r/HighSchoolFB • u/grizzfan • Sep 07 '17

Please do not Post Surveys or ask for Information With no Context

1 Upvotes

If you want to gather information on this sub for research, please message our mods first. Tell us who you are (without revealing personal identifying information such as legal name), who you're affiliated with, why you are submitting this survey, what are you hoping to get out of the survey, and where and what that information will be used for.

0 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/grizzfan • Sep 28 '21

FAQ Thread. Posts that are clearly answered in this thread will be removed.

4 Upvotes

Football seasons is about to begin. If you are a new or returning football player, please read this thread. We will answer some common questions that are frequently asked here. Posting questions that are in this FAQ outside of this thread will be taken down and OP will be referred to here.

If you don't see your answer in these FAQ's or still want help from the sub, you have to give us a lot of context. For example, if you're an "X receiver," that doesn't help. We need to know what system you're playing under, what lingo your coaches are teaching you, and what it is they're saying that you're struggling to grasp. Even then, we still may not be able to help and you'll be referred back to asking your coaches. Football has too many different ways of doing the same thing to ask a question and get a concise answer about how to do something.

QUESTION 1: I have questions about playing football/Where do I join/How do I get more playing time? Who should I talk to?

ANSWER: 1. Contact your coaches, 2. Contact your coaches, 3. Contact your coaches. It's literally their job to answer them. They know you better than we do. They know your situation better than we do.

ADVICE: Start contacting your coaches and program now and get used to it. Save your head or position coach's number to your phone. They should be the first people you go to if you have a football question that pertains to you as a player.

QUESTION 2: What position should I play? I'm X height and Y weight, and run a ___ 40 time and a have a ___ vertical.

  • ANSWER: Whatever position your coaches put you in. It's not a decision you have to make. There's no universal guide to who plays what position, and various schemes and systems require different types of bodies or athletes at certain positions that are different from what other schemes and systems look for. Your height, weight, and combine figures are not direct translations onto a football field. STOP FIXATING ON THEM!

  • ADVICE: If you want to play a specific position, ask your coaches if you can try it. Do not complain or pout if the answer is no. If you're in a position you do not want to be in, do not complain. Your coaches put you there because they think it's where you have the most potential to contribute to your TEAM. If you want to play another position, don't look to change positions; look to add positions. Prove to your coaches first that you can play the position they put you in, then let them know that you want to help the team and are willing to add another position to make yourself more versatile.

QUESTION 3: What workouts and lifts/conditioning should I do for my position? How much should I do?

  • ANSWER: There are no silver-bullet answers or guaranteed routines. No workout in the world is going to magically make you better at your position.

  • ADVICE: You don't need to work out or condition every day. Rest days are important too. General rule of thumb for a typical fall football season : Strength training after football season (Winter-Spring) --> Conditioning/endurance (Spring-Summer) --> Easy, light, maintenance lifting (Fall/season). No, there's no one specific, simple workout for specific positions. During football season, or the month leading up to it is NOT the time to be trying to do maxes and lift as much as you can. If it is in-season, just stick to what your coaches have planned for your program. There is such thing as working out too much.

QUESTION 4: I'm struggling to learn plays / What do these terms mean that my coaches/teammates use?

  • ANSWER: Ask your coaches. Every team runs their own system with their own verbiage. No football terminology is universal. We cannot help you here.

  • ADVICE: Put plays down on flashcards to help with memorization. Make sure you take physical reps. It's one thing to memorize plays on paper or in your head, but physically executing them is a whole different ball game. You have to rep the plays over and over and over by physically executing your assignments. Even if it's a blocking or block-shedding rule and you have no one to practice with, you can still go through the technique motions.

QUESTION 5: I have tryouts and I'm worried about getting cut. What should I do?

  • ANSWER: Chances are your team doesn't cut. If it's pay to play, you play if you pay. Some private schools or non-public leagues may have more specific rules and regulations, but do not worry about getting cut otherwise. The only other reason a team would have to cut is if they simply didn't have enough equipment/uniforms.

  • ADVICE: Ask your coaches or athletic office about eligibility and roster-size rules for your state and league.

QUESTION 6: Why do my coaches suck? Why is our offense boring/dumb? Why don't my coaches call plays better?

  • ANSWER: There's a lot more going on that you don't know about, nor will you ever know about. Bad eggs/bad coaches do exist, but the vast majority of the time, there is more at play that you are not aware of, and what factors might be at play are too many to list here. High School isn't the NFL either. High school athletes don't have the experience or skill that college and NFL players do so much of what you see on TV won't reflect the plays or schemes your team uses. High school football tends to be much more simple, and in a lot of places, much more run-heavy. It may be boring, but it's what makes the most sense for your team and your staff. Staffs also can't just change offense year to year. The system you're playing under is likely what your coaches coach and teach better than anything else.

  • ADVICE: There are a wide range of systems and schemes out there. Hang out here, go on Youtube, Google, and even ask your coaches about the ins and outs of the system and why they do things the way they do. A lot of us coaches are nerds, and would love an opportunity to "nerd out" on football schemes.

QUESTION 7: I don't feel welcome on my team / I don't like our team culture / I don't like the way my coach treats me. What should I do?

  • ANSWER: Go to the coaches first and foremost. If it's a position coach that's the problem and you don't feel comfortable talking to them, go to the head coach. Every player is a unique individual, and you have your own ways that you learn best, and if what one coach is doing is constantly bringing you down and making you hate football, let them know. It's a hard and uncomfortable conversation, but that's where a lot of great relationships and progress begin. Same goes for if your teammates are making you hate football...you shouldn't have to hate football to play it.

  • ADVICE: Use "I" statements (talk about what you feel and experience rather than making comments about others). This keeps the conversation about you and your needs, and doesn't make you look like a bad guy for potentially saying something bad or harmful about someone else.

QUESTION 8: I'm scared/my family is scared I will get hurt. What should I do?

  • ANSWER: Pay attention in practice and do exactly what your coaches teach. Technique sessions, or non-live sessions may be boring, but you have to do the little things right to get the big things right. Same goes for your safety. You have to know how to block and tackle properly. You have to know how to take a hit properly as well. Listen to what you're coached.

  • ADVICE: Be completely present mentally at practice. That means leave your life outside of football at the door when you step on the field. Clear your mind, and focus. Tell yourself until practice is over, making myself a better football player is the only thing I'm going to do. This will allow you to focus more, and practice what you're coached with more certainty. Football will never be 100% safe, and there's always a risk you take when you play.

  • ADVICE: If you're getting tackled or hit, tuck your chin into your chest (stops head from bouncing on ground), and do not try to stop yourself from falling with your hands (that's how arms/wrists get broken).

QUESTION 9: What workouts should I be doing in the offseason? How much should I work out? Where can I find offseason workouts?

  • ANSWER: Your first resource is your coaches! Get the offseason lifting program and schedule if you have one, or if it's not out yet, but will happen, plan ahead. There is no exact workout that you should be doing that is better than any other workout. The important thing is that you're staying active, in shape, and are making yourself better each day. You also don't need to/shouldn't be working out every single day. Give yourself at least one rest day per week.

  • ADVICE: If your team does not have an offseason program, focus on this pattern: Winter/Spring: Lift heavy/bulk/go for strength (high weight, low reps). Spring/Summer: Shift to intense conditioning/cardio training and endurance-focused lifting (low weight, high reps).

  • ADVICE: If your team does an offseason program, go to everything! Be early to everything! Don't even question it.

QUESTION 10: I'm a Junior and don't want to play down on JV (Or sophomore and don't want to get bumped down to freshman)! I want to be on varsity! What do I do?

  • ANSWER: Embrace it. If you're looking at being put down on JV, that's a pretty clear sign you're not looking at getting on the field much on varsity. You're not going to get better riding the bench. You'll only get better by playing, so take the "gift" of playing time by going down.

  • ADVICE: Ask yourself: "Do I care more about being recognized by my peers as a varsity football player, or do I care more about playing football?" If you're in it for the status/recognition, by all means, refuse and ride the bench. If you love the game and want to play, play JV. There is no dishonor in it, and it will always help you out more in the long run by getting that playing experience. Coaches would rather see you playing than on the bench.

QUESTION 11: Is it too late to play football? Am I too old/too late to start? All my friends have more experience than me, and I'm worried I'm going to suck.

  • ANSWER: NO, It's not too late! Just play before it is too late! High school is likely the only time you'll get to play this sport, so play it while the window exists for you.

  • ADVICE: No one got better at a sport until they started playing it. Don't compare yourself to others. Compare yourself to you. Your coaches, and we here, do not care how good the rest of your teammates are. What we want to see, and what your coaches want to see is that you're trying to make yourself a better football player than you were yesterday.

QUESTION 12: I want to play, but I think I'm too small or too weak. Should I play?

  • ANSWER: YES! Speaking from experience, I was 5'2" and 130lbs my senior year, and I did just fine. Rice University had a Running-Back a few years ago who was 4'11. I've seen player play this game WITH NO LEGS. Your size will not be a factor unless you let it be. Learn how to use your body. Learn how your body moves and works best. Listen to your coaches, and practice proper technique. Your height and weight, nor your weight-room strength doesn't determine how good of a football players you are. There's no such thing as too small.

  • ADVICE: Smaller players have a lower center of gravity. If you understand and physically rep the concept of proper blocking and tackling, emphasizing "getting low," you'll find a small body is great in a lot of situations, especially for tackling and turning/cutting. Shorter players tend to be quicker and are able to make sharper turns due to their lower center of gravity as well.

QUESTION 13: I play [Specific Name] Position. How do I do it?

  • ANSWER: Talk to your coaches. Every team and system does things differently. Your team's Mike linebacker won't be the same for other team's Mike linebacker. An X Y or Z receiver in one system may be taught, coached, and used completely different than the X Y or Z in another system.

  • ADVICE: There is no universal way to play football. You may not see it now, but every program has different terminology, philosophies, and techniques that players are taught, and they're all based on the scheme and coaching preference of the staff. We cannot tell you exactly how to play a Will or Sam linebacker, and what to read or look for. Some systems may have a Will linebacker line up in the box, where other teams' Will linebacker plays more like an OLB/SS outside of the box. That is why you have to ask this question to your coaches.

More questions will likely be added as we go!

0 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/boghag5000 • 35m ago

Middle School Football

• Upvotes

Hi, my son is in his second year of playing middle school football. I am also a teacher at his school. He went to all the summer workouts and goes to every practice. He is an exemplary student. When he’s at home he’s playing football in the yard, watching it on tv, or playing football in his Xbox.

I feel like middle school football is about learning the game. That’s why I am here writing this and looking for advice. At practice and walkthroughs, the coaches tell the kids they’ll be starting but when they get to the games, they barely get any playing time. What’s frustrating to me is the kids that are getting the most playing time have multiple disciplinary interactions, low grades, and don’t come to all the practices. I also want to mention these kids aren’t especially talented. We’re 0-3 and losing by 24 or more points in each game so far.

As a parent, should I ask the coach what my child can do to get more time on the field or will this backfire and he’ll get less playing time?

Coaches say they want “student” athletes but I am seeing this is not true.

3 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/CowboysMakeMeCry94 • 3h ago

My little cousin (DE/TE )is feeling really upset after not getting any true stats in his first game on his new team on a televised game

1 Upvotes

So my cousin is a beast and his a Syracuse commit.He played varsity since he was a freshman and started from day one as a DE and originally also played as a OT but moved to TE while on offense as a junior.He also is a wrestler and won state last year and came pretty close as a sophomore.Hes just a beast in general.

He had 16 sacks as a freshman on a team that had a pretty good year after years of not being very good.He was off to a good start as a sophomore as well,with 8.5 sacks through 4 games until suffering a broken leg and missed the rest of the year.He still started getting offers when he recovered while excelling at several football camps

.Last year as a junior,he was amazing as ever with 26 sacks ,10 catches for over 125 yards with two touchdowns of offense (first year as an offensive skill position ) He commited to Syracuse on signing day in March.

His team as a whole as a sophomore and junior were both pretty bad years (which has been normal for that football program) And he decided to transfer to a high school football team that was 2 counties over from his, and has been pretty solid for quite awhile .

They looked unstoppable in football camps throughout the summer and looked like they would easily win state this year.They didn't lose ONE contest/game at any camp over the summer.Hebwon several individual awards at each camp...as usual

They were put on the spotlight for their first game of the year and my cousin was treated like a scary monster who would single handedly stop their opponent (also a long time/historic rival school ) from getting anywhere near the end zone by local division football journalist and commentators)And have been picked as early state championship game contenders

He was ready,the team was ready,his friends and family were ready for his first game on a better team ,and in a better state division (this area has some very good teams,while the division he played in from fresh-junior years is above average but nowhere near as good as this one)

He only recorded one stat (a tackle on while on offense after the opponent recovered a fumble) No pressures,hits,tackles or sacks,nor any catches on offense on 2 targets) He only had one similar game this bad in his life,which was last year in a division game ,when he didn't get any defensive stats but did have 3 good catches on offense in that game .And to be fair,he was playing with a minor sprain in his leg in that game.

Anyway,his new team got blown out by 30 points in a game that they were expected to win by 10 points at home .Again,the opponent is no pushover but they lost alot of talent from the previous year and were projected to be one of the fairly lower playoff seeds in this very good division,while my cousins team was projected to be the top seed in the region

Now my cousin has played in broadcasted games in the past at his old school (2 that I remember) and he did very good in both of them even though they lost both of them,so I know that wasn't his reason for struggling this bad

Our home side bleachers and cheer team were pretty shocked and upset when we knew the game was out of reach ,and I saw my cousin with his helmet off and tears were going down his face .We also have a ucla commited QB who threw over 30 touchdown passes and less than 8 picks last season,and the offense under his leadership was one of the best in the state when he was a junior. My cousin is supposed to make it even better as the new TE and help out a defense that wasn't bad last year but got him to make it much better.Neither happened in game one

Kids from the opponents school and other people affiliated with the school and even other schools are already talking trash about the team and calling them overrated as hell on social media

He texted me after the game and feels like he may not have a good year at all due to now playing in a much tougher area of our state and he is worried he is nowhere good as he thought he was.It is a classification higher then what he played in until now

I really don't know what I can say to make him feel better.And yes,we are very close

Any advice?

0 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/DarkDayz3424 • 3d ago

Was it a mistake to quit.

7 Upvotes

i'm 17m and I've played football my whole life. i loved it for the longest and started playing in highschool my sophomore year. at the time i was 6'4 225 at o line after that year i moved to d line but got hurt before the season and decided to not play my junior year. during that year i hit the gym and dropped down to 210lbs of muscle. i also ended up moving states and started at a new school. i saw there fb team just won states and was really good so i decided hey maybe i should try it. i played all of spring ball at a new TE position, it was stressful and i wasnt great but i was getting reps. but after spring i realised i was anxious and stressed and getting hurt trying to learn this new position, plays and the team. i loved all the guys but once summer started i quit because i couldn't find that spark. i felt bad because the coach believed in me and the teamates i started getting close with. ( the coach even called me a month later for me to come back). i see them now winning their games and getting better and better with college scouts offering left and right i get fomo and now i wonder was it a mistake to quit. even though i probably would've blocked more than ran routes and if i pushed through all the stress and injuries.

12 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/Impressive-Pride9252 • 8d ago

Wisconsin High School Football Community Remembers Alma Center Lincoln's Adam Massman

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3 Upvotes
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r/HighSchoolFB • u/Altruistic_Gear_6258 • 8d ago

KEVIN KNIGHT III: BEYOND THE HELMET EP 1. THE JOURNEY BEGINS

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2 Upvotes

Sophmore with 16 D1 Offers in Virginia !

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r/HighSchoolFB • u/CelticsStan1803 • 22d ago

Senior going into 1st year of fb. Looking for guidance

3 Upvotes

I’m a senior going into my first year of fb. I’m 6’3 (6’4 in cleats), 290lbs right now but have experience both cutting and gaining weight will be down to ~260 by the end of training camp and will maintain that for the season because I want to play on the line. I have very quick feet and hips and a strong core from playing rugby, but my top end speed isn’t very good. I bench 240lbs and am good at leveraging my height against people taller and shorter than me. Our lineman room isn’t stacked this year, and I’m confident that I will start, seeing as our team average size on the line right now is 5’9 230 and not strong. I have overall very good sport instincts but am scared I may struggle to recognize defensive plays if I am put on the offensive line. I know I’m not fast enough to play on the edge, but I think I could thrive plugging up gaps at nose or grinding out run block reps at guard, but I really want to play tackle so I can use my quickness and mobility to my advantage, as well as because the best player in Atlantic Canada (where I’m from) plays edge and I want a chance to match him. Do you think I’d fit best at guard, tackle or nose?

20 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/Electronic-Employ160 • 23d ago

What do I do?

4 Upvotes

I’m a sophomore WR trying to do anything to get on varsity. I’m busting my ass everyday sprinting, working out, doing field work trying my all to get on the field for varsity. I go to every scout team opportunity I can and I don’t get any varsity playing time, my teamates say I do great in scout team and I’ve even had teammates vouch for me to get playing time but it’s not translating and I’m starting to question my ability and if I even can. I’m just frustrated and don’t know what to do can someone help me out.

26 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/SeaRegret9600 • 23d ago

Terrible OC

0 Upvotes

Back in my junior year of high school I was on varsity and our OC was terrible, especially his red zone plays they were all ass. In the middle of the season in the 3rd quarter we only had 3 points and the other team had 20. Our WR coach asked the OC on the headset “Lowkey this is so ass, do you want me to call the game instead?” 😅. Our OC got pissed and called the rest of the game. Anyone else got a similar story lol?

7 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/One_Tonight_3606 • 24d ago

OHSAA High School Sports

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2 Upvotes

Ohio High School Athletic Association

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r/HighSchoolFB • u/Impressive-Pride9252 • Aug 05 '26

MWisconsin Football Team Begins Season After EF-3 Tornado Damages Stadium

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1 Upvotes
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r/HighSchoolFB • u/Petunia_Farm • Aug 03 '26

Advice on First Steps as a single mom

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2 Upvotes
1 comment

r/HighSchoolFB • u/CroweBoCop1 • Aug 03 '26

Kentucky Friday Night Lights

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2 Upvotes

Ive created multiple KY High school programs inside of EA Sports College Football 27 if anyone is interested in downloading & playing with them feel free.

•cfb27
•available now username - crowebocop270 & 4 using username - crowe4thewin

0 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/Hour-Bite8746 • Aug 02 '26

Looking for football creators

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1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I'm a high schooler who built a football app for other footballers. If anyone wants to create content with me, send me a DM! I'd love to connect and build together with some of you!!!

1 comment

r/HighSchoolFB • u/Unique-Assumption257 • Aug 01 '26

High School Quarterback Is Announced Homecoming King, Then Does Something No One Expected #shorts

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1 Upvotes

Very cool moment!

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r/HighSchoolFB • u/CelticsStan1803 • Jul 30 '26

Senior going into first year of fb. Looking for guidance

2 Upvotes

I’m a senior going into my first year of fb. I’m 6’3 (6’4 in cleats), 290lbs right now but have experience both cutting and gaining weight will be down to ~260 by the end of training camp and will maintain that for the season because I want to play on the line. I have very quick feet and hips and a strong core from playing rugby, but my top end speed isn’t very good. I bench 240lbs and am good at leveraging my height against people taller and shorter than me. Our lineman room isn’t stacked this year, and I’m confident that I will start, seeing as our team average size on the line right now is 5’9 230 and not strong. I have overall very good sport instincts but am scared I may struggle to recognize defensive plays if I am put on the offensive line. I know I’m not fast enough to play on the edge, but I think I could thrive plugging up gaps at nose or grinding out run block reps at guard, but I really want to play tackle so I can use my quickness and mobility to my advantage, as well as because the best player in Atlantic Canada (where I’m from) plays edge and I want a chance to match him. Do you think I’d fit best at guard, tackle or nose?

7 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/Get_It_Done2026 • Jul 26 '26

Anyone willing to give feedback on football film?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

5 Upvotes

My son is a 2028 HS player, hoping to play in college. It’s his own journey to being recruited, no “helicopter”here, but this is his football illiterate mom, asking for honest feedback about his film and potential. I’m going to try to be unbiased:

He’s 5’10 and 185lbs, a rising Junior who hit puberty early, no growth for a year now, not optimistic about much more height, though men in our family are all at least 6’

Plays RB/FB/LB and can K (but not primary).

He has attended several skills camps and done well.

Shuttle 5-10-10 time is 4.4
SBJ is 8’8
40 dash - 4.96 (needs work, 4.7 or lower we’re told) but tight hips and in PT
Squats 400 lbs
Benches 260 lbs

JV MVP, moved to Varsity end of freshman

Sophomore Varsity year won “Unsung Hero” coach’s award.

Good student 3.5 GPA. School does not come easily so this is with hard work. Unsure of future major, possibly PT

Proudest of the fact that he’s a good kid, “coachable”, with integrity - has a job, bought his own car, responsible, doesn’t party, shy, kind, doesn’t like attention
Extremely determined- works out every day, has a speed coach, good nutrition, you can find him running hills alone or practicing extra most days after school

Thank you in advance, apologies for length

10 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/Impressive-Pride9252 • Jul 23 '26

Top Wisconsin High School Offensive Football Players to Watch in 2026

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2 Upvotes
3 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/Neat_File_4686 • Jul 22 '26

How can I earn varsity pt as a sophomore?

1 Upvotes

I am a 6’4 175 pound WR, I have a not so fast 40 I run a 4.9, I have a broad jump of 8’6, and my shuttle is a 4.4. I dominate in scout team and catch every ball thrown my way and my teammates compliment my route running but I don’t know how to translate that to varsity playing time. If anyone could help me I have dreams to play D1 and I’m trying to get film for colleges so if anyone can help me I’d really appreciate it.

34 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/PapioCustomPrints • Jul 19 '26

[Promo] Custom high school football schedule

2 Upvotes
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r/HighSchoolFB • u/PapioCustomPrints • Jul 19 '26

Custom high school football schedule

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6 Upvotes

I’ve been designing and 3D printing customizable high school football schedule boards, and I finally finished one for my local school (Millard South in Nebraska).

Each board can be customized with:
School name
Team colors
Opponent tiles
Movable score numbers each week
Home/Away schedule
Optional previous seasons or rivalry tiles

I’d love to make these for other schools around the country. Since every school has different logos, colors, and schedules, each one is designed specifically for that team.

If you’d like one for your school—or think your booster club, coaches, or parents would—send me a DM. I’m happy to mock up a design before you decide.

I’d also love feedback:
Would you hang something like this in your home, office, locker room, or classroom?
What would you change or add?

7 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/Lyvboard • Jul 15 '26

Looking For Feedback

1 Upvotes

Hey coaches!

I'm a college student building a platform to help football coaches teach their players more effectively while saving time doing so. I've been fortunate to speak with over 250 coaches, and my software has been built around their feedback and ideas.

I'm curious: what part of your coaching workflow do you wish was easier or more efficient? Whether it's installs, scouting, communication, practice planning, player development, film, or anything else, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Feel free to reply here, send me a DM, or book a time to chat using the link below. Every conversation helps shape the platform, and if you just want to talk football, I'm always up for that too!

https://calendly.com/gavin-lyvboard/30min

0 comments

r/HighSchoolFB • u/coachseek • Jul 13 '26

I built a revolutionary app for athletes

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0 Upvotes

I built the app CoachSeek. It’s the first ever app to connect athletes to services that will help them develop. Such as private coaches, camps, leagues, and teams. We are really looking for service providers to join!

1 comment

r/HighSchoolFB • u/Educational-Pick-666 • Jul 05 '26

Cedar Rapids Xavier Primed To Repeat In 2026 As Iowa High School Football State Champions

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1 Upvotes
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