THERE ARE NO BAD COACHES

[D6Guru]

I do think there are a lot of factors involved like community, school board support, assistant coaches and staff, parental support and talent pool. But it seems like the really good coaches can manage all of these factors. Winning solves everything. Some coaches coach during the season and some coach year around. I think you can figure out which coach does what.

[wickedcrossover]

This is a great discussion and it fits in well to a discussion I recently had with some friends over some beers. The statement was made that if Steve Popchak of Westmont ran behind a better line he would be putting up numbers that could challenge some of the better RB's in the area.

I'm going to ask a question that I can't answer because I've only seen Westmont play one time this year. Actually, I don't even know if this is a legitimate question, but it's bleachercoaches so here goes.

Is Westmont's line bad because the players are small and weak or is it because they have not been taught proper technique and lack fundamentals?

I would think that Westmont fans who have gone to more than one game and are familiar with the team would be most qualified to answer this question.

[likewhoa]

well i would have to say that there line coach teaches them all the wrong things to do and put his time everyday and wants his lineman to not succeed.... get a grip... he probably is not up to ur level and is not qualified to coach.... one more thing i dont think you should be talking about beer on here..... maybe rather than drinking beer and being a bar room coach u should take the westy program over and win the state u clown.....

[knightrider]

I agree, this guy obviously has a problem and must have had a son not play or is an alumni thats still bitter. Then they wonder why the coaching turnover is so high these days, then you got these parents and internet guru's flapping their gums. To try to get the westmont fans to take smack on one of their coaches is unreal and I agree you are a clown.

[Opinionguy]

Is Westmont's line bad because the players are small and weak or is it because they have not been taught proper technique and lack fundamentals?

Do you even know the guys who are on Westmont's staff? I'll give you one guy who I'm fairly familiar with. Jack Bassett - FH Grad 00. I would say most Ranger Faithful would agree he was one of the better linemen to come out of FH in the last 10 years. He played college football. Now...saying that, I'm pretty sure he can teach proper technique. Do you really think these guys don't know football? C'mon.

If you can't see that the problem at Westmont lies way deeper than the COACHING, you know NOTHING about running a football program.

[JonD1]

A certain coach was the offensive coordinator at Richland and was recently fired because of Richland's bad few years....What is he doing now?

[wickedcrossover]

I liked opinionguys answer. At least he gave some insight. Which is all I really asked. You other Jack***** can GFY

[SantonioHolmes]

Westmonts line is fine. Their center is one of the finest in the lhac. And their two guards are very good. Duplin is a national champion in wrestling and is very strong. And Lucas is being recruited by what seems a good amount of D1 schools. I did a little google search on the two and found out how good duplin is with wrestling and heres a link to lucas rival profile.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/papreps/footbal ... ucas-88339

[Username6]

Thoughts:

Welcome to generation A... YSO: The generation that saw physical contact sports like dodgeball be officially banned from gym glass. That heard legend and lore of things like 'Bull in the Ring' and 'Red Rover'. The generation that learned at a young age that you're entitled to compliments and equally entitled to seek resitution for anything less. Entitled to equal playing time. Entitled to a cell phone, a laptop, and a "fair shot". Entitled to it all. Conditioned to earn nothing but to expect everything.

So who is to blame? The kids? Nah.

Coaches? Maybe--- for allowing it to happen.

But even more, the blame must lie with the parents. Who are, admittedly, 'only acting in the best interests of their children'. The problem is: parents are winning small battles but losing the war. Providing everything, but giving nothing. Their children have it "better than they ever did" and yet-- they are ill-equipped for the cold realities of life: $hit happens. The good guy doesn't always win. And you are not unique. So go ahead little Johnny, cry to your mother and sue. It's the American way.

While this problem seems most evident in the Westmont school district, it is by no means confined to the scarlet and gray. I've seen it at OMOS. And it's worked. It's been tried at McCort. And it's been pruned-- for now. It is evident in every professional sport today. Coaching tenure around the leagues are at an all time low. Savings rates are in the negative. And why? Because we want results. NOW!

***

Well, mom(s) and dad(s) this advice is for you: Do your children a favor. Let them fail. Let them pick themselves back up. Look themselves in the mirror and say: OK... I can do this. I will earn this. And take confidence in the fact that a high school sports coach is not an evil dictator, whose only goal is to see that your child does not succeed. Take confidence in the old adage that sports teach life. And in real life, whining doesn't get you what you want. Unless you have fake boobs.

[LHAC Titan]

I have to disagree there are bad coaches. Not saying that they are trying to be bad coaches they just might be in over their heads. You may have administration putting teachers and friends into positions they have no business being in.

The job of a coaching staff is to prepare your team to play. That is on all levels. From preseason work outs to being hands on in your Jr.High program. Also the coaching staff has to realize where to best use the talent they have, and substitute players when others are not getting the job done. Finally coaches have to be great motivators. These are kids and they are not getting paid so you have to motivate them almost everyday. The best coaches can get this done.

I will give an example and I hope I don't get to much back lash from this. I have watched BM totally dominate Johnstown for the last 7 years. I think they maybe only played 1 close game. When I watched last Friday’s game two things became clear to me. 1 Johnstown is loaded with talent, 2 BM is loaded with players with great technique. Now I don’t believe the players taught themselves technique they BM coaches do a great job of developing players. Look at their coaching staff. Now I feel Johnstown has more talent than BM, but let’s say they are equal. Than the games being played should be a lot closer if coaching had nothing to do with it. Every time Johnstown gets out schemed and coached, and there players lack the proper technique to compete with BM or even Forest Hills. Now if Salem and his coaching staff came over and coached Johnstown, and the coaching staff for Johnstown went and coached BM, I would say Johnstown would be undefeated and BM would be looking at 2 or 3 losses.

Yes there are bad coaches not by choice; some are just out classed some are beyond their time. I blame administration more than anything. They have to do a better job of hiring the best possible coaches there is to offer. Now if the coaches you have are the best you can get than you did your job, but if you’re playing politics with your coaches it's not fair to the student athletes. Its sad but this happens in every school, some more than others. Sitting in the stands I heard some awful things about Johnstown and how they go about hiring coaches. I can't believe it is all true, well I hope not atleast.