Brandon Valenca

@cobrafball2017 let’s get your paperwork done early!

The Culture being built @cobrafball2017 right now is undeniable. Built through standard, grit, confidence and determination. It’s a hill I will stand on and defend. Especially, when it comes to these young men. Busting their ass on and off the field. Proud of these Boys.

This spring at Hudson has been absolutely insane. Between college visits, college coaches coming, kids getting offers and now Tristan Wirfs. Come on man. Great time to be a Cobra! 🐍 Wish I was there today but was supporting our lifter at the state weightlifting meet. @cobrafball2017 @TristanWirfs78 thank you!

@CoachHaggardFAM appreciate you stopping by today and speaking with our athletes.

Huge! Great stuff kid!

Great first day of practice. Looking forward to seeing what we can put together this spring.

@Andy_Villamarzo give me a follow back sir. Thank you.

@cobrafball2017 it’s time to lock in after spring break. All hands on deck! We have a big Spring season coming up. Thank you to all the college coaches that have reached out to @coachhicks16 about coming by.

We had multiple players on visits this weekend and this coming week @coachhicks16 and I will be taking a few young men to see some big time universities. College Coaches we got dudes! Have a couple 26s still looking for an opportunity as well. Spring is going to be busy here @cobrafball2017

Your talent gets you noticed, your character gets you opportunities!

Yes!

The best teams aren’t stacked with stars. They’re stacked with standards. Standards create consistency. Consistency creates trust. Trust wins games. Coaches, what standard in your program is non negotiable? #FootballCulture #HighSchoolCoaches #ProgramBuilding

Saw these questioned asked by a new youth coach in a group I’m in on face book. Thought I would share them here with my responses and would like to hear what you guys think as well. 1. Off season training - Train athleticism not so much specialization just yet. Think change of direction, linear and lateral speed, agility, plyometrics strength training. Yes, young kids can lift. All the myths have been debunked. Proper guidelines and guidance is a must. Don’t just put load on a young man and tell him to lift. Progressive steps to get them under weight. 2. How hard to push 8-12 year olds - You can push them pretty hard but make it fun with competitive drills and such. If it’s not fun to a degree you won’t get their best effort. 3. Film ( how important and how much at this level) - it’s important to get down the the basics and start teaching them how to watch film. I always tell my young guys to YouTube their position and watch as well. 4. Should a HC be OC and DC at this age? - That’s usually how it goes. The HC will run one or the other unless you have the luxury of having an experienced staff at that level. 5. How often do you practice per week? We are only allowed 2 practices and a game per week. - I’m in Florida and we do 4 days a week over the summer until school starts then drop down to 3. But work with what you’re allowed. Practice with purpose, have a plan and make every rep count with the time you are allotted. 6. Under Center or Shotgun? - This is talent and scheme dependent. You have to be able to adjust to the kids and work with what you have available. Mostly importantly, be a coach that is a doer. You better be able to physically show them what you are asking them to do. Kids will inherently respect that more than a coach who just tells them what to do all the time. Set a standard and maintain it no matter what. Even with the parents. You will start seeing even at this young age kids will start holding each other accountable. When that starts happening you now have a winning culture and player led team. Hope this helps.

Discipline isn’t complicated. Show up. Do your job. Finish the rep. Even when nobody’s watching. That habit will take you further than talent ever will. Players, how do you hold yourself accountable when no coach is around? #FootballCulture #HighSchoolFootball #NextLevelMindset

Yes sir @CJCressser. Proud of you kid!

Care about your players first. Earn their trust. Show them you are with them, not above them. When they feel that, they will follow your lead and they will grow. Coaching starts with heart long before it starts with drills.

Today I’m just thankful for where I’m at. Thankful for the things I have. Thankful for the people in my corner. Life isn’t perfect and it’s not supposed to be. But when I stop for a second and look around, I realize how much I’ve been given. The challenges that pushed me. The lessons that shaped me. The moments that reminded me what really matters. I’m grateful for all of it. The good. The hard. The quiet wins that nobody sees. If you’re reading this, I hope you take a second today to look at your own life and see the blessings that are right in front of you. Happy Thanksgiving.

Can we stop using the word elite to describe youth players? Some of these same players become busts by the time they hit high school. Kids develop differently and at different rates. One you say is elite now just got passed up by the kid that works tirelessly and has a never quit attitude. Youth sports are strictly for development and should be treated as such. Adults put your ego aside and Coach these kids properly focusing on making them better on and off the field. Yes, winning is important but not at the cost of proper development.

Losing should never be accepted…Ever! Does it happen? Of course, but never should be set as standard and so easily accepted in sport or life. Winning is the standard point blank period! Losing is a minor setback to set up for the comeback. You have to hate losing more than you like winning or you will never be a winner!