How to Adjust a Football Mouthpiece

Coach Joe Wieland points out that some players have not fitted their mouth guards.

As a rule, Wieland says, players' mouth guards should fit tightly to their upper teeth. They should be able to talk without the guard falling out.

 If the guard is too loose, it can become dislodged during action and cause the players to choke, or come out of the player's mouth, leaving them unprotected.

All parents should check to see that mouth guards fit properly.

If you need some guidance on that process, please visit this website recommended by Joe:

http://www.wikihow.com/Adjust-a-Football-Mouthpiece

Meet the Coaches: Joe Wieland

Coach Joe Wieland

When Joe Wieland coached the Whitefish Bay High School football team, his team one season featured a senior linebacker who was 5’ 6” and weighed all of 140 pounds. (Hint: Some boys on this season’s 7th grade squad are bigger than that.)
“He lifted weights and became a second-team all-conference linebacker, because he thought he was a tough-guy football player,” Wieland said.
“Every year at high school I had one kid who never started until he became a senior. Those are my success stories. I made a difference with those kids.”
Wieland, who has 22 years of coaching football at every level from 3rd grade through college graduate assistant, is coaching the Junior Blue Dukes 7th grade Blue team this year. He coached the 6th grade squad last season.
He was an all-conference football (RB/DB), baseball (outfielder) and track (sprinter) athlete at Kettle Moraine High School, and an all-conference free safety and track letterman at Carroll College. Wieland coached the WFBHS team for 5 years, compiling 8-3 records his last two seasons.
“I’ve never been the biggest guy on the field,” said Wieland, a math teacher at Whitefish Bay Middle School. “I felt like I worked as hard as I could. I was a tough guy, I played hard.
“I was a kid who could not stand to lose. I hated to lose. I was really fast, I took advantage of my strengths.”
Last season, with a bounty of skilled players to call on, Wieland’s 6th grade team went undefeated. To get more boys more playing experience, the 7th grade is fielding two teams this season, with acknowledged skill players divided comparably between the two teams.
“I feel much more challenged as a coach, day to day in practice,” he said. “I have to make the players better every single day.
“One of our goals is to make our coaches coach better.”
He said he was “ecstatic” with the number of 7th grade boys (about 46) who came out for football this season. “We picked up some football players. Some will have an immediate impact, some an impact two years from now.”

Joe Wieland in his day job as a teacher.

While some players are obviously bigger, faster or stronger than others, Wieland does not believe on giving up on any kid who is making the effort. “Kids will ask me and I will tell them candidly, here’s what you need to do (to improve or to earn a starting spot),” he said. He also said every kid on the team, no matter who he is, has parts of his game he can improve.
Wieland, Grey team coach Jon Bassindale and the assistant coaches are committed to maintaining a unified spirit among 7th grade players while fielding two teams. The two head coaches frequently compare notes on their squads. About 75% of the offensive playbook is the same for both teams, with each team putting in a few plays of its own to take advantage of its players’ distinctive skills.
“We end every practice as a team,” Wieland said. “We are one big team that is going our opposite ways on Saturday and coming back to talk about our victories.

Meet the Coaches: Jon Bassindale

Coaches Joe Wieland (left) and Jon Bassindale

(At the suggestion of Coach Wieland, I’m writing a series of pieces about the men who are coaching our boys this season.)
Jon Bassindale defies at least one stereotype of the youth football coach: He does not yell very much. 

That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t correct mistakes in practice, or get exasperated by the antics and miniscule attention spans of some hormonally-charged 7th graders. But rather than scold, he prefers to instruct and organize boys in a sport that he both takes seriously and loves passionately.

“I have had both good coaches as well as some really bad coaches in my time, so I have a lot to model myself after,” he said.

With the 7th grade moving to two teams this season for more boys to gain playing experience, Bassindale, who coached running backs and linebackers last season, was eager to step up to the second head coaching spot alongside Joe Wieland.

“I love football... it’s the ultimate team sport!
Football requires all 11 players on the field to coordinate their efforts in order to create an advantage over the other team. If one player misses an assignment, the whole play can collapse.”

Bassindale played high school football at Racine Case in 1975-’77 as a running back and cornerback, where he earned all-conference and all-county honors. He played college football at Dartmouth as a running back and member of the kickoff and kick coverage teams.

One of his signature experiences as a player started, unexpectedly, with a demotion. He had missed a Dartmouth varsity game to attend his brother’s wedding. When he returned to campus, he found he had been demoted to the JV team for the next game.

“I had a ton of fun in that game,” he said. “It kind of refocused me.” It reminded him of how much fun football could be, no matter where a person is playing.

“This season,” Bassindale said, “is about trying to make our 7th grade class even stronger as a team by developing more players capable of taking it to the next level.”

“So much of what we accomplish this year,” he continued, “will take place in practice and not on the field on Saturdays.

“Many of my best football memories come from the time spent with my football buddies on the practice field.”

Bassindale, Joe Wieland and the assistant coaches had many discussions before dividing the 7th graders into two comparable teams.

“We have 22-23 boys on the grey squad, and at this point only half of our starting 11 would be starters on a combined team,” Bassindale said.

“That means the other half will get significant playing time in a starting role, where they have the opportunity to get even better.”

While it doesn’t hurt to have size, speed and strength, Bassindale said what he most looks for in players is “the things that kids can control... their effort, their attitude, and their respect.

If the player shows up and gives 100%, is willing to learn and try new things, is focused on improving, and is respectful of their coaches/teammates and competition, they will accomplish a lot.”

At least for the first game, he said, he would go with his best 11 on offense and best 11 on defense. Knowing that means some of the same players on both sides, probably another 5 or 6 boys will also play regularly.

As Coach Wieland has also said, he will be fair to boys based on their skills, mastery of the plays and effort they put into practice, but playing time will not be distributed equally.
“Everyone has the same opportunity to prove themselves ready for playing time,” he said.

“Success here would be having some of our second 11 become part of our starting 11 before season’s end.”

A Message from the Coaches

A MESSAGE FROM THE COACHES:

BE CAREFUL - With the season upon us, we need the boys to take football as their number 1 priority and limit their other activities that could lead to injuries. We only have 23 players on each team and we need all of them healthy for practice and games. My son, Bailey, is no longer playing Sunday baseball, just as an example. Every player and parent can obviously choose the activities of the players, but we are really looking to making football the number one commitment over the next 8 weeks. When someone gets injured or sick, we do not have many options this year.

SLEEP - School is starting and the boys will need to adjust to a new schedule. Get them to bed early. We are asking that parents do not have Friday night sleep overs. Players should be IN BED by 10:00.

HOMEWORK - Encourage the boys to finish their homework after school and before practice. This would help with them getting home at 8:00, showering, eating and getting to bed .

INJURIES - if your son is injured, a good general rule is ice for 48 hours following the incident. Also, let us know ASAP when a player is injured. There is a difference between PAIN and INJURY. We need players to push through PAIN and rest an INJURY. 

PRACTICE - CHANGE. We are going to continue with practice on Tuesdsay, Wednesday, Thursday. We will start promptly at 5:00 and finish at 7:00. We have found that anything over 2 hours has not been productive this year ( again, age and hormones ).

CONCESSIONS - We encourage you to volunteer to work the concessions OPPOSITE of you sons game. We only have a few home games and this will enable you to watch your son in action instead of working concessions while he is playing.

GAME TIME - Players should be at the field, ready to go, 1 hour before game time. Ask your son his position and when he is playing, which will help you find him on the field. There is still only one ball, and not everyone touches it, but we are trying to make everyone understand that ALL players contribute to a win, or a loss.  As we have said in the past, fair does not mean equal.

Thanks,  Coach Wieland and Coach Bassindale

BLUE team scrimmage wear update

Uniform for tomorrow's (Sept. 2) scrimmage:  Blue game jerseys and blue game pants.  If your player needs a ride, please drop them off at Lydell by 4:30.   
Thanks, 
John Brewster 
jbrewster@wi.rr.com 
Blue (Wieland) team manager

BLUE, GREY ROSTERS FINALIZED

Coaches Joe Wieland (Blue) and Jon Bassindale (Grey) have finalized the rosters for our two 7th grade teams.

BLUE
Head Coach: Joe Wieland
Coaches: Mark Kortebein, Kurt Alt, Joe Fisher, Dan Hess, Scott Siebert
Manager: John Brewster (coordinates volunteers and other duties)
Players: Will Alt, Jake Brewster, Charlie Cohen, Patrick Collins, Anthony Enea, Josiah Erving, Jake Fisher, Brandon Haughey, Danny Hess, Carter Heston, Andrew James, Cullen Kieper, Connor Kimple, Macklin Kortebein, Peter Kubly, Alec Lindfors, Evan Miller, Johnny Misey, Connor Nethen, Anthony Pogorelc, Paul Presberg, Chris Siebert, Bailey Wieland, Paul Wilson.

GREY
Head Coach: Jon Bassindale
Coaches: Steve Hummer, John Friesch, Matt Trussoni, Jeff Frank
Manager: Jim Higgins
Players: Van Bassindale, Matt Bernstein, Elie Ben Bordow, Brooks Burton, Zach Casey, Clay Daley, Jonathan Downs, Cooper Fergus, Justin Fisher, Seamus Floyd, Jack Friesch, Russell Grevious, Brijhan Hackney, John Heebink, Nick Higgins, Ryan Hummer, Scott Rojahn, Jesse Sanford, Tony Schultz, Dreyel Taylor, Mason Trussoni, Zachary Turner, Teddy Weber.

Coach speaks: About the Aug. 21 Scrimmages

From Coach Joe Wieland:

On Saturday, we will scrimmage Hartford from 10-11 and then Oshkosh West from  11-12. Due to the large number of boys on our team, we are planning to do some additional scrimmaging with our players from 12-12:30. I just wanted all parents to know that the players will not be done until 12:30. If parents and players have to leave at 12, please let us know on Saturday.

If you want to be able to find your son during the scrimmage, have them wear a different color pair of socks or a different color undershirt. Most of the boys will have plain blue jerseys, so they tend to look the same.

Coach Joe speaks: Fluids, Practice

Excerpted from an email from Coach Joe Wieland:
WATER: The boys should be drinking water throughout the day, hydrating themselves before practice. Electrolytes and some type of vitamin may also be helpful. We are giving them plenty of breaks at practice, but they need to come to practice hydrated with plenty of fluids to drink during practice. Next week we put on pads and the boys will be even hotter at practice.
NON-PRACTICE DAYS: On the days that we do not have practice, it would be good for the boys to get out and be active. Pushups and situps or weight lifting, if they have already started a SAFE weight lifting program They will also want to review their plays. Competition is going to be strong for all starting positions.
We are off to a great start, so thanks to all of the parents for trusting us with your boys.
Coach Wieland

Game Day: Reminders

All players should be at the upper grass field, east of the stadium field, by 11:00.
Home blue jerseys and blue pants.
Thanks,
Joe Wieland

A message from Coach Wieland about starters and strings

From Coach Joe Wieland:
At our coaches meeting last night, we talked about the game and practices and have made some adjustments to the strings, meaning for every kid that moves up, another moves down. That is part of being on a team.
I am attempting to talk to each of the players before the next practice so that they are not caught off guard in front of their teammates AND so that I can tell them what they need to do to get a spot back.
After talking to my son Bailey and telling him that he was not starting at linebacker this week, he was very mad, but I talked about things he could do to get back into the lineup.
If your son comes home and is upset, please ask him what he can do to improve, rather than focus on the loss of position or which other player took his spot. Players can also talk to their position coaches to find out what they need to do to improve.
As I said earlier this year, lineups will change week to week based on opponent, practice and games.
Thanks,
Joe Wieland

Coach Wieland: New Practice Schedule Clarified

From Coach Joe Wieland:
Very simple.
Every week until we tell you different:
Monday, 5:00-7:15
Wednesday, 5:30-7:00(Unless you have a prior scheduled commitment, mandatory)
Thursday, 5:00-7:15

Pictures/Walkthrough Friday

As Joe Wieland wrote earlier this week, picture day will be combined Friday afternoon with a final practice walk-through at the WFB High School upper field, behind the stadium.
Players should be there by 4 p.m. Friday, wearing their blue game pants and blue game jerseys. Pictures for our group are penciled in for 4:30 p.m., but I take all those scheduled times with bemused skepticism. Just have your guy there by 4 p.m. in blue.
Football czar Carl Fuda reports: no forms to fill out for this picture session. The photo company will email each of us.
As for Saturday's road game against Nicolet, Coach Wieland asks that the boys be at Nicolet HS by 3 p.m. Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. (Since that is a road game, that will be white jerseys with game blue pants.)

Game Week: The Nicolet Game, Fairness & Absences

[This is condensed from emails sent by Coach Joe Wieland recently.]
After 3 weeks of practice, we are ready for some games. The first game is 9/12 at Nicolet HS at 4:00.
PLAYING TIME - Fair does not mean equal.
I want every player to have fun and feel like they are part of the team. After the scrimmage last night the coaches met and put together a plan so that all players will play in the game by the end of the 3rd quarter. By the end of the season, every player will have started at least one game. Not all players will play the same amount in the game. The playing time of some players is limited by their knowledge of the game, commitment to practice time or desire to play. When a player says to us, "I can only play safety", he is limited to one spot on the field.
GAMES ARE SHORT. Games are 4 8-minute quarters. That is less than the length of one practice. If you come to watch your son play, really watch for him or you may miss him. Ask him what position he plays and what quarter he thinks he will play in.
If you or your son have concerns about their role on the team, please let me know via email and we can set up a time to talk.
Reminder that practice Monday is optional, Tuesday and Thursday are mandatory.
Have a great weekend.
Thanks,
Joe Wieland
* * *
The coming week's schedule:
9/7 Labor Day (OPTIONAL PRACTICE) 5:00-dark
This is officially the first week of Monday/Thursday practices during the week. If you have plans, keep them and enjoy the day. If you do not have plans and are tired of listening to your boys complain that there is nothing to do and you need a break from them at the end of a 3 day weekend, send them to Lydell. All players/coaches who have been kicked out of their houses by annoyed wives/moms will have a fun practice. Absences will not be held against any players.
9/8 Tuesday ( Extra practice) 5:00-dark
This is planned to make up for the lost practice time on Monday. If you had planned other activities already scheduled because Tuesday is usually a "non-football" day, keep those plans and let me know via email. Absences will not be held against a player.
9/10 Thursday 5:00-Dark
* * *
9/12 GAME at Nicolet 4:00. All players must arrive at 3:00. [It's a road game, so it will be WHITE jerseys, unless Coach Wieland decrees something else.]
* * *
A note from Coach Wieland on Absences:
The coaching staff is working hard at insuring that all players get onto the field during games and scrimmages. We have a plan that gets every boy into the game in either the 1st, 2nd or 3rd quarter. When we know that someone will be gone due to a conflict, it makes planning easier.
IF YOU KNOW YOUR SON IS GOING TO MISS A FUTURE GAME, PLEASE LET US KNOW NOW.

Scrimmage: Coaching Them Up

Photo by Karen W. Higgins

Saturday Scrimmage: Time Has Changed Again

Please see Carl Fuda's message below. Saturday's scrimmage is back to 9 a.m. for the 6th graders. I am sure Coach Joe Wieland will have updated info soon on what time drivers should be at Lydell Saturday morning, and what time boys need to arrive in Cedarburg to warm up for the scrimmage.
Just make your coffeemaker is ready to go that morning.

From Carl Fuda:
PLEASE PASS ON TO ALL, ALONG WITH MY APOLOGIES....
DELAVAN JUST BACKED OUT OF OUR SCRIMMAGE THIS SAT
WE ARE BACK TO 9-11 AM FOR ALL LEVELS.....

9 AM vs. Cedarburg
10 AM vs. Oshkosh West

Again, sorry about the inconvenience
CARL

Friday practice / Saturday scrimmage (Aug. 21-22)

From Coach Wieland:
We have scheduled an extra practice on Friday, 4:00-6:00. All players are encouraged to attend. If you already have plans, NO PROBLEM. Absent players will not be penalized in any way. If you have missed any practice, this is a great way to catch up. We are thinking that this will give us some extra review time for the Saturday scrimmage. Physical contact will be minimal, Learning will be maximized.

SCRIMMAGE SATURDAY (11:00-1:00) - This is a great opportunity to watch your son play alot of football, so I would encourage all parents to attend. I would like all players to be there by 10:15, ready to go. That means if you leave WFB by 9:30, you will have plenty of time.

IF YOUR SON WANTS A RIDE, the coaches will leave from Lydell at 9:30. Please tell your son if they will be riding with us so that we have adequate transportation. If any other parents are willing to leave at 9:30 from Lydell, let me know via email. If you have never driven a car full of 6th grade boys, the entertainment value is priceless(especially for the moms )

As always, email me with any questions.

joe

Coach Wieland: Boys under 80 pounds may want to play with 5th grade team

From Coach Joe Wieland:
As some of you know, the 5th grade team is low on numbers, about 15-20 players. According to AAYFL rules, a 6th grade player may play down with the 5th grade team if they are under 80 pounds.
I am asking any of the 6th grade team members if they would like to play with the 5th grade team. The advantage will be that they will receive a lot of playing time that will not be available due to the number of players and competition level on the 6th grade team.
I will be very honest with you, if my son Bailey was under 80 pounds, I would have him play with the 5th grade team. He would get to play on offense and defense and play a lot. As many of you know my philosphy from the 7v7 league, playing will make a player better.
The problem for this year's 6th grade team is that with 40 players, the players at the end of the bench will not get many plays.That means that some players may play a series or two, which equates to between 3-8 plays a game. This is the raw truth.
Please pose this question to your sons: " Do you want to play 8 plays with the 6th grade or play a lot of the game during the 5th grade game?" Many teams that the 5th graders will be playing against will be made up of 5th AND 6th graders.
If you do not know which is the better decision for you son, please contact me and we can talk about his situation.
Thanks, Joe

Coach Wieland: First Week Report

From Coach Wieland:
The first week went very well. Here are some important points for next week.
POSITIONS - All of the players have been practicing at only one position on offense. While we were not able to put everyone at their #1 choice, we will start to move people around after the scrimmage next week. I want every player to know one position perfectly before we start moving people around to different positions.
PRACTICE - We start with full pads on Tuesday (Aug. 18). If you did not attend all 3 practices this past week, you cannot wear pads until you make up that time during practices this week.
PLAYS - I told players to take home a play packet for the first two plays after practice last night. STUDY !! Have your sons look at the plays. If they already know their position, they should then look at another position. Great football players will know what everyone else is supposed to do.
ATTENDANCE - If you are not there, you miss out on important instruction. I understand that plans have been made and things happen. What I will need parents and players to understand down the road is that if the absences cause players to fall behind or move down the depth chart, that may be a direct result of missing practice.
NEXT WEEK - Practices in pads will involve a lot of tackling and blocking. It will be a physical week. Please ask your son if they have bumps or bruises immediately after practice and use ice to help with injuries for the first 48 hours. Again, missing practice because of injury is not the players fault, but it will cause them to get behind.
Please email me with questions or concerns.

From Coach Wieland: Playbook

Have you studied your playbook ??
If you did not get a playbook, I have a stack on my front porch. 5265 Santa
Monica.
I will be at the equipment room at 9 AM Monday Morning. Be there on time if
you need equipment.
-- Coach Joe Wieland

Scenes from Practice: The Knot

Near the end of practice Tuesday, Coach Joe Wieland had the boys do a series of teambuilding exercises around getting out of human knots. Hilarity -- the right kind of hilarity -- ensued: