8-Man Breakdowns @8ManBreakdowns

Somewhere in America 1) a kid is prepared to lie about these being stolen 2) a ref is eager to throw a flag for thinking they’re not being worn 3) a coach is losing his mind over both 1 & 2 4) the pad itself, at its current production size, is not saving a single knee

One of the biggest misconceptions in high school sports is that coaching is primarily about practices, games, and wins. The reality is that coaching has become one of the most challenging roles in education because coaches are expected to wear dozens of hats while being evaluated from every direction. Every parent, player, administrator, and community member often has a different expectation of success. One family wants college recruiting to be the priority. Another wants playing time. Another wants winning. Another wants player development. Another wants discipline. Another simply wants their child to enjoy the experience. The challenge is that those goals frequently conflict, and coaches are often expected to satisfy all of them simultaneously. Most coaches are balancing far more than what happens between the lines. They manage team culture, player conflicts, parent concerns, academics, transportation, fundraising, budgets, equipment, scheduling, eligibility, social media issues, and the emotional needs of teenagers. At the same time, every roster includes athletes with different abilities, goals, motivations, and commitment levels. Some dream of college athletics. Some are trying to make varsity. Some simply want to belong. Building one program that serves all of them is incredibly difficult. Perhaps the greatest challenge is decision-making. Who starts? Who plays? Who sits? Who travels? Who gets moved up? Who gets cut? Every decision creates opportunity for one athlete and disappointment for another. Even well-intentioned decisions can be viewed as favoritism or politics when seen through the lens of an individual family. Recruiting adds another layer of complexity. Coaches are expected to help athletes pursue college opportunities while also managing the needs of an entire team. Supporting one athlete can sometimes raise questions from another family about their child’s opportunities. Social media has amplified many of these challenges. One lineup decision, one difficult conversation, or one emotional moment can quickly become public discussion, often without the full context. There are also pressures many people never see. Pressure from administrators to represent the school well. Pressure from parents to provide opportunities. Pressure from athletes to help them achieve their goals. Pressure from communities that often measure success by wins and losses. Pressure to retain athletes in an era of increasing transfers and movement. And all of this occurs while coaches are trying to develop young people, not just athletes. What makes coaching difficult is not that people don’t care. It’s that everyone cares deeply, but often about different things. Parents focus on their child. Players focus on their opportunities. Administrators focus on the school. Communities focus on results. Coaches must somehow balance all of those interests while making decisions they believe are best for the team. As a former college coach, athletic director, and high school administrator, I’ve learned that most coaches are not trying to hold athletes back, play favorites, or make life difficult for families. Most are simply navigating competing priorities, limited resources, and difficult decisions while trying to do what’s best for kids. Because at its core, coaching has never really been about managing games. It’s about managing people. And that’s what makes it both incredibly challenging and incredibly important

In today’s video with @coachdsmith22 he breaks down how he built Archie into a Missouri 8-man power through culture, leadership, and year-round buy-in. He also dives into his authentic coaching, pin-&-pull, APRE and VBT methods. Tap below to #TuneIn youtu.be/jbwpTOm_F_Q

Have a listen! This was a good chat, thanks Coach for heaving me on.

8-Man Breakdowns @8ManBreakdowns

2 months ago

Tonight’s video with Ellis HC Dan Rogers @Ultimate8M he breaks down his modern S&C approach built around speed, movement, and periodization in place of chasing maxes. He’ll also talk multi-sport demands, and WR culture that translates to Fridays. #TuneIn youtu.be/R4HyLOabBFw?si…

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Tonight’s video with Ellis HC Dan Rogers @Ultimate8M he breaks down his modern S&C approach built around speed, movement, and periodization in place of chasing maxes. He’ll also talk multi-sport demands, and WR culture that translates to Fridays. #TuneIn youtu.be/R4HyLOabBFw?si…

Had a great time talking with @CoachEngelken & @8ManBreakdowns

8-Man Breakdowns @8ManBreakdowns

2 months ago

ICYMI: In last night’s podcast with Shelby-Rising City HC @CoachZKubik we talked about building a consistent winner, his commitment to the I-formation, speed development over conditioning, and growing the game through 8 Man Fast. Tap ⬇️ to #TuneIn youtu.be/Cwk9VO6wmLg?si…

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ICYMI: In last night’s podcast with Shelby-Rising City HC @CoachZKubik we talked about building a consistent winner, his commitment to the I-formation, speed development over conditioning, and growing the game through 8 Man Fast. Tap ⬇️ to #TuneIn youtu.be/Cwk9VO6wmLg?si…

In tonight’s coach interview with Howells-Dodge HC @MrSpeirsMath we’re talking about the evolution of NE 8-man football, his approach to the sweep, commitment to the double-tight run game, and more. Tap the link ⬇️ to #TuneIn youtu.be/oyQl92GOhss?si…

Thanks coach for having me on - always great to talk about 🐉 🏈 and 8-man ball as a whole. ✅ Run the football ✅ Coach kids hard ✅ Love em up ✅ Condition if you want ✅ Wear full pads at practice if ya choose ✅ Don’t worry about twitter trends

8-Man Breakdowns @8ManBreakdowns

3 months ago

In last night’s coach interview with Deshler HC @HaydenDeLano we talked minimizing mistakes in his Wildcat single-wing, why authenticity and physicality still matter in developing young players, and more. Tap the link ⬇️ to #TuneIn youtu.be/_sWS1Mxx1EA?si…

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In last night’s coach interview with Deshler HC @HaydenDeLano we talked minimizing mistakes in his Wildcat single-wing, why authenticity and physicality still matter in developing young players, and more. Tap the link ⬇️ to #TuneIn youtu.be/_sWS1Mxx1EA?si…

Clinic Week! Excited to see Coaches on Friday should be a great clinic. Can still register at the door.

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ICYMI: This January, I broke down a 2023 Liberty triple option play and translated it to 8man. Tap the link ⬇️ to #TuneIn youtu.be/A0Tk9_2II3k?si…

Session 3 is off and running! Coach Pavlik and Coach Engelken are talking about playing with joy and coaching in the digital era.

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Really enjoyed the opportunity to speak at the Ashland NE @PoweredUpClinic this morning. Was a great time seeing, meeting and getting the chance to speak with so many coaches! #ClinicSeason

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ICYMI: Back over the Christmas holiday break, I posted a video of one my spring 2025 clinics, where I talked about our basic 8Man Spread RPOs. Tap the link below👇 to #TuneIn youtu.be/epzJEMV4bLY?si…

🚨🚨 2026 CLINIC SPEAKER 🚨🚨 Speaker: Mitch Engelken School: Johnson-Brock High School (NE) Topic: “8-Man Tiered Play Design: Making Your Offense Multi-Dimensional” Register online: southerniowafootball.com @CoachEngelken | @8ManBreakdowns

In tonight’s coaches interview with Sandy Creek NE HC @akuta13_ we talk about leading his alma mater to a Class D1 title, building a disciplined, player-driven culture, always keeping the Cougars hungry and more! Tap the link ⬇️ to #TuneIn youtu.be/82-RwuSWhDw?si…

ICYMI: Last night’s coaches interview with Fairfield HC @finder_kyle we talked about building a community-first culture, adapting to your team, and the many positive changes he’s brought to Fairfield. Tap the link ⬇️ to #TuneIn youtu.be/JkW8lobasyU?si…

Had an absolute blast hanging out with these guys at the KEMFA 8man Allstar week. Coaching is easy when you have dudes like these guys! #Westside

8-Man FB Poll — Coaches, what type of year-round program/system do you run in the weight room? (Honest answers)