HHS doesnt always win with pure talent. Year in and year out they are one of if not the best coached team in the state. Players are so well coached and trained to be football players and it really really pays off as we have all seen hundreds of times. Good luck to The Birds this weekend.

Yes, they two platoon. It works for even a small school like Highlands. It's not easy. You MUST have a system in place and you need complete buy in to the "system". You don't have to have great athletes (it helps), but it's more about training and discipline. It's not for everyone!

 

Does that sum it up?

You make it sound like just because they play in 4A that they don't have a lot of players and it's quite an amazing job to actually be able to platoon with the players they have.

 

Highlands has more Football players than the majority of teams in the state. How many players do they have on their roster this year? around 90 or more?

You make it sound like just because they play in 4A that they don't have a lot of players and it's quite an amazing job to actually be able to platoon with the players they have.

 

Highlands has more Football players than the majority of teams in the state. How many players do they have on their roster this year? around 90 or more?

 

156....9-12. I think its close to that.

You make it sound like just because they play in 4A that they don't have a lot of players and it's quite an amazing job to actually be able to platoon with the players they have.

 

 

Highlands has more Football players than the majority of teams in the state. How many players do they have on their roster this year? around 90 or more?

 

This post was more about giving thunderbirds a hard time about staying on topic.

 

But I did say in an earlier post that it takes buy in from the kids. You think they would have a third of the boys that attend HHS playing football if their wasn't buy in? They must do something to keep all those kids happy and keep them around. Again...system and buy in. Others can do it too. It's not easy!

This post was more about giving thunderbirds a hard time about staying on topic.

 

But I did say in an earlier post that it takes buy in from the kids. You think they would have a third of the boys that attend HHS playing football if their wasn't buy in? They must do something to keep all those kids happy and keep them around. Again...system and buy in. Others can do it too. It's not easy!

That is true, and coaching is a huge part of it.

But you also need athletes and HHS does have plenty to choose from which also makes it possible.

 

If HHS only had 30-40 players they wouldn't be able to do what they do, but that isn't the case and they are able to be the team and dynasty they are.

That is true, and coaching is a huge part of it.

But you also need athletes and HHS does have plenty to choose from which also makes it possible.

 

If HHS only had 30-40 players they wouldn't be able to do what they do, but that isn't the case and they are able to be the team and dynasty they are.

 

Coaching has a lot to do with it. However, it's been that way for a long time. My sophomore year '84, I think we had 110 kids on the varsity team. (10,11,12th graders). Back then, there was no platooning. The best athletes played both ways. On that team, there were probably 6-7 that hardly ever came out of the game. Add some special team players and you might of had 25-30 players that had a chance to see the field on Friday nights! That means their were 80 kids that had no chance of getting in the game (outside of a blowout and there weren't as many blowouts back then), and they all worked their tales off everyday. Some were seniors that were with the program for 4 years and still only saw mop up duty. That's tradition and buy in from the community and kids. The only years that numbers were down were a few years that Tom Duffy had the program. And that was a sad time for the HHS faithful. I'll keep my mouth shut!

Coaching has a lot to do with it. However, it's been that way for a long time. My sophomore year '84, I think we had 110 kids on the varsity team. (10,11,12th graders). Back then, there was no platooning. The best athletes played both ways. On that team, there were probably 6-7 that hardly ever came out of the game. Add some special team players and you might of had 25-30 players that had a chance to see the field on Friday nights! That means their were 80 kids that had no chance of getting in the game (outside of a blowout and there weren't as many blowouts back then), and they all worked their tales off everyday. Some were seniors that were with the program for 4 years and still only saw mop up duty. That's tradition and buy in from the community and kids. The only years that numbers were down were a few years that Tom Duffy had the program. And that was a sad time for the HHS faithful. I'll keep my mouth shut!

I understand, I also agree that the kids have to buy into the program. It still is nice when you have 100 players to choose from though. Makes it a little easier than if you only have 40 kids.

Highlands is certainly committed to platooning and it makes sense. Players are more fresh and balanced. The more fresh they are the less likely they are to be injured, it works out all the way around.

Highlands is certainly committed to platooning and it makes sense. Players are more fresh and balanced. The more fresh they are the less likely they are to be injured, it works out all the way around.

 

As has been mentioned before, Highlands not only has a two platoon system, but they have a rotation within the platoon. In other words, they have 6 to 8 receivers that play and 6 to 8 linemen that play etc. So if there are injuries they have someone with varsity experience to replace them.

You make it sound like just because they play in 4A that they don't have a lot of players and it's quite an amazing job to actually be able to platoon with the players they have.

 

Highlands has more Football players than the majority of teams in the state. How many players do they have on their roster this year? around 90 or more?

 

Yes, right around 90 on the varsity.

That is true, and coaching is a huge part of it.

But you also need athletes and HHS does have plenty to choose from which also makes it possible.

 

If HHS only had 30-40 players they wouldn't be able to do what they do, but that isn't the case and they are able to be the team and dynasty they are.

 

 

No doubt you need more than 40 players to run a true two platoon. But Beechwood has been getting closer and closer to two platoon football and they usually have 45 or so players on their roster. Even this year after losing 20+ seniors from last year and having no experience, there were only 4, maybe 5 players, going both ways on nearly all plays. There may be a few others that get reps with the first team on both sides of the ball but they aren't out there going both ways for all the snaps. They rotate in based on matchups, rest for other players, etc. So you can get close to two platooning it with 45.

An additional factor, which should not be discounted, is that rather than having 90 kids competing for 11 spots on Offense and 90 kids competing for 11 spots on Defense, you have ~45 kids competing for 11 spots on 1 or the other. That gives real optimism to the younger kids coming up through the ranks that they can play and contribute. With more kids having that optimism, more kids stay with the program. With more kids in the program, you keep the opportunity to 2-platoon. It is a wonderful / vicious circle -- depending on your point of view!

There are some great points noted here......I would add that most schools (not employing two-platoon) are unable to spend as much time working on fundementals/technique for playing each position and are typically only doing this in "out of season" & two-a-days. The two-platoon system inherently provides additional practice time to stress these items in practice every day.....ALL season long.

Another benefit has to be the film study......being able to be more finite in your review (i.e. Def. players don't even review opponents Def. players/plays) gives more time to focus on your/one position. Also, ALL the players are present for film and practice time together (i.e LB isn't over with the O because he's also RB)

I have also heard coaches comment that it is so much easier to create "real speed" practice scenarios because 1's are practicing against 1's all the time....... obviously, this system has many benefits.

There are some great points noted here......I would add that most schools (not employing two-platoon) are unable to spend as much time working on fundementals/technique for playing each position and are typically only doing this in "out of season" & two-a-days. The two-platoon system inherently provides additional practice time to stress these items in practice every day.....ALL season long.

Another benefit has to be the film study......being able to be more finite in your review (i.e. Def. players don't even review opponents Def. players/plays) gives more time to focus on your/one position. Also, ALL the players are present for film and practice time together (i.e LB isn't over with the O because he's also RB)

I have also heard coaches comment that it is so much easier to create "real speed" practice scenarios because 1's are practicing against 1's all the time....... obviously, this system has many benefits.

You mentioned one of the biggest benefits about a platoon system. That is without a doubt that the #1 offense gets to practice against the #1 defense which can do nothing but improve everybodies play.

You mentioned one of the biggest benefits about a platoon system. That is without a doubt that the #1 offense gets to practice against the #1 defense which can do nothing but improve everybodies play.

 

Agreed !

Something else I've noticed is since going to the platoon system around the 08 season, even with a roster of around 90 players, is that their are some talented Sophs who are starting for HHS in key areas. I believe their are two underclassmen starting at DB for the Birds. Many of the JR players from this year started as Sophs or got major playing time last year. I won't start naming them because I would forget somebody.

 

It wasn't that very long ago (before platooning), that you had to be a super stud to see any playing time at all as a Junior, except for special teams.Wow times have changed.

 

The depth of HHS might be a problem for Collins, safe travels to everyone and hope for an injury free game. Go Birds!!!