Jim Shuggars- Assessing Your Season For Future Success- Did I Do What’s Right?

15mins after fight song was sung (after a loss) everyone was still hugging seniors.
Long bus ride home; a kid stands up and says “lets have one more meal together…”

What’s your bottom line?

What are your kids doing well?
Are you invested in coaching kids’ lives?
**Turnarounds have little to do with systems and everything to do with
attitude, belief, and trust. 4:1 mental:physical**

TEAMS DRAW STRENGTH IN THE CHARACTER OF THEIR COACHES

Ways to Measure Success

Success Failure
1. Competitive Don’t Apply it
2. Competent Don’t Learn it
3. Connect Blame/Point Finger
4. Character Quit

“Peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best
to become the best you are capable of becoming”

“Under Every Jersey Is A Heart!”

Character- To scratch or engrave the attributes or features that make up and distinguish
an individual. Outcome: You are one of substance.

Slogan from a T-Shirt: PLAY HARD, PLAY SMART, PLAY TOGETHER, PLAY
TRUE
Before Develop After
Hesitant Initiative Motivated
Distracted Mission minded Focused
Frustrated Poise Steady/sound
Unresponsive Attentiveness Responsive
Cowardly Courage Fearless
Blames Trust
Accountable
Negative Attitude Positive
Insincere Truthful Honest
Arrogant Humility Authentic
Selfish Love Unselfish
Unpredictable Execution Consistent
Quits Tenacious Finish/Score
Indifferent Empathy Cares

IMPACT ATHLETE

JOY LOVE

HOPE PEACE

FUN - not screwing-around fun…FUN IN THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

“DEVELOP THE COMPLETE PLAYER…AT ALL COSTS!”

NO EXCUSE CLUB
• During winter months only
• 6AM- 3x’s a month for 3 months
• Running/Agilities then talk to them
o Picture of DelState Stadium (site of state championship game)
o T-Shirt w/ off season slogan on it (like graduation into offseason)

CHARACTER –always demand it

• Treat your team as family
• Themes: ONE, TWICE THE PRICE, NEW TEAM SAME DREAM, NO
SURRENDER NO EXCUSES, UPHOLD THE TRADITION – Not revealed
until scrimmage in camp
• Team Hats- GREAT IDEA but $$$; only players, coaches, immediate staff get it-
o Only you, your dad, or your grandfather wears the hat (no girlfriends,
buddies, etc…)
• 1 HELMET AWARD – The team logo- stresses TEAM TEAM TEAM- get’s it
the night before the first game (The Helmet Sticker Fairy)
• Treats them fair but not equal
• BIRTHDAY, XMAS, HONOR ROLL CARDS to all players in program;
JANUARY 1st TEAM LETTER, JULY 4th TEAM LETTER to ALL PLAYERS
in PROGRAM!
• Maybe Special T-shirt to open Conference play…
• Special needs student managers
• Player interviews after the season
o Form:
 Vitals
 Maxes
 Speed #’s
 Self Eval 5 to 1 (player/coach)
• Worker, team player, leadership, competitiveness,
aggressiveness, strength, quickness, agility, conditioning,
mental toughness, coachable, attitude
 Your Average…Coaches Average (shows the kid how distorted
things can be)
 “Name 2 positive leaders on this team”
 3 Goals each:
• Academic
• Team
• Personal
• Strength
• Athletics (other sports)
• Character
• Do Everything First Class- hats, uniforms, gloves, field equipment, calendar,
magnets, program, stats book, banquet, wt. Room, highlight film
• Football Only banquet- Var, Jv, Cheerleaders
o “Seniors talk about what it means to be an Eagle”
Motivation
Ticket
Henlopen Conference North
Ride to Championship
Not good unless validated

Dover Sussex Central Milford Tech CR

• Chain – A chain is carried to every practice/game representing the entire team. At

the end of the season each player is given a link of the chain

Character Development

Code of Conduct
• Must be black & white – players must know it
• Interviews – one on one with each player
• The “Disease of Me” must be eliminated
• Teach attitude every day
• Discipline – courage to handle pressure
• Work ethic – no substitute
• No Negativity – players need to know what you want

Priorities as a Coach
• God
• Family
• Football
• Fun
• Love the Kids
o Coaching is a profession that you will always be second guessed,
criticized, and can never satisfy everyone but it is a profession that you
can mould young people and influence them into becoming fine young
gentlemen

Practice
• Full Pads each day, M-R…no tackling to ground after 1st week of camp.
• Pre-practice – Sp Teams work- catch punts, snaps, holds, QB warmup, lineman
work hips, chutes, sled
• Short stretch, form run, pursuit & team station tackling – KEY
• Special Teams – PAT/KO/KOR/Onside/Hands – 1-2 per day
• Group O – drills that fit emphasis for day & game plan
• Team O- 40 plays w/ punts inserted tight & spread (5 punts, 2.1 secs per snap to
kick)
• Group D – formation recognition, best plays, personnel, reads/keys
• Team D – SCRIPTED
WEEKENDS – Players off sat/Sunday, they pickup tape on upcoming opponent Sat.
- Coaches (HC and OC/DC) come in early on Sat morning 630am to make
DVDs.

Smoking/Drinking Policy-
1. 50% of season (i.e. 5 games)
2. 1 calendar year
3. Done with all sports
Summer Workouts- “voluntary” – t-shirts awarded to 85% attendees or higher.