The most important statistic I care about after 40 seasons of coaching football is Zero-Zero. Zero deaths, zero catastrophic injuries. None of my players have died, none were paralyzed, none suffered a broken neck, and none on defense reported a concussion.
Zero-Zero is my primary coaching objective. It’s in writing – part of my Program Code of Conduct that explains every element of my coaching ideology, philosophy, and beliefs – so that there is no mystery about my expectations when a player decides to try-out for my team.
But there is a price to pay for Zero-Zero, especially when you coach Minus-Zero players from below scratch. Each player must donate two things. Lifting and SWAT Tackling. Both are non-negotiable. You lift our way and tackle our way or you don’t play. After my winless 1984 rookie head coach nightmare season, I banned two things – shoulder-tackling and missed lifting-workouts. My program changed from chronic loser to habitual winner. And it was the beginning of a 30-year Zero-Zero Streak.
Football is a matter of life and death. It is unimaginable and unconscionable for young people to die or become paralyzed for life while playing a game. Forty Zero-Zero seasons in a row didn’t just happen. It took a lot of heavy lifting and SWAT Tackling teaching. I have produced a video and e-book that explains our SWAT Tackling curriculum. It is available for purchase at SWAT Football.
Blessings and all good things to you and your players.
#Peace.
Gino Arcaro M.Ed., B.Sc., Level 3 NCCP (Nat’l Coaching Certification Program)
Head coach – Niagara X-Men Football
Owner – X Fitness Inc.
Blogs – www.GinoArcaro.com and www.SWATFootball.ca
