I apologize in advance for this mini rant...

 

It always bothers me when I read people complaining about running up the score in high school football, or high school sports in general.

 

If I were a coach, I would be trying to score as many points as possible on every single opponent my team faced. I would expect the same mentality from every coach I faced as well. I'm leaving my starters in AT LEAST until there is a running clock, and after that I'm putting my back ups in to run the same playbook, not some watered down junk to keep the score down. And honesty, if the opposing team leaves their starters in, so am I.

 

This feeds into the mentality touched on recently by Jeff Walz, that kids today are soft, and we are not only allowing it, but enabling it. During my four years, my high school team went 3-7, 3-7, 5-5 and 9-3. We took MANY a butt whooping at the hands of Danville, Louisville Holy Cross, and Bardstown just to name a few. Never once did I think "Man, they should take their starters out because they are beating us so bad. It was more like "Man, they are good. Good for them, I wish we were that good."

 

Losing like that is good for kids. It's an opportunity for improvement and growth, both on and off the field. They need to know their place on the totem pole and understand what it takes to be successful. Character is built when you get curb stomped by a better team, not by getting a trophy for just completing the season. We need to stop rewarding mediocrity and push our youth to do the same.

 

Rant over. Let's discuss.

Most all coaches leave their starters in until a running clock, sometimes maybe another one (or two) for insurance....then subbing and letting their back ups to run their stuff. It's pretty common practice.

Most all coaches leave their starters in until a running clock, sometimes maybe another one (or two) for insurance....then subbing and letting their back ups to run their stuff. It's pretty common practice.

 

But I'm only taking my starters out if the other team does, that's where I'm different, I think.

But I'm only taking my starters out if the other team does, that's where I'm different, I think.

 

This is the Dale Mueller philosophy...when the other team essentially "concedes" and pulls their starters, then you pull yours.

 

I think the problem is when a team is up by (insert any running clock margin here) and they aren't using the game time constructively to get better. For instance, team is up by 40+ in a basketball game, but is tipping out / running out for FB layups, rather than working a half court offensive set.

 

How does that make either 1) the team better, 2) the other team better or 3) the game better ?

This is the Dale Mueller philosophy...when the other team essentially "concedes" and pulls their starters, then you pull yours.

 

I think the problem is when a team is up by (insert any running clock margin here) and they aren't using the game time constructively to get better. For instance, team is up by 40+ in a basketball game, but is tipping out / running out for FB layups, rather than working a half court offensive set.

 

How does that make either 1) the team better, 2) the other team better or 3) the game better ?

 

Agree with using the time to get better. Not out there running reverses and double passes. Running the play book as it is, and focusing on things that may need work. If we keep scoring, so be it.

Just for reference, the team that is ahead doesn't have to be the one that starts subbing 1st in a blowout type game. Ive seen coaches that were behind actually start subbing 1st. In the games that happened some people got upset. I actually thought it was a good move.

I've always been under the impression that subbing players out when the game is out of hand is less about having pity or making kids "soft," but more to save the starters from injury and un-needed wear and tear. And to make sure the younger guys get some live action that will help them going forward.

 

If I'm the coach, and I get up by 36, my starters are coming out. Doesn't matter who the other team leaves in or for how long. My starters are coming out, taking their pads off and taking the rest of the night off. Not getting tackled or hit when the game is pretty much decided.

 

If you want to think that winning by a certain point threshold helps kids down the road, that's fine. But for me, once the game is decided, my guys are coming out.

In my mind the starters stay in until a running clock is achieved. I may keep them in longer if it is against a team that has taken things personally and are looking to beat up on the younger guys.

 

It would have to be a significant blowout in the first half for me to take the starters out before halftime too.

It would have to be a significant blowout in the first half for me to take the starters out before halftime too.

 

Mine would never come out in the 1st Half. Ever.

A lot of coaches, with the game comfortably in hand (no matter when that occurs throughout the game), will take starters out so as not to risk injury. It also allows younger and less experienced kids to get some valuable game minutes under their belts. I don't think it's because they are soft. The really good coaches that want to build a sustained program will do that for the future of the program. To me, what are you proving by leaving your starters in if you are blowing a team out? And I respectfully disagree about "wait until the other coach pulls his starters"...I simply say this because as a coach, your job is coach your program and not worry about what the other coach is doing. Maybe that other coach has things he wants to see out of his starters, maybe he doesn't have a deep bench, etc.

 

This is just my opinion though.

Up by 40 and leaving starters in and drop back to pass and OH NO, LOOK OUT. All State QB gets hit and is OUT FOR THE YEAR. GOOD JOB COACH.

Up by 40 and leaving starters in and drop back to pass and OH NO, LOOK OUT. All State QB gets hit and is OUT FOR THE YEAR. GOOD JOB COACH.

 

That can happen at 0-0.

Starters play entire 1st half and the 2nd string will pass the ball.......how are they supposed to get better doing runs up the middle all 2nd half?

It was never about the other team for me. Get the starters out with a comfortable lead. The main reason is I want to play the younger or not as talented kids. They work just as hard in most cases as the starters. They deserve the playing time in my mind.

 

Injuries, although a concern, would not be a reason because injuries can occur anytime anywhere, contact or no contact.

I am a big proponent of pulling starters once the game is a running clock or it is essentially over

 

I am also a big proponent of putting starters back in after the other team tries to "make it more presentable" by leaving their 1's in and trying to take deep shots for scores.