Usually when high school football coaches are portrayed in movies they are screaming at players after every mistake and certainly not trying to be anyone’s friend. A quick trip out to Davis High School football practice well tell you that that is not the only style that is successful.
Head man Jim Johnson and his assistants certainly raise their voice when necessary but there is a different more positive vibe to their practices. One play after laying into a player for a mistake, Johnson will often be heard making a joke or giving some positive encouragement.
Obviously it isn’t brain surgery, but taking the time to positively reinforce and keep the players in a good mood seems to be working for DHS. Not only has the team been steadily improving over the past few years and perhaps even more telling, the number of players on the team has gone back up after reaching dangerous lows a few years ago.
On Friday, former head coach Dave Whitmire, who retired after the 1999 season, was on hand to help out. Another coach who balanced a laid-back attitude with some fire and brimstone when necessary, Whitmire was also the last man to take the Blue Devils to the postseason. His style was unquestioned and when he left, the number of players going out for football started to decline. It could be a coincidence, but it seems, at least in Davis, the coaching style works.
- Chris Saur; Photo by Greg Rihl
No comments:
Post a Comment