| Engineering a Complete Overhaul in Youth Football | | | | Sam Mills, a 5'7" Pro Bowl linebacker, who no one |
| This past weekend I was a speaker at the Pop | | | | wanted out of high school. After a stellar career |
| Warner Treasure Coast coaches clinic held in the | | | | at Montclair State, a Division III school, Mills was |
| West Palm Beach, Florida area. Also speaking was | | | | cut from 2 NFL squads as well as a CFL team. A |
| Bill Powers, head football coach at Jupiter Christian | | | | full 2 years after playing his last college down, he |
| High School. Bills teams have won back-to-back | | | | caught on in the USFL and his coach Jim Mora |
| State Championships and are on a 28 game | | | | took Mills with him to the Saints and then later to |
| winning streak. The amazing thing about this story | | | | the Carolina Panthers where he went on to play in |
| is Jupiter Christian prior to Bills arrival had never | | | | 5 Pro Bowls. |
| had a winning season. In fact the 2 years prior to | | | | Powers sold his kids on the idea they had no |
| Bills arrival the team went 2-17 and were | | | | choice but to outwork their opponents in order to |
| outscored by over 600 combined points. The | | | | compete. He made them face the harsh realities |
| previous head coach resigned, declaring the | | | | of the numbers and size disparities they would be |
| football program "dead" and suggested it be | | | | facing and sold them the only solution was to |
| discontinued. | | | | outwork their opponents. Their mantra is |
| Under Bill Powers leadership, the school has not | | | | "overachieve", it guides their every action, they |
| only gone 45-5 and won 2 State Titles, but they | | | | break every huddle with it. They are relentless, |
| are now competing with and beating schools with | | | | whether they are lifting weights, doing speed |
| much larger enrollments. Jupiter Christian has just | | | | training, doing 7 on 7 or playing lacrosse for |
| 250 students, but Jupiter regularly competes | | | | Jupiter Christian with you guessed it, Bill Powers at |
| against schools with student populations of 400, | | | | the helm. Bill is a huge fan and proponent of |
| 600, 1,000 and yes even one with over 2,000 | | | | football players playing lacrosse. |
| students. In 2008 they played 3 different 4A | | | | Powers and his staff started at ground zero with |
| schools with enrollments of 1500 or more. | | | | this team and they haven't strayed very far |
| Perennial powers like Glades Day dot Jupiter | | | | from their ground zero practice plans. They are |
| Christians schedule as well as even out of state | | | | fanatics on perfect fundamentals, pad level, |
| powerhouses from North Carolina and Georgia. | | | | footwork, swinging the hips, they leave nothing to |
| This season their schedule includes several 4A | | | | the imagination. They don't scrimmage much, but |
| schools again and even a 5A school (Lake Worth) | | | | work every day on the basic blocking and tackling |
| with over 2,000 students. These guys are the | | | | that is the cornerstone of every great team. The |
| Fresno State of High School football, anyone, | | | | schemes Bill Powers teams run are not complex, |
| anytime, anywhere. | | | | in actuality they probably run fewer than 20 |
| What Kind of Ammo? | | | | different plays. But they do use many formations |
| What seems so odd about this story is the team | | | | and motions to gain advantages. Bills offense |
| is not made up of big kids or great athletes. Not a | | | | mirrors his minimalist approach to the game, |
| single Jupiter Christian player from a Bill Powers | | | | breaking the game down to a few critical success |
| team has gone on to play Division I football under | | | | factors and requiring perfect execution and |
| scholarship. In fact starting quarterback Marshyl | | | | sustained effort of 4-5 seconds on every snap. |
| Rothman wasn't even sure he liked football, he | | | | Jupiter Christian's coaching staff demands it's |
| was a hockey player and stands just 5'8" and 170 | | | | players play with enthusiasm, 100% effort and |
| pounds. Starting fullback/linebacker Will Powers | | | | execute. They hold the kids accountable to that |
| (Bill's son) started as a sophomore on the | | | | standard and by all appearances it looks like the |
| offensive line, before moving to fullback. At just | | | | kids are "all in" to use a popular poker phrase. |
| 5'7" and 185 lbs he looks like a throwback in those | | | | Coach Powers was also quick to credit the school |
| 2007 game clips, wearing jersey number 65. | | | | administration for their support as well as the hard |
| Watching Jupiter Christian game film is like | | | | work of his very dedicated but now growing |
| watching a David vs Goliath movie nearly every | | | | coaching staff. They endlessly study film to |
| game. What I noticed first was the shocking | | | | improve their teams. While they certainly |
| disparities in size especially in the offensive line. In | | | | meticulously analyze every opponent on film, you |
| many of the shots it looked like a college team | | | | find this staff of film junkies looking more at how |
| lining up against a Pop Warner Midget team. The | | | | they can improve their execution and get every |
| second thing I noticed was the incredible quickness | | | | last bit of talent squeezed out of the hand that |
| of Christians offensive line as well as the | | | | was dealt them. That includes things like having |
| outstanding execution and consistent effort of | | | | one of your best young running backs starting on |
| this entire squad. | | | | the offensive line. |
| From Youth Coach to State High School | | | | Lessons Learned |
| Championships | | | | One of the biggest benefits I get from all the |
| Another kicker to this unlikely story, Bill Powers | | | | coaches clinics I do is getting to sit down and |
| and his staff had never coached High School | | | | learn from guys like Bill Powers. Lucky me, I get |
| football prior to taking over at Jupiter Christian. Bill | | | | the benefit of his 4 years of real life experiences, |
| was a former State Trooper, then Stock Broker, | | | | without having to suffer them myself. Simply put, |
| then successful business owner. He had however | | | | there aren't many like him though, to have done |
| been a very successful Pop Warner coach. Yes | | | | so much with so little in such a short time period |
| folks, he went straight from Youth Football to | | | | and with a coaching pedigree many long time |
| winning State Titles in the High School ranks. His | | | | coaches would raise their noses at. |
| offensive line coach Tom Morton, offensive | | | | For those of us out there who are trying to turn |
| coordinator Jim Davis and assistant Tim Derrico all | | | | around a difficult situation, there is hope, there is a |
| coached with Bill in Pop Warner. | | | | template you can follow, it can be done. But the |
| Fortunately for me, my good friend Kevin Justice | | | | answer is in economy, don't try to do too much, |
| knows Bill Powers well and he arranged for Bill and | | | | but what you do, perfect it. Get the kids to |
| I to have lunch and dinner together during my | | | | believe in themselves, that they can succeed, give |
| Florida stay. I wanted to find out what was so | | | | them hope. Know what you have and what you |
| special about Bill Powers and how he engineered | | | | have to do in order to have success, be the very |
| this amazing turnaround. Bill Powers has a very | | | | best fundamental blocking and tackling team in |
| strong presence, at age 49 he looks just a few | | | | your league. |
| years removed from being able to strap it up and | | | | Hold your kids accountable to playing with |
| play himself. Just like his offense, he is very | | | | enthusiasm, 100% effort and perfect execution. |
| economical with his words, he uses just the | | | | Care about your players so they go "all in" and |
| minimum to get the job done, there is no fluff. | | | | you can get the kind of effort Bills kids give. |
| Confident, but modestly giving credit to his | | | | Coach with enthusiasm and intensity and lead by |
| assistants, players and supportive administration, | | | | example, you can teach work ethic. As Coach |
| he is an easy interview, my kind of guy. | | | | Powers showed, there are some concepts that |
| How They Did It | | | | are universal to both youth and High School |
| When asked what 5 actions of his had the most | | | | football teams, it's up to you if you decide to |
| impact on turning the program around, he didn't | | | | apply them or not. |
| have to think at all, the answers flowed quickly. | | | | Many thanks to Bill Powers for spending the time |
| He felt the number one reason for the turnaround | | | | with me to help me understand how they |
| was getting the kids to believe they could win. He | | | | achieved this remarkable turnaround, so other |
| constantly bombarded them with stories of the | | | | coaches out there can help their kids have a |
| unlikely hero, the player or team that everyone | | | | much more enjoyable season. He is the finest, |
| thought was too small or not athletic enough to | | | | best of luck to him and the Jupiter Christian kids |
| prevail, but did. He told his players about friend | | | | this year with the brutal schedule ahead of them. |
