Rams’ McVay offers insights, words of wisdom to high school coaches
He was pacing, constantly waving his hands as if signaling jets to land on an aircraft carrier. Rams coach Sean McVay provided ample evidence of his well-known personality trait of being energetic and passionate as he addressed more than 60 high school football coaches Thursday at the Rams’ training headquarters in Thousand Oaks.
It was a high school coaching class, with nine of the Rams’ positional assistants pausing to answer questions and provide one-on-one tuition. They were almost as energetic as their head coach, a lesson McVay taught that a coach’s energy can be contagious to those who work and play for you.
“The impact and positive impact you can have on these players is tremendous,” McVay said.
McVay explained that work ethic, energy and enthusiasm are critical to success and that you always have to remember “where you stand”.
“People will remember how they make you feel,” he said.
The four words players most want to hear are “I believe in you.”
“I’ll never forget how they made me feel, especially during the times when I needed to feel that belief more than anything,” he said of the coaches he worked under.
McVay said, “Always be curious,” because that’s how you can always get better.
Despite being an NFL coach, he said, “Some of the coolest things I see happen in high school.”
A coach asked McVay how to reach a talented player who might not be following his directions.
“Challenge them, empower them, see the good in them,” he said.
Secondary school coaches appreciated learning about techniques and strategies from the assistant coaches. Special teams had video clips explaining how to block a punt and return a kickoff. Offensive line meeting participants were advised to watch a lineman’s knees move instead of feet when blocking run. For quarterbacks, the shoulders must be in line with the feet and remain balanced.
The Rams also brought the American Heart Assn with them. Provide training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the automated external defibrillator. Just a few days ago, the Rams’ defensive coordinator, Raheem Morris, was there on vacation in Las Vegas and helped rescue a three-year-old by picking up an AED near the hotel pool.
“Without this course, I wouldn’t have known what to do,” he told the coaches.
