Make-Up Game

Well, it's about that time!!! Time to make up for our rained out game from week 1.  With only 4 days of rest in between and just enough time for an impromptu practice I am getting my team ready for what is sure to be the game of the week! 
We are playing a very quick and very physical team this Wednesday night and the game plan is simple.  Control the tempo of the game and no matter what... Do NOT let their runners get to the outside!  My team has some pretty quick players and I don't doubt that we can score on this team.  The issue is going to be getting those 1st year gitters out of my players heads in time.  I just need to explain to them that all they have to do is attack and as the cheerleaders say, Be Aggressive!! Be Be Aggressive!!  If we can do that, we will have a really good shot at winning.

I don't have time to teach any NEW plays or Trick plays so we will have to rely on what worked for us in game 1 and make sure that the defense is on point. I mean, really that's all I can ask.  Especially since this was a last minute decision to have the game on such short notice.

That's okay though.  I am not worried.  My team is full of great kids that want to win and are learning the basics of the game while having fun doing it.  I guess... No. I know that there is a part of me that doesn't want to be 0-2 going into a bye week, so it's going to be pretty important that I motivate my players tonight at practice and tomorrow during our pre-game warm up to PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY!

I am NOT a Notre Dame fan, but Coach Lou Holtz is a great motivator... Even for a Miami fan I have to say that the man could coach... So, my inspiration today comes from him -

Coach Holtz said,
“I’m going to put it in the same place [as it used to be] and everybody is going to hit it on the way out to the field to remind them of all the sacrifices they have made, their families have made and other people have made for them to be there.”

Now, I just need to get my team to believe in it and perform like it!

Go Aftershock!

-Coach Carlos

Game 1 is in the books

The Defensive attack led by my T-Rex

Well here I am a good 24 hours removed from our first football game of the season and can now sit down and put into words what I got out of our first full game.  Let me start by saying that I am so proud of my team for going out there and pushing themselves to the limit and even though Mother Nature ALMOST took away another week of preparation away from us, she decided that we would be happier campers for the rest of the weekend if we got out and got that first game out of the way.

When a coach thinks of all the things that they have to plan for in a game they don't usually plan for a bad call even though there is always going to be a bad call per game in someone's eyes.  My team did very well and I was very impressed with a lot of things that the kids did right.  We did something that from what I gather a lot of teams don't do.  We passed the ball.  I was actually told later that it's just not something that they, (the kids) can do at this level - I DO NOT AGREE... I had a game plan and for the most part we stuck to it.  We were fighting the wind and the fact that over 70% of my team have never played football on a team together.  I think that their nerves might have gotten to them at first, then there is the mere speed of the game.  When we practice they can kinda take it easy - even though I make them run a lot, they was still some heavy breathing going on out there.  

We weren't clicking as well as I had hoped for but in fact my team did do a lot of things right.  We had an interception, we forced a couple of false starts and we did not allow a single touchdown.  Even when the other team was on the goal line, we stopped them.  

Now, the moment several people have been waiting for - Did we win?  No, we did not.  How can that be if we didn't let them score?  Well... because unfortunately, there was a bad call, well... really there was just a whistle that was called before a play actually ended and our TD was called back.  Was I mad?  No. Not really.  Disappointed?  Yeah. I know how hard it can be to score a touchdown so yeah I felt for the kid who ran his heart out to get that score, but I know the referee did not mean to blow the whistle and the rule is you play till the whistle...  We didn't lose because of that.  It didn't help, but that wasn't what got us.

So, now we have 2 weeks to plan, practice & prepare.  I know that we will be better prepared for our next game.   I know the little things that we need to work on.  I know that I need to be off the field for defense & allow the other coaches to get out there & motivate the team.  I'll run the offense, they can run the defense & coach from the sidelines.

As a parent, I was extremely proud of how well my son played.  He was the defensive star of the game and I am not saying that because he's mine.  He loves to play defense & does it very well.  I think he pulled 6 or 7 flags.  He disrupted plays in the back field.  He was in the QB's face a lot.  That's what I love to see him do.  I even let him do something that he had been wanting to do since he started playing and that was let him run on offense.  He took the first snap and got us our first 4 yards of offense. (Yes, I was very proud)

We have practice this week and no game this Holiday weekend, so we have plenty of time to really work as a team and start building towards our next game.  I am not ready to guarantee a win yet.  Not because I doubt my team and their abilities.  I just don't want to get ahead of myself.

So, there it is.  First game is in the books.  Now it's time start writing chapter 2.

- Coach Carlos

Things are Starting to Click

If only the rest of the world could be this easy!!

OK - First of all. I will say this once again.  I LOVE COACHING! There... I got that out of my system.  Now, having said that let me say that when you start to see the pieces of a puzzle come together and form a beautiful picture; the feeling is great.  We had practice yesterday and welcomed our newest member to our team. I don't use names because I like to respect the kids and parents privacy, but this kid was there for his first time and did GREAT!  We were down a lineman and we were able to teach him some basics and plug him into both the Offensive and Defensive lines without too much hassle.  That's a great thing.  Kids are truly amazing.  They can pick up so much information so quickly.

I had a great moment yesterday when one of the Assistant Coaches came up to me after a couple of my "Boise State/NCAA Video Game" Plays and said, "Hey Coach, that's a great play. I like that!"  That's a great feeling for me because I have been a parent on the sideline and helped with other coaches and there is nothing worse than seeing a coach run the same plays over and over and over and .... well, you get the point.

I am  hoping that Mother Nature allows us the same kind of weather this weekend that she gave us yesterday because my kids are ready to play some football! 

I am confident but not cocky. I am eager but not desperate.  I am ready to go out there and play some Aftershock football!  I like our team name.  Because that's exactly what we plan on doing to our opponents.  Leaving them in a state of shock!  Saturday's game time is 3:15 pm.  I can't think of any other way to spend my Saturday then with my son and my team...

I'll ask this again; Are you ready for some football!?  I know I am!

-Coach Carlos

"Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." - Vince Lombardi

First Game - Postponed due to inclement weather

Well, where should I begin this blog entry today?  Let me think... I was supposed to tell you about how great a game my team played on Saturday and how proud I am that they did so with just 1 FULL week of practice and 2 other practices without everyone present.  However, Mother nature sometimes has her own agenda & that is where I will begin todays post. 

Saturday morning came and I was up and ready by 6:30 am.  My offensive playbook was laminated and I had my wits about me.  I was ready to go out there and spend the day out in the heat with my children.  My first son's game was at 10 am and that meant, HEAT!  HUMIDITY... and MORE HEAT!  It was in fact relentless heat that surrounded  the field was really not as bad as it has been in the past, but still when you are out there with your nerves a wreck in aniticipation of your kids first game of the season, it was bad enough.
Being able to sit back and just cheer for your child is awesome.  Even if the coach in me was giving helpful hints & scouting tips to his coach about the other team and certain players, coaching styles etc, I was mostly there just to enjoy my sons playing.  He didn't disappoint.  He scored 3 times and played a great game.  I was so proud of him.  It was fantastic.  All I needed to complete my day was to get a "W" from my team and enjoy the rest of my Saturday.  However, like I said earlier; Mother Nature is going to do what she wants to do no matter what!

So the rain came & poured over the field.  By the time my teams game was set to start we were told that there was a 75% chance that it would be postponed due to weather.  Now here's the great part.  My whole team was there, under a tent ready to go even in the rain. The kids were ready with their uniforms on & eye black smeared to their faces.  We tossed the ball around in the rain & they weren't complaining.  Sometimes, you just have to remember that it's all a game.  They called the game & I had to tell the team that our first game would be played at a later date. 

Even though they were disappointed, they understood that it was for their safety and that this unfortunate event would give us more time to prepare.  I walked back to my car across the swamp like mess that was our field and realized that even the gray clouds couldn't make me feel any less proud of my team.  THEY were ready! THEY were pumped up! THEY WANTED to play and that makes a world of difference. 

So... I await this upcoming weekend and hope that this Tropical Storm or Hurricane that's out in the Atlantic goes away so my kids can get out there and play some football.

The good news is that our first "W" is still out there waiting for us! I say that because it is ours! We know what time it is... GAME TIME!!!

-Coach Carlos

(My "Lil Bear" running for 1 of his 3 scores) - I'm still a parent so I AM VERY Proud!

24 hours to go!!!

(Coaching the Offense)

OK. Less than 24 hours before game one & I am one very happy & confident coach.  Am I trying to convince myself? No, not really.  I just feel really good about my team.  We have had 2 solid practices this week & the team is really starting to click.  I have 6 players that have never played football before & you wouldn't believe how well they are doing. 

My game plan is pretty simple. Run a smooth, well balanced game.  If we can do that & focus our defense on pulling flags; we are going to be alright! 

I have great assistant coaches who are really pumped up about being out there with the kids too. I know that I've said this before, but I LOVE COACHING!!! Watching these kids develop out there & just smile when they accomplish something that they did not think possible just 1 week ago is really something special to me.

All this & it's only week 1. Who's ready for some football?!  ME!!! Hopefully I will have some great pictures taken by the parents to share ASAP.  Until then I have to go & get my plays ready to go! 

"Coaches who can outline plays on a black board are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their player and motivate." - Vince Lombardi

- Coach Carlos

Getting Ready for Game 1

OK - So, it's now 2 days till my team's first game of the regular Flag Football season and I am way excited.  Even though I just got 3 new players this week I can honestly say that there is a big difference in coaching 8-10 year olds than 5-7 year olds.  Not that one is more fun than the other, but it's a little bit easier when you don't have to coach all the little details over and over. 

I have very supportive dad's on this team that don't mind going out there on the field and helping out.  I have a great coaching staff.  I am planning on standing on the sidelines this season & let the coordinators be out on the field.  I know that this is only game one so we may not be perfect, and yeah, we'll make a mistake or two, but I know that this group of kids are going to be awesome. I can already tell. 

There is one BIG advantage of conditioning in the Florida weather - HEAT!!! The kids get used to it & they can handle more than they know.  I am pretty impressed!  It's time to get my NFL FOX music going & put my whistle on. 

I love coaching.  I don't know if I will go coach tackle ever mostly because I know that I have about 2-4 more years of FLAG if I really wanted to, but I will cross that bridge when I get there.  For now, I can honestly say that I love coaching these kids & I know that the Super Senior Aftershock are going to make an impression this week!

- Coach Carlos

1st day of practice is in the books!

(My Son working with the Defensive Coach)

OK - 1st day of practice is now in the books and I am happy with the overall results!  I didn't have all my players there or even both of my coaches but we were able to work on some basic drills, introduce ourselves and I even had one player "high-step" into the end zone!!! (it was immediately followed by 10 push-ups)  But I did give him props for his enthusiasm.  We have 16 days till the first game of the season and that means 2 more full practices.  I think we'll be fine.  Next practice is going to be much more structured & play specific. 

I have at least 2 kids that have never played in an organized football league but you wouldn't know it by the way they practiced their little hearts out last night.  I think the best part was that one of them came up to me and said that "That was so much fun!!" with the biggest smile on his face.  That made me smile & I knew it was going to be a good season. 

Now, if you've followed me before you already know that I LOVE trick plays.  Will I run one or two this season? SURE!!! Why not?! I mean I have to keep the other coaches guessing, right!!!??

Overall, I feel like this is going to be a great season and that my "Super Seniors", Team name:  AFTERSHOCK is going to be a success! More to come ASAP!

See the winning

 

See the winning

By Joel Boggess

With just a few ticks left on the game clock, the home team trails by just one point. This, being the biggest game of the year, carries with it a lot more weight than games played earlier in the season.

The players, having fought hard through the regular season, have waited the better part of their professional careers for this moment.

As the last few seconds of game time evaporate into thin air, a victor will soon be crowned, hailed, and celebrated.

Of the two best teams in the league, which one will pull out the victory?
Is it the team that plods out onto the field, runs the designated plays, and tries their best? Or is it the team that visualizes and senses the sights and sounds of the win first, before they hit the field?

Let’s take a brief look at history.

Hockey great Wayne Gretsky chose to skate to where the puck was going to be, instead of spending a lifetime chasing after it; Muhammad Ali made no apologies in letting people know that he was indeed “the greatest” in the professional boxing world; Michael Jordan saw his name reappearing on the high school roster after he had been cut; and Rudy Ruettiger knew he was born to play Notre Dame football.

What did these people know that still escapes so many others?

Whether you’re raising your children, bringing up the next generation of students, or coaching high-achievers in sports or in business, there is one simple truth: you have to see the winning in your mind’s eye, before you can do the winning in the public eye. You will see people do amazing things, once you help them learn how to tap into and feelthe electricity and heat of a victorious possibility.

Borrowing from the ideas of John Maxwell, here’s why:

When people sense victory
They sacrifice to succeed.
They look for ways to win.
They become energized.
They follow the game plan.
They help other team members.

When people sense defeat
They give as little as possible.
They look for excuses.
They become tired.
They forsake the game plan.
They hurt others.

Where are you today?  Are you sensing your victory and looking for ways to make it reality?  It is not enough to just “see” it – you have to create a game plan and then work that plan with commitment and tenacity.  You can do it!

With the heart of a teacher and the patience of a friend, Joel blends his educational experience (a master’s in counseling and an MBA) together with a passion for helping others to realize their God-given potential.  Help yourself to some of Joel’s favorite coaching tools.  Find out more about his latest book, One Woman’s Journey to the Work She Loves.