Game Week Prep.

Maryland Football Helmet

The worst thing that could possibly happen to a football coach has happened.  The University of Maryland has lost a football player.  The young 19 year old player died from a heat related incident (heat stroke) that was probably preventable with simple measures by the coaching / training staff.  I am sure there is a lot more information to be released about this incident, and I guess the entire Maryland Football system is now in question.  At this point I am not going to comment about how the coaches / trainers allegedly treated their players; however, I will comment on how parents can help insure the safety of their players at home...because it really does start at home.  

1.  Please make sure your athlete is staying hydrated...even at home.  To repeat a cliche...."water taken in today will be used tomorrow at practice."  Drinking the day of practice is too late. Give him a water jug...make sure he is drinking the entire amount every day before allowing any other type of drink (including Gatorade type drinks.)  Sports drinks are fine AFTER practice....but the body needs to stay hydrated with water each day...especially in this sauna we call Florida.  Bottom line?  Just make him drink.  

2. Throw the energy drinks away.  The caffeine (and other drugs) in these type of drinks are dehydrators.  I have seen instances where these type drinks are all the kids consume, so naturally they do not get enough water.  Its a dangerous cycle.  The body needs to replace the water it loses at practice.  

3. Make sure he is eating correctly at home.  The body needs the fuel to burn at football practice.  I wont tell you what to feed your kid, but at this age its really not that important...just make sure he is eating some calories.  

I will finish with this.  Your kids are as safe as possible with every one of our football coaches and athletic trainers here at Vero Beach High School.  We keep a close watch on all the players, and access to water is strictly enforced and never, ever denied.  If there is even a question about the health of one of our kids, the player is pulled from competition and evaluated.  Afterall, these are our kids too.  I cannot imagine what it feels like to lose a player on the field.  

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Today (Monday) we started game week preparation for Friday nights game vs Viera High School.  Coach J has the entire week planned out, and the game plan is in place and will be rehearsed this week.  All of our special teams will be touched on again as well. 

Today we did not practice with the defensive unit at all.  Our defensive coaches (Leslie, Bethel, DeLuke, Rahal, Floyd, and Tim) are all zoned out right now, so I am afraid to talk with them directly.  I won't even ask them a question.  Defensive guys are different, and most of them are pretty aggressive...especially in game week.  They are thinking about defensive alignments, blitzes, coverage etc...   Defense can be considered a battlefield retaliation against an opposing enemy.  Its their job to stop the enemy from advancing.  We laugh and joke around in the locker room, but once the door opens for practice, I quit talking to them.   Afterall, I have my own strange routines.   

Offensive coaches are different.  Offense tends to be more of an attack against the enemy on a battle field.  It is our job to identify the enemy's weaknesses and exploit them to our advantage.  It is our job to make sure all our players are prepared for just about any situation they may encounter on the field.  This is why our practices are well scripted.  Most of the offensive coaches (Jankowski, Harris, Willis, Dawkins, McDonald, Myself) are well seasoned and work well together.  If anything, I am the nervous one before a game.....I am constantly looking for a place to throw up so no one sees me.  The other guys know this and just laugh at me.  I feel so much better after-the-fact though.  

Talk Later.

GZ  

Week 2 Wrap Up

My Dad...10th Grade Football Photo  

Me and Mike (Ft Stewart, GA)  

Mike throwing in Afghanistan somewhere.

The REAL Afghanistan  

Fighting Man  

Football has always been such a large part of my life since I was very little.  My Dad played ball, I played ball, and my son Mike played ball.  When I was younger, I always wanted a big boy to coach and teach.  God blessed me with my boy on on August 1st, 1987.   I coached my 6'4" 220lb QB all the way through high school; consequently,  I know that could not have been easy for him, for I knew it was not easy on me either.  I was not exactly as easy going as I am now.  Quite the opposite I am afraid.   I will not hash out my old stories about our relationship in this blog, but I can tell you Mike is the bravest man I have ever known, and he is my hero.  A true #Army fighting man who chose his profession all on his own....without the inference of a overbearing father.  I let him spread his wings and he flew....much higher than anyone ever expected.  May be the 'Lessons In Life' taught on the football field had something to do with his success.  I sure hope it did.  

www.coach-george.blogspot.com

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Today we finished up our last morning practice before the regular grind of afternoon practice begins. Next week is game week, so we will settle into a normal routine on Monday.  Remember I stated that the defense is normally ahead of the offense at this point of the season....and this year is no different.  I am feeling a little bit better about my kids tonight.  Today, Coach Jankowski scheduled a 'Inside Run' drill toward the end of practice.  Offensive line, and Running backs, vs the Defensive Line and Linebackers.  The entire drill is run between the tackles  For the first time all year, I thought we held our own against the great athletes we have lined up on the other side of the ball.  I can see the progress we are making in the backfield, and I can see my visions for my kids starting to come together.  I am having a lot of fun with these kids, and it is so nice that Coach J just lets me coach.   I really like working for this guy.  

I want to start talking about the players individually, but I also want to get some verbal permissions to use their names first.   

Huge week coming up.  Kickoff Classic Friday night at home vs Viera.  

GZ

Media Day

Kristin (Age 16)  Daughter 

Kelsey (age 13...Almost)  Granddaughter

Got this photo of my granddaughter Kelsey this afternoon and it made my day.  I remembered her mother (Kristin) posing for the same type of photo over 20 years ago. I always knew Kristin and Kelsey looked alike, but to me the resemblance is amazing.  Kelsey represents the forth generation of football in my family (Dad, Me, Kristin, Kelsey) and I am feeling pretty proud tonight.  I don't know if anyone can tell, but I am absolutely crazy, nuts about Kelsey.  She knows how to knock the edges off this grizzled old PawPaw.   I will tell the story on each of my children later in the year when the blog material gets slow.  

Varsity- JV- Freshman  

Today was 'Media Day' in the Citrus Bowl.  All three teams (and coaches) dressed in their game gear and made their way down to the stadium for photos, media interviews and so forth.  I was so excited and I had a great time seeing all the kids together at once.  We sure have some amazing looking young athletes in the pipeline here at Vero Beach High School.  It felt great sitting in the stands with all the coaches together and having all the players at our feet.  I am sitting in the second roll (from the top-down) next to my buddy (and Head JV Coach) Brian Debula.  I will recite this statement once again:  You better have some thick skin to be on this football staff.  Nothing is off limits.  lol  

Offensive Linemen with The Belt

My Kids:

 Bryan Primus Winston - Daonovan Gilchrist- Bobby McMillan - Logan Amaral 

Me and My Kids  

Big Boys with Coach  Pete McDonald  

Today was a nice break from morning practice.  Believe it or not, this stuff is important to a team's success as well.  Just to get all the kids together for a common purpose helps build team unity.  It also gives the young kids a good look at what all of them are striving for....to be a varsity football player for Vero Beach High School.  

I am so blessed to be part of this great program.  I am a lucky man.  

Later 

GZ  

Week 2 Day 1

New Design Lineman Of The Week Belt

Blank Belt. 

 Last year I started what hopefully will be a tradition here at Vero Beach High School (VBHS)  This belt is not a toy.  This heavy metal and leather championship belt is the same one used by boxing or other sports for their champions.  I buy them completely blank.  My wife Marty cuts vinyl graphics and adds them to the large gold plates to personalize the belt for each year's class.  The design is what THEY want.  A few weeks ago, I started asking the seniors what THEY would like to see on their belt.  Our big senior center (Louie Rahal) said he wanted pancakes.  So, what looks like flapjacks with butter running down the sides is indeed pancakes.  Hey, its their belt, so they can have whatever they want, but they have to win it.  After each game, the offensive line coaches (Pete McDonald and Ken Willis) will break down each play for each player.  Each coach has his own grading system, but it generally involves (+ / -) for each play, and some sort of grade is given for correct steps, finishing blocks etc...  Whomever grades the highest for the game will get to keep the belt for the week.  (I remember my Dad giving a railroad spike for his award.)   (By the way.  PANCAKES are what every lineman strives for.  This is when he crushes his opponent over onto his back and lays him flat onto the ground)

Now days, very few kids want to play offensive line.  It generally starts when they are young.  Youth league coaches will gather all the kids up in a huddle. He will announce and pointing to an area:  "Everyone who wants to be a running back go over there"   "Everyone who wants to be a wide receiver go over there!"  "Everyone who wants to play defense go over there!"   The offensive line group is often empty.  (On the rare occasion you do have a kid who wants to play offensive line, you generally have a good player.)  Yet, the offensive line is easily the most important position group on the field.  These kids rarely get any credit in the headlines.  I wanted to create an award especially for them.  No other position is eligible to win the award.  Even though I no longer coach the offensive line, I did not want the award to go away.  Sometimes being a coach is so much fun!

Love These Kids.  

Today was a typical Monday practice.  Today was our first day in full pads, so we all came in a little early to deal with soft pad issues and so forth; thus, we ended the heat acclimation period in the process.  We are cleared to go full pads for now on.  Today was a very hot day, and the heat index was off the charts.  Coach J built in many water breaks; therefore, our kids did just fine.   

Funny thing about kids.  Last week I was feeling pretty good about my group, and went into the weekend thinking about different things we still needed to touch on this week.  Today it looked like we had not practiced at all last week.  Mental mistakes drive me crazy, and I felt agitated since I got out of bed early this morning.  Practice did get better later in the morning, so maybe it was me.  For the record, I still think this running back group is going to be special.  

More later.  

GZ  

First Week Is A Wrap.

I often think about my dad this time of year, because football season has officially began.  Dad was really an old-school coach who modeled himself after his coach in the Army....and Vince Lombardi.  Naturally, this also meant he was somewhat of a tyrant on the football field.  This was not a bad thing during his day, and most all his players dearly loved him then and now.  It was just a sign of the times when kids were a little grittier than they are today.  Coach Dad's practices were unbelievably brutal and physical, and injuries were very common.  We were taught to just "Walk It Off" or just "Work Through It" if we were nicked up a bit.  Truly, the only things that got the coaches attention then were a exposed-bone compound fracture or a gaping blood-gushing wound which would require stitches to close.  Remember, there was no such thing as an MRI to look for internal structural injuries. We were simply taught to shake off an injury and get back into competition.  Knee and ankle injuries were common.  We were wrapped in an ace bandage and instructed to walk it off.    There was no concussion protocol whatsoever. If you hit somebody and had "Your Bell Rung" (stars in your head, blackouts, and severe tingling in your extremities) ammonia capsules shoved up your nose often saved the day.  Back into the practice or game we would go.  In fact, NOT going back into the game was deemed a sign of weakness.  I'm not complaining though, for trainers and coaches just did not know any better back in the day.  I would still run through a wall for any of my coaches without asking why.  Now days, technology is much more advanced, and coaches are much better trained than ever before.  Today's players are safer than they have ever been.  

Some old school football people are often amazed at how a modern football practice is conducted.  The brutal physical football practices in days past are rarely seen anymore.  Now days we try to limit the amount of contact a player receives during the week.  Form tackling and blocking drills are most often done (against bags) with a keen focus on technique.  We often practice in just helmets, or just in shells (Helmet-Shoulder Pads) We still practice in full equipment of course, but for the most part, heavy player to player contact is limited unlike the early days. Our kids are healthier and fresher on game days  In future blog postings, I will describe some of my Dad's old football drills...remember the term: MEAT GRINDER....brutal! 

Now a quick word on VBHS Football  

We finished up day 5 on Friday.  Luckily, the weather at 8am  allowed us to get in all the practices without fear of rain.  Coach J's practices are well scripted, and we got in a lot of work this week.  For me, all the work this week also exposed a few things my kids need to work on next week.  Our defense is flying around the ball pretty good right now which is a great thing.  At this stage of practice, the defense will always be ahead of the offense, and this year is no different.  We have two weeks to prepare for the kickoff classic game vs Melbourne Viera High School.  This game is a real challenge for our young inexperienced team....but I think we will be solid.  

Later: 

GZ  

Day 4 of a Hot Week

It has been a busy week.  We finished up day 4 of practice this morning, and things are looking better.  For some reason, the kids came into practice a little flat, and all the coaches picked up on it immediately.  I was hollering "Pick It Up" quite a bit myself.  Its funny how this works, but you can almost put your finger on it.  It generally involves almost all the kids at once...the concentration level was down.  We practice early in the morning to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms and stifling heat as the sun moves more overhead.  But, it is still hot....sauna hot.  

As you might imagine, dehydration is a big issue here in the sauna we call Florida.  As coaches, we are trained to recognize symptoms of dehydration before it gets out-of-hand with our athletes.  A couple years ago, Sebastian River High School (SRHS) actually had a young player die from heat stroke on the practice field....all directly related to the 9th grade athlete being dehydrated.  Coaches are not immune to the Florida heat and humidity either...hell I still cut grass in a plastic bag to condition myself for the heat battle.  I also enjoy a good sweat a couple times a week.  But this is dangerous and I know it. 

Years ago, there was not much water available on a football field at all.  The old-school thought was that if a player was denied water at practice, he would condition his body to not need water during a football game...it would make you tougher.  Instead, a football coach (or trainer) would hand you salt tablets instead.  They were supposed to stimulate your saliva glands.  I can't tell you how bad the salt tablets tasted when you were already dying of thirst.  Cramping?  Salt tablets.  Throwing up?  Salt tablets.   We just learned to play through the classic signs of being severely dehydrated...while damaging our kidneys at the same time.    

Occasionally, we would see a little bit of water on the field.  Every now and then a coach would drag a garden hose out to the practice field, but our intake was strictly limited to a couple sips... we always wanted (and needed) more.  Sometimes, our athletic trainers would have these big buckets filled with iced water down towels with iodine to treat injuries.  When someone got hurt, we would steal the towels and suck out the water....dirt, sweat, iodine and all.  Hey...it was better than nothing.  During games we would have water on the field.  The ten gallon jugs were filled with a early version of some sort of sports drink....but someone would salt the hell out of it.  I hated it....and I still cannot drink anything like that today.  I just wanted water and nothing else.   I often wonder if my issues with kidney stones have anything to do with salt tablets?  I guess we will never know.  

Today things are much, much different.  There is always water on the field.  We continue to educate ourselves, the players, and hopefully the parents on the importance of hydration at home as well.  We preach that energy drinks are your enemy, and they will kill you.  A few years ago, people actually believed that pickle juice was the secret formula for preventing cramps on the field, and this fable was debunked over and over.  An athlete needs water...at least a gallon a day this time of year.  Water he takes in today will be used at practice tomorrow.  Hydrating the day of an event is too late.  An athlete needs to take care of his body on and off the field.  Coaches are here to make sure that happens on our end.  

On Tuesday, I had to become certified (again) by the NFHS (National Federation of High Schools) as a coach.  Since we work onfield with the kids, we took courses on: Concussion: Heat Illness-Dehydration: Sudden Cardiac Arrest.  I have taken such courses many times before in my day, but it is always interesting to see how things have changed in the medical field since I first started.  I often wonder: "How in the world did we survive playing in the early days?"  

1st Day In The Books

The alarm went off this morning at 6:30 am.  Luckily I got all my things together the night before, so getting dressed and loading my truck was easy.  I was out the door at 6:45am.  I stopped by Cumberland Farms to get my morning Diet Dr. Pepper and Banana,  and I was on my way to pick up one of my players by 7:55 am.  The drive to our practice facility was quiet, for my mind was on what I needed to do once I got there.  Coach Jankowski  (Coach J) had scheduled a mandatory 8am team meeting;  consequently, I did not / would not want to be late for this season starting session.  I grabbed six (6) half rounds  and one stand up dummy for my morning drills.  I set them up on my end of the field and quickly rehearsed what I had planned  for the early Indy (Individual) period.  Once I finished setting up the field, I stopped to enjoy the moment for a little bit.  The morning dew was still covering the field, and the moist grass permeated my nostrils with the sweet smell.  I could see the tire tracks of AJ's (team trainer) golf cart in the wet grass as he too was getting ready for the morning steam bath we call football practice.  As the players and coaches started making their way down to the portable for our 8am meeting, my heart started racing...then I knew I had made the right choice by coming back.  I was in my element.  Season 34 was about to begin.  

The practice was uneventful as usual.  The kids were still pretty stiff from the FCA camp, so I made sure to get a good warm-up with my boys.  Coach J's practices are well scripted, so we know exactly what time we start, and what time we finish each day.  We know exactly what we are working on each day, and exactly what will be covered.  I think this is one of the reasons why Coach J's teams are so successful.  His attention to detail is amazing.   Remember the player who went to the hospital after getting hit at the FCA Camp last Thursday?  Well, he was back at practice today and told me he has a bruised lung.  He will sit out for a few days before being cleared to practice.  Pretty impressive after spending the night in intensive care.  I remember his daddy being pretty tough too.  

New Belt Arrived:  Awaiting Decoration 

Last Years Belt  (Jarvis Jones)  

Last year I started the "Lineman Of The Week" awarded to the lineman who grades out the best from the previous game (Even though I no longer help the offensive line, I wanted to continue the award for the most unappreciated players on any football team)  Each game is graded by the offensive line coaches (play by play) and whomever grades the best gets to keep this authentic championship belt for the entire week. It is their belt for the week..they can take it anywhere they wish.  The award is open only to offensive linemen only, and and any grade level is eligible.  Of course I play it up by calling them "Champ" the whole week. My wife Marty will design the new belt using ideas from our senior players.  

More Tomorrow.  

GZ