Episode: Film

In this episode, Nick breaks down the crucial difference between watching film and studying film. While many coaches and players consume game footage, not all of them are truly learning from it. Nick explains how to approach film study with intention—and how to help your players build those habits too.

Key points:

• The difference between watching and studying film.
• Why note-taking (especially by hand) makes film review more effective.
• How to build a process for studying—not just viewing—game tape.
• Why showing failed plays is just as valuable as showing successful ones.

If you want to get in touch, find me here:

Email: coachrockell@hotmail.com

Instagram: @coachrockell

X: @coachrockell

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode: Lost Art

In a more reflective episode, Nick dives into a growing concern in today’s game: the fading value of true coaching. With so much focus on recruiting talent rather than developing it, he questions whether the heart of coaching is being lost in the noise. From Ontario summer leagues to the NFL, he challenges coaches to ask why they coach—and whether they're building players or just borrowing them.

Key points:

• The difference between recruiting talent and developing it.
• How coaching has shifted from teaching to collecting.
• Reputation vs. character in modern coaching culture.
• Why the scout team is the true proving ground for committed coaches.

If you want to get in touch, find me here:

Email: coachrockell@hotmail.com

Instagram: @coachrockell

X: @coachrockell

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode: Joystick Coaching

In this episode of The 5 Minute Football Coach, Nick explores the concept of "Joystick Coaching"—the habit of giving players real-time instructions during practice or games, like they're characters in a video game. Drawing from experience and a powerful message from Finnish Ice Hockey Head of Coach Development, Pyry Lukkarila, he explains why this approach can hurt player development.

Key points:

• The difference between coaching and instructing in real-time.
• Why over-directing prevents players from learning to think, react, and adapt.
• The value of failure and letting players make decisions—especially in practice.

If you want to get in touch, find me here:

Email: coachrockell@hotmail.com

Instagram: @coachrockell

X: @coachrockell

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode: Production

In this episode, Nick unpacks what "Production" really means in football. Is it stats? Highlights? Or is it team success? Using examples from the NFL and his own coaching experience, he challenges coaches to think beyond individual numbers and ask: Are we better as a team because of this player?

Key points:

• The difference between stats and true production.
• Why high performers don’t always equal high-impact.
• The cost of sacrificing team culture for star power.
• How synergy and unselfish play can create lasting success.

If you want to get in touch, find me here:

Email: coachrockell@hotmail.com

Instagram: @coachrockell

X: @coachrockell

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 Minute Football Coach - Ep.29 – DOUBLE OVERTIME - Recruiting

First, apologies for the audio issues, remember this is completely amateur and as raw as it gets recorded because I want you to know it's authentic.

Welcome to (roughly) 5 minutes of football coaching thoughts, comments and ideas.

With discussion from my own experience and education on all manner of football topics, sometimes to entertain, with a hope to educate and provoke thought, but mainly to get all this stuff out of my head!

This is all totally my opinion, unless I cite otherwise.

‘Overtime’ indicates a longer episode, covering subjects in more detail or keeping a string of thoughts together for more coherence.

‘Double Overtime’ indicates a deep dive into a particular subject, probably including a guest with more knowledge and experience than I have on that topic.

Summary:

In this extended episode, host Nick and guest coach Phil Edworthy take a deep dive into the complex and often confusing world of football recruiting. From USports in Canada to the NCAA system and prep school options, they break down the key steps, challenges, and misconceptions around getting recruited. Their conversation includes real-world advice for players, parents, and coaches alike — backed by years of hands-on experience in both coaching and recruiting.

Key Timestamps:

[00:04:16] USports Recruiting (Canada)

Phil shares his dual-sided experience in USports recruiting and details the development of showcase camps as a powerful recruiting tool.

[00:40:53] NCAA Recruiting

The conversation transitions into NCAA recruiting, beginning with how Canadian players can break into the U.S. college football scene, why attending the right camps is critical, and how social media plays a major role in exposure.

[01:11:40] Prep School Recruiting

The hosts touch on prep school options, addressing the benefits, drawbacks, and red flags to watch out for when evaluating prep school programs as a steppingstone to higher levels.

Final Thoughts:

The episode emphasises personal responsibility, professionalism, and being proactive throughout the recruiting process. Both hosts highlight the importance of education, character, and effort—on and off the field.

“Are you trying to get a scholarship, or are you trying to take pictures at a school and say you were at their camp?” – Phil Edworthy

If you want to get in touch, find me here:

Email: coachrockell@hotmail.com

Instagram: @coachrockell

X: @coachrockell

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 Minute Football Coach - Ep.4 -

Welcome to (roughly) 5 minutes of football coaching thoughts, comments and ideas.

With discussion from my own experience and education on all manner of football topics, sometimes to entertain, with a hope to educate and provoke thought, but mainly to get all this stuff out of my head!

Overtime indicates a longer episode, covering subjects in more detail or keeping a string of thoughts together for more coherence.

This is all totally my opinion, unless I cite otherwise.

If you want to get in touch, find me here:

Email: coachrockell@hotmail.com

Instagram: @coachrockell

X: @coachrockell

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to (roughly) 5 minutes of football coaching thoughts, comments and ideas.

With discussion from my own experience and education on all manner of football topics, sometimes to entertain, with a hope to educate and provoke thought, but mainly to get all this stuff out of my head!

Overtime indicates a longer episode, covering subjects in more detail or keeping a string of thoughts together for more coherence.

This is all totally my opinion, unless I cite otherwise.

If you want to get in touch, find me here:

Email: coachrockell@hotmail.com

Instagram: @coachrockell

X: @coachrockell

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 Minute Football Coach - Ep.4 -

Welcome to (roughly) 5 minutes of football coaching thoughts, comments and ideas.

With discussion from my own experience and education on all manner of football topics, sometimes to entertain, with a hope to educate and provoke thought, but mainly to get all this stuff out of my head!

This is all totally my opinion, unless I cite otherwise.

If you want to get in touch, find me here:

Email: coachrockell@hotmail.com

Instagram: @coachrockell

X: @coachrockell

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.