If the head coach of a football team is responsible for the overall structure and goal-setting of a football team, it’s the assistant coaches and coordinators who carry most of the coaching workload.

As an assistant, you have an immediate impact on the development of the players you coach because first, you are teaching them the skills to play the game and second, you are, or should be, reinforcing the team values as set out by the head coach. It is important that you become as competent a coach as you can be by becoming an expert in your area and by treating your players in a fair and honest way. This will build trust between yourself and the players you coach. Similarly, as part of a larger organization, you owe your head coach a sense of loyalty in how you conduct yourself as a member of the coaching staff and in your support of the team’s goals and organizational structure. Remember, trust is a two-way street between the head coach and his staff.

As head coach of a football program, you have four roles – leader, expert, motivator and mentor.

As a leader, you’re responsible for setting the direction of the team. Team goals, organizational structure and discipline are all defined by you. As well, in your role as leader, it’s necessary that you set an example for both players and assistant coaches by living the values that you preach. This includes becoming the best coach you can be by constantly working to improve your knowledge base. Good coaching is an important factor in motivating players. Since coaching is about building trust and confidence, players will play for a coach they believe is making them and the team better. Finally, the mentoring of assistant coaches and players is critical for your team’s success on the field and in the locker room. Simply put, the head coach needs to encourage and trust those under his guidance by allowing for their input in decision-making – whether it’s implementing team rules, coaching a position or running the team’s offense and defense.

Some coaches believe that the pre-game pep talk is enough to motivate their players to play well on Saturday or Sunday.

In fact, preparing your team for the big game is more about systems and structure than it is about emotion. While there is a place for passion in game preparation, a well-organized week of practice and focused game planning are the true foundations of victory. A knowledgeable coaching staff that runs a structured and disciplined program will instill confidence in their players. A team that practices with a purpose and is truly ‘prepared’ to play its next opponent has the best chance for success.

When you hear a coach refer to an individual as a 'real' football player, just what are they talking about?

Aside from the obvious physical abilities, what they’re describing is a player’s intellectual approach to the game. As a coach, you want individuals on your team that are physically and mentally tough, committed to improving, are self-disciplined and come across as team players who are proud not only of their own efforts, but those of their teammates and coaches. Essentially, when you talk about a 'real' football player, you're saying as much about their heart as you are about their athletic ability.