Overview
Welcome to Hamilton Dolphins Football 2006 website.
We are very thankful for the opportunity to coach your
son this season. Our focus for this team is TEAMWORK.
Our goal is for your son to learn and develop his skills
at the game of football. Each player must be exposed to
all facets of the game. We will develop each player in a
context of maximum safety and care.
Many
of the players on this team have played for years, for
some this is their first exposure to the game of
football. My main job as the head coach of this team is
to set conditions and run the team in order that all
players build their understanding and enjoyment of the
game.
We
will work hard to get all players on this team to work
together and execute their assigned responsibilities.
Player position assignments will be organized with a
depth chart and I will have up to 4 strings for each
position. Depending upon league rules, many times the
first string players will not start in their first
string position. Likewise during the course of the game
first string players will not always be in the game at
their first string positions.
We
will determine our success player by player as all
should learn and experience the game. Player skills
should improve throughout the season and teamwork should
dramatically improve. One of the biggest challenges is
to continue to develop player, parent and coach
enthusiasm despite setbacks throughout the season. Going
in, we will discuss and prepare for this and build as
the season goes on.
We
want to let you know our appreciation for allowing your
son to participate in our league. We have put a
tremendous amount of planning into this team’s program
and we will use this program to create the best possible
experience for each player.
Communication with the Players
As a
coaching staff, our coaches will strive to support one
another and be attentive when a coach is addressing the
team. Our staff will strive to be consistent as players
can easily become confused if they sense that the
coaches are in conflict or worse, if different members
of the staff coach them to perform a technique in
different ways. All coaches will try to communicate with
the players on the team in a very positive and
consistent manner.
We
strive to:
·
Teach
each player what their responsibility in a positive
manner.
·
Address each player calmly and with respect - be upbeat.
·
Avoid
embarrassing any player on the team.
·
Always try to understand what the players know and what
is going to be new to them.
·
Explain - Demonstrate - Practice - Correct - Repeat.
Often
it requires some thought and greater explanation to
coach a player in a positive manner. We will concentrate
on the following approach:
·
Praise all of the players whenever possible.
·
Start
each correction with some positive point and then make
the correction.
·
Praise effort as well as performance.
·
Repetitions by the players are more important than
lectures by the coaching staff.
·
Once
a technique has been explained, practiced and corrected,
provide ample time for all the players to have as many
repetitions as possible.
·
Continually review each technique at practice sessions
during the year.
Communication with the Parents
Communicating with parents is essential for our team's
success. Parents need to be continually informed about
the team's progress. Hopefully, with encouragement, many
parents are going to have an interest in the team, the
coaching and the team goals. We will focus on a positive
approach when communicating with parents and encourage
all parents to communicate to the coaches regarding
their concerns and ideas.
It is
important that each parent understand that there is a
proper time and place to discuss any questions about the
team.
We
have a pre-arranged program that makes us available by
phone, e-mail, or in person for any discussions
concerning their child or any coaching method as
follows:
Mike
Mixson, Head Coach
Daytime Phone (423) 894-8289, ext. 100
Cell Phone (423) 779-8949
Email
mike@landmmusic.com
I am
available anytime to discuss your child, his
performance, his utilization on this team and any other
item of discussion regarding your child and his
experience on this team.
As a
courtesy for the other people involved with the team,
discussions will not be allowed during practice or a
game. Likewise, discussions will not be allowed with the
child present.
While
coaches and parents may freely discuss the performance
of the parent's child, we do not want to spend time
discussing the other children. Likewise, at practice and
in the stands we need positive encouragement for all the
kids. Please refrain from saying negative or derogatory
comments about any of the players. We want a spirit of
positive encouragement for all players at all times.
Following each game and practice, the parents are
encouraged to find a coach and discuss any relevant item
concerning their child. Often times, answers to
questions or concerns will not be possible until the
following day but all concerns will be addressed.
Parents on the practice field
All
parents are encouraged to get close to the action on the
practice field. Often times parents will be asked to
participate in the practices. While we want you near the
action, please refrain from instructing a player unless
you have been given specific instructions concerning a
drill. The message to players must be consistent.
On
the other hand, shouting encouragement is a good thing.
Amplifying the noise level around the players is a
positive stimulus in most cases. Lets all make sure that
we remain positive and while laughter will be a natural
response to many activities, remember that someone is in
essence getting laughed at… as long as it is the head
coach that is perfectly fine. I do want to make sure
that the players are not laughed at.
Practice sessions will be strictly planned with rapid
motion and no standing around. Often times the coaching
instructions will be delivered to parents via email and
the like in order that parents can participate and help
the practice session move along.
Your help is needed and will help the team develop if we
all work together.
Fees and Equipment
Fee
is $TBA. Players will be provided the following: (1)
Game day jersey with name on the back. (2) Game day
football pants. (3) Pair of game day socks. (4) Two
"Dolphins" decals for the helmet and stripes.
Parents must provide: White Helmet, Shoulder Pads, White
Practice Pants with pads, Practice Jersey, Mouthpiece,
football cleats.
You can purchase your gear
at the following:
Sports Spectrum
4518 Highway 58, Chattanooga, TN 37416
(423) 899-9238
Play It Again Sports
6227 Lee Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37421
(423) 855-4672
Football America
www.footballamerica.com
1.877.697.7678
Schedule
The
practice schedule for preseason practice is
right here.
The
basic skill assessment phase is designed for all of us
to get to know each other. Likewise it will be designed
to make football practice fun and should provide the
initial basis for the development of the Depth Chart.
Skill Assessment practices will be helmet, shoulder
pads, shorts, cleats. There will be minimal contact.
You
see the first organized work practice will cover the
defense. The first full pads practice is August 5th,
2006. We will
develop responsibilities and skills on the defensive
side of the ball first. All players will be taught how
to tackle in as safe as possible environment with the
correct matchups of experience and size. It is critical
that in this phase you watch your child closely and stay
aware of his attitude toward contact. I will attempt to
be on top of the player’s reaction to these practices
and make sure we get all of them through these sessions
with a strong desire to continue.
The
last preseason practices will focus on the offensive
side of the ball and we will develop a minimal number of
plays. Defense will get touch ups as well.
Season games start immediately following the Jamboree,
which is TBA. Teams play an eight game regular season
schedule. Teams will field between 14 to 22 (max)
players.
Between 8/1/2006 and the Jamboree our practice schedule
is posted here.
Rules, Discipline and Effort in relation to Teamwork
Football is a game of personal responsibility in
relation to a player’s assignments. Each player is
counting on the other players to execute their
assignment(s) and give maximum effort.
Showing up at practice on time demonstrates a player’s
level of effort. While everyone will miss an occasional
practice and be late from time to time, missing practice
and showing up late often will result in falling on the
depth chart. Please provide me with information
regarding practices that will be missed beforehand if
possible in order that we can adjust our practice
sequence.
Players are not allowed to talk during practice unless
recognized by a coach after they raise their hand.
Likewise, the only person allowed to talk in the huddle
is the player who brings in the play and the QB.
Goofing off in practice is generally the fault of the
coaching staff who create situations where boredom takes
over the kids. We will do everything possible to make
sure that there exist no standing around times in
practices other than water breaks.
Demanding the kids attention and effort help build all
aspects of teamwork. Challenging them to a high level
will also reveal their level of effort and dedication.
While
it is my goal to eliminate wasted time and long line of
kids standing around in order to prevent goofing off and
other discipline related problems, there are times that
disciplinary action must be taken.
Please try to be at the practice field 10 minutes prior
to the start of practice in order to get your kid’s gear
on and have them ready to go on time. Also, please have
your son ready to practice and encourage them to be a
leader in the right direction regarding effort.
Depth
Chart
For
the purposes of determining the positions the players
will play we will use a depth chart. This depth chart
will show up to 4 levels (strings) of players. This
depth chart will likely change each practice. A child
that is the first string QB may in fact not maintain
that position throughout the season as other kids
develop. In addition, our best QB will probably never
play an entire game at QB and will rarely start at QB
depending upon the outcome of the coin toss.
The
depth chart will be posted here, and all parents are
encouraged to discuss it with me at any time.
Game
situations will always determine who is playing at what
position. If a game is under control in our favor you
can expect to see a variety of players in second and
third tier positions. Likewise if a game is out of
control in the favor of our opponent you will also see
substitutions. Games that are close in competitiveness
will be worked with closer attention to being
competitive.
Winning, Losing and Being Competitive
We
will place emphasis on being competitive and winning
games. However, we will not have a "win at all cost"
philosophy but our goal will be to win games.
As
the head coach of this team I view my responsibility as
focusing on improving the players on the team, teaching
them how to play as a team and how to win games. Youth
football is not entirely about numbers on a scoreboard
but the kids want to win as badly as NFL players.
Part
of winning is putting forth a winning effort. This
starts in practice and carries onto the playing field. A
game is simply an extension of a week’s practice. Games
are opportunities to give weaker players experience.
This league has a minimum play rule and I will adhere to
it.
Learning how to deal with adversity, learning how to
come back and try harder after a defeat and improving
performance are lessons that serve kids well throughout
their lifetimes. Youth sports, especially football, have
a powerful ability to create virtues in young kids.
Sports teach teamwork, honor, sportsmanship, devotion to
a goal, and selflessness. All of these traits are
positive, and all of them are increasingly harder and
harder to teach to children in a world where they can
simply hit a reset button if the Nintendo game they're
playing doesn't go as planned.
We
are likely to face all sides of the spectrum regarding
the competition. Our goal is to ensure that we compete
hard and never quit. Bringing our best effort every play
is the strategy we will employ to become winners.
Practice and game evaluation
Every
practice and game will be evaluated immediately after
the event in order to record the outcome and learn from
the experience. All practice evaluations will be
communicated to the parents in order that all
information is communicated effectively in a timely
fashion.
The
positives and negatives of each practice will be
documented and reviewed in order that we can correct our
practice regimen. Parents are encouraged to comment on
the practice session reviews in order to address their
concerns.
Each
practice will result in a re evaluation of the depth
chart and associated reasons for making changes. The
reason for changes in the depth chart, while not posted,
will be available for the parents upon request for their
child.
Adjustments will be made daily and should result in
better overall performance for the team.
Season Challenges
While
we have several good players on our team we do not have
one player that is a gamebreaker or who can dominate a
particular side of the ball. This will challenge us to
build the overall team effort and put us in a difficult
competitive posture. Many other 7-8 teams in this league
are filled with repeating players with great talent and
proven systems.
This
is a new team and developing chemistry is another
deficit we face. Finding the position assignments for
the kids will be a large challenge and coaching the kids
to execute their assigned responsibilities is critical
to development.
We
will work hard and prepare well. We will scout our
opposition and prepare each week to face a specific
opponent. We will practice effective tackling and
develop this skill in particular.
Our
success will be determined in the light of how well
prepared our team is, how much effort our players put
into practicing, developing skills and competing in the
games. Setting the stage whereby all players learn to
love the game of football is a primary concern for us.
Putting out a tremendous effort during the competition
and reacting to it in manner that is reflective of our
team’s character is paramount to our success.
Again, thank you for participating this season, and I look forward to developing a successful
relationship with you and you son.
Sincerely,
Mike Mixson
Hamilton
Dolphins
(423)
779-8949 cell * (423) 894-8289, ext. 100 work * (423)
892-5002 home
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