The Football Coaching Podcast with Joe Daniel

We often hear, “Your players won’t be as passionate and committed as you are.” What we don’t hear as often is that your coaches may not be on your level either. Sometimes you’re going to get a guy, or multiple guys, that you have to win games with, but may not be on the same level of football coaching as you. On this episode Joe and Daniel are discussing ways to prevent the feeling of coaching alone. They discuss the need to develop your philosophy and systems, communicating with your staff, and getting buy-in from everyone in the program.

Practice doesn’t always equal performance. You can dominate the practice field all week, but if it doesn’t show up under the lights on Friday night… something’s missing. Maybe practice wasn’t hard enough. Maybe the scout team didn’t look anything like your opponent. Or maybe your kids just didn’t buy in. In this episode, Joe and Daniel dive into how to turn practice success into real game-day results. They break down how to make practice tougher than the game, why specific drills lead to better buy-in, and what to do when your scout team can’t replicate your opponent. They also share stories from their own coaching experience, discuss highlights from the Texas High School Coaches Association Clinic, and even drop a few book recommendations for coaches who want to think deeper about football—and probability.

Coaching is a game of efficiency. Don’t run too much, or you’ll be tired. Don’t run too little, or you’re out of shape. Don’t tackle too much or you’re risking injury… too little, well you get the point. We have to find the best way to get the most out of the talent on our team. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the way they get the most out of their players. They talk about setting up a depth chart, identifying the right guys for the position, and getting kids to play a position they may not want to.

Calling plays when the lights are brightest, things aren’t going your way, or the game is on the line can be a challenge. Especially for coaches who haven’t experienced it before, you can start to be too aggressive or pull too many punches. But, it’s something you can get better at. On this episode Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain are discussing how to better your play calls in the biggest spots in football. They talk setting up a play call sheet, playing the game before the game, and using your play calls to attack weaknesses of the defense.  

We’ve unfortunately all been there… the 4th Quarter starts and our best 11 have their hands on their knees and are too exhausted to perform up to the standard. It’s cost many coaches a game or two, but there is a way to prevent it from ever happening again. On this episode Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain discuss the more modern approaches to getting your players in shape for the season, how to condition in practice, keeping things from getting too tyrannical, and how to hold your player accountable so they’ll want to be in shape in the 4th.  

In a game of inches, giving up “busts” or Big Plays can quickly become a mistake too big to overcome. The other sideline earns a paycheck too, so you likely can’t stamp out big plays altogether, but you can get your team to limit them enough. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss how to limit big plays against your defense by simplifying your scheme, cutting out the wanted complexity, and getting your players to consistently be in a place to make a play.  

Undisciplined teams lose games. And sloppy habits in practice show up under the lights. In this episode, Joe and Daniel break down how to build discipline and efficiency into every rep. You’ll learn how to simulate high-stress situations in practice so your players stay sharp when it counts. They’ll show you how to tighten communication, dial in on the small details, and run drills that actually translate to game-day success.

Wasted time in practice leads to unprepared players on game day. And with limited hours on the field, every minute has to count. In this episode, Joe and Daniel dive into how to run efficient, high-energy practices that get your players ready—fast. They share how to build out practice plan shells, keep the tempo up with smooth transitions, and make sure your drills actually matter. You’ll also hear how to lean on veteran players, use film for faster corrections, and even streamline scouting with tools like wristbands.

A stagnant offense can stall an entire season — even with the right athletes on the field. But constantly adding new plays without structure usually leads to confusion, not results. On this episode of the Football Coaching Podcast, Daniel Chamberlain and Joe Daniel share how to build a dynamic offense the right way — starting with mastery of a base play and layering in variation through motions, shifts, unbalanced formations, and tags. They also introduce the containers principle — a smart way to install new ideas without overwhelming your players or your practice time.

The end of the game of football can be intense! The crowd, the officials, the clock… they all add extra pressure to an already high pressure game. If you keep finding yourself on the losing end of close games, it’s likely that you, your coaches, and your players don’t understand the situation(s) they are in during crunch time. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss the need to add situational football into your practice planning, what situations you should practice, and the need to mentally prepare your players.