On January 12, 2022, I sent out the first Canadian Football Chalk Talk newsletter.
It was about Defending Split Zone (a topic I’ve returned to a few times since).
Looking back on that first issue, I feel this product has improved over the years.
I’ve worked hard to grow as a writer. I’ve read a few books on the topic and, most importantly, practiced. I think visually I’ve made some improvements as well, and my skill with video editing has increased.
But birthdays are often a good time for reflection.
Why am I doing this whole thing?
Here’s what I came up with.
Growth
Why the heck would a current football coach go online and talk about football? Won’t their opponents pick up all the information and gain an advantage?
Well, maybe.
But there are a couple reasons I’m not too worried about this. First, there is literally video evidence of all my schemes and techniques. All our games are filmed and available for our opponents to watch (from two different angles). That’s probably a better source of information to learn from than this newsletter.
And if you’ve been reading this newsletter you know I tend to speak more in questions than in answers.
My goal with this was always to present scenarios and situations that your players might ask you about, and then talk about a few different options.
In doing so, however, I’ve been able to experience tremendous growth as a coach. Picking an issue and taking the time to dig into it and gather my thoughts is often the best way to see something in a new light.
This is what this newsletter forces me to do each week, and I’m thankful for it.
Coaching Community
Through this newsletter and my posts on Twitter/X I’ve been able to connect with countless football coaches across the country.
I always enjoy receiving a follow up question about a topic I wrote about, or even just a general football question that someone has reached out and asked me about.
Canadian football is a special sport, and there are a lot of great people across the country volunteering their time so that young people can play.
If I can add to that community and keep some of the conversation going, I’m all for it.
Enjoyment
I’ll be honest here, this isn’t a completely selfless undertaking.
I enjoy doing it. I’m a writer by trade — in another life I worked as a journalist — and I enjoy practicing the craft.
When I sit down with a coffee and get to work putting this newsletter together, time just flies by. To be able to combine my love for football with my passion for writing is something I really appreciate.
To all the readers of this newsletter:
Thank you.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the articles so far, and if nothing else hopefully they’ve helped you move a little closer to finalizing your defensive systems.
I look forward to continuing the work with Canadian Football Chalk Talk.
All the best,
Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
Email: jsvec@stfx.ca
Twitter: @jonsvecx
To read more check out the Canadian Football Chalk Talk e-book and video series, which can be found by clicking here.
These articles are always well thought out and usually accompanied by a video clip. Well done coach - keep up your excellent work!