Coach ,

“The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don't really even notice it, so it's part of everyday life.” ~ Bill Gates

Nebraska Offense Analyst Rob Everett has embraced coaching technology and it’s led to opportunities. Coach Everett started as a high school coach at Westfield High School in Virginia, then moved to a defensive coordinator job at D3 Bridgewater College followed by a quick stint with now defunct AAF Memphis Express under head coach Mike SIngletary. 

He also had the chance to work with NFL and FBS programs as a consultant then accepted a position as an analyst at North Carolina and now Nebraska. His creative use of technology in coaching has opened doors for him in the profession, and it’s enhanced player learning in the programs he’s worked with.

For him, it’s been blending available technologies, many free or low cost, into an efficient work flow that promotes greater player learning. 

One way of maximizing teaching is borrowed from the classroom, something Everett was very familiar with in his role as a high school teacher, a method that has become known as “the flipped classroom.” This is basically having students watch recorded presentations and lectures as often as is needed to grasp the subject. As a coach he refers to it as “meetings on demand.”

"Research shows that lectures promote only 5% retention."

The basis of flipped coaching is to increase retention of learning and to increase understanding at a deeper level. Research shows that lectures promote only 5% retention. The more interactive the learner is with the material, the more information is retained and the better he understands. 

Presentations are moved to time outside of the meeting room onto pre-recorded videos watched at the players own time and own pace. Though they are still lectures, retention is much greater because now the player can rewind and listen again as many times as he needs.

By creating a video, a coach can make the best possible instruction session. If a player is switching or learning a new position, he can easily review all the instruction that has been given up to that point. If a player needs a reminder, he can go back at any time to re-learn a topic.

"Diverse learners need diverse instruction."

As Coach Evertett points out, today’s learners need to be taught in a different way. Diverse learners need diverse instruction. While the playbook drawing will always be a part of this, there’s much more available to bring the drawings to life and cement learning. 

For Coach Everett all of this has culminated in what he calls the “perfect playbook.” It is one setup to hit multiple learning styles and give players both the knowledge and perspective they need to take that info out on the field and succeed in execution.

He shared this idea in a clinic given at Lauren’s First and Goal. I should note, the Go Army Edge app used in creating simulations which he shows is free. (click on image for video):

Video: The Perfect Playbook

Ben Kotwica, Special Teams Coordinator for the Denver Broncos presented on a similar topic at the 3rd Annual Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic earlier this month. He highlighted some of this exact technology. His replay is available at lfgf2023.coachesclinic.com, and individual and staff premium access is still available there. 

As you begin sorting through new ideas gained in off season research, you should think about using the methods used by Coach Everett.

With any new technology there is a learning curve, but you will find the payoff in camp this fall when the players are playing faster because they know exactly what they are supposed to do.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski