World-class coaches have both annual and daily plans for their

practices. They start with a script of what will be done, how it will be

done, and why it is being done. Like them, you should have seasonal

goals for what you want the team, the individual athletes, and yourself to

accomplish.

You need a plan for your daily practices, too!

It is extremely important to have a plan when you coach beginning athletes. They

don't have a lot of experience or skill to draw on and if this is your first time

coaching, neither do you. If you know what you want to do, when you want to do

it, how you want it done, and why you want it done, you will be much more

confident and assured- and so will your athletes.

To begin, break your practice down into five to ten minute segments following

this order:

Introduction

• explain briefly what will happen today, what they will learn.

Warm up

• get athletes moving, get them ready for activity

• raise body temperature through vigorous activity

• start slowly - then increase pace

• flexibility exercises

  - from general stretching to sport specific

  - slow static stretching

• activities that employ basic skills (i.e. dribbling) - but keep them moving

Review previously learned skills

• utilize drills that give them an opportunity to practice fundamental skills or skills that they learned recently

Learn new skills

• describe the new skill

• pick 2-3 teaching points to emphasize

• provide drills that utilize the new skill

• make sure everyone gets to participate (learn) - avoid long lines of

• standing around

• provide feedback - and encouragement

• Change or modify skills as athletes improve

Game-like Activities and/or Conditioning

• simplified game situation - reduce area of play, number of players, rules

• incorporate fitness activities if appropriate

Cool down

• decrease level (intensity) of activity gradually

• stretching exercise (for muscles most used in practice)

Wrap up

• review practice and plan with athletes

• prepare them for next practice

• do your own personal evaluation- what could be better next time?

High Activity Level:

• Every athlete participates frequently. There is little standing in line, no waiting for equipment, minimal time listening to instruction.

• Drills and activities change frequently, athletes do something new every 5-10 minutes

• Drills have progression - easy to hard, simple to complex

High Variety Level:

• Skills are practiced in different ways

• Fun activities are provided

• Novelty is introduced - play new position, change rules, use different equipment

• Work with different people, individually, pairs, small groups

High Organization Level:

• Written practice plan

• Environment is organized - enough equipment in the right place before

• practice starts

• Start, stay, and finish on time

This may seem like a lot of work, but once you've tried it once or twice, it is

quite simple and both you and your athletes will benefit.

Warm up

• prepare them for game activity as you would for practice

Establish what we want to do today

• play fair

• good sportsmanship

• do our best

• tactics and skill reminders: good passing, good defense, etc.

Post-competition wrap up

• Highlight the positive things that happened

• Praise effort - be positive

• Ready them for next practice

• Evaluate the game

  - make note of performance and accomplishments

  - make note of things to be addressed at next practice

Coaching Basics

by Lorne Adams, February 2000

Creation of this document supported by the Sport Alliance of Ontario and the

Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation.

This document may be reproduced with credit to the author, Sport Alliance of

Ontario, and Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation.