Thomas C.

I have over 25 years coaching athletes from professional to youth level in football skill development. My primary but not exclusive coaching has been offensive skill position with quarterbacks/receiver as well as running backs. One of my strengths coaching Q.B.'s and WR's is that I played the receiver position up to the highest level participating in training camp with the Oakland Raiders . While playing the position I always thought like a quarterback with a knowledge of the strengths and weakness of a defender. I consider my coaching style as being intellectual, systemic and detailed not just purely athletic. My approach as a coach has afforded me opportunities to coach as a recipient of NFL Bill Walsh coaching internship with the 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. I also coached as the Offensive Coordinator in NFL Europe (Frankfurt Galaxy)/Running back Coach (Scottish Claymores) and XFL. I was a college coach at Sac State coaching QB's and Wr's, Head Football Coach at Contra Costa College, Offensive Coordinator for Berkeley High School and worked with a variety of youth flag teams/Sky-hawk sports organization.

At every level of athletic competition I was award all-star honors. I was awarded prep all conference selections as a wide-receiver, I was twice named All-BIG Sky Conference Wide Receiver at Weber State University and later signed a free-agent contract as a wide receiver with the Oakland Raider.

What a typical session with me would look like is as follow: Ex. Wide-Receiver
1. Walk-thru- a brief over-view of the techniques or as I like to call "workman tools" we are targeting and the drills that will be applied. Benefit: this process allows the athlete a cognitive connection at a slow pace to gain basic understanding and confidence. (5 min)
2. Footwork-
a. stance/starts- Every movement is calculated to achieve optimal success on a pass play and the foundation begins with a functional stance and excellent start. I focus on the overall posture of the receiver, knee bend, shoulder alignment, arm carriage and foot placement. Applying actual starts and get-off allows me to coach an athlete through the 3 phases of route running; the start, the drive phase, the acceleration/deceleration phase. Benefit: versus off coverage attacking the technique or alignment of your opponent creates the space and leverage needed for a successful "window" for passing success. (10 min)
b. ladders work- straight line quickness drill that promotes foot/body posture and running rhythm. (5min)
c. cones- variety of pattern work with cones to simulate route running angels. (ex. L-Pattern 90% cuts, Zig-Zag 45% cuts and Figure 8 cuts) (5min)
d. bags- various usage from step-over knee work and heavy bag press-release work (depending on age group) (5min)
3. Ball Skill Development- teaching proper catching technique, run thru the catch skills, position receiver at end of route; break out of position to locate ball; working all areas of field. (using variety of balls to catch) (10 min)
4. Route Running- Putting all phases together for complete route running (select 3 to 4 routes per session to develop) (15min)
5. Route Strategy- How to create space for catching-window and zone route awareness (10min)
6. Defeating Hand to Hand combat- defeating press coverage, hand check during route and gaining separation at the top of route (10 min)