Subject: Make that light bulb come on
Date: September 21, 2026

One season we had this kid named Chase. Chase was a good kid. A program kid.

He worked hard in practice. He was the first kid out on the field when we called for scout team.

In fact, he did everything right. Always showed up for the weight room. Great student. Put in work for every fundraiser.

There was only one problem.

Before I get into it, this is a story about a Team Offense period during practice. On The Football Coaching Podcast this week, we talked about organizing your
Team Periods to prepare for Game Day:

Watch or Listen to “Practice Planning Your Team Periods” >>

Chase was a Senior. It was Week 9 of the season. He would never be a starter, or even a big time contributor on the field.

Not on Game Day.

Until…

Toward the end of Wednesday night’s practice, late in October with the sun disappearing fast…

The light came on.

We weren’t very good. There was no playoff appearance on the line. I do not remember our record or even what defense we ran that season.

But I remember that sound while I was running the scout defense in the twilight…

THWACK!

This kid came up from Free Safety and laid the lumber.

For the first time ever. With two games, and less than 5 practices left in his football career.

It wasn’t a one-off either. He did it again and again over the next 10 days.

That Friday we got him some Special Teams reps. The following week, he played his first meaningful snaps of high school football.

Not just because it was Senior Night. We used him to give starters a break throughout the night.

He’d played so much scout team by that time he could play just about anywhere on the field. And he didn’t care, because this was it.

Individual drills teach kids the skills and techniques to play the game. They help build confidence, too.

But in my years of experience, the light bulb comes on during Team periods. That’s where it all comes together.

It can happen for your starters. It can happen for your back-ups. Something just clicks.

It can happen for your scout team, too. That’s how kids move from scout superstar to Game Day Starter.

Check out this week’s podcast for more on how to make that happen.

Watch or Listen to “Practice Planning Your Team Periods” >>

~ Joe Daniel