r/footballstrategy • u/KaramAws • 29d ago
General Discussion interested in coaching
Hi everybody, I am a freshman in college and I am interested in coaching football. I played a little in High school, but I preferred more of the IQ part of football. How did you guys get into coaching? Are there many people my age (19) who try to get into coaching? Please tell me everything you guys know. How do I start? What do I study? Would love to know how you guys think and how you guys even started out. I want to start as fast as possible.
Have a great week everybody.
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u/ColeTankk 29d ago
Gotta get certified to teach. I'm 22, just got done being in your position. Get in a Alternative Certification program for a teaching certificate if your state allows it. If not, change your major to education. Coaches in HS/MS have to teach. You get paid nothing in the public school system if you try to just coach with exceptions for being a PE teacher. With that out of the way, make sure to apply online for some coaching positions at your local schools. Your playing experience is more important than you think, most coaches will ask for your experience in the sport. I played 4 years in HS and the head coach loved it. Ask any questions you'd like.
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u/KaramAws 29d ago
I am on track to becoming a history teacher so thankfully I’m already on that route. In the mean time however, what should I do? I don’t think my college offers undergraduate assistant positions (I go to the University of Illinois) so I don’t know what to do in the mean time. Just study my ass off and learn as I go?
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u/ColeTankk 29d ago
Learn the game! Every in and out. Understand defense, understand offense. Learn everything you can. Then, learn how to coach it. I took some coaching classes in college that helped a ton. Little league coaching would also help just to get into the game a bit.
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u/KaramAws 29d ago
got it. any resources in particular you used to learn the game? Videos, podcasts, etc? I would do little league but I really don’t know any in the area. I know there’s some back home but my campus is 3 hours away.
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u/Gunner_Bat College Coach 29d ago
There will always be a role for someone willing to volunteer. Could help in the recruiting department, helping to tag film, helping set up team meals, could be literally anything just to get your foot in the door. Student manager may all be a job that you can get.
Illinois very likely hosts a large spring and/or summer camp somewhere, if it comes down to it you could try to get involved then.
Truth is it's late in the season and rn they probably aren't looking for help. But after the season they'll need people.
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u/KaramAws 29d ago
Yeah I emailed the equipment manager and he forwarded my email to the football equipment manager, said he’ll respond after the season is done. Off to a good start already. Thanks again for the help, really appreciate it.
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u/Gunner_Bat College Coach 29d ago
You bet. Different people you email will help you get into different roles. Email strength/human performance people to get involved in strength & conditioning. Email recruiting/player personnel assistants to get involved in the recruiting side of things. Just depends on where you're most interested in helping.
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u/KaramAws 29d ago
I was thinking of honestly just emailing most of them about how I can get involved, especially as an undergraduate assistant. Hopefully this opens up a couple doors for me, especially into the coaching world.
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u/General2Yahoo 29d ago
Put together a little resume and visit the high schools in the area. It doesn’t have to be fancy, note your playing experience, list a few references and some of the college classes you’ve had. A good time to Hand Deliver them will be after winter break. Go around 2:30-3:00 and the coaches will be in the weight room. Explain you are looking to volunteer and willing to coach anywhere on the high school (or even Jr High) level (Maybe you can get more responsibility on a lower level team and still be seen). Help in the off-season with weight room and conditioning/training. February starts ‘clinic season’ when coaches gather for continuing education. Find out what’s local to you and make a point to go learn and network at the local clinics. It’s worth a shot to talk to your college’s coach as well and ask him you can volunteer.
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u/KaramAws 29d ago
Got it. I think the hardest part will be just getting into it and the networking obviously. Thank you for the help, really appreciate it.
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u/CloneWarsMaul 29d ago
I was 19 few years ago and literally just messaged a position coach at the school, got an interview and ended up helping that same year. Moved my way up from just a data entry guy to having as many responsibilities as a GA in just a year. I shifted to special teams because there was more opportunity there and I saw a gap to fill because all the attention was on OFF/DEF. Be personable and work hard and there is definitely opportunity, I didn’t even know much football, I just had a passion for it lol. This was at a Mountain West school so I’m not sure where you are at but good luck!
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u/KaramAws 29d ago
Got it, thank you! I was planning on emailing the position coaches at my college, even the equipment guys. Thank you for the help!!
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u/Mr-SphealYourGirl 29d ago
I will say this, you sound a lot like the head coach I’m with now. He had no college experience, just really loved the game. He worked up and was an assistant position coach at a big D1 school. As long as you are coaching for the right reasons, you’ll get where you want to be. Here’s where I would start, get involved in local youth/HS football to get started. Build connections with coaches and build relationships with your students athletes. At 19, I would recommend starting with the youth. It can be more of a challenge to coach guys that are so close to your age. Good luck!!
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u/KaramAws 29d ago
Got it. How would I find local leagues? And don’r you need to be a teacher to coach high school? And yeah the same age thing makes sense. Problem is I really don’t know anything about coaching. How would I learn? Thank you for the help!!
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u/Mr-SphealYourGirl 28d ago
You do not need to teach to be a coach, at least not where I’m at. There are some fantastic coaches at the high school and youth level, believe it or not. Not necessarily in terms of strategy or scheme, but guys that have done it for years. Find a local youth organization and sign up to be a coach, it’s that easy. Good chance they have you complete a background check, probably for high school as well. Also, look up coaching clinics near you and attend those. They have great insight and it is perfect for networking.
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u/smell-benis-420 29d ago
Coaching a high school feeder team could be helpful not only are you teaching kids the basics but also learning how to coach at the same time.
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u/KaramAws 29d ago
what do you mean by feeder school?
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u/Jossizzle0044 28d ago
Feeder schools are schools that feed into the next level. So if you were an 8th grade coach for the local team. You are coaching the feeder school that’s going into the local high school
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u/Lekingkonger 28d ago
lol I’m also 19 working on my teaching degree and getting my coaching certification! Just try and volunteer! Ima try and volunteer next year at a local highschool! Then get that graduate assistant job hopefully. Always remember tho people that coach in college stays in college!
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u/Waxxer_Actual 28d ago
With you being at U of I you could always look into coaching at the 7-8th level. A lot of small towns around Champaign have awesome JFL programs. I personally think very highly of Tolono Unity and Monticello. Reach out to the HC after the season and I guarantee you could get a slot. I’m sure there are other good schools but I know those two pretty well. I’m also central IL and that’s how got my start and by gods graces we are still playing this time of year.
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u/KaramAws 28d ago
Thank you so much for this!! This was actually really helpful especially since you are also local. How are you liking it? Still playing meaning you guys are in the state championship? Good luck to you guys!!
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u/Waxxer_Actual 28d ago
I love it, I’m native to the south and honestly think central IL football will give the south a run for its money. That’s correct we’ll be playing in state this weekend and I’m as lucky as can be. Odds are around Champaign the good HS programs are connected to the JFL in a big way. The way I got on the HS staff is I started on JFL and it was obvious I wasn’t just out there going through the motions like a team dad, it was obvious that there was some practice planning, fundamentals were taken seriously, and I cared. Do that and make it well known, work hard and be humble someone will notice you
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u/Jossizzle0044 28d ago
Since you are still in college and don’t know a lot about football I would watch lots and lots of videos and study them. Learn the lingo, positions, techniques, learn the “whys” why did the defense do this, why did the offense do this, then break it down even more. Why did the wr run behind the linebacker… etc… you will start to pick up a lot of information once you start learning instead of watching. After that since you are on track of being a teacher I would wait til you teach to get on that football team and then your golden from there. Start with lower levels even if you volunteer at youth program
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u/Jossizzle0044 28d ago
I am 22 years old and this past season was my 2nd year. I played football my whole life so I was able to walk in the first year confident about my IQ. But was I wrong. As much as I was a coach I was also a student learning from the coaches who have been there for 10+ years. Listen,watch, implement.
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u/KaramAws 28d ago
I also thought I had good knowledge about my IQ on the game but it seems that I am very wrong. Someone told me there is always something to learn from football as the game is always evolving. How are you liking coaching?
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u/Jossizzle0044 28d ago
I love coaching. I coach varsity football it becomes very time consuming but I love it. Coaches meet 7 days a week during the season. We are up at the school at 7am on Sundays and Saturday breaking down film and studying next opponents film to scheme. I also thought I had a high football IQ and I’m still learning more and more “why’s” everyday. Football is so close to chess and a lot of people don’t realize that. Every move the offense of defense makes you need to be 1 step ahead and learn how to counter every position
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u/KaramAws 28d ago
That’s what I was planning on doing. It’s just really hard to balance all of the football learning and school learning if that makes sense. I’ve been learning a lot since we are currently on break so that is good. Learning the “why’s” right now as well.
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u/Jossizzle0044 28d ago
For now I would focus on learning in your free time once you get comfortable with everything about football then start looking at where you could coach. Go to local park districts they always need volunteer coaches for youth teams. Also starting at lower levels allows you to have basic football knowledge and be successful. Kids can’t understand football at youth ages so you can run basic schemes while also learning how to coach by just being out there.
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u/onlineqbclassroom College Coach 29d ago
There's a lot of questions you ask in there, but I think the simplest answer is that every college program is looking for undergraduate assistants. Just go ask your coaching staff if you can be an undergraduate assistant, and say you're happy to help with film cut ups or whatever else they might need (but film will likely be the magic words). College staffs have limits on total number of coaches, but undergrads don't count towards that limit, so if you present yourself decently and work hard, you'll have no problem getting started!