A Perfect Example Of Why Coaches Get To Make The Decisions
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Roger Grossman, Lake City Radio-
Friday night explains a lot about that last one.
Warsaw was down 24-7 late in the first half against East Noble in a high school football game. Field position and a couple of turnovers put the defense in a bad spot, and the team in a significant hole.
Having lost to Columbia City 33-21 the week before, you can understand why even the most faithful Tiger fan was more than a little concerned about where the second half, and the season, was heading.
The Tigers turned it around and, with 1:45 left in the game, scored a touchdown on a Jake Mangus quarterback draw play to get Warsaw within a point at 24-23.
The next step is to kick the extra point and, assuming the defense can continue their second-half success, head to overtime. You're at home, you’re healthy, you have all the momentum ... you play for the tie, right Coach Phil Jensen?
Coach...right?
Coach?
Uh, no.
Jensen decided to send the offense back out onto the field to go for two and try to take the lead right there. He figured his team had the momentum and the East Noble defense was tired and on the run, so why not go for two?
Two years ago in the "W" game in Syracuse, in almost the exact same scenario, he did the exact same thing. But that night the play failed and Warsaw went home empty handed.
THAT is why coaches coach and broadcasters talk about coaches.
Coaches every day in every town at every level make decisions that ultimately change the course of their teams. Who to pitch in the big game? Go for two or play for the tie? Zone defense or man-to-man?
One coach to decide it, and a community to dissect it.
And it’s not just varsity coaches. Hardly.
Attend a pee wee soccer game in your town and sit with the parents – many of whom never played the game – as they try to sort out why their future Division I scholarship holder is banished to being an outside defender. Or spend some time at your little league park where parents routinely shake their heads because their little darling is batting sixth.
Or the best one ever is when a basketball team plays in a state finals game and loses and the third-string center's dad talks to the coach the next week about why his daughter didn't get to play. It happened.
Coaching is hard work, and we too-often forget that the coach of a team wants to win and succeed as much (or in some cases more) than the players he or she coaches.
For youth coaches, their goal should be to teach kids the game and show them how fun it is when you play it correctly. The higher up the food chain you go the greater the pressure – we get that.
But Friday's Tiger win reminded me of a sign that I see at fields and gyms all over:
Let the players play,
Let the coaches coach,
Let the officials officiate,
Let the fans cheer ENTHUSIASTICALLY...
And might I add, let the broadcaster be grateful he's not a coach.[[In-content Ad]]
Friday night explains a lot about that last one.
Warsaw was down 24-7 late in the first half against East Noble in a high school football game. Field position and a couple of turnovers put the defense in a bad spot, and the team in a significant hole.
Having lost to Columbia City 33-21 the week before, you can understand why even the most faithful Tiger fan was more than a little concerned about where the second half, and the season, was heading.
The Tigers turned it around and, with 1:45 left in the game, scored a touchdown on a Jake Mangus quarterback draw play to get Warsaw within a point at 24-23.
The next step is to kick the extra point and, assuming the defense can continue their second-half success, head to overtime. You're at home, you’re healthy, you have all the momentum ... you play for the tie, right Coach Phil Jensen?
Coach...right?
Coach?
Uh, no.
Jensen decided to send the offense back out onto the field to go for two and try to take the lead right there. He figured his team had the momentum and the East Noble defense was tired and on the run, so why not go for two?
Two years ago in the "W" game in Syracuse, in almost the exact same scenario, he did the exact same thing. But that night the play failed and Warsaw went home empty handed.
THAT is why coaches coach and broadcasters talk about coaches.
Coaches every day in every town at every level make decisions that ultimately change the course of their teams. Who to pitch in the big game? Go for two or play for the tie? Zone defense or man-to-man?
One coach to decide it, and a community to dissect it.
And it’s not just varsity coaches. Hardly.
Attend a pee wee soccer game in your town and sit with the parents – many of whom never played the game – as they try to sort out why their future Division I scholarship holder is banished to being an outside defender. Or spend some time at your little league park where parents routinely shake their heads because their little darling is batting sixth.
Or the best one ever is when a basketball team plays in a state finals game and loses and the third-string center's dad talks to the coach the next week about why his daughter didn't get to play. It happened.
Coaching is hard work, and we too-often forget that the coach of a team wants to win and succeed as much (or in some cases more) than the players he or she coaches.
For youth coaches, their goal should be to teach kids the game and show them how fun it is when you play it correctly. The higher up the food chain you go the greater the pressure – we get that.
But Friday's Tiger win reminded me of a sign that I see at fields and gyms all over:
Let the players play,
Let the coaches coach,
Let the officials officiate,
Let the fans cheer ENTHUSIASTICALLY...
And might I add, let the broadcaster be grateful he's not a coach.[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092