Tip Sheet: Getting the Most from Convention
November 19, 2021
As the football season is winding down, we could not be more excited to be celebrating 100 years of service to the football coaching profession at the upcoming 2022 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas, January 9-11!
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a first-time attendee, here are some of our top recommendations to help you make the most out of your time at the AFCA Convention.
1. Pre-register.
Seriously, we cannot emphasize this enough–the best parts of the Convention take place after you pick up your credentials, so take the time to pre-register and sign up now! You’ll go through the Pre-registered line in the Exhibit Hall to grab your badge, and you’ll be very glad you took the time to pay beforehand.
In order to attend, you need to be an active AFCA member at the time of the event, AND you need to purchase a Convention registration. Registrations are only $40 until the end of pre-registration on Friday, December 10. The onsite registration will cost $60.
Badges will be required at the Convention, so be sure to have it with you at all times!
2. Decide your purpose.
Before you arrive at the Convention, take the time to ask yourself, “what am I looking to get out of this?” A job? New connections? Learning a new scheme? Obviously it doesn’t have to be just one, but setting your intentions for the event will allow you to prioritize your time and determine the most important things you need to fit in your schedule. When we asked Executive Director Todd Berry what his advice for Convention-goers was, this was his number one suggestion. We desire all of our coaches to leave the Convention feeling like it was worth the trip. Knowing your purpose and acting on it will go a long way in making that happen for you.
For additional thoughts on this topic, check out our podcast interview with Brian Metz from Ohio University.
3. Engage with the sessions.
Whether it’s taking notes, asking questions, or volunteering when a demonstration is needed, find a way to actively engage with the session. Attending a talk with a friend or staff member gives you a discussion partner to keep the conversation going beyond the session. In order to actively engage, we advise coaches to be wise with how many and which sessions they attend each day. Choose the five or so sessions that you believe will be most valuable to you, and make a point to attend those. Use the other time to connect with friends, network, or relax. One key point to remember – the General Sessions and most other sessions from the convention will be recorded and uploaded to our Digital Library!
4. Don’t look at the logo!
At the 2017 AFCA Convention, Brandon Staley was part of the Graduate Assistants/Career Forum panel after finishing his third season as defensive coordinator for John Carroll University in 2016. Staley would go on to join the Chicago Bears after the Convention, coaching the outside linebackers. On January 17, 2021, he was named Head Coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. The moral of the story is to not judge a coach by their current logo.
Walking through the Convention, there will be a sea of polos emblazoned with team logos, there will also be thousands of eyes constantly scanning the room for the most prominent ones. Just like you warn your players not to get caught ball-watching, be careful not to fall into the trap of only seeking out and trying to learn from coaches wearing the most recognizable logos.
5. Network horizontally.
Piggy-backing off of tip #4, a young coach’s first inclination and game plan may be to shake hands with and meet as many current head coaches as they can. We aren’t necessarily advocating against that, because that could very well lead to your next job. But too many people forget that the coaches and attendees their own age are the ones who will help you land jobs for the rest of your career. Expanding your network “horizontally” will maximize your connection database and will increase the likelihood of having a personal relationship with those individuals that are the decision-makers of the future.
6. Bring something back.
While the Convention is the premier networking opportunity for coaches, too many overlook the educational and instructional benefits the weekend has to offer. No matter how well your season ended, every team and program has something they can improve on for next year’s team. What are you going to bring back to your staff to help them take the next step towards your goals? We believe that each coach should make a point to take away at least one practical way to improve their position group, their side of the ball, and overall team culture.
7. Follow-up.
You are going to meet coaches from all over who are all at different stages in their career. Regardless of their title or level, following-up with them to communicate that you valued your interaction will go a long way in cultivating relationships that will last long after the Convention wraps. So often people make the mistake of only reaching out when they need things. We have all been on both sides of these interactions. Make a point to reach out without any ulterior motive. Lastly, any coach who has recruited athletes knows how far a handwritten note can go in developing a relationship. We suggest making a note of every coach you meet at the Convention and sending them a hand-written note in the week that follows. We believe you will be surprised at how much of an impact that will have!
These are just a few quick tips to consider prior to your time in San Antonio. Ultimately, everyone’s ideal Convention experience will look a little different, but we hope that you are able to make the most out of it!
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
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As the football season is winding down, we could not be more excited to be celebrating 100 years of service to the football coaching profession at the upcoming 2022 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas, January 9-11!
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a first-time attendee, here are some of our top recommendations to help you make the most out of your time at the AFCA Convention.
1. Pre-register.
Seriously, we cannot emphasize this enough–the best parts of the Convention take place after you pick up your credentials, so take the time to pre-register and sign up now! You’ll go through the Pre-registered line in the Exhibit Hall to grab your badge, and you’ll be very glad you took the time to pay beforehand.
In order to attend, you need to be an active AFCA member at the time of the event, AND you need to purchase a Convention registration. Registrations are only $40 until the end of pre-registration on Friday, December 10. The onsite registration will cost $60.
Badges will be required at the Convention, so be sure to have it with you at all times!
2. Decide your purpose.
Before you arrive at the Convention, take the time to ask yourself, “what am I looking to get out of this?” A job? New connections? Learning a new scheme? Obviously it doesn’t have to be just one, but setting your intentions for the event will allow you to prioritize your time and determine the most important things you need to fit in your schedule. When we asked Executive Director Todd Berry what his advice for Convention-goers was, this was his number one suggestion. We desire all of our coaches to leave the Convention feeling like it was worth the trip. Knowing your purpose and acting on it will go a long way in making that happen for you.
For additional thoughts on this topic, check out our podcast interview with Brian Metz from Ohio University.
3. Engage with the sessions.
Whether it’s taking notes, asking questions, or volunteering when a demonstration is needed, find a way to actively engage with the session. Attending a talk with a friend or staff member gives you a discussion partner to keep the conversation going beyond the session. In order to actively engage, we advise coaches to be wise with how many and which sessions they attend each day. Choose the five or so sessions that you believe will be most valuable to you, and make a point to attend those. Use the other time to connect with friends, network, or relax. One key point to remember – the General Sessions and most other sessions from the convention will be recorded and uploaded to our Digital Library!
4. Don’t look at the logo!
At the 2017 AFCA Convention, Brandon Staley was part of the Graduate Assistants/Career Forum panel after finishing his third season as defensive coordinator for John Carroll University in 2016. Staley would go on to join the Chicago Bears after the Convention, coaching the outside linebackers. On January 17, 2021, he was named Head Coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. The moral of the story is to not judge a coach by their current logo.
Walking through the Convention, there will be a sea of polos emblazoned with team logos, there will also be thousands of eyes constantly scanning the room for the most prominent ones. Just like you warn your players not to get caught ball-watching, be careful not to fall into the trap of only seeking out and trying to learn from coaches wearing the most recognizable logos.
5. Network horizontally.
Piggy-backing off of tip #4, a young coach’s first inclination and game plan may be to shake hands with and meet as many current head coaches as they can. We aren’t necessarily advocating against that, because that could very well lead to your next job. But too many people forget that the coaches and attendees their own age are the ones who will help you land jobs for the rest of your career. Expanding your network “horizontally” will maximize your connection database and will increase the likelihood of having a personal relationship with those individuals that are the decision-makers of the future.
6. Bring something back.
While the Convention is the premier networking opportunity for coaches, too many overlook the educational and instructional benefits the weekend has to offer. No matter how well your season ended, every team and program has something they can improve on for next year’s team. What are you going to bring back to your staff to help them take the next step towards your goals? We believe that each coach should make a point to take away at least one practical way to improve their position group, their side of the ball, and overall team culture.
7. Follow-up.
You are going to meet coaches from all over who are all at different stages in their career. Regardless of their title or level, following-up with them to communicate that you valued your interaction will go a long way in cultivating relationships that will last long after the Convention wraps. So often people make the mistake of only reaching out when they need things. We have all been on both sides of these interactions. Make a point to reach out without any ulterior motive. Lastly, any coach who has recruited athletes knows how far a handwritten note can go in developing a relationship. We suggest making a note of every coach you meet at the Convention and sending them a hand-written note in the week that follows. We believe you will be surprised at how much of an impact that will have!
These are just a few quick tips to consider prior to your time in San Antonio. Ultimately, everyone’s ideal Convention experience will look a little different, but we hope that you are able to make the most out of it!
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
