2nd blog of the season from
Dave "Stretch" Baran
Offensive co-ordinator

 

Welcome back for the latest instalment of my coaches blog. A fair time has passed and I can also say a lot has happened. After missing the first game being abroad and the second due to work commitments I was happy to return to the sideline at Manchester although it was in a guise I had not imagined. Following Offensive Coordinator Gideon Beddows stepping down prior to the game I was promoted by Coach Reid to become Co-Offensive Coordinator along with him. In the same week our very own web guru Dave Butler was given the responsibilities of the running backs.

The following week from these changes it was all business as we faced Manchester Titans a team that we have yet to beat in our young existence. It was a tense affair with a poor start from the Revolution. After trailing at the half a scintillating start to the third quarter brought us back into the reckoning until an interception took the wind out of our sails. Some good parts gave some promise to move forward.

Sheffield gave us the perfect tonic for our back to back losses with only a week after our second straight loss. As a new team we saw a lot in them that we saw in ourselves a few years ago with talent across the board to punish but lacking the execution that comes from experience. A comfortable win here was a good comeback for the team but still showed some holes to work on in training.

This upcoming weekend resumes the Border War with close neighbours Staffordshire Surge. The game brings a big challenge for the team to overcome having never beaten them before but we believe that we have what we need to come out victorious and get the win.

I hope to see you all on Sunday cheering us on in our big match to set us up for the return leg a week later. It looks to be a great weekend so lets bring in the win and do it with a complete performance

 

---

 

 

Great Start to the Year!

Wow! That was a frantic but good start to the year. For those of you who don’t know me I’m David “Stretch” Baran the new Wide Receivers coach for the Revolution. After helping out Coach Reid last year by taking the receivers on some Thursday night practice sessions I have stepped up to be the first specific wide receivers positional coach in the history of the Revolution. Having played for the Revolution since our first season in BAFL2, my last two years have been blighted by a shoulder injury so I intend to impart my knowledge on the players coming through.

Anyway enough about me, after the veteran’s session to see their offseason progress back in November we hosted the Rookie come and try day. This was a great success with many new faces coming to our winter base of the TCAT to see what the game is all about. I was able to teach all players the basic technique of catching the football as well as some basic pass routes that we use in games. From this, we were able to see a lot of athletic ability that we can mould into players, as well as a lot of natural talent. This was a great start to my coaching career as there were numerous people eager to learn and there is nothing better from a coaches point of view.

Nothing could have prepared me for the response one week later as we had even more players come to try the game. It was great to see as a coach and a fan of the Rev having so much interest in the team. Once splitting all of the players into the position areas they wanted to play, we set about teaching them some of the game that they could then use in our non contact team scrimmage at the end of the session.

A few weeks ago I travelled to Edge Hill University, Lancashire, with Coach Reid and two veteran players, Alasdair Jarvis and Joe Woll, for the North West Coaching Clinic. After beginning to regret leaving the house at 6.30am, it turned out to be a great day. There were speakers from across the country, including Lancashire Wolverines, Manchester Titans, Merseyside Nighthawks and current British champions London Blitz. This day really gave us an insight into all aspects of the game and only made us more eager to get started.

I wish to thank everyone who has come down on the Rookie days and given the Revolution a try. We look forward to the journey that is in front of us and hope to be in the Bowl come the end of the season.

Welcome all new players to the Revolution Family and hope to see you grow with the team and get us to the playoffs!