Offseason Planning for Football Coaches

The final whistle of the football season doesn’t mean the work is over. It can actually start the push to get better for next season.

The football offseason isn’t all about rest and relaxation. This is a time when you can challenge your players to get bigger, stronger and faster. High school coach Quincy Faison spoke with Pro Tips about the importance of preparation when helping players improve for next season.

HAVE A PLAN

When you enter the offseason, it shouldn’t mean everyone goes their own way. You should have a game plan of what you want your players to accomplish.

“Just like we have a plan for in the season, we [got to] have a plan for off the season,” Faison says.

If players aren’t competing in other sports, you should challenge them to improve on the gridiron. It can be crucial to have a strength and conditioning plan. This can include spending time in the weight room as well as running and working on skills and concepts.

As the offseason progresses, so should your plan. In the springtime, you may want to get the team on the field for some practice. Once the summer rolls around, you may want to challenge your roster with a 7-on-7 tournament. Learn more about these events and the benefits of competing against other teams in a stripped-down setting.

If you’re not sure where to get started with your offseason plan, Pro Tips is here to help. Check out these four football workouts that can help players hone their agility, speed and strength. Help your players boost their change-of-direction skills with these step ladder agility drills.

Looking to spice up offseason practices? A good drill to build camaraderie is the tire flip. You can get the competitive juices flowing by also adding the Tug of War to offseason workouts.

COMMITMENT

To be successful in the offseason, your players have to show dedication.

“It really starts by the player committing himself to the team,” Faison says. “And that means making [themselves] better.”

Getting your team together in the weight room or on the field for some light practices is only the first step. You will need to encourage your players to keep working on their own.

“If it’s running on [their] own, if it’s lifting on [their] own, making sure [they] meet with the players and comes and does our team lift,” Faison says.

The offseason can be a time for your players to improve their skills. By entering this stretch with a game plan, you’ll be back in two-a-days preparing for the season opener before you know it.