Factors of Excellent Football Coaches

In the final analysis: playing good  football comes down to running, blocking and tackling, and doing it well......doing it very well.   Excelling at it. I refer to coaching the game at all levels: from Pop Warner to the NFL.  Good coaching is in seven parts:  1) the ability to connect with players.  2)  The ability to motivate players.  3)  Knowledge of the game.  4)  The ability to impart that knowledge.  5)  Knowledge of the intangibles and the ability to put that knowledge to use.  6)  The ability to be flexible and make adjustments.  7)  The ability to deal with management/administration and matters not directly connected to football but nevertheless vital to its' existence and operation.  This usually refers to matters of finance, whether it is fund raising at the lower levels or contract negotiation at the higher levels.

  Hopefully, the coach would tend to stick mainly to coaching, however, he needs to know what is going on.  He needs to want and acquire the best talent available whenever possible.  I have mentioned nothing about character and integrity.  However, I am persuaded that it should permeate all seven factors.  Obviously the stakes are different at the professional level.  And yes, at the lower levels of football, character building and teamwork are more emphasized than at the higher levels.  (but not always)  "Win at any cost" is the mantra for many coaches.  I do not criticize that particular mentality.  However, sometimes there is a serious price to pay for having it.  One of the famous quotes of Vince Lombardi is:  "Winning is not everything, it is the only thing."