Thursday, December 16, 2010
Where Do We Go From Here?
We had a fairly successful season! The Fans were amazing, the players beyond what could have been imagined both in work ethic and heart, the Coach's laid it all on the line... now we prepare for next season to be even better! Will you have your player(s) in the weight room or playing other sports to prepare? Where do we go from here to make sure we are prepared to keep getting better?
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My player is doing winter sports and I expect him to be in the weight room as well. I think if we expect to win... we have to prepare to win, especially in the off-season.
ReplyDeleteAmen varsity parent and thanks!!
ReplyDeleteWe need to learn a lesson from the past.
We made the playoffs in 2006. I thought we had, "turned the corner," then. We had a strong junior class on that team. We went 4-7 in 2007 and missed the playoffs. I told someone after that season that, "we had talked ourselves into thinking we were good instead of working ourselves into being good."
We again have a strong junior class. The question is not, do we have the will to win? The question is, do we have the will to prepare to win?
So far, so good. If all our parents were like you the sky would be our limit.
I would love to be able to allow my child to come to ever single winter, spring, summer and fall workout in the weight room. The thing is that I just cannot afford it. The gas from driving miles and miles to pick him up and then come back home is just too much for my families budget right now. So don't say that if all parents were like "them" the sky would be the limit for the team. Encourage the boys that play for and with you and the sky will be the limit in any case. Paying for 6 people to attend varsity games are a sacrifice, being at every game home and away is a sacrifice, paying for your child to play football when you really don't have it is a sacrifice. WE ALL HAVE MADE A SACRIFICE!!!!! I still love and encourage my child and will be ready to make the sacrifice in the spring when that comes!
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous, I believe we all sacrifice and I think that the coaches and team appreciate it. I must say though, not participating in the off season because of gas is not a completely valid excuse. I am a parent who struggles mightily to pay for everything, but I believe there are often others who would gladly pitch in and help out if they know you need it. I cannot tell you how often my player has ridden with other folks who are on their route. Getting to workouts in the winter is simply a matter of staying after school, then there are many who would give your player a ride home from that point. The fact is, without the offseason stuff, our team cannot continue to get better. These are the facts. Look at ANY good, winning football program and you will find what I say is true. The common ingredient is that the players and coaches work year round for the results that happen in the fall. If we fail to do the work year round, then what happens in the fall, I.e. Not winning as much as we'd like, is the result.
ReplyDeleteTo the "Anonymous Parent" that feels I'm being critical. Sorry you feel that way.
ReplyDeleteTo the "Varsity Parent" who defends my stance. Thanks!!
I've heard every reason and every excuse these last 9 years for why a player can't get to workouts. I must also say that most of the players that make those excuses have parents that are the first to criticise me when something goes wrong on the field. I did not say Anonymous is one of them but I'm saying as a rule, that is true.
I'm through apologizing or being politically correct. During the off-season we offer three workouts per week and ask the players to make a minimum of two. I don't think that is asking too much. Where there is a will there is a way.
Oh by the way, I do encourage all my boys but if they aren't around me it is difficult.
I can see the validity in all of the comments aforementioned. We all need to learn to accept criticism just try to make it constructive not destructive. The fact remains that there is "None perfect but the Father", and we all need to learn to accept that fact. The football program is ultimately about the boys that play the game and trying to get them to get to the next level if they so desire. I have to disagree with some of the remarks, I don't trust my child with just anyone and I feel it is my responsibility to get him to and from practice. I don't want to burden anyone. Does that mean that he shouldn't be at winter, spring or summer practice? No it doesn't, but I also am not going to put my family in a bad situation. At this point we should probably just agree to disagree, because the parents are not going to be wrong in anything and neither are the coaches. I still support the team and coaches with all my heart.
ReplyDeleteTerri, I agree with you on your statement thatw we should agree to disagree. I'm picky about who takes my child here and there too... But I do have a few people who I know and trust on the team... Maybe I'm just fortunate. I realize everyone may not have that blessing. I also think that most of us find the financial resources, time, etc for things we deem important to us. As financially strapped as I have been in my life, I've found often finding money for something i really wanted or felt was very important to have. Honestly, I think most of us have at some point or the other. By the same token, not just financially, when we find something important, we typically (humans in general), find a way to make it
ReplyDeletehappen.
The fact still remains, if a good deal of the kids and their parents don't make the sacrifice to prepare to win, we won't win. There's no way around hard work and sacrifice when trying to reach any goal. This is one of the things I love about football. It teaches our children valuable life lessons... I have to believe the lesson about being prepared, doing the work, making appropriate sacrafices (not frivolous ones), is the way to reach your goals in life is an important one and one worth us as parents working hard to find solutions to help facilitate...whether that be allowing other to assist us or some other creative solution... Even if they don't make every single weight training session or we work with the coaches to find a routine they can do at home or whatever else we can come up with... I know I'm opinionated... I'm also EXTREMELY financially challenged... But I think important, so thank God... For my player, I've been able to find ways...
Who ROCK da house? Wha wha wha we ROCK da house and when wha wha we ROCK da house. We ROCK it mighty mighty hard hard!
ReplyDeleteI am ready for the next season! Bring it on!
Hey Terri Lynn,
ReplyDeleteCoach Stadler here. Your comments do strike a cord that solicit the response below.
If we are to be successful, someone has to be in charge. Someone has to direct the program and everyone else needs to follow. The head coach should be that person and as head coach I must demand that it be my way. I may not have all the answers but I am the one appointed to bear the responsibility for finding them. I will not beg people nor does it seem that I can make them follow but I offer the following.
I've used the analogy of a group of people in a row boat whose objective is to try cross a lake in a straight line. The group has a chance if they all work together. They may not go exactly straight but they will wind up close to landing where they want to go. If, on the other hand, one or two decide to row differently (opposite or out of rythym) than the majority, they will never get anywhere. This is true of any organization not just football programs. For the better part of 33 years RC Football has floundered in the middle of a lake, more likely near the shore from which they started, because as an organization they could not figure out to work together.
When a player misses workouts, he is missing more than the workout itself. He is missing an opportunity to bond with his team mates and coaches. He is missing an opportunity to show to these same team mates and coaches his commitment to getting better. He is missing an opportunity to pick up extra knowledge of the game. That's really why we want them there. I doubt seriously that boys who don't attend our sessions are doing power cleans with low sets, deep squats or pushing themselves in running drills like they would if they were present but I realize there are things they can do own their own to get stronger and stay in shape. The workout itself is only part of the equation. What they are missing are the intangibles that go into making champions.
You also mention,"the football program is ultimately about the boys that play the game and trying to get them to the next level if they so desire." I wonder if you think that is not what the rest of us think the program is about? To me, that's all it's ever been about. Asking players to go the extra mile gets them ready to play the games and also gives them a chance to maybe play at the next level.
Thanks for the comments and the support. I know your situation. Just know your son is missed and he is missing out on something I feel is very valuable. He'd love it if he was there. Do what you can when you can.
I echo your sentiments on 2011. It cannot get here soon enough. Ask around to find out what I've been doing to get ready. I'll just say there are no days off for me.
I think that under the Philosophy that says "A player that doesn't do the off season workouts must be clearly better" is a complete lie. Coaches play who they want and it is a complete political game. I wish that instead of telling players all summer that they have a chance to start, when obviously that's not true, or they would be given that chance. Perhaps more realism should be used, my Child has been to all the preseason things and was told all Summer that he had a great chance of starting, but was never given that chance. This has been typical Cougar Football though and I tried to prepare him for that. Honesty goes a long way, but lets leave some of these politics for politicians.
ReplyDeleteAll players are given the same chance to earn a spot. Practice and what they do there determines who starts. Coming to off season workouts is encouraged and recommended. Believe me when I say, it is appreciateted and noted when players attend the voluntary things. If all things are equal they play ahead of those who don't but sometimes things are not equal.
ReplyDeleteLies
ReplyDeleteYou have always talked about pre-season workouts being important and I concur but when you go as far as making promises with them that you cannot or don't even plan on honoring then you, as an Authoritative figure are committing a falsity which cannot be taken back. Over 10 years how many times has this occurred. It shouldn't happen again. Empty promises are for politicians not our Teachers and Coaches. Just my 2.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to show my Name as my child wants to play at the High school next year. I have read some of these posts and my nephew played for you on the 2002-2005 teams, he was an Honor Student and very good athlete. We watched him work very hard over time to make himself better. He played 4 years and saw very little time on the field, was subjected to horrible behavior by some Coaches and was made promises. You talk about all things being equal, well I think your career record suggests you are still learning what is equal. So if these Young Men are working hard and Great Students, and other kids aren't and are in ISS or getting in trouble maybe this is the first barometer of character. Obviously Winning Football games are important but these kids are more important and your brand of whats wrong and right and fair and unfair obviously is questionable. Give these kids a chance and maybe you will be surprised that a little of that goes a long way off the field. I have no doubt your intentions are admirable but when others question play time and how they can get on the field, then you are coaching your own son's and directly responsible for their time and it is obvious even when they struggle are still on the field you stick with them. As I said before a little goes a long way.
ReplyDeleteThis---is--Phony--you__wont_post_all_the_blogs_just_what_you_want_FAKE
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with everything posted here lately at all. There is a misunderstanding about whether someone is ready or not. Perhaps this Coach is saving your child from embarrassment if they are not prepared. My son plays and he has always had to fight to be the best. Playing time is earned not given but I sometimes feel that we perceive that our Children aren't given opportunities because we don't know everything that happens in regards to practice/Game/Film session.With that I don't know how you can grade an Offensive lineman fairly on 6 plays either.
ReplyDeleteThat being said we are all in a catch 22. Coach
Stadler has to produce wins most everyone demands that, We want our kids to play and still win and let them have fun in the Summer,ect. We can't have all of that and until all of our kids... All of our Kids... do what it takes we will be whining about this crap until the Cows come home... I am not 100 percent happy with everything going on during this season but in all honesty when my Son had his accident a couple of weeks ago I got to put all of that in perspective and who was there as soon as he heard about that accident? Coach Stadler, so lets really think about what is truly important maybe we should make our kids fight for that time on the field they will have to fight for that money later when they get off of it.
Highschool football is not a pay-to-play sport. One of the reasons I love football is because it mimics life. If you get knocked down, you have to get back up. If you make a mistake, you have to shake it off and get ready for the next play. If you win, you must do it as a team (no man is an island) and if you lose, it isn't just you as an individual who hurts. In life, as in football, if you want to rise to the top, if you want play on your terms, you have to excel. Let's face it, life isn't fair. Sometimes it isn't fair and you benefit, sometimes it isn't fair and you are on the short end of the stick. My child doesn't play as much as he'd like, but I find I don't blame the coaches, I encourage my child to do what it takes to get better so that he can play more. I've talked to the coaches - but not to accuse them of wrong doing, but to ask them what my child can do to improve and get more time - I've asked how I can coach my child in the right direction. I got some honest feedback and when I spoke with my child about it -- found out he already knew the real deal even though he hadn't put the whole picture together. Once I knew too, he felt even more compelled to work hard to improve. Cougars Rock Hard! I believe each young man on the team is valued and I believe that this year has been the best yet so far. I choose to put my positive energy toward them and my prayers for their continued success. I cannot expect the coaches to sacrifice the rest of the team, and those who are showing themselves to be stand-out starters just to pacify my child; who once I found out the rest of the story from the Coaches - really did have some work he could be doing to get where he wants to be.
ReplyDeleteYou gots to be prejudice you wont print all the posts that brutha's put in...
ReplyDeleteThis entire program is in disarray, You got Coaches accused of Threatening bodily harm to players, Arrests of parents, Warrants and 50 b's served on Coaches. Coaches getting Other Coaches fired because they have sugar water in the veins for blood. We need a New Head Coach a Fresh Start and a new attitude.
ReplyDeleteI myself a player who has been on the team for all 4 years who has been apart of football since the first year of rcyfl believe its just selfish a parnet would complain about their son not being able to have playing time and not being able to have a chance but yet you want a winning season? A new start for cougar football? Let me tell you something sir I take pride everyday to practice with the few and the proud of my team. I want to win more than anything and if that means I myself doesn't go out there every play. Then so be it. I want to be able to say I was apart of a team that changed everyones outlook on us cougars. This selfishness has plaque our team for more than 20 years. No we not have won every game we should, but we went out and left as team on that field. Coach stadler has brought us together to work together to win together. I know that the plaque that has been inside the team of selfishness has moved out of the team and to the parnets.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your opinion, I also have one, but considering I only know that you are a player and not who I don't know how much you play. Perhaps you play plenty at which point it's easy to say what you are saying. What you call selfishness is not at all I have given a lot of my time and my life to many of your very teammates. I am angry at what I call a vendetta against me for what happened when my nephew played years ago. My Son asked about playing down , about playing anywhere and doing anything it took for an opportunity, this guy acts like I think my Son should play in front of better players that's not true. My Son even at one point asked to play JV in order to play. He was told there wasn't enough Jerseys. That's not a valid excuse. As a Senior he will be depended on and He is being set up to fail. Now do you see what I am saying. I was private with this until he got me terminated from my Coaching Job Now I refuse to "just let it go"
ReplyDeleteFrom a different perspective...my son does play and he starts varsity. I am kind of shocked and saddened for a variety of reasons by some of the comments on this board. I know it is very disappointing as a parent when things don't go the way you think they should for your child. I have been there, done that. Usually, they do learn something positive from it, if the parent tries to make it an opportunity for that. I didn't realize some of this stuff was going on behind the scenes with the parents/coaches, the warrants, arrests, that is just crazy. I sit at the games and I hear people talking around me about what is going on on the field. It is easy to watch the game and question certain play calling etc., I have done it too. But almost without fail, when I am complaining about something later to my son, he explains that it is usually a mistake that is made by a player not doing their assignment, not really the coaches fault. He has bought into the system and has trust and respect for the coaches. Some of the parents watching and commenting during the game want their son to be the star of the team and single-handedly win the game. Some of the parents want their son to just get a little bit of playing time for the work they feel they have put into the football team. I think the varsity player that stated some of the selfishness of the past teams has moved on to the parents is correct in a lot of cases. I know a former player from a few seasons back that made the comment that this team has what they were missing...they had talent but they didn't have the teamwork. I know my son feels like he has earned his starting position from his hard work and being one of the best at the position he plays. It might not even be the position he wanted, it might not be one of the "glory" positions, but he is good at it and he knows that the wins as well as the losses is from the team, not just one or a few players. I think the coaches are doing their job. I know he didn't get his position from politics or anything to do with me, because I have decided to stay out of all that. It is easier on me to do that because he IS starting and playing, and I might not feel like this if that weren't the case, but I also realize that there is very little one can do about whether or not your kid is getting playing time at this level, they are either going to earn it one way or another, through hard work and talent and attitude. If you don't have the right combination of all of that, then you just aren't going to get to play. That is just the way it is, whether is seems fair or not. It can be a hard pill to swallow sometimes. I don't think any of that would change with different coaches either.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your Point of view. I think everyone has an opinion but I think there are a lot of people who agree with me but refuse or maybe are afraid to say anything because of their child's on the team or used to play but doesn't anymore because they were also in the Doghouse, but I will put it this way the "Cats out of the barn" now. Whether or not anyone understands my point of view I guess It really doesn't matter. As for my selfishness I will just let you chew on that because that is Crap.
ReplyDeleteI am upset that there is no true depth chart. There is no real position to fight for. They are decided by means I evidently cannot understand but hey that's ok I don't need to understand I am just the parent of an honor student who has worked very hard to be told he had an excellent chance of starting this year and to go from that to maybe 40 plays this year is a little perplexing. I understand where you all think it's selfish to work for something that you want be told you have worked hard and have an excellent chance to achieve it meanwhile others waltz in the first day of practice and jump over you without going on the field. This has all been explained to me in earlier, crap sessions but I still have trouble grasping it. am I a little Jaded well, hmmm of Course not, as far as This program goes it is what we deserve, but I won't understand until we have a true depth chart not One Senior who already Starts elsewhere also backing up another senior, it's very perplexing.