Is this football heaven? A dispatch from the THSCA Coaching Convention & School

ImageThe herd moves toward the next symposium where SMU head coach Chad Morris speaks about football, coaching and life. He wraps up and it’s time to listen to some chalk-talk by one of many college coaches in attendance. A few of the herd break off towards a concussion symposium. Others walk around booths dedicated to football equipment, training exercises and nutrition. Coaches from all corners of the state converge on San Antonio (or Houston or DFW or whichever city has been chosen) once a year for the THSCA Coaching Convention and School. I’m here to help out with coverage and it is overwhelming. A person asks me about chocolate milk. I crack a smile and explain I’m not a coach and, even if I was, I’m lactose intolerant. By the time I finish my sentence a potential customer is now hearing the spiel. This is a three-day affair focused on sharing new technologies and information. Thousands of coaches roam a football-centric flea market. The room exudes optimism. Our drought is near a close and football season starts in a few weeks. State champions and teams left out of the playoffs mingle on equal footing, all sporting the same record in 2016. It is a chance to talk football with the greatest minds this state produces. It’s also a time to enjoy the company before two-a-days and sweat replace smiles and handshakes. The coaching staffs are here to learn, to share and to network. Non-district games can be settled here. Offensive and defensive schemes can be explained. Offseason programs and summer workout procedures are discussed and analyzed. A few coaches complain about recruiting camps and 7-on-7. All coaches are ready to talk about the 2016 season. This week offers more than football talk. Upstairs there are talks for teacher retirement, basketball, baseball and soccer forums. Businesses rent booths to advertise the latest and greatest in helmets, jerseys, training equipment and nutrition. You want to see the latest technology for helmets? Check. How about a new jersey designed to keep players cool during games? That’s here, too. It’s a one-stop shop for coaches and athletic directors. The people make the event. Each coach here shares the same goal and the only way to reach a state championship is to knock off the other programs represented here at the event. Future district opponents and possible playoff contenders mingle freely. Each anchored by the same goal – improve the young men inside the program and improve the program on the field. There is a forum or a booth for all of that and more. If this is what Heaven looks like, I won’t complain.

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