For more than 70 youth football coaches, the opportunity to learn and gain an edge was enough reason to bring them inside on the first day of summer.
The USA Football Coaching School presented by the Minnesota Vikings (photo gallery) gave coaches the opportunity to learn about coaching theory, provided chalk talk sessions and offered hitting drills on the field.
"I enjoy coming because I try to learn as much as I can," said Don Banham, a coach at Lakeville Century Junior High School. "I try to stay fresh with new things and stay current with other coaches. Sometimes the little things can make a big difference."
The coaches were welcomed by Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, who is preparing for his third season, after starting all 16 games for Minnesota in 2007.
"I didn't have the opportunity that you guys are giving these kids," said Greenway, who didn't start playing football until he was a seventh-grader in his native South Dakota, and didn't play 11-on-11 football until he got to the University of Iowa. Many of the coaches at the clinic start coaching kids as young as seven-years old.
"You have to understand the type of role you're playing. You can affect these kids in a more positive way than you can imagine," Greenway said told the coaches. "You are more than just coaches. You can be a life mentor, too."
Greenway said the lessons the kids learn from the coaches could apply later in life - "whether they go to the NFL or become an accountant."
"You have to preach to the kids that a work ethic - in football, in life - drives everything," Greenway said.
Chuck Parsons, the head coach at the North Dakota School of Science, said that developing a coaching philosophy is crucial to becoming a good coach.
Parsons said he struck out with his first interview to be a graduate assistant coach after playing college football because he didn't know what his coaching philosophy was.
"If you don't have a coaching philosophy, it will be harder for you to communicate what you want from your players, whether you want them to be good players or good citizens," Parsons said.
Parsons stressed to the coaches in attendance the teaching of fundamentals as part of their philosophy, which several coaches appreciated.
"We're a learning league, and we try to teach them," said J.R. Ewings of the Sun Prairie Youth Football in Wisconsin. "We try to take the emphasis out of wins and losses. If they aren't having fun, we need to change something."
Jim Walsh, a youth and semi-professional coach in St. Paul, Minn., said that running an efficient and organized practice starts with developing drills.
"Keep the segments short," Walsh said. "No more than 15 minutes each."
Following Walsh's talk, the coaches split up for chalk talk sessions: running the Wing-T offense, three-step passing, 3-4 defense and 4-4 defense.
Jon Benson, a coach from St. Cloud Apollo High School, was leading the discussion on the wing-t, a run-oriented offense that involves misdirection and the fullback getting tackled on every play - whether he gets the ball or not.
Some of the coaches wondered how to deal with a fullback who might not be so happy getting drilled by a defensive line on every play as he fakes as though he's carrying the ball.
"If he doesn't get the ball, praise him," Benson said. "We tell him, ‘We scored because you got tackled.'"
Doug Hodgen, a coach with the Eastview Athletic Association, said he was looking to install a few plays from the Wing-T in his playbook for the fifth- and sixth-graders he coaches. Hodgen was attending his first USA Football coaches event.
"There are a lot of resources for me, from the handbook to the seminars," he said. "It's just a good idea to come here and talk to other coaches."
Perry DeStefano and Albert Harris, of St. Paul, were coming to the Wing-T session after learning more about the 4-4 defense they are planning on switching to.
"It's very good and informative for coaches," Harris said. "Many of these guys are ex-players, but it's good to re-learn. The terminology is different for me, so I have to keep up with it."
When it comes to keeping up with coaching, there's no better place to be than a USA Football coaching school.
Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.
