The Wright Wisdom - Learning From Legends

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The full text of “The Wright Wisdom - Learning From Legends” by Larry Wright, from the Vol 1 — Summer 2023 issue.

It is hard to pinpoint keys to success because there are so many factors involved. I will give you what I think are the most important. First you must have the support from the admin - istration. The administrator’s must give you time to develop your program. It takes three to five years to turn a program around they must un - derstand this and give you continued support. If you accept a job that already is successful is the quality of athlete still available.

If not, it is a must that they continue to support you. Knowledgeable faithful assistant coaches are a must. The head coach must give them the opportunity to contribute and be part of the de - cision making. The head coach should explain what is expected of them. Assistant coaches do not have to always agree with the head coach but after discussions the head coach makes the final decision. When the decision is made ev - eryone should be on the page.

Assistant coach - es are in charge of positions and on game night are in charge of their players. They should listen to the head coaches’ suggestions. Key is to be loyal and faithful to the head coach. Maybe the biggest key is coach able athletes they must be willing to work hard and learn the skills involved in the game They must love the game if they don’t the hard knocks involved in the game will play a toll. In order to learn they must be able to accept criticism knowing that it will benefit them.

The head coach should explain the reason for each drill and how it will be used on game night. The athlete should be more willing to learn. Core Coaching Principles Build positive attitudes, build confidence and believe. You will be surprised what a confident player can accomplish. Positive attitudes are a key in the locker room and on the practice field. Leads to better preparation for game day. Develop a philosophy this will give you a strong foundation and base to work from. Show players you care for them.

Listen to their problems as well as their personal successful accomplishments. Give them support outside football. I tell players if they don’t lie to me or steal I will back them. Keys To Success in Coaching Keys To Success in Coaching THE WRIGHT WISDOM - Learning From Legends THE WRIGHT WISDOM - Learning From Legends by Larry Wright

If you tell players something follow thru with what you say. Be careful how you tell players key things give yourself an out. Players have bad days be careful how you react and deal with this. Don’t favor certain athletes in regard to playing time. Treat them based on their skill and athletic ability. Also consider knowledge consistent play. Players know who should be playing. Remember you are a teacher and coach to all players, don’t just coach the starters.

Younger players and non starting older players may be - come starters later. Make all players feel like they are part of the team. Try to find a way that they feel like they are contributing in practice or game. Don’t push younger players to fast give them an opportunity to mature and develop. In most situ - ations it takes until their sophomore year to ma - ture learn skills and become hitters. Playing and hitting against older players many times they become discouraged and this slows down their development.

Don’t give up on these younger or non starters, remember it takes time and patience to develop most athletes. Be truthful about your opponent. Explain what it will take to win . Then work toward this goal. Build confidence in what it will take. Know your players limits and coach within these limits. Coach and rely on consistency in what they can perform. Don’t expect big changes to be successful right away. It takes time and practice to make chang - es and be successful.

Players need to gain confidence in these changes. Drills should be game related, and players should be able to recognize this on game film. Run players for conditioning and discipline. Don’t make a player run if he struggles in drill work. Explain to him what he is doing wrong tell him to step aside and think and visualize how to do it right. Brin him back for another try don’t make him keep trying over and over. Find something positive to tell him and go to the next player.

If you correct a player always end with some - thing positive. Coach players to be aggressive and play with toughness. Over teach skill work and assignments BUILD A STRONG RELATIOSHIP WITH YOUR PLAYERS. THIS RELATIONSHIP SHOULD BE ON A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL NOT A BUDDY TO BUDDY LEVEL. PLAYERS SHOULD UN - DERSTAND THE COACHES ARE IN CONTROL. KEEP IT A COACH TO PLAYER RELATIONSHIP. ALWAYS HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY (HEAD COACH TO ASS’T COACHES—HEAD COACH TO PLAYERS—ASS’T COACHES TO PLAYERS) SIDELINE MANAGEMENT A.

Ass’t coaches have assigned duties. They are in charge of their position players on the sidelines. They can substitute unless the head coach or co-ordinator tells them different. Ass’t coaches in charge of sideline video stay in touch with co-ordinators and report what they see on video. Ass’t coaches make suggestions on blocking adjustments, plays they think will go and where we should attack. Head coach only will deal with referees unless for friendly talks.

We have a “get back coach” to keep the sidelines clear and players and coaches off the field. Struggling Team A. Decide why we are struggling. Wrong game plan—bad play calls—weak blocking—wrong defensive plan or are they a lot better team than us. B. From scouting report attack their weakest player or area. Option their better players C. Try to control the speed of the game and try to control clock as much as possible. D. Ask players if anyone can control their oppo - nent area of attack. E.

Make blocking adjustments, decide man block, zone block or go to double team scheme. Will misdirection or traps be success - ful. Will the power game or option game work the best. Play action passes or drop back pass - es maybe quick passing game. F. Don’t give up on game plan to quick try ad - justments if it doesn’t work Decide on changes and stick with what you decide. Motivational Ideas A. The best motivation is to be game prepared.

Know your assignments, know your plan of attack, know your opponent inside and out, and know their best players. Self motivation will be the result of this. Doing the practice week coaches bring up as much information on their players as possible. B. Coach bring up as much history between the teams as they can find. Players like to know the past history. C. Bring in speakers—past players—well known players not only football but sports people in general. Successful businessmen who are sports minded. D.

Each week have one of your players give a talk on what football means to them. Most Proud Accomplishments A. The part I played in the development of teen - age athletes into successful adults. B. The relationship which developed with ath - letes after their graduation and moved on to other things.

C. The relationships developed within the coaching ranks. Example, when my wife passed away in 2003 coaches from five different states came to the services. This was on a Tuesday night in September one of the big practice nights for Friday night game preparation. D. The two National Coach of The Year Awards I received in 2008 and 2022. E. The development of the state championship teams. F. Thru the years the support I received from my family. Off Season Program A.

We offer weights and conditioning program in the off season. B. The Indiana High School Athletic Association does not allow spring practice. It does allow 12 practice days with helmet, shoulder pads, girdles, shoes, and mouth guard referred to as thud. You play 11 on 11 but are not allowed to take anyone to the ground. Five of the twelve days can be against outside teams. You can work out athletes other days but no equipment can be worn, only within your own school. Secret Sauce To Winning A.

Good Athletes who are coachable, positive attitude, self motivated, confident, and believe in the team. The coach must develop them into a team. Game Week Schedule A. Saturday following a Friday night game is our staff and team day off. Team members can come in and exercise and lift light if they desire. Also anyone with an injury can report and be checked. Game preparation starts on Sunday with a staff meeting. We start watching clips from Friday nights game. Discuss what we done wrong as coaches and team.

Have a discussion on what we need to do to correct both. B. Divide into position groups and break down our Friday night opponent. C. Back together each group reports on their area and what we need to do against. D. Discussion and the Head Coach makes the final decision. Ass’t coaches can argue their point but once the Head Coach decides every - one must be on the same page. E.

Major decisions come from—favorite running plays, favorite pass patterns, best receivers, quickest players, defenses used in certain situations, strongest players to their weak link players. Favorite first down plays and their best goal line plays. F. Plan practice schedule for week G. Break into groups—watch clips from Friday nights game—discuss mistakes and good points H. Back together as a team-- watch clips from opponents game—point out their strong and weak points—present game plan I.

Shorts no pads--On the field go over oppo - nent offense and defense—favorite plays—best players J. Cover our mistakes—condition and shower. K. Tuesday--Mainly offensive night-- lot of group work—offensive coach and defensive coach on each side of drill—we do this because we have a lot of players going both ways. Main attention on offense L. Special teams—if not part of this –special drills—example QB work with receiver—lineman work on reads M.

Team together—work offense against oppo - nent defense—work on blocking schemes—De - fensive coaches work hard at presenting oppo - nents schemes. N. Set up our Defense against their offense—

present their favorite formations and plays – cover how we are going to defend. After prac - tice coaches discuss any adjustments needed. O. Wednesday main attention on defense—a lot of group skill work—same set up as on Tuesday but defensive night instead of offense—after skill work lineman and linebackers work against opponent favorite running plays—linebackers will split time with defensive backs—back-up linebackers will get a lot of work.

Defensive backs and Linebackers work against opponents patterns and defending their best receivers. P. Special Teams –same set up as Tuesday Q. Team together—Team defense against oppo - nent offense—Offensive coaches work hard at presenting a good look. R. Short review of our offense against opponent defense S. Coaches meet to discuss anything that needs changed. T.

Thursday --Short practice—helmets, shoes, shorts—sometimes will add shoulder pads— cover opponents offensive formations with our adjustments—our offensive plan against their defenses. U. Cover all special teams and make sure play - ers know what team they are on. Team together. All coaches have a chance for short talk. Any player can have short talk. V. Head coach ends with past history of oppo - nent and past games with them. W. Friday Game Night Advise To Assistant Coaches A.

Learn how to deal with different personalities ( players, coaches, administrators, newspaper writers, parents, and the general public ). B. There are several different roads to success have an open mind. C. If you want athletes to respect you, you must respect them. D. Head coaches should coach assistants, listen and learn. E. Be loyal to the head coach. F. Don’t be a yes man, present your views and accept head coach’s decision. G. Be your own person, don’t try to emulate someone else. H.

If you disagree with the head coach or other assistants do it in private or at coach - es meetings (never around athletes ). I. Attend coaches clinics listen and learn. J. Don’t allow personal feelings toward an athlete enter into your decisions. K. Treat athletes the same way you would treat your own son. L. Have high expectations but realize it might take time to be successful. Don’t get discouraged and quit. I have seen this hap - pen many times. M.

Coach against complacency, in regards to you as a coach and also athletes. N. Don’t be afraid to admit your mistakes to athletes. If you do they will be more willing to accept you pointing out their mistakes. O. Try to prepare athletes with enough knowledge and skill to keep them in their comfort Zone. P. Coaches should realize they must sacri - fice in many different ways. Q. REMEMBER TO SET ASIDE TIME FOR FAMILY.

The Wright Wisdom More Than SOLID GOLD 58 and Counting WISDOM “the soundness of actions or decisions with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.” That pretty much sums up the amazing career of Larry Wright, head football coach at Sheridan High School in Sherican, IN. 58 years as head coach and during that time achieving 447 Wins and 9 State Championships!. The word amazing doesn’t come close to describing Coach Wright’s career.

Maybe most unbelievable is the 6 Undefeated seasons. Few football coaches ever experience even one. During this extraordinary career, one 4 year span saw back-to-back State Championships, 1 Runner-up finish and winning 56 of their 60 games played. Truly, one of the great performances in the history of high school football, actually, any level of football. When you are pursuing a career in the ultra competitive world of coaching football, to survive, you have to succeed.

That is ususally defined by winning football games. Uncountable tasks are also included in coaching football, but the one that will insure employment is coaching your team to suc - cessful results. Coach Wright knows more than most about winning and shares his wisdom and how to achieve suc - cessful results.