The energizing effect of a good training session

Players are always ready to work hard and enjoy themselves.  Make sure your practice plan doesn't screw that up.

This morning my friend Randy, who coaches football at Eastdale Secondary School in Welland, asked me how our practices were going with the college team.  He never asked about our season or record.  I love talking about training sessions.

Nothing matches the feeling at the end of a productive training session.  The energy of the players, the level of competition among them and the crazy chatter that goes on all contribute to the positive training atmosphere.  But you shouldn't be so quick to take complete credit for that.

It's my belief that your players show up ready to work hard and learn every session.  It's your job as a coach to make sure your plan taps into the energy they brought with them.  If they are goofing off while you are talking, look inward at the cause before sending them for 10 laps.

You have to look at it as the players maximizing their time with you, not the other way around.  And if you think your session shouldn't be "enjoyable" you are as wrong as the existence of "Cherry Coke".

Suggestions for a successful session:

• Pre-planned and written on a card you can refer to
• Organized and ready to go (balls pumped, cones laid out, pinnies set, etc)
• Let them play!!!
• Only coach what you need to coach and what you see.  Don't make up situations, over-coach or be long winded in your corrections.
• Identify-Correct-Demonstrate-Rehearse-Restart

I learned a good lesson from one of my son's hockey coaches.  We showed up one morning, the kids started goofing around having their own 7v7 game with goalies and were flying back and forth and trying things.   They were playing so hard that he ended up letting them continue for the entire hour and did not leave his bench or blow his whistle.  I've done that on several occasions and the players appreciate it, as long as it didn't turn into a circus or somebody was excluded.

When your session is over, ask yourself:

• Was I organized and ready?
• Was the environment safe?
• Did I understand what I was coaching?
• Were my coaching points timely and brief?
• Did I allow them to play?
• Do they want to come back with me as their coach?
• And most importantly, was the session enjoyable?

Having a productive session motivates your players to keep working hard, motivates you to put in the extra time to keep planning good sessions and strengthens the bond between you and the players.  A good session tells the players "Hey, I know what you like and I am going to help you learn more through a session that you will enjoy". 

Take the time and go watch other coaches' sessions.  Watch the content, delivery and players' reactions.  See what you like and don't like and keep those in mind when planning.