[Landser, Amer.]

paulcssi, you made some very astute observations or opinions, whichever applies.

Maybe a few additional opinions/observations should be put on the list to consider: Don't pander to parents, for many of them think "Johnny or Sammy" is a star, and should be getting more playing time or be a starter. You be the determining factor, not the parent Be your own man and play the very best players that are available, and do not get ensconced in the mindset that a senior should be starting, when an underclassman is the better player. Again, play your best, whether he is a freshman, sophomore, junior, or a senior. Also, a coach should always be aware of the sleeper, (one who has improved dramatically from last season) and do not continue with last year's starter if he has not performed up to par, or someone else would be a better fit for the position.

Another extremely important trait a coach must possess is: when you tell a young man something, follow through on it. If you tell him he is going to be doing thus and so in the next game, have him do it! Broken promises to your players are unacceptable.

A huge confidence "buster" is to spend an inordinate amount of time practicing specific plays and then not implementing them in the Friday night game. Not only have you wasted precious time that could have been better used practicing what you knew you were going to do, but is, moreover, discouraging to the players. The young men, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen, are substantially smarter than we adults give them credit.