ticket to the next level, it should spur conversa-tions about better eating habits and over-all health awareness.

“For many of these athletes, football is their only outlet for physical activity, so it’s

a positive thing that they’re playing,” says Eisenmann. “But the medical community has clearly documented the health risks of obesity, so it is in young players’ best interests to have a physical evaluation that takes their weight into account and, if necessary, make changes to improve their health.”

What’s Next in Division III?With more than 400 member schools, including almost 250 that play football, Division III is by far the largest of the three NCAA divisions. So it’s no surprise that some people questioned whether Division III was growing too large, raising the possibility of a split into two divisions or sub-divisions.

A working group was even developing models for a possible split, until a survey last spring revealed that only 15 percent of Division III members supported such a move. And with that, the possibility of dividing Division III ended. Still, the issues that led to talk of a split remain, and anoth-er question has come to the forefront: Where does Division III go from here?

While the Division III membership gener-ally agrees on remaining together, it also disagrees on exactly how to implement the division’s basic principles. “We know there is widespread buy in of the Division III philosophy,” says Division III Vice Presi-dent Dan Dutcher. “But when you drill down, it doesn’t take very long to recog-nize there are differing interpretations of what that philosophy means in practice.”

With so many member institutions, a true consensus is unlikely. Debate continues over hot-button issues such as redshirt-ing, financial aid, playoff opportunities, and other items.

“We want to get kids to come to school here, have a great experience, compete, get an education, and go out into the world to be successful,’ says John Troxell, Head Coach at Franklin & Marshall Col-lege. “When I look at some of the other schools that are trying to create a com-petitive advantage by adding redshirting, I don’t think they’re holding true to the Division III philosophy.”

During the spring, the NCAA held three town hall-style meetings to determine which issues are most pressing. Athletic administrators and coaches shared their feelings about the state of Division III and the challenges it faces in the future. Dutcher says a series of white papers based on the meetings will be reviewed by the Presidents Council and circulated among the entire Division III membership.

“Hopefully, these white papers will serve as a basis for further discussion,” he says. “But we’re not on any set legisla-

For more information on obesity, including articles, research, recommendations, and guidelines specifically for adolescents and young adults, visit: www.cdc.gov/obesity.

Circle No. 109

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Circle No. 110


tive time table. At this point, I would say it’s more likely that any proposals will come from the membership sooner than they will from the governance structure itself.”

Although several proposals will be considered during the 2009 NCAA Convention—including a requirement that coaches be certified in first aid, CPR, and the use of an automated external defibril-lator—one of special interest to football coaches will not be up for debate. A measure proposed by the Empire 8 Conference that would have allowed football teams to hold walk-throughs during the five-day acclimatization period at the beginning of preseason camp did not receive enough support to be brought before the convention.

In the meantime, Division III presses on. While differences

exist, so does belief that the division is structurally sound, and solutions can be found. “You can’t please all the peo-ple all the time. That’s part of living in society,” says Mike Maynard, Head Coach at the University of Redlands. “The survey results were a vote of confidence for all of us. Most of us want to be where we are and stay unified. We’re not all one big happy family, but the issues aren’t so large that they have to cause a split.”

Still, some people wonder whether the differences can be resolved. “At this point, we just need to continue to discuss what our differences are and try to come to a compromise,” says Dick Kaiser, Athletic Direc-tor at Defiance College and Chair of the Division III Football Committee. “The split issue isn’t completely dead by any stretch of the imagination, it’s just dead for the time being.”

NCAA Division III will continue to crown only one school as champion each year. Talk of a split into two divisions ended when only 15 percent of members said they supported such a move. Here, Wisconsin-Whitewater celebrates its 2007 title.

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Circle No. 111

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Circle No. 113

CM: What was your reaction to being named to the Illinois Football Coaches Hall of Fame?Boblett: I felt a lot of emotions at once. I was excited. I was happy. I was humbled. Most of the guys in the Hall of Fame are people I greatly admired and wanted to emulate as a player and a young coach. For that group to recognize me as one of them was very humbling.

Was the Hall of Fame honor something you thought might be attainable?I’m somewhat a believer in destiny, and if you’re meant to be at a particular school or in a particular situation, doors will open. It’s the same with the Hall of Fame. I’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by good assistants and have great players and a great community behind me. Individual awards are terrific, but they’re really a reflection of what has happened with the group.

How did you get started in coaching?I played for Bob Reade at Geneseo High School, and I think the reason I went into coaching was because of the great impact he had on me. In my four years there, we never lost a game. Then I coached with him at Augustana College, and we never lost a game there either. I’ve been really fortunate that the people around me have taught me wonder-ful things. Maybe the smartest thing I ever did was surround myself with good people.

Are there specific things you took from Coach Reade that you still use today?Almost everything we do, I learned from him. But the most important thing

Q ARock Island (Ill.) High School Head Coach Vic Boblett has an impressive resume, to say the least. Going into

the 2008 season, his 18th at Rock Island and 22nd as a high school head coach, Boblett possessed a career record of 138-49, with 17 postseason appearances and two trips to the state championships.

Boblett took over the Rock Island program in 1991 after four success-ful seasons at his alma mater, Gen-eseo (Ill.) High School. Rock Island struggled that year, posting a 1-8

mark, but finished 5-4 in 1992 and hasn’t looked back. Under the 55-year-old Boblett’s guidance, the school has qualified for the playoffs in 13 of the past 15 sea-sons, including eight straight from 1996 to 2003.

But his resume doesn’t stop at the high school level. Boblett also served as defensive backs coach at Augus-tana College (Ill.) for four years, helping the Vikings to four consecutive NCAA Division III championships from 1983 to 1986. In this interview, Boblett, a 2007 inductee in the Illinois Football Coaches Hall of Fame, discusses his career path, changes in the game of foot-ball, and why his proudest coaching moments include a pair of losses.

& Vic Boblett Rock Island (Ill.) High School

Rock Island runs a hybrid Wing-T offense that Vic Boblett learned as an assistant coach at nearby Augustana College.

I learned from Bob is that coaching is a people game. There are all sorts of offen-sive schemes and defensive fronts, but what differentiates the good coaches is their people skills. It’s really about how you teach and motivate kids. If you can do that, they will have a chance to be good no matter what scheme you decide to employ.

In your final year at Geneseo, the team finished 12-2 and advanced to the state title game. Why did you decide to leave?A bunch of sage old coaches—Bob being one of them—told me the real fun in coaching was taking a down situation and turning it around. Everywhere I had been up to that point, I jumped on the train and went for the ride. We were doing good things at Geneseo, but they were going to do good things whether I was there or not.

Back in the 1950s and early ’60s, Rock Island had a tremendous football tradition, but the program had fallen on hard times. So I listened to those coaches, and in that first year at Rock Island we won one game.

Was it difficult, after winning so many games at your previous stops, to win only once in the first season at Rock Island?I never worked as hard as I did that sea-son. After the season, I went back to those sage old coaches who told me the real fun in coaching was taking a down program and turning it around. I asked them, “Now tell me, exactly when does the fun part start?” But it did. In the second year we went 5-4, with two overtime losses, and we knew we were on the right track.

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We knew the system we were using had won 52 high school games in a row. We’d seen it win four national championships in college. So my staff and I knew what we were teaching was sound, and we stuck with it. A huge mistake a lot of coaches make is that when things are not going right, they stop doing what they believe in and start grasping at straws.

You’ve reached the state finals twice as a head coach, with Geneseo in 1990 and Rock Island in 1997, and lost both times. What do you think when you look back at those seasons?Some of my proudest moments in coach-ing have come in losses, and those state championship games were two of them. The players absolutely left everything on the field, never quit believing—even in dire situations—and came oh-so-close. Those moments make you really proud of your kids.

Things that are the most difficult to do make you feel best about yourself, and I don’t think enough adults relay that message to kids. In fact, often times they tell kids that if everything’s not going

perfectly, just quit. Go do something else. And that’s the wrong message to send kids.

How have you had to adapt in the way you deal with parents?I wouldn’t say that we’ve changed our approach, but I don’t think parents

demand their kids do the hard things. They tend to push them into things that are easy and look fun. If you always run away from hard things, you’re going to have a tough time getting through life, because most things in life are hard. Too many parents don’t understand that.

Have you seen changes in the players since you started coaching?I think kids still crave discipline and the feeling of being part of something spe-cial. I don’t think that has changed at all. But I think some things have changed. For example, we don’t have as many kids who catch well. We work a lot harder at

the fundamentals of catching, because kids don’t play catch nearly as much as they once did.

How has the game of football changed since you started coaching?Everything just keeps getting better.

“Offenses have expanded over the years, almost to a detriment. We keep adding stuff, but we can only do so many things well. Sometimes we need to subtract things. If we’ve made any errors, it’s been trying to do too much instead of focusing on doing fewer things well.”

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Circle No. 114Circle No. 115


Q A&Strength training has elevated the game tremendously. High school football is like college football when I was going to school. College football is like pro foot-ball was when I was coming up, and pro football is a whole new stratosphere. But the bottom line in winning football games is still who blocks and who tackles. That has never changed.

How has your philosophy evolved with those changes?We probably run three times as many offensive plays now as we did when we

first started. Offenses have expanded over the years, almost to a detriment. We keep adding stuff, but we can only do so many things well. Sometimes we need to subtract things. If we’ve made any errors, it’s been trying to do too much instead of focusing on doing fewer things well.

Still, we haven’t left our roots. We’re kind of a hybrid Wing-T offense. We run the inside belly stuff and a counter series. We implemented some of the veer schemes, and now we’re using some shotgun. It’s evolved over time,

but the base is the same things we did at Augustana.

In 2006, one of your players, Travis Hearn, was paralyzed after suffering a serious spinal cord injury while trying to make a tackle. How did that affect you as a coach?It was difficult at the time, and it still is today. For our kids, it was the first time they really had to contemplate their own mortality.

But I was really proud of the way every-body handled it. There was fundraiser after fundraiser. We built Travis a house and raised tons of money that would help take care of his needs. We got Mike Ditka to help us do a fundraiser. Every high school within a 50-mile radius was doing fundraisers.

It was a terrible tragedy, but it brought the Quad Cities together like little else ever has. It was inspiring to see how peo-ple rallied around Travis. And he was able to graduate from high school last spring, which was a very proud moment for him and his family.

The issue of private and public schools competing against each other has been widely debated in Illinois. How do you feel about it?Our nemeses since I’ve been at Rock Island have been Mount Carmel and Joliet Cath-olic, both private schools. We beat Mount Carmel in 1997 when we went to the state championship, but they’ve knocked us out three times, and Joliet Catholic has knocked us out a couple times.

I don’t want this to sound like sour grapes, because it isn’t—but we face a different setup than those schools. We’ve done pretty well here with just the kids we have within our district. Still, I know that if I was able to pull in players from outlying communities, we’d get really good, really quick. But I can’t do that. At some of the other schools, that’s possible.

I’m not saying they recruit, because they really don’t have to. If you’re in the Joliet area and your son is a football player, you’re going to want him at that school.

I’ve always thought there are really only two solutions. One—and some states have already done this—is open enroll-ment. Any kid can go to any school. If that were the case, we’d be under the same guidelines as all the other schools. The other solution is to have separate playoffs for schools that have boundar-ies and schools that don’t, but that idea never seems to take wings.

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Circle No. 117

AS THE STORY GOES, with 24 seconds left in the 1975 NFC semifinal, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach closed his eyes, threw the ball as far as he could, and said a Hail Mary prayer. Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson came down with the ball and ran into the end zone for the winning score. Staubach told reporters of his last-second prayer, and one of football’s most famous desperation plays has been called a Hail Mary ever since.

Before Staubach, the play was simply known as a last-second heave, but by any name, it’s something no coach wants to call. Hail Mary passes, lateral returns, onside kicks, and high-risk plays of every variety make coaches decidedly more nervous than giving the ball to a sure-handed back. Yet every coach encounters games where the clock is running down and the end zone is distant. Or maybe the defense seems to be reading your mind and you need to shift the momentum with a well-timed gadget play.

Regardless of their intent, there is a reason that despera-tion and high-risk plays have earned their names. They are not likely to work. However, there are times you have no choice but to use them, and when the game calls for a high-risk play, your plan needs to be more extensive than Staubach’s.

Despite the intensity surrounding desperation plays, they are not much different from the rest of the game. Succeeding with

Kyle Garratt is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: [email protected].

COVER STORY

BY KYLE GARRATT

HIGH From last-second heaves to well-timed gadgets, sometimes you just have

to take a chance. Here’s how to tilt the odds in your favor.

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COVER STORY

comes up in a game that we haven’t physically practiced for.”

Terry Smith, Head Coach at Gateway High School in Monroeville, Pa., works on trick plays and onside kicks every practice. Thursday practices consist of a preview of that week’s opponent, and then all special teams and trick plays until the players get them right.

That may seem like a lot of time to devote to plays you’d rather not use. But all that practice paid dividends in Gateway’s 2007 Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League champi-onship game against Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School when it faced a 15-point deficit with 1:02 left to play. After scoring a touchdown, Smith’s team converted an onside kick followed by a hook-and-ladder play to score a touch-down with less than 10 seconds left in regulation, sending the game to over-time, where Gateway eventually lost.

“We have practiced that play twice a week for the past three or four years, but had never run it in a game,” says Smith. “We practiced it just for that moment when we needed something out of desperation that’s still organized. Thanks to all the practice, we were for-tunate enough to be able to execute it flawlessly.”

One of the most remarkable des-peration plays in football history had no dress rehearsal, although some impro-visational skills had been developed beforehand. When Trinity University (Texas) pulled off a 15-lateral play on the last play of the game to beat Millsaps College in 2007, it was the first time the play had been run.

“It wasn’t diagrammed or planned beyond the first pass,” says Trinity Head Coach Steve Mohr. “We simply told the kids in the huddle that our only chance was to keep the play alive by lateraling the football and trying to stay behind the ball carrier.

“While we didn’t practice that specific play, we do use a pick-up game that simulates it a little bit,” he continues. “The receivers can’t take more than two steps before lateral-ing, and they just improvise to keep the play alive. But I never would have thought to practice 15 laterals.”

Head GamesWhile practicing high-risk despera-

tion plays will help your players know where to go and what to do, coaches say the biggest benefit is psychological, not physical. “We practice a kick return that involves several laterals, and even though we’ve never used it in a game, we probably repped it for 20 to 25 minutes three different times during two-a-days,” says Andy Hill, Head Coach at Park View High School in Sterling, Va. “We make sure the kids know that even in times of desperation, ‘It’s not on your shoulders whether we win or lose, just give it your best shot and have fun doing it.’”

Even in times of desperation, foot-ball is still football, and it is essen-tial that your high-risk plays not feel like a matter of luck. “When the time comes, you need something in your arsenal that you have faith in,” says Mike Gibson, Assistant Head Coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, and a for-mer special teams coach, offensive line coach, and offensive coordinator for sev-eral NCAA teams. “Your players have to believe the play you call will be success-ful, because ultimately it comes down to them executing it.”

Hill practices four or five different trick plays each week and runs at least half of those plays each game. Last year, the go-to play that won the team’s first playoff game in five years was a halfback pass. “It’s fun for the kids to practice these plays,” says Hill. “And when we do need one in a crucial moment, they’re not thinking, ‘Oh my god, I don’t want to screw this up.’”

Part of the challenge in developing a mindset of success for desperation plays is creating in practice the kind of pres-sure that players will face in these game situations. Rather than practicing trick plays and Hail Mary passes, Mohr puts his offense in end-of-game situations with a certain amount of time to score a touch-down or field goal from a given distance.

“The kids get after it pretty good, and it simulates game conditions as well as we possibly can,” says Mohr. “I can remember countless times over the years this type of practice experience has helped us in the closing moments to win the game.”

Hill tells his players these last-second plays are actually opportunities waiting to be grabbed. “I don’t try to create pressure in practice because I don’t

riskier plays —or denying your opposi-tion’s desperation attempt—comes down to many of the same principles that make other plays successful: Practice, confidence, fundamentals, and strategy. High-risk plays just require a little more imagination and faith.

Talking About PracticeCoaches have long preached two

practice philosophies: the importance of practicing the way you play and prac-ticing to make perfect. Feel free to apply the same thinking to desperation and trick plays. For all the ways that high-risk plays differ from “normal” plays, they are the same in the sense that you can’t expect success without preparation.

“You need to have practiced a des-peration play enough times so that you have the kinks worked out,” says Virginia Tech Head Coach Frank Beamer. “There are a lot of plays you can draw up on the board, but chances are they won’t work without practice.”

Few coaches recommend dedicating a large chunk of practice time to plays that are seldom used, but fewer would suggest ignoring them completely. Desperation and trick plays occupy some amount of practice time for all coaches and many practice them daily. Beamer practices onside kicks three times a week and runs a full practice encompassing unusual plays and situations on the last Saturday of the preseason.

“We have a meeting, go over all the plays with the athletes, and then we go out and physically perform these plays against the scout team,” says Beamer. “The goal is to make sure no situation

“ANYBODY CAN HANDLE THE PRESSURE IF THEY’RE CONFIDENT THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE KEY IS COVERING HOW PLAYERS SHOULD REACT BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY DURING A PRACTICE SO NOTHING COMES UP IN A GAME THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO.”

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Circle No. 118


COVER STORY

want them thinking about that,” says Hill. “Most of my players grew up watch-ing our high school team win, and they expect to win, too. Because they expect to win, at the end of the game my kids have the mentality that this is a great opportunity for them to add to our school’s tradition.”

Beamer, meanwhile, believes the key to relieving pressure is proper prepara-tion. “Pressure is not the issue as much as confidence,” he says. “Anybody can handle the pressure if they’re confident they know what to do. The key is cover-ing how players should react both men-tally and physically during a practice so nothing comes up in a game they don’t know how to respond to.”

The University of Akron has won on the last play of a game in each of the first four seasons Head Coach J.D. Brookhart has been at the helm for the Zips. He thinks that the story he tells of a one-time failed gold miner named R.U. Darby has something to do with his team’s resolve in tight games.

After finding gold on his Colorado land in the 1920s, Darby bought mining equipment, and mined for about a year, but found little more. He decided to sell the equipment and land to a man who struck a gold vein the next week by drilling only three feet past where Darby had stopped. Hearing the news, Darby vowed never to stop three feet short and went on to become the top insurance salesman in the U.S.

“I think our success in desperation situations is because of the way we push things,” says Brookhart. “We’ve adopted the motto of ‘three more feet,’ and thought that one way to separate our-selves is to do a little bit more than other teams. So when we run sprints, we run 41 yards or 101 yards while other teams run 40 and 100. It’s the ability to think we’re doing more than others whether we really are or not.”

Desperate DefenseDefending high-risk plays shouldn’t

keep coaches up at night, as any study of their success rate would prove. But countless replays of Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary and the phrase, “The band is on the field,” remind coaches of the tor-ture involved with being on the wrong side of such plays. Disciplined defense is the key to stopping these last-second heroics, but nothing can completely

When half of your kickoff team lines up like sprinters at the starting blocks, everyone knows what’s coming. There’s probably little time left to play and you need to get this onside kick to stay in the game. But what about the onside kick that no one sees coming?

Tactical onside kicks are becoming more and more common as coaches weigh the pros and cons. Andy Hill, Head Coach at Park View High School in Sterling, Va., says he uses onside or squib

kicks about half the time. He has used this strategy partially because he has had a great kicker in Clayton Parker, who converted seven onside kicks in his career, and partially because he simply believes it’s a better approach.

“In some schemes a team’s kick returner can be their best ath-lete,” says Hill. “If you kick the ball to them at the 5- or 10-yard line, they have the whole field to work with. Even if they have only decent blocking in front of them, they can turn that into a big play right away. We’ve always been leery of kicking it deep.”

Hill says he frequently uses a surprise onside kick when his team has just scored to go up by seven early in a game. Even as oppo-nents pick up on this trend, Park View still converts onside kicks at a relatively high rate, and Hill isn’t likely to stop.

“We’ve been successful because of Clayton’s accuracy, and also because we have selfless kids who will go down the field and lay their body on the line so our quick kids can come in and scoop up the football,” says Hill. “If we get it, great, but even if we don’t get it, the other team is probably only starting on the 40- or 45-yard line.”

It’s a calculated gamble, just like many other high-risk plays, and you certainly don’t want to tip your hand if you can avoid it. In last year’s Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League championship game, Terry Smith, Head Coach of Gateway High School in Monroeville, Pa., was confident enough in his disguised onside kick to call it early in his team’s biggest game of the year.

“Our kicker’s approach is the same as if he’s kicking it deep until the last two steps, and at that point he will turn his body and kick onside,” says Smith. “We always have our three fastest guys on the side we’re trying to kick to whether it’s deep or onside, so you can’t really spot our tendency in that aspect. We also avoid any special huddle so the opposing coaches can’t see that we’re planning something.”

TACTICAL APPROACH

Circle No. 119

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Circle No. 119


COVER STORY

alleviate the anxiety of defending an onside kick in the final minute.

“You get sick to your stomach,” says Brookhart. “You know that you’ve got it covered, that you’ve worked on it, and that the odds are not in their favor, but

you still get that pit in your stomach.” Coaches have gone hoarse yelling

at their players not to get beat deep and to bat the ball down on Hail Mary attempts. And there is more to defend-ing desperation plays than having your

hands team on the field for onside kicks. Most coaches agree that sound defense is the key to stopping even the most clever gadget play.

“Desperation plays are not going to beat you if your players stay cognizant of what’s going on and stick with the fundamentals,” says Hill. “We teach our players to put the team ahead of their own personal pride and glory. That means knocking the ball down rather than trying to pick it off or form tackling rather than try-ing to get the big hit on a guy. Undisciplined teams lose games because they get caught by plays like that.”

Traditional wisdom for defending a desperation play is to set your players deep and never let anyone get past them. While no coach argues against the need to keep at least one defender deeper than the opponent, some coaches recom-mend applying pressure on rugby-style laterals, Hail Mary passes, and other last-ditch efforts.

“The thing about a desperation play is that it takes some time to get started,” says Gibson. “I think a lot of people play into the hands of the opponent by playing it safe and not applying any pressure.”

In all the madness that was Trinity’s 15-lateral touchdown, Mohr says it may have been his defense that learned the most lasting lesson. “Our defense learned a great deal: One, never quit on a play,” he says. “And, two, try to get some people behind the ball rather than everyone stay-ing in front of it. We gained a bit of an edge because the Millsaps players largely kept the ball in front of them instead of going behind the ball and tracking potential ball carriers on the laterals.”

“WE TEACH OUR PLAYERS TO PUT THE TEAM AHEAD OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL PRIDE AND GLORY. THAT MEANS KNOCKING THE BALL DOWN RATHER THAN TRYING TO PICK IT OFF OR FORM TACKLING RATHER THAN TRYING TO GET THE BIG HIT ON A GUY. UNDISCIPLINED TEAMS LOSE GAMES BECAUSE THEY GET CAUGHT BY PLAYS LIKE THAT.”

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Circle No. 122


Scouting (And Stealing)While everyone in the stadium

knows when certain desperation plays are coming, other high-risk plays live and die by the element of surprise. If you are looking to keep a team from fooling you or you are looking for an opportunity to fool your opponent, the opportunities lie in deft scouting. Knowing a team or a coaching staff’s history can be the difference between squashing a trick play or getting caught off guard.

“When I was a special teams coach, I watched every kicking play that every one of our opponents used during the whole season,” says Gibson. “Not only against us, but against other teams, to see what their trick plays were and to see how trick plays worked against them.

“Once you’ve been around for a while, you build a notebook not only on the opposing teams, but also on their coaches,” he continues. “And if you don’t have that kind of information available, you can trace the background of the person you’re coaching against. If you have access to people he has coached against, you can pick up the phone and say, ‘Did they run any tricks on you?’”

As you examine your opponent, keep a careful eye out for any tendencies you might be able to exploit. “From scout-ing one of our opponents, we knew that when they kicked into the wind, they would try a lob kick,” says Brookhart.

“So we created a play where our return guy caught it short, and then we pro-tected him. Our deep returner lazily walked up the other side of the field, then we threw it back to him, and he ran up the field.

“It was a momentum-changing play for us,” he continues. “They did exactly what we thought, and we gained about 70 yards, putting us in position to score.”

A key to gaining an advantage with desperation plays is having a solid knowledge of both your own personnel and your opponents’. Recognizing an unusual personnel package can tip off an upcoming gadget play, and knowing which players to key on can help defend against last-second heroics.

“I think most scouting to prevent desperation plays comes in figuring out which kids are going to make those kind of plays,” says Hill. “If I have to pick up 15 yards to keep the chains moving, I’m probably not going to throw to an untested receiver that I’m rotating in.”

The benefits of scouting go beyond simply being ready for what an oppo-nent might do. No matter how creative your staff is, there is always anoth-er team that has a play you want. Borrowing plays from other teams is a practice nearly as old as the handoff, and it allows you to judge if a play can be successful for your team.

“All good coaching is stealing,” says Gibson. “A good coach sees something

he likes, studies it, and then tweaks it to fit his own situation and personnel. Whenever you see some-thing you think you can use, you have to decide if there’s some way you can try to fit it into your repertoire.”

Smith and Hill use a wide array of high-risk plays and are constantly on the lookout for new ideas. Some gadget plays come from internal brainstorming, but many more come from watching other teams.

“Any time I see something I like, I write it down,” says Hill. “Sometimes when we’re looking for a certain play, we’ll find something that I saw three or four years ago

in a college game or a pro game that can help us.

“One of the plays we created was a bounce pass,” he continues. “We run a bubble screen and the quarterback throws it backwards into the ground. As soon as the ball hits the ground, the defense usually lets up. Then our receiver picks it up and throws it back across the field. But the first time we ran the bounce pass we had a bad formation and called it at a bad time, and it resulted in a fumble. We figured out how to tweak it, changed our formation, and it worked beautifully the next week.”

Beamer has a relatively smaller bag of plays that tends to stay the same from year to year. “There’s a set group of those plays that we use,” he says. “You don’t want to over-coach those. With desperation plays, we have ours, and we keep practicing them until we need them.”

As a coach, you can spend hours planning for every contingency, but in the end, the game will be won or lost by the 11 individuals on the field. All the Xs and Os will become background noise and something deeper will have to take over. If you want your next high-risk, traditionally low-success play to look like a minor miracle, your players can’t think they’re one play from losing the game.

“When our kids broke the huddle for the 15-lateral play, they really believed they were going to score,” Mohr says. “And that belief is something people overlook. They say it was just a lucky play, and there certainly was some luck involved, but our players knew the game wasn’t over and they all believed in themselves.

“You could go an inch one way or the other, and that play is a non-memory, but every once in a while the unlikely occurs,” he continues. “You need to instill that ‘never give up’ attitude in your players, because the miracle plays happen, and they happen to people who believe.” ■

COVER STORY

To view clips of four trick plays from Park View High School, go to our Web site at www.CoachesNetwork.com, click on “Football,” and select “High-Risk Plays” from the list of videos.

“WHEN OUR KIDS BROKE THE HUDDLE FOR THE 15-LATERAL PLAY, THEY REALLY BELIEVED THEY WERE GOING TO SCORE. AND THAT BELIEF IS SOMETHING PEOPLE OVERLOOK. THEY SAY IT WAS JUST A LUCKY PLAY, AND THERE CERTAINLY WAS SOME LUCK INVOLVED, BUT OUR PLAYERS KNEW THE GAME WASN’T OVER AND THEY ALL BELIEVED IN THEMSELVES.”

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What are some common mistakes and mis-conceptions related to core training?

Many people seem to focus on isolation movements to make sure the core is stable, but that’s not the ideal approach. For instance, the plank was not really designed to be a training tool—it’s supposed to be a test to screen for lower-back injuries. The plank isn’t an effective way to recruit the core muscles because it doesn’t provide progressive overload. It’s just like how you don’t run to make your legs stronger, you do squats.

Another mistake is when athletes focus too much on sit-ups and think they’re developing the core. In Stuart McGill’s important book, Low Back Disorders, he mentions that most people shouldn’t do sit-ups at all. The sit-up motion puts quite a bit of stress on the lower back, and in most cases that should be avoided. But some athletes will do thousands of sit-ups and think they’re strengthening their core, when in fact all they’re doing is building muscle endurance.

What is the right way to build core strength?

I believe it’s best for athletes to focus on strength training with larger, multi-joint movements. If you really want to recruit and stabilize the core, it’s the Olympic lifts, squats, standing overhead presses, and other standing (rather than seated) exercises that will make the biggest difference. If those are being per-formed regularly in a well-designed strength regimen, you don’t need to fi ll out a program with lots of extra “core-specifi c” strength work.

How do you get your own athletes at UW-La Crosse to develop a strong, stable core?

Because our focus is on multi-joint strength move-ments, for the most part we prescribe very few abdominal exercises. In addition to the Olympic lifts, jump squats, step-ups, and single-leg squats, we’ll use some plyometrics and other related activities that involve back extension.

Are there any exercises you’re careful to never prescribe?

As I already mentioned, we stay away from sit-ups. We have also gotten rid of Supermans—Stuart

McGill’s book proclaims pretty clearly that the Su-perman is a high-risk exercise that puts a great deal of compression pres-sure on the disks and lower back.

How do core training meth-ods vary de-pending on the athlete’s sport?

It’s important to look at the specifi c demands that a sport places on the body. A distance runner and a shot putter might compete in the same meets, but they have much different needs when it comes to core strength. The shot putter’s activity is intense and lasts only for a couple of seconds, so we’ll use exercises with a higher load that require maintaining proper body posture for a short period of time, such as heavy squats. For this athlete, we won’t look at muscle endurance or fatigue at all.

Meanwhile, the distance runner needs muscle endur-ance in order for the core to remain stable through-out a long race. So we might have that athlete perform supersets of fatiguing squats or single-leg activities, followed immediately by a depth drop to assess landing mechanics. When they land, we’ll look for stability or a lack of stability in the body as the feet hit the ground.

How do you measure progress in core strength?

Put simply, I think the best gauge is the win column. You’re looking for transfer to the athlete’s sport, not a specifi c benchmark achieved during a strength test. An observant strength coach should be able to see during a game or practice whether individual athletes have a weak core that needs addressing, because it will limit their ability to perform some key sport-specifi c movement skills.

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Circle No. 126

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Circle No. 127


T IS THE START OF PRESEASON AND THERE ARE 101 TASKS TO BE COM-PLETED. One of those early sea-son hurdles, the parents meeting, is usually a no-brainer. You have always felt comfortable walking into a room full of your student-athletes’ parents and discussing

your rules and philosophy.But this year, the thought of the

meeting is accompanied by some anxi-

people tend to measure success and fail-ure only by what is on the scoreboard, not the teaching you do in practice. In many communities, your moves are criti-cized more than the mayor’s!

Now you are going to add to the pressure by coaching your own child? Sharing a team experience with a son can be a wonderful, positive opportu-nity, but it can also be a disaster. Before you embark on the endeavor, there are

Larry Lauer, PhD, is Director of Coaching Education and Development at the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University, where one of his research interests is parents’ involvement with their children’s athletic teams. He can be reached at: [email protected].

Coaching your son can be a rewarding experience, as long as both of you are prepared for the unique challenges your relationship may face.

I BY DR. LARRY LAUER

ety. One of the members of the current squad is your son, and it’s a situation you’ve never faced before. A friend tells you there is talk that you have already decided your child will be the starting quarterback. Another rumor is that your son and his friends are receiving prefer-ential treatment in practice.

Coaching is a tough job. Unlike most professions, you work with young peo-ple under public scrutiny. Furthermore,

COACH DAD

LEADERSHIP

Hutchinson (Kan.) High School Head Coach Randy Dreiling and his son, Grant, celebrate after winning the 2007 Class 6A state title.

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Circle No. 128

frustration with the coach, whom many felt was making his son the sole focus of the team’s offense. The student section erupted in laughter and it turned out that parents were also involved in initiat-ing the prank. Although those involved were disciplined by the school and the athlete went on to play NCAA Division I ball, I’m sure the embarrassment of the player and coach have stayed with them and soured the team experience.

The second concern comes from a reaction to perceived favoritism: being too hard on your child. Parent-coaches can be tougher on their kid because they expect more, putting more pressure on the child. The frustration of the child is, “Why do you expect more of me than anyone else?”

Coach Reeder sometimes found him-self being hard on his sons. His boys would be the first to sit if the game was out of hand. He cautions that this can be detrimental to family life, creating tension between parent and child, and even between spouses.

This leads to the third concern, which

some areas to think through and deci-sions to be made.

Pros & ConsVeteran high school and collegiate

coach Jerry Reeder is a proponent of coaching one’s own child. He has coached his two sons, and encourages other coaches to do the same.

“It is an opportunity to share in their successes and failures, and it strengthens your bond with your child,” Reeder says. “You can laugh and cry with them and that is what makes a relationship stron-ger. It is a fantastic opportunity most parents don’t get to have.”

There are other benefits, too. A child can learn to understand and respect the father’s profession. And the parent can have new insight into his child’s interac-tions with teammates, authority figures, and opponents. Furthermore, parent-coaches can observe, in the trenches, their child’s reactions to losing, winning, and many other situations that reveal their character. It can also help parents form a less biased view of their child’s abilities.

On the flip side, coaching your son can put you, your child, and the team in a precarious position. The most obvi-ous concern is the almost automatic reaction from others that your child will receive favoritism—a starting position and playing time without having to com-pete for them.

Reeder feels this is the greatest threat. “You have to do your best to negate any perceived favoritism,” he says. “If you don’t, it can divide a program.”

Rumors and second-guessing come quickly when the coach’s child is in the starting lineup. It is often fueled by par-ents who are frustrated their own child is not receiving playing time. Players on the bench may also begin to ques-tion why the coach’s son is playing, and most importantly, question the coach’s fairness.

Several years ago in Indiana, a basket-ball coach’s son was sitting on the bench after having just broken a county scor-ing record, when a player on the court passed the ball to the seated teammate. The gesture was meant to show the team’s

LEADERSHIP


Circle No. 129

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Circle No. 130

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LEADERSHIP

is the inability of the adolescent to sepa-rate the parent’s coaching role from the parenting role. At practice, you may give your child negative feedback, thinking what’s on the field stays on the field. In reality, it does not.

“You are not going home with the other athletes on the team and living with them 24/7,” Reeder warns. “The sit-uation can put pressure on the child and strain the parent-child relationship.”

Is It Right For You?So how do you know if the positives

will outweigh the negatives for you and your child? To start, take some time to think about why you want to coach a team with your child on it.

If the reason is to make sure your son reaches his potential and goes on to the next level, you may be heading down the wrong road. If it’s because you want to mend a difficult relationship you have with your child, that’s another misguided reason. However, if you have been coach-ing the team for a while, your relation-ship with your child is on solid ground, and you like the idea of sharing the team experience with him, you are off to a good start.

The next step is to think about how the situation will affect your son. Talk openly to your child about the realities of coaching them, and the payoffs and pitfalls. And then, listen. Some children handle being coached by a parent better than others. It is your job to find out if your child is willing and able.

Sometimes, a parent is eagerly antici-pating coaching their child on a var-sity team, not realizing that the child is actually dreading it. Teenage years are often ones of learning to be independent of your parents, and having a parent involved in your extracurricular activity can cause resentment. On top of that, the child may worry that he will be treated differently by friends on the team if Dad is the coach.

In addition, discuss the situation with your spouse. Talk honestly about wheth-er your child will be able to deal with the prospect of you being tough on them in practice and not dwelling on it at home. Consider these questions:

■ Knowing my child, how will he respond to me as a coach?

■ Will my child be able to separate my parent and coach roles?

■ How well will I be able to separate

my roles as coach and parent?■ Will this create strain within our

family?Finally, assess how the parent-coach

role will work for you. Think about what type of coach you are and whether that will create strain between you and your child. For example, are you overbearing as a coach? If you are, you likely will be too hard on your child.

Also, consider how the other mem-bers of the team, and their parents, would respond to you coaching your

own child. For example, is your child a borderline starter? If he is a star player, questions of favoritism are usually moot. However, if he is battling for a starting position or playing time, then you may face criticisms of being unfair. Will these be surmountable?

Keep in mind that a longtime coach with a history at a school will be given more leeway and respect that he is coaching the team, not just his child. If you choose to coach a team just as your son joins it, parents will assume you

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Circle No. 131

Circle No. 132

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LEADERSHIP

place your child’s interests first and you will have to prove otherwise.

Laying The GroundworkFor those brave of heart and willing

to coach their child in interscholastic sport, you still should not jump into it headlong. Instead, you need to prepare a game plan so that the situation does not negatively affect your relationship with your child, the team, or your child’s performance.

Reeder feels that laying out ground rules is particularly important. First, you have to know how you are going to deal with any team-related disciplinary issues involving your child. In Reeder’s case, he had his assistants handle it to help keep the parent and coach roles separate.

The second ground rule Reeder com-municated to his sons was that they must treat him like any other coach and not expect preferential treatment. At this time, a coach may even want to talk about why he might be a little harder on the child and how that shouldn’t be taken personally, but as an attempt to make the team realize there is no favoritism.

Another area to navigate is how to best separate the parent and coach roles. For Reeder, it worked well for his sons to call him “Coach” while around the team. “When we stepped on the practice field, I was Coach Reeder, not Dad,” he says. “That’s how they would address and treat me.”

It’s also important for the coach to be ready to shift into the specific roles. When coaching, take a coaching mind-set and treat your child like any other member of the team, always being real-istic about his playing abilities. Reeder mentioned that he makes it a point to not single out any player, and he did the same with his boys. He attempted to praise the team effort to avoid percep-tions of favoritism.

And when you are a parent, be a parent. Provide unconditional love and support away from the gym or field. Try not to bring things home that hap-pened in practices and games. Refrain from turning dinner table conversation into coaching critiques. And talk about things other than sport with your child.

Another tactic to laying solid ground-work is to have your spouse less involved in the sport experience. That way they can take the pressure off and empha-

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Circle No. 134

LEADERSHIP

size other aspects of the family such as school, friends, hobbies, and so forth.

Finally, consider communicating openly about the situation with your team. Reeder felt it was critical to talk to his players about the situation in the first meeting. Let your athletes know your expectations in terms of having respect for you and each other.

When meeting with parents, be clear about how you will determine playing time and starting positions. Also, clarify that assistants have a role in making these decisions and will help to keep it fair. Finally, reinforce the fact that the athletic director will be monitoring the situation to make sure it is handled well. Reeder says that meeting this head on was important to staving off potential problems on his teams.

In-Season AssessmentHaving ground rules in place will set

you on the right course for this endeavor, but you will also need to assess the situa-tion throughout the season. While coach-ing, it is important that you become very observant of your behaviors and of your child’s reactions. Is your child feeling pressure? Do problems at practices or games carry over to home? Are your conversations dominated by sport? Is the team becoming divided or isolating your child? Is your child not talking to you, or always arguing with you?

It’s a great idea to ask a trusted assis-tant to observe you while coaching to see if you are playing favorites, or are being too tough on your child. Sometimes when you are in the middle of coaching it is hard to be self-aware.

If any problems arise, it is time to adapt and have a heart-to-heart with your child. Revisit the discussions you had before you made the decision to coach your child so you can both think through your actions. Talk about how you both might do a better job of sepa-rating the coach and parent roles. If needed, meet with the team and talk about fairness issues and how you are attempting to treat everyone equally.

If rumors surface that you are playing favorites, it is important to address them head on, even though it may be uncom-fortable. Talk to trusted parents about the concerns and if they are related to any particular coaching decisions. Then, determine how best to squash the

rumors. Do you meet privately with those frustrated by the situation? Do you set a team meeting to discuss your process for playing time decisions? The answer will depend on your specific team.

A proactive way to minimize rumors is to have an e-mail newsletter sent to all team members’ parents discussing your philosophy, training methods, and how the season is progressing. If you create this informational newsletter, however, do so with caution. Be sure you are not divulging too much information or con-

fidential discussions. Moreover, it should be matter-of-fact in its tone and not a let-ter defending every move you make.

Coaching your child can be a won-derful experience, but it can also create problems, some of which are not com-pletely within your control. Your child will experience your involvement dif-ferently than any other player you have coached. But, if you think through the decision, lay the groundwork, and moni-tor the situation, it can be some of the best times of both of your lives. ■


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Circle No. 136

If you want to be the best, you should learn from the best. So we’ve asked four leading strength and condi-tioning professionals to talk about the art and science of improving athletic performance.

Some of their answers may surprise you, and as you’ll see, these experts don’t always agree. Many of the questions sur-rounding strength training don’t have one simple answer—what works well for one coach will do little for another. This just makes it more important to under-stand the different approaches available

R.J. Anderson is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: [email protected].

Four veteran strength and conditioning coaches share their thoughts on bodybuilding exercises, stretching, and getting the most out of athletes.

BY R.J. ANDERSON

better job are those who make sure it’s done right.

Allan Johnson: The program needs to be multifaceted and comprehensive, encompassing strength, flexibility, agil-ity, speed, balance, nutrition, prehab, and explosion. It also needs to be sim-plified for the athletes. Sometimes we overcomplicate simple tasks and the athletes have no idea what we’re talking

STRONG TALK

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING


as you work to make your players the best they can be.

CM: What are the most important factors in developing a successful strength and conditioning program?

Michael Boyle: Number one is atten-tion to detail and number two is tech-nique—which goes hand-in-hand with attention to detail. The ability to get athletes to do things well is what sepa-rates good programs from bad pro-grams. We all have access to the same information. The coaches who do a TI

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Michael Boyle is a strength and conditioning coach and consultant based in Boston and co-founder of Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning. He has been training athletes, from ama-teurs to Olympians and professionals, for 25 years and is the author of Func-tional Training for Sports.

Chris Carlisle is in his eighth season as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at the Uni-versity of Southern California and works with the Trojans football team.

THE PANEL

about. The athletes need us to break it down so they understand what we want them to do.

Chris Carlisle: A good program is one that meets the goals you’re training for. It has to be right for you. You can’t take somebody else’s ideas and try to apply them to your program unless you com-pletely understand how those ideas were developed.

What are the keys to getting the most out of each athlete?

Boyle: The number one factor is con-vincing athletes to compete only with themselves. I don’t do any results boards or clubs in my weightroom because that stuff only rewards the guys with the most fast-twitch muscle fiber. If you say, “You need to get on the ‘300 Board’ for bench pressing 300 pounds,” athletes end up doing whatever it takes to get their name on the board instead of obtaining tech-nical mastery of the exercise.

Strength levels are largely pre-deter-mined by how much fast-twitch muscle fiber an athlete has, and you need to

Allan Johnson is Director of Sports Performance at Velocity Sports Per-formance in Charles-ton, S.C. He has headed strength and conditioning programs for Ohio State University, West Virginia University, and the Baltimore Orioles.

Mickey Marotti is Direc-tor of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Flori-da and works with the Gators football team.

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What is your philosophy on stretching?

Johnson: I’m more into an active dynamic warmup with minimal flexibility work. Recent research has shown that if you incorporate static stretching into your pre-workout or pre-game routine, there’s a 19-percent reduction in power output as far as vertical and horizontal speed. I’m a big proponent of PNF or assistive stretching post activity.

Marotti: We’re more focused on using a dynamic warmup pre-practice and pre-workout. Then we do some traditional PNF stretching, partner stretching, and band work post-practice and post-workout.

Carlisle: We do a dynamic warmup followed by a static stretching routine. I don’t think all of the information is in, even though it’s sort of a fad to say static stretching is bad. When I see our physical thera-



work with that. So I say, “Here’s what you did last time. Here’s what we think you’re capable of doing. Here’s what we’re going to do to get you there.”

Johnson: Developing a relationship with the athlete and discovering his hot button is the key. The more you know about the athlete’s background and what makes him tick, the better you’ll under-stand how to motivate him. This means really listening to your athletes. A big mistake we sometimes make as coaches is talking too much and not listening enough. You’d be amazed how much you can learn by not saying anything and just listening.

Mickey Marotti: There have to be results and changes they can plainly see in the weightroom and on the playing field. So we communicate how much they’re improving on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. Athletes also need to know how much you care about them and how hard you’re working to help them get better. If you’re a passion-ate, intense person who embraces weight training, athletes feed off it.

pists—who are on the cutting edge of all this stuff—stretching athletes through a range of motion, I’ve got to believe stretching is still a good idea.

Boyle: In the last couple years we’ve actually gone back to more traditional

stretching. I think a lack of flexibility is the root of many overuse problems we see. After five minutes of foam rolling, we spend five minutes on static stretch-

Once we get great technique, we work on speed of move-ment. Only then do we start worrying about the amount of weight. Once technique breaks down, we lower the weight. Problems arise when we are too focused on how much guys are lifting.

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Circle No. 139



ing before doing a dynamic warmup. I think nearly everyone can benefit from a good dose of static stretching.

What is your philosophy on periodization?

Johnson: I think periodization is good as a basic guide for taking an athlete through a systematic program. But what looks good on paper doesn’t always work in day-to-day practice because it’s based on a number derived prior to cycle assess-ment, not on the individual athlete.

Boyle: I think periodization is incredi-bly overrated. Conventional periodization was designed for athletes in individual sports, not team sport athletes, so it really isn’t applicable in the collegiate setting. For most college team sports, there is no isolated peak period or time we can set aside for hypertrophy. In NCAA Division I football, the peak has to last from mid-August until January.

Carlisle: I think it worked well in the Eastern Bloc when they had year-round conditioning and supervision with set periods of competition and training. But it doesn’t work in our model because there’s not enough time to go through hypertrophy and all the other stages with the NCAA limits on training time. I don’t know of any Russian periodizations that allowed for eight weeks of discretionary time between January and the beginning of summer workouts.

Do you believe in correcting agility mechanics, or letting athletes find their own form?

Marotti: We do a little bit of both. Teaching the mechanics of agility and running is important. However, every athlete is different and they have to learn a lot of it on their own.

Johnson: In the initial stages of working with young athletes, I would definitely attempt to correct poor agil-ity mechanics. But when an athlete gets older, I might let them find their own mechanics as they mature. A lot of it also has to do with how successful the athlete is—we’ve all seen extremely quick, fast athletes with terrible form and tech-nique. I had a kid at West Virginia who ran the 40-yard dash in under 4.3 sec-onds with the worst running technique you’ve ever seen. We tried to improve his technique and it was a hindrance for him—he couldn’t run as fast.

Carlisle: We had an All-American nose

guard, Sedrick Ellis, whose toes turned out to three o’clock and nine o’clock. If we tried to correct that pattern and get his toes back to normal, we would have thrown off the way his body moves. I know people talk a lot about gait analysis, but when this kid gets into fight or flight, how long do you think the new gait train-ing is going to stick? As soon as the ball is snapped, he’s probably not going to con-centrate on keeping his toes straight, and will revert back to how he’s run for 20 years. However, if an athlete has mechani-

cal issues that are causing an injury, you need to correct them.

How do you avoid lower back problems with athletes who are lifting a lot?

Boyle: I believe you avoid back injuries primarily by doing a good job in teach-ing lifting technique. But I also believe you can’t put square pegs into round holes. You have to accept the fact that not everybody was meant to squat. As strength coaches, we’ve been very dogmatic in

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Do you dissuade athletes from doing “bodybuilding” exercises that aren’t considered integral to performance enhancement for their sport?

Boyle: For the most part, I tell my athletes to avoid those exercises. But occasionally I let them do some isolated arm work as filler, if they want to.

Johnson: Those exercises can be good as a mental pick-me-up and dur-ing recovery phases, especially in the off-season. However, we need to edu-cate the athletes that we’re training for explosiveness and speed, and bodybuild-ing does not really contribute to that development.

Carlisle: We use an apple pie approach. Let’s say we do a regular workout with plyometrics, med ball, core, squats, and bench, and I’m getting all my work in. We’ll put the apple pie at the end of the workout by incorporat-ing some bodybuilding stuff that gets them all yoked up with big arms. Does that make them better football players? Maybe a little, but the big thing is when they look in the mirror they feel good about themselves. Even the coaches see the results from those exercises and tell them how good they look. That’s brain candy. And it’s just from working five minutes on their arms. If you don’t give them something they want, you can’t be sure they’re going to come back and work hard tomorrow. And tomorrow is the most important day.

What trends in strength training do you see gaining steam?

Boyle: Machines that can accurately measure power will be big. I think more people are going to see the value of training at high speeds and effectively training for power.

Johnson: We are seeing a lot of strength and conditioning tools that were relevant 15 to 20 years ago making come-backs—somebody puts a little twist on it and it’s relevant again. For instance, the old leather medicine ball was something used by boxers and wrestlers 25 years ago. Recently a couple of companies put rubber on it and now it bounces—it’s the same tool, but with additional benefits. I think we’ll see more of that. ■

A version of this article appeared in our sis-ter magazine, Training & Conditioning. For more T&C articles on strength training, go to: www.Training-Conditioning.com.

using the philosophy that everybody has to squat and do the core lifts, when in actuality some of those exercises probably put 20 percent of the population at risk and should be avoided by those people.

Marotti: First, we make sure they’re doing the exercises properly. We also make sure our athletes’ cores are strong and stable. Another component is a smart, common sense progression. Sometimes, coaches follow a periodized routine that calls for too much weight at a certain time for a particular athlete. Everyone

progresses at different rates and you can’t hold each athlete to the same standard.

Carlisle: Before we load a kid with any weight, we work on technique. Some kids come out of high school with very good technique, while others are train wrecks. Once we get great technique, we work on speed of movement. Only then do we start worrying about the amount of weight. Once technique breaks down, we lower the weight. Problems arise when we are too focused on how much guys are lifting and technique becomes secondary.

Circle No. 141

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Despite losing almost every starter from a state championship team, this Michigan high school didn't miss a beat and won a second-straight title.

BY ABIGAIL FUNK


STEPPING IN

Having lost 20 starters from its 2006 state championship team, no one expected the 2007 East Grand Rapids (Mich.) High School football squad to make it back to the state champion-ship game, let alone win it. No one, that is, except the players.

“Going into the season, my big-gest concern was definitely our lack of experience,” says Head Coach Peter Stuursma. “Our only true returning starter was one of our defensive backs. We also had a left tackle who came back to start at guard, and our quar-terback was a defensive end the year before. Other than those three players, we were all brand new.

“After two-a-day practices were over, we were still very unsure as a coaching staff where we’d end up, but one thing was clear: We had tremendous chem-istry,” Stuursma continues. “Our senior

leadership was apparent right away. The seniors set high expectations for themselves when nobody else did. They also took care of things like telling a kid who showed up late that it isn’t okay to do that—things that a coach would typi-cally have to deal with.”

The Pioneers rolled through the reg-ular season, tallying win after win, until hitting a speed bump in their second-to-last game. Playing nearby Caledonia High School, EGR led 20-7 with under four minutes to play. Helped by an EGR facemask penalty, and a recov-ered onside kick, Caledonia scored the winning touchdown with 11 seconds on the clock, handing the Pioneers their only loss of the season.

“It was one of those things that just unfolded, and we could only watch it happen,” Stuursma says. “It felt like there was nothing we could do to stop it.

That loss was a key turning point for us. Our next game was against our big rival, so we got a reality check just in time.”

After winning the regular season finale, the Pioneers gathered momen-tum and coasted through the playoffs. Before anyone knew it, the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state championship game was again looming. Stuursma, an EGR grad, regularly keeps in touch with former players, many of whom e-mail him with words of wisdom and encour-agement to pass on to his current players. Because the title game was Thanksgiving weekend, many former Pioneers were in town visiting family and dropped by practices.

“They were stopping by every day,” Stuursma says. “I would introduce them to the team, they would remind the guys to enjoy the experience, and then they‘d hang out for a while. It was

special for us to have those guys stop by, and it was also special for them to remember what they had here. It’s such a simple act, but it has a huge impact on the younger players.”

The Pioneers loaded onto two buses the morning of the game and headed to Ford Field, flanked by cars painted blue and gold and decked out in stick-ers and streamers to support the team. After gawking in awe at the field, home of the Detroit Lions, EGR and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Preparatory got down to business, playing a game that would end about four hours later after a state record five overtime periods.

Neither team led by more than a touchdown at any point. In the fourth overtime, EGR looked to be near the end of its dream season. St. Mary’s faked an extra point kick and convert-ed for two, making the score 39-31.

But EGR refused to give up, and after a diving fourth-down touchdown, pulled off a two-point conversion of its own to force the game into its fifth overtime.

Buoyed by its dramatic eight-point comeback, the Pioneers scored on a two-yard run in the fifth overtime and then kept St. Mary’s out of the end zone to clinch the win. “The greatest part to me was the absolute poise and tremendous confidence the play-ers showed during the overtimes,” Stuursma says. “While 20-some-thou-sand people in the stands were up in arms and going crazy, there was not one look of fear in my players’ eyes. They just said, ‘Okay, let’s do this.’

“I watched a re-broadcast of the game a week later with my wife and said, ‘How did you watch this? This is brutal!’” he continues. “I was nervous watching it, but when you’re down there on the field you really don’t think

about it that way. It’s all business, and our kids were not afraid to reach out for that pot of gold.”

Stuursma says it was a shame some-body had to lose that day, and he knows it could just as easily have been his team. With zero turnovers committed and five penalties assessed to each team, it was as clean as a game could be.

“It was fun to watch our kids throughout the season with the media attention we got and the support we had from our hometown community members,” he says. “The impact and historical significance of this will set in a few years from now, and it will be something they’ll remember for a lifetime.” ■



SAM

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Abigail Funk is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. She can be reached at: [email protected].

School: East Grand Rapids (Mich.) High SchoolHead Coach: Peter Stuursma2007 Season: 13-1, Michigan High School Athletic Association Divi-sion 3 Champions

Notes: In the state championship game, East Grand Rapids beat Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Preparatory 46-39 in fi ve

overtimes … It was the longest game in Michigan playoff his-tory … Senior kicker Michael Wilson established a new state record for extra points kicked in a career with 178 … Stuurs-ma’s coaching record at EGR was 88-12 after the 2007 sea-son, and he has won four state championships in eight years.

Assistant Coaches: Jim Voss, Defensive Coordinator; Bill Kowal, Quarterbacks and Running Backs; Matt Putnam, Defensive Backs; Robb Hurt, Defensive Line; David Evens, Offensive Line; Andy Tevlin, Linebackers


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touch and stretches with the jersey, all the while maintaining traditional tackle twill strength and longevity. Combine stretch tackle twill with stretch-fit jersey fabrics, and make your players vir tually unstoppable.

Circle No. 511

Pro Look’s football uniforms offer the newest in stretch-fit materials, including stretch mesh that makes your players virtually unstoppable. As one of the first companies to offer soft tackle twill, Pro Look now brings you a stretch tackle twill that con-forms to the jersey. Pro Look’s “One Price Promise” includes fully customizable uniforms in the new-est designs—you get unlimited embroi-dery, unlimited tackle twill, and unlimited design options.

Circle No. 512

Calling CardsHere is what these companies are most known for:

Winning taste...Championship results.

www.cytosport.com

Manufacturer and installer of top-quality synthetic turf and IAAF track surfaces worldwide since 1969.

www.polytan-usa.com

A leading manufacturer and installer of synthetic grass surfaces.

www.aturf.com

A leader in innovative, quality sports training equipment.

www.sportsattack.com

Keep your profits by reducing the number of callbacks.

www.nordot.com

.

One of the most trusted namesin sports medicine for more than 40 years.

www.proorthopedic.com

Team benches with attitude.www.triadtec.com

GearBoss offers specialized storage and transport solutions for athletics.

www.gearboss.com

Daktronics is a world-leading designer and manufacturer of scoreboards and displays.

www.daktronics.com


Football Facilities

Aer-Flo, Inc.800-823-7356www.aerflo.com

The Cross-Over Zone® track protector resists and cushions against steel-tipped cleats. Its breathable polypropyl-ene fabric allows rain to drain through

while protect-ing modern track surfac-

es from crossing traffic. A steel chain inserted in the edging keeps the pro-tector in place without stakes. Choose white or gold vinyl edging for durability and safety. The Cross-Over Zone is 7.5 or 15 feet wide and 30, 40, or 50 feet long. Custom sizes and multi-color print-ing are also available. This product is easy to install and remove, and it ships quickly. Hundreds are already in use.

Circle No. 520

Cleats cannot penetrate the Bench Zone® sideline turf protector by Aer-Flo, but rain, sports drinks, and body fluids drain through—they’re not absorbed like they are with geotextile mats, which can triple in weight and develop odors. Vipol Matrix material lets air and sunlight penetrate and does not com-pact grass. Simply hose it off to clean it. The Bench Zone is digitally imprintable in multiple colors, and is available in several sizes: 15’ deep x 50’, 75’, 100’, 125’, or 150’ long. Custom colors and sizes are available. This product is used by major college and NFL teams and it ships quickly.

Circle No. 521

Earth & Turf Products, LLC888-693-2638www.earthandturf.com

The Linear Aerator changes the way aeration is done. Maximum modification

of turf on ath-letic fields and golf courses is assured. After the

area has been topdressed, the Linear Aerator conditions a 58-inch swath by cutting grooves three inches deep, half an inch wide, and 3.5 inches apart. Aggressive spiral-mounted teeth cut the grooves. Blended materials are brushed back into the grooves by steel fingers on a horizontally reciprocating filler bar.

Circle No. 522

Humane Mfg. Co., LLC 800-369-6263www.humanemfg.com

Rubber mats and flooring provide excel-lent protection for your equipment as well as the floor beneath it. Humane Loktuff mats are totally non-absorbent and provide a vibration/noise barrier

as well as dust reduc-tion. With a tensile strength of up

to 1,000 psi and a durometer rating of 63, Humane mats are stronger and softer than many traditional mats—so let the company be the “foundation of your success.”

Circle No. 523

M.A.S.A., Inc.800-264-4519www.masa.comwww.sportsadvantage.com

M.A.S.A. carries a large selection of economical sideline turf protectors that come in two grades of durability to meet any budget. All of the company’s protec-tors are constructed using a durable, breathable polypropylene that will stand up to cleat traffic and pro-tect your turf. All tarps are light gray in color and feature brass grom-mets every three feet along the edges. They’re now available with optional lettering and logos to make your field stand out. Custom sizes and shapes are available. For more information, call today or visit the company online.

Circle No. 524

Mondo800-361-3747www.mondousa.com

MondoTurf systems are engineered for performance and safety. Mondo’s completely innovative artificial turf

system reproduces all the char-acteristics of a well-maintained natural grass playing field. A new gen-eration of

fibers provides durability, performance, and playing characteristics similar to natural grass. Mondo’s patented infill, Ecofill Star, offers maximum safety and superior dynamic performance without the problems caused by natu-ral turf fields. MondoTurf withstands many times the level of wear and tear endured by traditional surfaces. Outstanding durability reduces mainte-nance costs.

Circle No. 525

Sport Impact from Mondo is an ideal choice for strength and conditioning areas. The performance layer is a solid three-mil-limeter homog-enous wear layer that can with-stand heavy abuse from weights and cardio equipment. The surface is non-porous and antibacterial throughout, and it does not require coatings or finishes for ease of maintenance and the elimi-nation of odors and hygiene issues. Sport Impact is available in 12 colors and in thicknesses of six millimeters and 10 millimeters.

Circle No. 526

OakWood Sports, Inc.517-321-6852www.oakwoodsports.com

OakWood Sports is the builder of pre-mier custom wood lockers, with experi-ence in design, construction, delivery, and installation. For new builds or renovations, the company takes care of your locker needs from start to fin-


Football Facilities

factured in upstate New York and is fea-tured in stadiums and at fields across the country. When it’s time to put top-quality sports equipment on your fields, turn to PlayersGoal.

Circle No. 529

ProGrass, LLC866-270-6003www.prograssturf.com

ProGrass is a proven leader in artificial turf systems, offering design, installa-tion, project management, and product

development. High school and college football teams across the country play on ProGrass turf. The company has installed fields from above the Arctic Circle to the Rio Grande. ProGrass’s philosophy is simple: the company expects 100-percent customer satisfac-tion. ProGrass doesn’t want to be the biggest turf company on the market, just the best.

Circle No. 530

ProGrass prides itself on solving turf problems. Scott Farmer, Senior Associate Director of Athletics at the

University of Louisiana-Lafayette, was evaluating synthetic turf systems for Cajun Field. The field, which sits two feet below sea level, is located in an area with frequent rainfall. ProGrass installed a 46-ounce two-inch blend with silicon dioxide infill. The new field will drain beautifully and the silicon dioxide is cooler than rubber infill.

Circle No. 531

Seating Services, Inc.800-552-9470www.seatingservices.com

Seating Services is proud to announce the newest product in its seating line,

the Eagle Model Series 1000 plas-tic bench seat module. This seat is

designed to be bolted to existing or new bench seating to provide

a more comfortable individual seat for your spectators and create enhanced VIP seating that can be sold to raise revenue for your complex.

Circle No. 532

Polytan-USA877-POLYTANwww.polytan-usa.com

LigaTurf was designed to mimic the properties of natural grass, yet provide a highly durable synthetic sur face. LigaTurf was specifically developed for stadiums and high-per for-mance sports venues. It features newly developed “spring-back” monofilament fibers that have an outstanding ability to bounce back due to their resilience-enhanced design and soft elastic yarn composition. The structural design of the LigaTurf system is optimized to ensure excellent playing characteris-tics over the life of the surface.

Circle No. 533

Polytan LigaGrass is made with the same high-quality monofilament fiber as LigaTurf, but in this system the fiber is

uniquely textured using an exclu-sive manufactur-ing process. Due to the nature of the textured fibers, LigaGrass provides a more closed playing surface, which

prevents the infill material from com-ing to the surface—even during player contact, such as tackling or kicking. Therefore, one of its main benefits is reduced maintenance needs.

Circle No. 534

ish and beyond. With more than 200 locker rooms completed since 1998, OakWood’s experience and knowledge ensure that your locker system will be

visually stunning and highly durable. OakWood under-stands

the construction requirements of ath-letic lockers, and prides itself on apply-ing that expertise to the specific needs of each customer. Go online to view the company’s photo gallery.

Circle No. 527

In almost a decade, OakWood Sports has helped more than 200 schools and sports organizations design and install wood lockers for their athletic facilities. Every locker is con-structed from special cuts of high-quality veneer and solid wood to ensure a vibrant grain pattern and beautiful color. The lockers are assembled by hand as an individual unit prior to installation. OakWood’s specially formulated finish resists moisture, citric acid, and up to a 25-percent solution of sulfuric acid. Finally, all hardware (including hooks, hinges, and clothes rods) is either solid brass or stainless steel.

Circle No. 528

PlayersGoal866-OK1-GOALwww.playersgoal.com

PlayersGoal is leading the way in foot-ball equipment. With its line of goal posts, combination soccer and football

goals, ball safety netting systems, and much more, PlayersGoal has something for every program. PlayersGoal sports equip-ment is manu-


P R O D U C T S D I R E C T O R YCIRCLE COMPANY PAGE CIRCLE COMPANY PAGENO. NO. NO. NO

566 . . Active Ankle (All-Sport Chameleon) . . . 62

565 . . Active Ankle (Volt ankle brace) . . . . . . 62

500 . . Adams USA (A4 Elite II helmet shell) . . . 52

501. . . Adams USA (Bac-Shield) . . . . . . . . . . . 52

521 . . . Aer-Flo (Bench Zone) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

520 . . Aer-Flo (Cross-Over Zone) . . . . . . . . . . 54

502 . . Antibody (compression shorts) . . . . . . . 52

503 . . Antibody (Double Shoulder Sleeve) . . . . 52

563 . . Athletic Republic (accelerated training) . . 62

564 . . Athletic Republic (franchises) . . . . . . . . 62

567 . . . California University of Pennsylvania . 62

560 . . Cardinal Publishers Group . . . . . . . 61

568 . . Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

508 . . Cutters Gloves (GreatCatch) . . . . . . . . 53

509 . . Cutters Gloves (Wrist Coach) . . . . . . . 53

522 . . Earth & Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

559 . . . Fitnessrubber.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

538 . . Gear 2000 (product launch) . . . . . . . . . 57

505 . . Gear 2000 (X2 Air) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

504 . . Gear 2000 (Z-Cool shoulder pads) . . . . . 52

545 . . Gilman Gear (King Crab Sled) . . . . . . . 60

506 . . Gilman Gear (Mobility Arch) . . . . . . . . 52

570 . . . HighSchoolSports.net . . . . . . . . . . . 63

537. . . Human Kinetics (product launch) . . . . . 57

561 . . . Human Kinetics (Stronger Arms) . . . . . 61

523 . . Humane Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . 54

546 . . Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

562 . . Legend Fitness (glute/ham developer) . . 62

539 . . Legend Fitness (Pro Series Power Cage) 59

547 . . . Life Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

540 . . Life Fitness/Hammer Strength . . . . 59

524 . . . M.A.S.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

558 . . MAXX Football . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

525. . . Mondo (MondoTurf systems) . . . . . . . . . 54

526. . . Mondo (Sport Impact) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

541 . . . Nebula/NK Sports Group . . . . . . . . 59

528. . . OakWood Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

527. . . OakWood Sports (custom wood lockers) . 54

548 . . ONS Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

529 . . PlayersGoal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

534 . . Polytan-USA (LigaGrass) . . . . . . . . . . . 55

533 . . Polytan-USA (LigaTurf) . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

542 . . Power Lift (Combo Power Rack) . . . . . . 59

549. . . Power Lift (Full Body Squat) . . . . . . . . . 60

550 . . Power Systems (Monster Sled) . . . . . . 60

551 . . . Power Systems (Power Chute) . . . . . . . 60

552. . . Powernetics (Dominator) . . . . . . . . . . . 60

553 . . Powernetics (High Stepper) . . . . . . . . . 60

530 . . ProGrass (artificial turf systems) . . . . . . 55

531 . . . ProGrass (solving turf problems) . . . . . . 55

511 . . . Pro Look Sports (uniforms) . . . . . . . . . 53

512 . . . Pro Look Sports (football uniforms) . . . 53

555. . . ProMera Health (Con-Cret) . . . . . . . . 61

554 . . ProMera Health (StayActiv) . . . . . . . . 60

543 . . Rogers Athletic (Brute Rack System) . . . 59

556 . . Rogers Athletic (Monster Arms). . . . . . 61

557. . . Samson (Belt Squat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

536 . . Samson (product launch) . . . . . . . . . . . 57

544 . . Samson (Triple Power Station) . . . . . . . . 59

569. . . Save-A-Tooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

571 . . . Schedule Star . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

532 . . Seating Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

535 . . Sports Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

507. . . Wizard Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

510 . . . Xenith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

A D V E R T I S E R S D I R E C T O R YCIRCLE COMPANY PAGE CIRCLE COMPANY PAGENO. NO. NO. NO

102 . . . Active Ankle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

104. . . Adams USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

110 . . . Aer-Flo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

109. . . Antibody (The BodyGuard) . . . . . . . . . 12

138 . . . Athletic Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

115 . . . California University of Pennsylvania . 17

121 . . . Cardinal Publishers Group . . . . . . . 26

142 . . . Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

144 . . . Cutters Gloves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

120 . . . Earth & Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

111 . . . Fitnessrubber.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

113 . . . Gear 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

108. . . Gilman Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

126 . . . Hammer Strength Clinics . . . . . . . . 31

122 . . . HighSchoolSports.net . . . . . . . . . . . 27

133 . . . Human Kinetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

106. . . Humane Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . 8

103 . . . Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

134 . . . Legend Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

129 . . . M.A.S.A. Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

139 . . . MAXX Football . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

118 . . . Mondo USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

132 . . . Nebula/NK Sports Group . . . . . . . . 37

135 . . . OakWood Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

105. . . ONS Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

114 . . . PlayersGoal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

128 . . . Polytan-USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

136 . . . Power Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

140 . . . Power Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

143 . . . Powernetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC

127 . . . Pro Look Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32-33

116 . . . ProGrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

119 . . . ProMera Health (Con-Cret) . . . . . . . . 25

117 . . . ProMera Health (StayActiv) . . . . . . . . 19

137 . . . Rogers Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

141 . . . Samson Weight Equipment . . . . . . . 46

131 . . . Save-A-Tooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

130 . . . Seating Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

101 . . . Sports Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

123 . . . United States Sports Academy . . . . 10

124 . . . Wizard Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

100 . . Xenith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC

www.cho-pat.com 1-800-221-1601

“I have usedthem for years...There is nothinglike them on the market...”

AchillesTendon Strap

Patented strap provides relief fromknee pain caused bydegeneration andoveruse. Easy touse, comfortable,allows full mobility.Sizes: Sm - XL

Cho-Pat’s uniqueapproach to helpalleviate the painand sorenesscaused by shinsplits Sizes: Sm - L

Shin SplintCompressionSleeve

Patented devicewill reduce stressupon the AchillesTendon and provide effectiverelief from painand discomfort associated with Achilles Tendonitis. Sizes: Sm - L

Dual Action Knee Strap

Patent-pendingdevice affordsprotection fromoveruse injuriesfor individualsperformingrepetitive lifting.Sizes: Sm - XXL

Bicep/Triceps Cuff

Untitled-4 1 2/5/08 3:44:32 PM

Circle No. 142


NEW Product LaunchThe Snap AttackFootball Machine

Unique features:

• At ground level, it provides a realistic snap without the cen-ter for drills using the shotgun or a no-back offense, as well as for practice of short punts and extra points

• At passing height, it delivers precise deep passes and countless reps for interception, offensive, and defensive drills

Benefi ts for the user:

• The extremely portable Snap Attack is two machines in one and allows coaches to maximize training time on the most diffi cult-to-practice phases of the game

Sports Attackwww.sportsattack.com800-717-4251

Circle No. 535

Samson Adjustable

Plyo BoxUnique features:

• Adjustments made easy by a ball bearing system• Heavy-duty construction backed by a lifetime warranty• All-rubber landing surface


• Multiple height adjustments for increasing or de-creasing landing height—adjustments are remark-ably easy with the ball bearing adjustment system.

• Large landing surface accommodates athletes of all sizes

• Unique space-effi cient design allows for placement virtually anywhere in your weightroom

Samson Weight Training Equipmentwww.samsonequipment.com800-4-SAMSON

Circle No. 536

Football’sEagle & StackDefenses Unique features:

• Details defensive tacticsand techniques

• Provides coaching points that canmake these two defenses highly effective

• Author Ron Vanderlinden has been coach andarchitect of several of the most formidablecollege defensive teams in the past 20 years


• Prepares teams and individual players to not only defend, but also attack and dominate whatever offensive tactics an opponent might employ

Human Kineticswww.humankinetics.com800-747-4457

Circle No. 537

Z-CoolQB/DB/WRPro Select Shoulder PadUnique features:• Exclusively designed for quarterbacks, defensive

backs, and wide receivers• Lightweight protection adds comfort and mobility • Weighs only 49 ounces and is available in sizes

XS to 3XL

Benefi ts for the user:• Exclusive antibacterial 3-D air fl ow system• Moisture transfer system accelerates

evaporation (dries in two hours) and cooling while eliminating odors

• Free product CD available

Gear 2000www.gear2000.com785-625-6060

Circle No. 538

can


Company Q&A

Founded in 1995, Sports Attack is focused on being the leader in innova-tive, quality sports training equipment that enables athletes at all levels to reach their full potential and allows coaches to develop championship teams. The company doesn’t just design its products—specialists explore, scruti-nize, analyze, and engineer each one.

After fabrication and prior to ship-ment, every aspect of every unit of equipment is tested thoroughly. This process represents what Sports Attack is all about: Distinctive and exclusive design, along with detailed and quality manufacturing, resulting in innovative, effective training equipment.

Why did Sports Attack develop a new football machine, the Snap Attack?

We received hundreds of requests from coaches asking for a machine that would snap a ball back to the quarterback in shotgun formation drills. When the quarterback just holds the ball with no live snap, it develops the bad habit of watching the play develop instead of having to concentrate on first catching the ball. This increases the risk of a fumbled snap during game situations. After design-ing the per fect short-snapping machine, it was just a matter of adding power and versatility to get a machine that would do it all, and that machine is the new Snap Attack.

How is the Snap Attack different from existing machines?

The Snap Attack is two machines in one. From the elevated position, it will throw any pass in the game with a perfect spiral, delivered with profes-sional-level accuracy and velocity. When lowered to a realistic release point very close to the ground, it will deliver snaps to the quarterback, snaps for extra points and field goals, and short and deep snaps to the punter.

The unique, exclusive remote automatic feed system is an accessory option that allows the coach to remotely feed the ball into the machine, completely controlling the tempo of practice. The solid throwing wheels (as opposed to air-filled tires) have large, soft ball-con-tact surfaces that eliminate ball wear and provide complete ball control.

What are some ways a coach might use the machine in offensive drills?

The Snap Attack delivers centering snaps for shotgun drills and all indi-vidual positions, plus place-kicking practice. On its elevated passing stand, the machine pivots instantly in any direction to throw any pass on demand. Hundreds of reps of such drills as side-lines (out), curls (hook), slants, and deep passes (the Snap Attack’s spe-cialty) are possible. Any pass pattern can be provided by the Snap Attack.

How might a coach use the Snap Attack in defensive drills?

It’s great for interception drills, tip drills, and team defensive drills, espe-cially prevent drills and final-play drills (such as Hail Marys). The Snap Attack is ideal for any defensive drill focusing on preventing completed passes.

How does the accessory remote con-trol work?

Between plays, the ball is placed in the ball cradle by any player or coach. To release the ball to the quarterback, you need only push a button on the small handheld remote control. There are also two different time delays that allow a kicker working by himself to have the ball snapped to him at kicking distance for realistic repetitions.

How durable is the Snap Attack?

Quality is Sport’s Attack’s signature. Very few moving parts, a steel frame, and exclusive aluminum wheel guards make the Snap Attack one of the most durable, safest machines available. Customers can count on many seasons of trouble-free use.

A Leader in Innovative and QualitySports Training Equipment

Sports AttackP.O. Box 1529Verdi, NV 89439800-717-4251Fax: [email protected]

Kurt Brenner grew up in the sports training equipment industry spending summers working in the family pitch-ing machine business. With over 20 years of field sales experience, he now leads all sales teams in all sports at Sports Attack.


Power Racks

Legend Fitness866-7-LEGENDwww.legendfitness.com

The Pro Series Power Cage is one of the strongest cages on the market,

with a huge list of standard and optional accesso-ries. It offers the most interior space of any cage, and a nine-foot-high model is available.

Special Features: Seven-gauge rack-ing, chromed weight pegs, dip attach-ments, plyo band pegs and holders, bar storage, multi-grip chin-up bar, oversized hooks, pull-up ropes, land-mine attachment, and 3” x 2” adjust-able bar catches.

Warranty: 12 years on the frame.Circle No. 539

Life Fitness/Hammer Strength800-634-8637www.lifefitness.com

If space efficiency, workout effective-ness, advanced training variety, and the ultimate in durability are your top priorities, the Hammer Strength® Heavy Duty Multi-Rack is an excellent choice.

Special Features: Replaceable wear strips protect the bar from metal-to-metal contact, preserving the frame’s finish.

Warranty: Yes.Circle No. 540

Nebula/NK Sports Group800-763-2852www.nebula-fitness.com

The Double 1/2 Rack unit can be built into many configura-tions. The rack is available with one or two platforms and one or two benches.

Special Features: Available options include swivel adjustable chin bars and telescoping lock-in benches.

Warranty: Yes.Circle No. 541

Power Lift800-872-1543www.power-lift.com

The Combo Power Rack is a unique lifting rack providing two lifters with identical exercises. The inside of the

rack is large enough to accommodate two spotters when two “Lever Action” benches are used in the rack.

Special Features: Two pairs of safety spot bars, two pairs of “Rhino Hook” bar catches, weight storage, bumper plate storage, dual-grip chin-up bars, vertical bar storage, and a cross brace are standard.Warranty: Lifetime.

Circle No. 542

Rogers Athletic Co.800-457-5337www.rogersathletic.com

The Brute Rack System™ is one of the most innovative multi-purpose power racks on the market. With the Brute Rack System, your athletes will experi-ence a closed-chain free weight training experience.

Special Features: The Brute Rack System, combined with the revolution-ary Monster Arms™ attachments, allow an unrestricted range of motion to help athletes develop specific muscle groups utilized in athletics.

Warranty: Lifetime.Circle No. 543

Samson Equipment800-4-SAMSONwww.samsonequipment.com

The Triple Power Station features an adjustable bench, a unique triple rack design, and an oak platform with a cus-

tom logo. It accommodates three lifters simultaneously performing upper-body, lower-body, and Olympic movements.

Samson Equipment custom-builds to customers’ individual needs.

Special Features: Solid .188 wall steel frame throughout the entire rack, hickory platform with custom logo and basketball finish, chin-up bar, adjustable bench from 0 to 90 degrees, and plate storage.

Warranty: Lifetime on steel framework.Circle No. 544

Power Racks SpecificationsCompany Rack Height x Width x Depth Tubing Size Warranty Chin-Up

Bar Plate

StorageAdjustable

BenchCustomizing

Options

Legend Fitness Pro Series Power Cage 96" x 64" x 80" 3" x 3", 11 ga. ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Logos &Team Colors

Life Fitness/Hammer Strength

Heavy Duty Multi-Rack 97" x 66" x 77" 3” x 3", 7 ga. ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Yes

Nebula/NK Sports Group

Double 1/2 Rack 96" x 96" x 216" (with 2 platforms)

3" x 3", 11 ga. ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Power Lift Combo Power Rack 96" or 108" x 96" x 72" 4" x 3", 7 ga. ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Logos &Team Colors

Rogers Athletics Co. Brute Rack System™ 114" x 98" x 84" 3/16" thick, 11 ga. ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Samson Equipment Triple Power Station 105" x 44" x 96" 3" x 3", 7 ga. ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Logos &Team Colors


Strength Training

Gilman Gear800-243-0398www.gilmangear.com

The King Crab Sled develops power at the height of a player coming out of a stance. The special elevated handlebar

allows a player to drive the sled in a pos-ture that simu-lates game conditions. An athlete can

generate force more efficiently when operating from a power position. Develop strength and power in the three most important joints: the knees, ankles, and hips. Use it to increase work capacity and pillar strength. It’s also excellent for general physical preparation.

Circle No. 545

Jump Stretch, Inc.800-344-3539www.jumpstretch.com

The Strong Fireout Station provides 50 to 500 pounds of resistance and is ideal for helping linemen learn to play lower, longer. This station, which is excellent for improving players’ first two steps off the line, consists of two rows of four Strong Bands that connect across the shoulders using Jump Stretch’s adhe-sive strap. Undo the strap and you’ve got two Strong Shuffle Stations to per-form regular quick-feet running drills. For details, call Jump Stretch today.

Circle No. 546

Life Fitness800-634-8637www.lifefitness.com

As part of its new Elevation™ series, Life Fitness has introduced the 95C Upright Lifecycle Exercise Bike and

95R Recumbent Lifecycle Exercise Bike featuring three unique new console options: the Engage™, Inspire™, and Achieve™. The

Engage and Inspire are equipped with iPod integration, USB connectivity, a Vir tual Trainer, and vibrant workout

landscape perspectives. Call or go online to learn more.

Circle No. 547

ONS Performance800-817-9808www.onsperformance.com

Critical Reload is a great-tasting recovery shake designed to infuse the muscle with growth-promoting proteins and carbohydrates so you can recover

faster and kick start your next workout into high gear. Critical Reload is suitable for collegiate athletics and is permissible under NCAA bylaw 16.5.2.2 for nutritional supple-

ments. In addition, Critical Reload is tested and certified for banned and illegal substances in accordance with WADA, IOC, and USADA regulations. Contact ONS today for discount team pricing and to learn more about the company’s entire line of nutritional products.

Circle No. 548

Power Lift800-872-1543www.power-lift.com

The Full Body Squat is a piece of lower-body strength training equip-ment. Its design allows for a broader range of motion through the hip. Adjustable shoulder pads let users of all heights properly align themselves. Dual- and single-leg movements can be performed on this unit. Standard features include weight storage, four-weight loading horns, band attach-ments, a single-leg isolator, and an oversized, angled footplate.

Circle No. 549

Power Systems800-321-6975www.power-systems.com

Ideal for training runs or coach-assisted runs, the Monster Sled holds up to 540 pounds and features a 37-inch handle to accommodate wide and nar-row grips as well as alternate grip posi-tions. Constructed of durable welded steel, the sled comes with a padded

shoulder har-ness for com-fort and strong nylon leads. Two 12-inch weight posts hold the 45-pound weight plates, which are also available from Power Systems.

Circle No. 550

Get resistance and overspeed training in the same run with the Power Chute from Power Systems. This product trains for

improved stride length and frequency—two key elements of speed. Athletes love that “shot out of a cannon” feeling imme-diately after releasing the chute. The adjust-

able waist belt allows athletes to train in any direction, and built-in mesh panels keep the leads from tangling and help stabilize the chute. It’s available in four sizes with varying resistance, and now available in black, red, and blue.

Circle No. 551

Powernetics800-829-2928www.powernetics.com

Powernetics offers a line of strength training machines that develop power by providing a consistent ratio of speed, resistance, and intensity. The Dominator builds strength in one unbroken line from the feet to the hands. The machine’s ground-based torquing motion works both sides of the body, while also providing an explosive chest punch. The unit will more than double strength in the 90-degree torso rotation.

Circle No. 552

The High Stepper from Powernetics develops explosive power in the hip

flexors and legs in a running motion, substantially increas-ing athletes’ speed, quickness, and dura-bility. Coaches are having fewer groin injuries with their ath-letes after training on the High Stepper. It can improve 40-yard


Strength Training

dash times, decrease groin injuries, and train the legs to explode higher and more powerfully.

Circle No. 553

ProMera Health, LLC888-878-9058www.promerahealth.comwww.con-cret.com

StayActiv® all-natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory actively repairs strained muscles, joints, and tissue.

Composed of unique amino acids, StayActiv targets the two

main sources of pain: inflammation and lactic acid. Pain impacts active lifestyles and most people use ibupro-fen, naproxen, aspirin, and analgesic creams that mask pain and are toxic to the kidneys, liver, and stomach. Studies prove StayActiv is an effective alterna-tive without side effects.

Circle No. 554

Con-Cret from ProMera Health is a pure and concentrated creatine supplement that has no other ingredients—no sugars, additives, or stimulants. Con-Cret’s unique Micro-Dosing formu-la saturates the muscles, creating dramatic endur-ance and recovery that leads to strength building. One capsule or 1/4 tsp. per 100 pounds of body weight eliminates any need to preload or cycle off. There are no side effects from taking Con-Cret, and it’s designed for people who are seri-ous about performance.

Circle No. 555

Rogers Athletic Co.800-457-5337www.rogersathletic.com

Rogers Athletic’s Monster Arms fea-ture an unrestricted range of motion to help athletes develop specific muscle

groups. Monster Arms develop power and skill using free weights, with the added safety of pre-determined start and stop points and a pos-itive-lock height adjustment. With

Monster incline, decline, and horizontal arms in one Brute Rack station, you save significant floor space. Call Rogers Athletic for more information.

Circle No. 556

Samson Equipment800-472-6766www.samsonequipment.com

The new Belt Squat is yet another way Samson Equipment is leading the way in custom, heavy-duty weight training

equipment. The brand new design limits the amount of floor space needed for this unique piece while still making it easy for athletes

of all different sizes to use. It features adjustable handles, a unique load release that brings the athlete’s hands closer together while performing the exercise, an adjustable yoke that allows each athlete’s hips to stay in their natu-ral range of motion, and an adjustable chain with three different size belts. Go online to learn more.

Circle No. 557

MAXX Football800-294-4654www.maxxfootball.com

This off-season, while your opponents are lifting, you will be putting the inten-sity of football into your workouts. MAXX pro-vides a life-like dummy and a dura-ble weight machine with state-of-the-art com-puter technology. The LED board gives your players instant feedback on their speed off the ball and the power of their punch while they work to increase strength and perfect football technique.

Circle No. 558

Fitnessrubber.com888-894-0204www.fitnessrubber.com

Fitnessrubber.com is a leading Web fitness resource that offers “Manufacturer Direct Pricing” for all your strength training needs. Check out the company’s unique and updated Web site, featuring Kraiburg brand

Solid Rubber Olympic Bumper Plates from Kraiburg Relastec. Kraiburg Olympic Bumper Plates come in pounds

and kilos, and in standard black and colors. All Kraiburg Bumper Plates are a standard 17.7 inches in diameter and can be custom-made with specific logos. These

plates are made with the highest qual-ity rubber compound and will provide years of excellent use. Log on now to receive a $25 discount on your initial Web site order over $100.

Circle No. 559

Cardinal Publishers Group800-296-0481www.cardinalpub.com

The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Sports series is among the most comprehensive, up-to-date sport-spe-cific training series in the world. Each book contains descriptions and photographs of nearly 100 weight training, flexibility, and abdominal exercises. Each book also con-tains year-round sport-specific weight training programs and comes with links to free record-keeping charts. The clean design and well-illustrated instructions make each book a valuable tool for those looking to get themselves into top athletic condition.

Circle No. 560

Human Kinetics800-747-4457www.humankinetics.com

Stronger Arms & Upper Body was writ-ten by two of the most respected fig-ures in bodybuilding: Joe Wuebben and

Jim Stoppani. This book covers the develop-ment of the shoulders, arms, upper back, and chest. It also includes hard-core instruction on building strength, size, and definition. The ana-tomical views of target-

ed muscles, explanations of equipment needs, and 33 programs and ready-to-use workout plans simplify the process of adopting a strength training regimen and sticking with it.

Circle No. 561


Strength Training More Products

Active Ankle Systems, Inc.800-800-2896www.activeankle.com

The new Volt ankle brace is engineered to include the latest carbon fiber tech-nology. The polypropylene shell is rein-

forced with carbon fiber—the same high-performance material used in racing cars and bicycles. It also features a molded bearing-design perfor-mance hinge for smoother range of motion, strength-ening ribs for a

thinner profile, and fabric-backed EVA foam pads for durability and comfort. Call today for more information.

Circle No. 565

Ankle protection isn’t black and white anymore. With the All-Sport Chameleon from Active Ankle, athletes can choose from eight bright inter-changeable strap covers that come with each brace. The solid U-shaped frame ensures maxi-mum strength, and the mold-ed, fabric-lined EVA padding provides lightweight comfort. Get great style and the same great protection that has made Active Ankle an industry leader. For more information, visitwww.getchameleon.com.

Circle No. 566

California University of Pennsylvania866-595-6348www.cup.edu/go

California University of Pennsylvania has helped build the character and careers of its students for more than

150 years. Cal U’s dedication to providing high-quality, in-demand pro-grams to its students con-

tinues through the University’s Global Online 100-percent online programs of study. Through an asynchronous format, Global Online allows students the opportunity to complete coursework anytime, anywhere. All that’s required is a computer with Internet access. Go online for more information.

Circle No. 567Cho-Pat

800-221-1601 www.cho-pat.com

Knees really take a beating. Cho-Pat’s patented Dual Action Knee Strap con-tinues to be a leading tool for athletic trainers to help relieve knee pain and discomfort. It applies pressure on the patella tendon below the knee to reduce sub-luxation and improve tracking and elevation. It also adds pressure on the patella ten-don above the knee to further strengthen and provide extra support and stability for the joint. It’s easy to apply, comfortable to wear, allows full mobil-ity, and is available in various sizes to provide specific and effective results.

Circle No. 568

Save-A-Tooth888-788-6684www.save-a-tooth.com

Without proper care, a knocked-out tooth begins to die in 15 minutes. The Save-A-Tooth® emergency tooth preserving system utilizes Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) to not

only preserve, but also reconstitute many of the degenerated cells. The patented basket and net container are designed to protect tooth root cells. This is the only system that keeps tooth cells alive for up to 24 hours.

Circle No. 569

Legend Fitness866-7-LEGENDwww.legendfitness.com

Legend Fitness offers a premier glute/ham developer. With eight linear adjust-ments on four linear bearings, it makes

one-handed footplate adjustments a snap. It’s fully equipped with thoughtful features, like

a 32-inch-wide pad and footplate that will accommodate users of any size, a mount/dismount step, and plyo band anchor points. This unit is available with either a solid pad or a split pad, and a supplementary knee pad is avail-able as a no-cost option.

Circle No. 562

Athletic Republic888-226-3278www.athleticrepublic.com

Are you football fast? Athletic Republic has been the answer to more than 500,000 athletes of all ages looking to improve their speed, power, and agility. Its accelera-tion training program improves a player’s speed for creating separation, develops the explosive power required to deliver a blow or gain a first-step advantage, and gets players into condition to perform as well in the fourth quarter as in the first quarter.

Circle No. 563

Athletic Republic has more than 160 performance sports training centers in North America and has franchise oppor-tunities available in most major mar-

kets. Combine your passion for helping athletes develop their competitive capa-bilities with your sports background and business experience. Contact Athletic Republic to learn how you can start your own sports franchise.

Circle No. 564


HighSchoolSports.net800-258-8550www.highschoolsports.net

The Coaches Clipboard on HighSchoolSports.net has free tools for coaches to showcase their teams all in one location. Coaches can save

time by using these tools to stay ahead of the game. Add, postpone, or cancel events and practices, enter scores and stats, access your team roster, and get cumulative player and team stats—all on HighSchoolSports.net. Start saving time today. Go to HighSchoolSports.net and click on Coaches.

Circle No. 570

Schedule Star800-258-8550www.schedulestar.com

Give your fans the convenience of purchasing tickets online at HighSchoolSports.net. Online Ticketing is secure and free to set up with Schedule Star, and it requires no

special hardware or software. Monitor ticket sales in Schedule Star using detailed online attendee and sales reports. This convenient tool saves you time and cuts down on calls the day of the big game. It’s the easy way to sell tickets to your sporting events. Visit Schedule Star online to start selling tickets today.

Circle No. 571

TestimonialTestimonialMore Products

A Field Builder from Coast to Coast

“A-Turf’s greatest strength is its cus-tomer service. They are big and getting bigger, but are small enough to always want to work with you. They really man-aged the project well. That’s what they promised us and that’s what they did.”

Robert ScottPresident

St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute

“Working with A-Turf, I got the impres-sion that our field was very important to them. We were not just another num-ber, and it wasn’t about ‘get in, get it done, and get out.’ They wanted to give us a quality field and took the neces-sary time to do so.”

Mike Vienna Director of Athletics and Recreation

Salisbury University

“We spoke to a number of schools who had dealt directly with A-Turf, and they spoke very highly of the company and its process from beginning to end. Four to five years later, their fields were still holding up well.”

Bill MaherAthletic DirectorCanisius College

A-TurfP.O. Box 157Williamsville, NY 14231888-777-6910Fax: [email protected]

Upgrading That Old Locker Room?OakWood Sports is the premier wood locker builder. Whether it’s your own design or you need some assistance, OakWood Sports lockers are custom built to each team’s specifications. New construction, renovations, deliv-ery, and installation—the OakWood Sports team gets it done for yours.

Here are just some of the schools that have chosen OakWood Sports:

Michigan State UniversityUniversity of ColoradoUniversity of KentuckyUniversity of MiamiUniversity of LouisvilleFlorida State UniversityArizona State UniversityMarshall UniversityUniversity of IllinoisUniversity of MississippiBoston CollegeKent State UniversityHillsdale CollegeUniversity of Notre DameKansas State UniversityAbilene Christian UniversityUniversity of IdahoStephan F. Austin UniversityUniversity of MichiganJohns Hopkins University

OakWood Sports, Inc.1025 Clark Rd.Lansing, MI 48917517-487-1406Fax: [email protected]

Need helpfundraising for

your team?Check out the sourcefor fundraising tips,

support, and suppliers:

www.fundraisingforsports

.com

CONTINUED ON…CoachesNetwork.com

There’s no offseason in coaching, so Coaching Management keeps the information fl owing all year long on our Web site: www.CoachesNetwork.com. Here’s whatyou will fi nd when you visit.

Video Review:See footage from some of the high-risk plays talked about in our cover story, “High Drama.”

Coaching Videos:Coaching Videos:

OVERTIME

Back to Basics:How to make sure quarterbacks master the all-important exchange with the center.

More Articles:More Articles:Weekly and archived articles designed to help you in your job. Visit daily for

l inks to stories of special interest to coaches from newspapers across the country.

Strength & Conditioning Keeping players strong during the season.

Coaching Life Setting clear roles is one of the keys to dealing with parents.

Student-Athlete Welfare

Make sure athletes know the truth about performance-enhancing drugs.

Injury Prevention Why “No pain, no gain” can be carried too far.

www.CoachesNetwork.comBrought to you by

CM Edit Football. Web page.indd 1 10/27/08 1:50:23 PM

The BEAR

DominatorOver 200° rotation in the torque & turn exercise

For the past 20 years The Bear has become an established part of many professional, university and high school training programs throughout the U.S. It has proven to be the most effective tool ever designed for developing maximum power in the vertical jump for explosive performance in the athlete.

The Dominator develops all the major muscles in the upper and lower torsos including the connectors and stabilizers in the hip area. The Dominator Radiates Power from your feet up through your hands in one continuous line. In this explosive torque and turn

exercise your athletes will dominate on the field of play.

Patented

Patented

Box 329 Riverside, TX 773671 (800) 829-2928

www.powernetics.com

T H E F I E L D O F P L A Y

"I love the Bear machine. For it has played a very essential role in our strength program. It enables us to do things which would not have been possible with conventional methods. I see the Bear as the King of the lower body exercise and the finest tool for achieving explosive development on the market today

Mike Woicik, Strength CoachNew England Patriots

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