Here are some tips on planning and running a practice.
Objectives
1. Improve individual fundamentals
2. Combine individual skills into team skills
3. Incorporate team skills into an effective system
Organization
Organization helps your practice in these ways:
1. Maximize time available
2. Ensure coverage of each phase of the game
3. Maintain better player interest - MOTIVATION
4. Evaluate and to better plan for future practices and/or seasons
Considerations for planning practice
1. Space available
2. Time available
3. Number of players to work with
4. Past and future must be looked at
5. Individual differences in learning
6. Positive and constructive reinforcement necessary
7. Verbal vs. visual teaching
8. Drills to use to accomplish an objective
9. More time must be spent on drills involving the ball
10. Vary the drills to teach teh same objective (prevents monotony)
11. Explain the purpose of the drill
12. Start with warm-up drills and streching
13. Move from simple to complex situations (ie) non-competitive to competitive
14. Short and quick drills are more effective than one long drill
15. Introduce new material in the early part of practice
16. Present the whole part on the court, work on breakdowns (components) and then review the whole
17. More time for team drills as the season progresses but never neglect the individual fundamentals
18. Strive for correct technique, correct decisions and quick tempo in your drills
19. Use water breaks to replenish lost fluids
20. End on a good note
Building a team takes work and it does not happen over night. Plan your practice with purpose.
I know from experience that as the season wears on, it is easy to get complacent in planning practice. Be consistent.
Your team and the trophy case will thank you.
For more on coaching youth sports, visit RTP Sports Camps.