Coaching an All-Star Football Team
Dec 16th, 2008 by Coach DeLorm
Here is another great contribution by Coach Dan Levin. He is a head football coach over in Australia. Please let him know how you like the article. We are always looking for Football coaches or players to contribute their knowledge of the game. Drop me a line at the contact form if you are looking to contribute.
In Australia, there are 3 levels of American football at all age groups.
- Local Competition
- National Competition
- International Competition
It’s very different from the US football structure, where people toss around “All-State” or “All-American” quite frequently, but how often do those players actually prove their worth the designation?
In Australia, we have a National Football Competition every 2 years to see which state plays the best American football or gridiron. Debates rage year after year in the US as to which state plays better football (Texas, Florida, California, etc), but they don’t actually have a national tournament proving it. We do!
Individual football players are nominated by their respective coaches to the state football team. From there, they have to prove their worth to be selected to the final squad that will represent the State at the Nationals tournament. It’s a major honor for the players. Those who perform exceptionally at Nationals will be selected to represent their country in the IFAF Championship Tournament. In previous years, Australia has played New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Germany, and Sweden. 2009 will mark the first Junior World Championships (under 18’s), to be held in Canton, Ohio.
I’ve served as a coach for two of the Victorian Junior State football teams, and it’s a new challenge all of its own. I suspect its like coaching a college team, with all the players coming from different teams and football coaching styles, but it’s not even that simple. Training for state takes place during the season for many leagues, so players are hearing two different sets of coaching each time. As a football coach, you have to
balance teaching them your technique while being fair to the technique their football coach wants them to use at their club. Terminology can get confusing, and don’t even get me started on teaching them playbooks!
Having done this a few times, I would strongly suggest that other coaches try and get involved in an all-star or other similar types of American football teams. It’s a challenge as a coach but one that’s very doable and fun to be a part of. It’s always nice to meet other football players and coaches, even your rivals. If you do end up coaching one of these squads, the best advice I have for you is this:
- KEEP IT SIMPLE - You’re only going to have a few practice sessions with them. Anything more than the absolute basics is just going to get lost in the shuffle.
- KEEP IT FUN - Remember that unless they’re a graduating player, you’re not their full-time coach. These players have already had a lot of football and won’t respond well to another drill sergeant on this type of team. That’s not to say you shouldn’t discipline them when necessary, but if you grind them into the ground, a lot of them will quit on you.
- KEEP AN OPEN MIND - You won’t know most of your players or fellow football coaches. Be willing to listen to their suggestions regarding technique, scheme, routines, etc. Just because it’s different to what you do, doesn’t mean its wrong. You don’t have to adopt the suggestions, but football players always respond better to American football coaches who are willing to listen to their players than those who always take the “I know best” approach.
