Grasshopper No. 4 is exhuberant about football. If you read his recent blogs, he couldn't wait until football season arrived. I mean, football at all levels. UW Badger football. High School football. Pre-high school football. Yep, even excitement for the Green Bay Packers who have sunk to an all time low. It almost makes you feel like you should pound your chest in some sort of a primal fashion.
Subconsciously I think Grasshopper No. 4 having two sons ages 8 and 5 might enter into the equation. I know my Dad was obsessed with all sports especially baseball. He could teach his sons baseball and suck up the ambiance that goes with the sport. Kind of like reliving your childhood.
Well, last year Coach P (My name for Grasshopper number 4) was encouraged to help coach in a youth football league in Sheboygan for ages 10-14. Coach P ventured forth cautiously. He attended a few practices after school and pretty soon he was designing plays for the kids. I think by the end of the first year, his stint as assistant coach was successful and the team won or tied for the championship. The reward was pizza.
Coach P told me the key to success was "keep it simple". He installed 3-4 plays total. You know. Run left real fast. Throw to the right to your own man. Not many plays because it just creates confustion. I was proud of Coach P because he listened to his Dad who constantly preaches, keep things simple.
So this year brings more insight. This year is he is the "offensive coordinator" for the Sheboygan Badgers. Listen to this. They have a draft for all players in the league. A special meeting is held and the equivalent of an NFL draft is held. When I was a kid, we just "chose of sides". This formal draft is an excuse for a boys night out so coaches can talk smart, drink beer and talk trash before the season starts.
Coach P helped draft players of choice and you can imagine the dreams. Lots of touchdowns. Undefeated season. A parade down 8th street in Sheboygan in open top convertibles. You get the idea.
The first game came and went. The Badgers were driving for a touchdown when time ran out. The Badgers lost their first game. The potential was just beginning to show and they probably wouldn't lose another game all year.
Then Coach P turned up the intensity to tried to inspire the troops. Game two was exciting but the Badgers lost again. Whoops, 0-2. Hey, the season was still young.
Game three was a good effort but it was a losing effort. I think that makes it 0-3.
In talking to Coach P, he is undeterred. This group of boys has tremendous potential and they have been victims of bad luck. They should go the rest of the season undefeated. Right!
My take on the whole coaching endeavor is that Coach P let the "keep it simple" theme get away. The Badgers are up to 10-12 plays. These are kids with the short attention spans. I think one play should suffice, maybe two. Play number one should be run straight ahead real fast. Maybe play number two should be pass down the field straight ahead to your own team mate (make sure they remember "to your own teammate"). That's it! Get back to basics.
NFL players have trouble with complexity of plays. Lombardi was upset with a team performance so he came to practice and told the players they were getting back to basics. Lombardi held up the football for all to see and said "men, this is a football". Max Magee responding with "slowdown coach, you are going to fast". Jeepers Coach P, it NFL players don't recognize a football, don't you think 10 plays is a bit much.
This whole process is fun to watch. There are dreams. There are disappointments. There are great performances. Teaching is constant. Hey it is like a slice of life.
A applaud Coach P. There is always next season.
Love,
Dad