How to Build A High School Program
Things We need to improve and Questions:
1. Academics – we need to have some type of Academic agreement with the players. Have them
buy into the understanding that it starts in the classroom
a. Reputation of good people in the classroom and around the school. (Help People)
2. Weight Room – Have kids buy into the weight room – Need to get way stronger to compete at
any level
3. How is our Morale as players? Is it low?
4. Unity Council Group? 2 Kids per class?
5. What is our mission statement of Fargo South?
6. Philosophy of FS Offense/Defense/SP and Program?
7. What are our Standards/Values of FSHS?
8. 8th Grade Parents meetings 1-on-1? – Send letter/email to see who would be interested
9. 9th grade parent meetings to keep as many as those kids out?
Other Things:
1. Family Section at Games – Have Bleachers setup in Endzone away from Parents/Fans
a. Could include Alumni Section. Need to get more buy in from them.
2.
Coach Denny Molzen – Castro Valley HS
Immediate Goals:
Football
1. Get in weight room
2. Equipment upgrades
3. Scheme last
Off Field
1. Develeop Leadership/Accountability
2. Boost morale
3. Address grades/campus “issues”
Administrative
1. Hire staff
2. Schedule – Spring/Summer
3. Parent meeting
4. Budget/fundraising
Long term Goals
1. Make the WT Room foundation of our program
2. Get best equipment for players
3. Compete for league Titles
4. Develop leaders & young men of character
5. Positively impact our campus/community
6. Make being a member of the football team the “thing”
7. All Teams maintain a Team GPA of 3.0
Have Goals – 3 years out/5 years out/10 years out/15 years out, etc.
* Wt Room – Black shirt Criteria – Earn the right to wear –
Offseason comp pts
Post Attendence
Attire – CV Colors only
Off Field
Select 8 Squads & Squad Leaders
SL – 2.75 GPA, no discipline issues, in prog previous yr ** should be our criteria for captains**
Change Logo ** will not do with FS**
Admin
Most of $ & Fundraising to safety equipment
Upgrades helmets/shoulder pads, practice bags
Grants – USA, CVSF, Boosters
Offseason Competition points
Academics:
4.0 or higher = 30 Points
3.5 to 3.99 = 20 points
3.0 to 3.49 = 10 points
2.5 to 2.99 = 5 points
2.0 to 2.49 = 3 points
Below 2.0 = -5 points
Cut/detention/suspension/referral = -5 points
Tardy (includes team function) = -1 point
Weight room offseason:
Improved Max lift by 20lbs or more = 15 points
Improved Max lift by 11-19 lbs = 10 points
Improved Max lift by 6-10 lbs = 8 points
Improved Max lift by 1-5 lbs = 5 points
Did not record Max Lift = -5 points
Attended Session = 1 point
Attended Offseason meeting = 1 point
Fundraising:
Doubled Fundraising Expectations = 10 points
Worked a concession Date = 10 points
Meet Fundraising expectations = 5 points
Did not meet funraiser expectations = -5 points
Community outreach:
Participated in community activity = 5 Points
Signed off community Service (4+hrs) = 5 points
Athletics Support
Supported Designated Sporting event = 5 points
Portrayed poor Sportsmanship = -2 points
Spring Sports Participation
Started and completed a winter and/or Spring Sport = 30 points
** periodic reward Top players
Goodie Box – Random things kids would want
Equipment/Lockers first in August
Jersey #’s
** Reward Top Squad
Goodie Box/food/shirt
** Instilled Competition, accountability, dedication
** effort Valued
** Squad Leaders Communicate w/ Squads.
Squad Jobs during the season
Other Immediate Actions
Grades/Campus
o Study Hall requirement for All
o Reward GPA Kids
o Emails to Staff/Follow up on
o Show kids you care – Go to other sporting events
Scheme Change
o Traditional wing – Couldn’t do same went to gun wing T
o Hudl Fixed/Discussed BEFORE present to players
Hire Staff
o Only retained two staff members I personally knew
o OC/DC close friend – worked with previously
Year 1 Actions
Football
o Game Socks – No Excuse – Look the same
o AM Lifts after Season
Off Field
o Alumni Flag Football Game – In Summer
o Bring Alumni in to be around program
o Summer BBQ at my house
o Thanksgiving – Have Returning players only over
o Spring – Have Seniors leaving program over for BBQ
o Raider Game/ USA Grant
o Teacher Appreciation Game & Honorary Captain
Top 3 Staff Members (SRO,Teacher, Castodian, etc.)
Give them your away jersey to wear to the game
T-shirt if they would rather have t-shirt
Have the players write a Thank You Card/Note to Teacher
o Grade Check = Game “Ticket”/ Off Season Comp Pts
o Social Media Presence
Top 10 Plays from Offense/Defense/SP Teams
o Hammer/Paddle
Be the Hammer
Have a Small Hoop to celebrate Turn-overs and TD’s
Have a Team Sign to tap on the way out.
o Elementary Track Meet
Run the track meet
Go out to Youth Football nights ** South Teams**
o Bowling Night
Chalk-talk nights
Zoom chats
Who’s your hero and why?
Mistakes/Misses/Lessons
Interview w/ plan for entire 1st year w/ Details
o Be willing & able to adjust, know what you are getting into
Narrow focus – Can’t do it all, no quick fixes
Summer – Went PM’s
o Built in excuse for bad grades
o Didn’t work w/Freshmen
Sr – SO 6:30 to 9
Fr – 9 – 11am
No afternoon times
Didn’t emphasize specials enough
o Now SPT points/ Top 5 Personalized hoodies @ Banquet
Better to hire less guys than a wrong guy
o Now – 1. Tell me your Story #2 Why do you want to coach at CVHS
Over Emphasis Standards/Values
o Do this from the start
o 2.75 GPA for Squad Leader too low
Kids pick 6 and staff pick 2
Build Relationships w/ Players
o Should’ve met 1-1
o Meet Sr’s for sure!!!!
Leap of Faith – Wasn’t on campus Year 1
o Delegate jobs to assistants
Changes Since Year 1
Weight Room
Upgrades
o JC, DO, Boosters, PE
All Green top/Black Shorts
o Except Black Shirt Winners
Am Workouts Jan – August
6th Period Class
o Next Year 30 Kids but not all yet
Off Field
1 on 1 Meetings w/ All Returners
SR class/ SL Meetings
Lunch Meetings
o Core Values etc.
o What it means to be a Gentleman
Freshmen Parent Home Visits (Freshmen that completed the Season)
o Completed the Season – Did during Winter Break
o Coaching gear on, nothing more
o Chance for parents to ask questions.
o Copy of Off Season competition
o Helps with Retention
Year that he didn’t do it, not as many came back
Tahoe camp
o Team camp – Get away from the “normal”
No pads – Shorts/T-shirts
Camp-out – Talking between coaches/Players
Coach Picket – does something else
Got Green jerseys & New Whites for 2020
Speed Flex/ Power Pads for Most players
o Practice Jersey, Pants, Guardian Caps
Guardian caps – Linemen, RB’s, TE’s, LB’s
o Practice Equipment, Bags, Med Balls
Signage/edits
o In the team room/ locker room
Elementary school Recognition @ half
o 5 Kids recognized at Half (names and why they are recognized)
Have them walk on the field at Half-time and helps build relationships
College Spring Visits
o 2 D1 Kids, 2 NAIA, Several JC
Competitions w/ other Programs within the School
o Builds community and relationships with other programs
Adopt a Family – Holidays
Projects on Campus
o Paint wall in stadium
o Special Olympics – Send off for Athletes if leaving from School.
What’s Next
Playoffs!!!!!
o We’ve improved win percentage each year
Assts. More involved in culture/lessons
o Family groups – each coach 5-10 players at random
o Each week a coach does something w/ theme of the week
Next level on campus next winter
o ????
Players into Elementary schools w/ 2nd & 7 Foundation
o Go and read to kids in schools and the kids get to keep the books
o Books are sent to the program
Spring Practice at MS???? - *** Practice at MS in the Fall?***
Adopt a Player/Teacher Program
o T-shirt/ Gatorade (Season long)
Daily Music = Core Value = IE Tuesday Toughness
More Signage/visuals
Denny Molzen
510-502-4739
[email protected]
@coachmolzen
