June workouts....our approach for 2017

I have mixed feelings about June workouts for a variety of reasons. But, I do believe our plan for 2017 is a good one.

Our assistant coaches will set up the one hour workouts for the month of June. Those will be 3 days a week and the kids wanted to go at 7 am. To make it more fun, competitive, and to provide extra incentive, our council members became "team captains" and drafted squads for the month of June.  We met yesterday immediately after school to draft teams. I like my council and I think they will provide good leadership for our team in 2017.

We will not require our basketball/baseball guys to attend in June, but they will get double points if they are there.

We will workout our freshmen separately two evenings a week with our frosh staff. I don't want those kids standing in the back or getting left behind. Those guys are critical to our future. Keeping them separate makes sure they are getting coached and developed. Keeping the freshmen separate is a key part of player development for us. Other than in Class A/small schools, most quality programs keep their freshman separate to maximize the development and coaching of those kids... as opposed to having them left out or physically mismatched by the older kids.  

In this case, keeping the freshmen separate will make the June competition a little newer and fresher for them since they will do that 3 times as opposed to 4.

Last year we had a good time when the winning team went out to eat together. June will be good and will help get us ready for a great 2017!

Leadership Building Block #19

Leadership Building Block #18

Measure what Matters

After going 1-9 in 2004, as a staff, we decided to get a goal board for the 2005 season. Our coaches came up with the list of goals that would help us win on Friday night.

It looked like this:

What we found over time, is that when we won these 3 categories, we won 100% of our games!  The three categories were big plays, turnovers and special teams. If we won all 3, we won every game!

So, for 2017, our goal board looks like this:

I like keeping things simple. This board helps us focus on a weekly basis. I think the media gets tired of hearing what we need to do every week when I say the same thing. But, this is it. When we get this done.... we WIN!

QB Camp- June 9th

David Buchanan Quarterback Camp

Friday, June 9th

9am-4pm

 Mercer County Senior HS Sports Complex

 

 

COST: $120 (includes meal)

CLOTHING: T-Shirt & Shorts, cleats, tennis shoes, water bottle and football

 

This Quarterback Camp is in response to an interest in getting quarterbacks ready for the preseason. Fundamental work will include footwork, mechanics, drops, and other areas important to successful quarterback play.   Coverage recognition and reads will be discussed between workouts.  The format of the camp will be flexible and with numbers small enough so that players can use the camp to meet their needs in preparing for the season.

Tyler Mattingly & Boone Goldsmith will also work this camp.

 

Parents and coaches are welcome to video the drills to take home for more work and increased understanding and improvement of their skill level.

If you have questions, please email me privately at david.buchanan@mercer.kyschools.us.

Thank you!

Leaders...LISTEN. Still a work in progress for me! Leadership Building Block #17

Hard to lose with winners all around you.....Leadership Building Block #16

A Sled.... a sign of progress & cooperation in year 2 of building a program

I am fired up about this sled. It is a JV Sled that was purchased by the HS program, MS program and youth league. Football players from grades 4-10 will be able to use this. For the HS program, our part was paid for with our sponsorship money- games and field signs. Thank you sponsors!

I am excited that we are getting our entire football program on one page and we are working to give our kids the best experience possible playing football.

Thank you to Larry Betterley, Mike Floro & Joe Fister for their help and cooperation in helping us become one program. Thank you to our community for supporting our kids and Titan Football. We still have a long way to go, but we have made a bunch of progress as well.

The Value of Freshman Football

2016 Titan Freshmen Team Kicking Off to start game with Rockcastle County

Many football programs in KY are moving away from playing a freshman schedule. For us, those freshmen games are a big part of building a program and developing players.

We always try to play a freshman schedule. It can be tough to do, but my experience is that if you don't have a freshman team, your numbers begin to decrease.

When I was at Paris, I had no choice. We had to keep all 4 grades together because our roster was so small.

At Mason and now at Mercer we are in a Frosh/JV conference. We play Frosh/JV doubleheaders every Monday but quarters are only 6 minutes long. That keeps everyone available for Friday night and they play against the most similar competition.

It was an adjustment at Mercer when I wanted non starting juniors to play JV. But, over the years, most of my juniors that played JV contributed or started as seniors. The junior JV QB at Mason one season never threw an interception in 7 varsity starts as a senior. 

In our program, everyone in grades 9-11 should be playing games, and of course the seniors that play a lot. Playing the freshmen games is an important part of our overall plan to develop players.

Since going to Mason, I have let my freshmen practice separately with their own staff and it has worked very well. There is a big difference in a freshman and an upperclassmen. I don't want my young kids getting beat up and discouraged. In my experience, going back to when my Dad coached, the more successful programs keep their freshmen separate.

Some day I may have no choice, but I will fight as hard as I can to play a separate freshman schedule as long as possible.

Always work to improve. Leadership Building Block #15

Great advice for husbands, wives, & parents

Last spring I was fortunate to win the All Pro Dad's Day Back to School Contest and meet Coach Tony Dungy. During my visit, I was also fortunate to meet Mark & Susan Merrill who run Family First. Their blogs offer great advice to help marriages, families, & parents.

My favorite part of their advice is that much of it is proactive and preventive in nature. They are great at pointing out warning signs that something may not be going as it should be. If you put much of their advice into action, it is significantly more likely that you won't have to deal with some of the bigger problems that can arise as a parent and spouse.

Check out their blogs and put their words into action. It will be a blessing to you and your entire family!

Mark Merrill

Susan Merrill

Leadership Building Block #14

I got this from Coach Sam Harp at a clinic when he was winning state titles at Danville HS. It requires no talent to be prepared. There is no excuse for being unorganized. 

One Royal, Two Titans, Three Great People / Players

Passing out camp forms at MCIS today and I got these 3 guys in one photo: Jordan Gilbert, D Smith, & Tanner Robins. I coached Jordan at Mason County.  Three outstanding young men and great football players as well. What a blessing to coach these guys, I have alot of flaws, but I am good at finding great people and hitching my wagon to them!

25 Building Blocks of Leadership - EILA Certified for KY School Leadership Training

The 25 Building Blocks of Leadership are now EILA certified and available for KY School Adminstrator training and leadership hours. Contact me at coachdavidbuchanan@gmail.com to set up your training!

The Firm.... Leadership Building Block #13