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168 Hours to Kick Off

Every fall Friday night concludes in a predictable manner at football stadiums across the state. As the scoreboards dim and weary warriors put their well-worn battle gear back in its place, every coaching staff closes one chapter of their season and turns the page to the next. The shift is subtle, but sure.

168 Hours to Kick Off

Every fall Friday night concludes in a predictable manner at football stadiums across the state.  As the scoreboards dim and weary warriors put their well-worn battle gear back in its place, every coaching staff closes one chapter of their season and turns the page to the next.  The shift is subtle, but sure.

Parents and players often make their way to their favorite post-game gathering place to either celebrate victory or lift each other’s spirits in defeat.  They relive the evening in vivid detail and animated expression.  If victorious, they speaking of “turning points” in the game, or specific performances by key players, or other superlatives such as the “play of the game” or the “hit of the night”.  Congratulations are extended and manly embraces are shared.

If they came up short, what began as a team effort often devolves into individual players apologizing for miscues and taking blame for the outcome.  Teammates encourage each other and wash away their distaste for the outcome with their favorite comfort foods.  They tout the need for increased focus and resolve and eventually part ways with a determination to do better the following Friday.

Coaching staffs may even attend these post-game gatherings, but they often have a wandering mind like a man trying to carry on a dinner conversation with his wife without letting her know that his attention is really on the television behind her that is airing a big game.  In their minds they are already in the “War Room” preparing for their next opponent.

Some coaching staffs hold it on Saturday mornings, others on Sunday evenings, still others may get together on Mondays; but no matter when it is held, each staff kicks off the week’s preparation for their next opponent with a session in what I like to call the War Room.  Recently, I was fortunate enough to be granted full access to one of these meetings of coaching minds.  In my case, it was with one of the most successful and well-respected staffs in the state of Washington.  Besides myself, there were nine total coaches in the room.  The head coach has won four state championships and was an assistant on a fifth.  One of his assistants also led a different school to a state championship earlier in his career.  There are four total on the staff who have head coaching experience and there are three who were state champions as players at the same school.  Seven of the nine also have experience playing in college as well.

The meeting got under way at 6 pm with a discussion of potential games to be scouted on Friday night.  It progressed through several “housekeeping” items until full focus was turned on the upcoming opponent.  It included three distinct film sessions; one study of the previous week’s game and two different game films of the following Friday’s foe.  Mixed in where several focused discussions on how to overcome their opponent and how to best share that knowledge with their players throughout the course of the week.  Formations and schemes were drawn up and debated until there was no more space on the whiteboard, then the whiteboard was erased and refilled at least three more times.  With plenty of sugar available to keep everyone alert, the meeting lasted over six hours before coaches started to filter out of the room.  I counted up a total of over 60 total man hours dedicated by the staff before a single player had even stepped on the practice field.

I asked several other head coaches about the total time they dedicate each week personally in preparation for Friday nights.  Between strategy sessions, player film sessions, on-field practices, attending junior varsity and freshmen games, and breaking down film all throughout the week, the consensus was somewhere on the order of 25-30 hours.  I even had to promise one coach that I wouldn’t share that information with his wife.

So let’s break this down a little more.  Obviously, most coaches have full-time jobs in addition to their coaching duties.  I know most spend many more, but let’s assume a modest 40-hour work week.  Most coaches also find time throughout the week to sleep, eat, and tend to matters of hygiene.  Let’s assume 8 hours per day allotted to those tasks, for a weekly total of 56 hours.  That leaves us with 72 total hours of “free” time during the course of the week.  Based on an average of 25-30 hours spent on coaching responsibilities, that represents around 40% of all free time.

Whether striving to build a winning program or piloting one that already has a tradition of success, I have always had great respect for these men who put forth so much effort to coach and teach our young men the life lessons of motivation, dedication, and perseverance in the guise of a “game”.  Their weekly preparation serves to model those traits and characteristics to the young men who are in their charge.  This eye-opening time study only further reinforces my thoughts of gratitude and appreciation for what they do; especially when I know that one of the beneficiaries is my own son, who is learning the same lessons that I learned in a different place and tim

I am the Founder of the Northwest Prep Report. For 17 years I have led the way to the best of my ability to promote the best talent from the Pacific NW free of charge. It is my pleasure to continue to serve High School athletes from all over the Pacific NW and beyond. Formerly with Rivals.com my sites have now crossed over 8,000 stories, 7 MILLION Video Views, and 15,000 regular followers. Together with the best football people in the USA we pursue excellence for our NW athletes.

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