1. NIKE FOOTBALL COACHES CLINIC
2018
NIKE FOOTBALL COACHES CLINIC
“Strive for perfection. Reach for excellence.” – Vince Lombardi 1

2. Being A Teacher
No aspect of coaching is more important than teaching. Your primary responsibility is to instill in your players the objectives, strategies, and techniques demanded by the Head Coach. Every player, from the starter to the 4th string freshman, must get the information and hands-on instruction that he needs to develop and refine the skills that are required of his position.

3. Being A Teacher Steps taken to ensure an appropriate teaching process:
Be clear – this ensures that your explanations will be clearly understood.
Demonstrate enthusiasm and passion for the material you are presenting
Emphasize the importance of note-taking
Employ different styles in your presentation. Keep them locked in with stories, player participation, and different means of presenting
Limit non-film meetings to 20 minutes and film watching meetings to 40 minutes: Players lose interest after that. Change it up with a walk through, interaction, and other non-traditional meeting practices

4. Keys to Being a successful Assistant Coach
Work the job you have; focus on making where you are great.
You must believe we can win here, now, regardless of circumstances.
Don’t worry or complain about what other staffs have.
Never stop learning; always look for new ways to coach or teach.
Be open to criticism; make decisions based on your instincts.
Coach the players hard, but let them laugh, including sometimes at you.
Coach in a positive, confident manner.

5. Keys to Being a successful Assistant Coach
Whatever you say to a player, be prepared to back it up.
Always be prepared – it eliminates 2nd guessing.
Don’t stress; enjoy whatever challenge you face.
We will include family in our program; make sure you build time with them into your schedule.
Be rested and in good health; take time to workout every day.
Don’t allow winning or losing to define you.

6. DEFENSE MERCER “THE BALL IS THE ISSUE” “RUN TO THE BALL”
DEFENSIVE IDENTITY
WELL COACHED-ENTHUSIASTIC-DOESN’T BEAT ITSELF
TOUGH, HARD, AND PHYSICAL
FUNDAMENTALLY AND TECHNICALLY SOUND
RENLENTLESS AND NEVER QUITS
MERCER
DEFENSE
WINNING FORMULA
RUN DEFENSE
TAKEAWAYS
THIRD DOWN DEFENSE “PRIMETIME”
RED ZONE DEFENSE
WIN THE 4TH QUARTER-MENTALLY/PHYSICALLY
“THE BALL IS THE ISSUE”
“RUN TO THE BALL”
PRACTICE IS EVERYTHING
HOW WE PRACTICE IS HOW WE PLAY
TACKLING AND PURSUIT CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE
GET 2% BETTER EVERYDAY
CONDITIONING IS CRUICIAL
FILM STUDY-GAIN EVERY ADVANTAGE
PLAYER RESPONSIBILITY
BE COACHABLE-UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT COACHING
COMMUNICATE CLEARLY AND HONESTY
RESPECT THE UNIT-SACRIFICE AND RESPECT MUST BE DISPLAYED
BE A PRO- HANDLE YOUR OWN BUSINESS
“IT’S ALL ABOUT US”

10. MERCER BEAR DEFENSE
WE ARE 3/4 BASED DEFENSE. WE DO PLAY A FOUR MAN FRONT WITH THIS PERSONAL
GIVES FLEXIBILITY TO ADJUST TO ALL FORMATIONS
HAVE THE ABLITY TO CHANGE UP THE 4TH RUSHER
WE PLAY AT LEAST 2-3 TRIPLE OPTION TEAMS. OUR TOOL BOX IS 3-4 BASED
HAVE THE ABILITY TO DROP 8 IN COVERAGE
HAVE HE ABILITY TO HAVE A GOOD PRESSURE PACKAGE. MAN OR FZ

11. MERCER BEAR DEFENSE PERSONNAL -WHAT TYPE AND HOW WE GET ALIGNED
TALK ABOUT OUR 1 GAP RESPONSIBILTY PACKAGE [FIELD/BOUNDARY]
BASE COVERAGES WITH 3X1 ADJUSTMENTS
2 BASE PRESSURE CALLS

12. FIELD DEFENSE
SET THE FRONT :HASH TO FIELD/MOF TO PASS STRENGTH-ACTIVE BANDIT TO RUSH
FRONT CALL /SECONDARY CALL
EVEN COVERAGE CALLS [COV 4=PALMS OR MAN QUARTERS, 6=1/4-1/4-1/2, 9 = 3 DEEP FS-SPIN WEAK
WE HAVE 3X1 TAGS .EXAMPLE FIELD 4 STAR, FIELD 6 SWAG,
2X2/3X1 –ADJUSTMENT CALLS FOR INSIDE LBS

13. FIELD CE N BE S M W B FIELD BOUNDARY CE N BE B S FC M W BC SS FS POST
BOUNDARY
“LEFT” Q S Z X Y CE N BE B S FC M W BC SS FS
COACHING POINTS:
- MAKE RIGHT/LEFT CALL TO THE FIELD; BALL IN MOF= MAKE CALL TO PASSING STRENGTH
POS
ALIGN
KEY
RUN RESPONSIBILITY
PASS RESPONSIBILITY
COMMENTS CE 4
BALL; POWER STEP TO OUTSIDE SHOULDER OF OT
TO: C GAP
AWAY: SQUEEZE AND TRAIL
CONTAIN PASS RUSH (BLADE) N
BALL; POWER STEP TO O/S SHOULDER OF CENTER
TO: CALL SIDE A GAP
AWAY: CALL SIDE A GAP
A GAP RUSH (DAGGER) BE
BALL; POWER STEP TO INSIDE SHOULDER OF OT
TO: B GAP
AWAY: SQUEEZE B GAP
B GAP RUSH (DAGGER) S 9
TE; NO TE= KEY TRIANGLE (OT/NB/WR)
TO: D GAP FORCE
AWAY: FOLD
BASED ON COVERAGE
VS DETACHED # = APEX M
ALIGN TO FIELD; BASED ON COV
KEY BACK; UNDER KEY THE OG
AWAY: STACK AND SHUFFLE
#3 DISPLACED –TIE TO CE HE BECOMES A B GAP RUN FIT W
ALIGN TO BDRY; BASED ON COV
TO: A GAP
#2 DISPLACED =WOP CALL TO BANDIT- SWITCH PASS RESP. B
TIGHT 9 TE
CP: (KEY TRIANGLE)
TO: D GAP
CONTAIN PASS RUSH
SKIN TECH =C GAP
6 TECH =KNOCK BACK C GAP

14. BOUNDARY DEFENSE
SET THE FRONT TO THE BOUNDARY / MOF-AWAY PASS STRENGTH ACTIVE SAM TO RUSH
THREE DEEP COVERAGE-BOUNDARY 3 SQUIRM

16. FIELD STONES SAME CALL RULES AS FIELD FRONT
CHANGE UP BOTH DE ARE B GAP DEFENDERS. NOSE BACKSIDE A GAP. MIKE/WILL C-A GAP DEFEENDERS
PLAY OUR EVEN COVERAGES

17. BASE FIREZONE CALLS
STING SPECIAL- COMES FROM THE FIELD, SAM AND SS PRESSURE
4 UNDER 2 DEEP COVERAGE
COWBOY SPECIAL-COMES FROM BOUNDARY ,BANDIT AND CORNER PRESURE
CAN BE RUN WITH 2 DEEP/4 UNDER OR 3 DEEP /3 UNDER

18. MIKE KOLAKOWSKI EMAIL-kolakowski_ma@mercer.edu Twitter-@coachk_mercer
Come visit any time
Spring Practice Dates- Feb 21-March 28th- practice on Mon,Wed,Fri,Sat .we practice in the morning. SPRING BREAK – Mar 5-Mar-10. No practice