Belichick talks philosophy, mentors

FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots coach Bill Belichick was a surprise guest today at USA Football's coaches camp at Gillette Stadium.

USA Football is the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels, and it hosts 40 single-day coaching schools annually. About 500 coaches are present today -- from Pop Warner to high school -- for a program run by Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Tippett.

After Tippett introduced Belichick to the crowd, Belichick stepped to the podium and touched on his general coaching philosophy.

"One of the things we try to do this weekend [at rookie minicamp], and would highly recommend it to you and your programs based on my own personal experiences, we just really try to lay it out in terms of what we expect from the player," he said.

"People ask me 'What do you believe in and how do you try to coach your team?' That's what I would say it is. We try to tell the players exactly what we want them to do. Not 800 things to remember. But these are four things you need to do -- 'this is how we're going to approach this minicamp, this is how we're going to approach today's practice.' Tell them the four things that are most important to you, that you want to see at the end of the day, so when you call the team up at the end of the day or at night, you can say 'here are the four things we talked about in the morning and let's grade that. Let's see where we are today.'

"If they don't do what you tell them to do, I think you have every right to let them know about it, and to make them understand that's not going to be acceptable. Or more importantly, you can't win until those things are accomplished. That's also for when we go to a game-plan situation as well. So whoever our next opponent is, the first thing I'll do when I bring the team in is tell them 'Look, these are the things we have to do to win this game, or more importantly, if we do these things we're absolutely going to lose.'"

Belichick also made it a point to salute the work of those coaches in attendance. The coaches appeared to have come from various locations, as jackets were spotted with towns and cities such as Sharon, Chicopee, New Bedford, Everett and Methuen.

"More than anything, I just want to tell you how much I respect the job that you do," Belichick said. "Nobody knows more than I do how much a high school coach means to a player. When I interview players prior to the draft, at this time period when you're trying to evaluate new young guys that you don't know, there are usually two people who influence their life the most -- one of their parents and their high school coach.

"I've had kids play at that level too, my own children, so I know the impact you have on kids at that age, and how it's a life-long one. I had it when I was a kid growing up, with my high school football. So I totally respect what you do, appreciate it, and I don't think you guys get the credit that you deserve."

Belichick was treated to a standing ovation as he walked off the stage.