With nearly 50 coaching schools planned for 2009, USA Football's dedication to its members is more evident than ever.
Each school is conducted by top local high school and youth coaches to educate participants on techniques necessary to teach the fundamentals of every position, as well as practice planning and offensive, defensive and special teams schemes.
Each of the schools feature a keynote speaker, many of whom are a who's who of the world of football.
"I'm looking forward to speaking of my experiences," said Fred Biletnikoff, a Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver for the Raiders and speaker at the April 18 school in Granite Bay, Calif. "How it was when I was a kid for coaches, how things evolved and the chance I had to coach in high school."
The Granite Bay coaching school is one of five to be held on April 18. In addition to Biletnikoff, the other speakers include Ravens QB coach Hue Anderson (who helped groom rookie Joe Flacco into an NFL starter) in Baltimore, Colts special teams coordinator Ray Rychleski in Indianapolis, USA Junior National team offensive coordinator Gary Swenson in Des Moines and Falcons tight ends coach Chris Scelfo in Atlanta.
"I coached at the University of Georgia and obviously have relationships with a lot of these coaches and went on and became the head coach at Tulane University, which is an institution that is very high on academics and character," said Scelfo, who is Tulane's all-time leader in games coached and second all-time in wins. "These are the kinds of things that are going to be brought up in the talk with the coaches, how important that is for a college coach to go in and see that a young man has character and dignity."
The one-day coaching schools begin with a morning coaching theory session, going over topics such as practice planning and conditioning using positive coaching techniques.
After a ten minute break, coaches begin giving rotating "chalk talk" sessions, which will go over topics such as offensive and defensive line play, formations and various defensive schemes.
Coaches in attendance will be provided lunch between listening to educational and inspirational speeches from the USA Football regional manager leading the school and the keynote speaker.
"One word: preparation," said Biletnikoff, the MVP of Super Bowl XI and the Raiders' all-time receiving yards and touchdown leader, when asked what he felt was the most important piece of advice to be offered to today's coaches. "Showing the kids that you're prepared, and that you have a program set up for them, from when you first meet with them, will allow them to feel more comfortable with what they're doing."
Each school will close with on-field sessions of position fundamentals and practice drills, with participants rotating to a different position every 20 minutes.
"I have a son that just came out of the youth program in the state of Georgia," said Scelfo, a three-year letterman at center and team captain during his playing days at Northeast Louisiana. "The fundamentals and techniques at that age are very important to have a strong foundation to carry them through high school."
