Coaches stay organized with proven day-to-day tactics. Wonderful teachers prepare and meticulously craft their detail. They have established routines that allow them to perform at a high level. The amount of preparation that goes into one football practice is staggering. It is impossible to run an effective practice without organization and direction consistently.
Practice Structure
There are many ways to run a practice. Effective practices include non-negotiable components for everything to flow smoothly and to maximize productivity. Written schedules can be created with Google Sheets. If there is one tool that every coach needs to be familiar with, it is this. It allows you to create organized practice plans. Our coaching staff used this as an instrument for creation. We compiled a massive library of schedules over years of preparation. We did not reinvent the wheel for each practice either. Sheets allow you to copy and paste what you’ve used. By doing this, you can modify those plans when needed.
There is an art to the perfect plan. Few things are more satisfying than creating a masterpiece. Each practice is broken into five-minute segments. Those segments make up periods. Some periods are longer than others. Coaches reserve time for the most critical work. The critical work morphs from practice to practice. Good coaches identify where deficiencies lie and focus on them.
Corporate Model
This method of scheduling practice is universal to other professional settings too. Break meetings down by time and organize them with Google Sheets. When I was Head Track and Field Coach for Madison Southern High School, I had a documented plan for every practice. I broke down each practice by event, similar to how a football practice plan is broken down by position. Corporate business meetings should have a detailed schedule to keep the conversation purpose-driven.
Collaboration
Google Sheets allow coaches to collaborate and plan accordingly. If organized correctly, each coach should have access to the document and will be able to modify it. They can input their specific drills and note what needs to be accomplished. It allows everyone to frame the practice in their mind and know what is coming. It eliminates surprises and helps the team stay on schedule.
If each plan is broken into five-minute segments, there must be a clock that everyone monitors at practice. The clock is an essential piece of the puzzle. It must be run by a trusted manager or coach who is constantly aware of what is taking place on the field. Practice organization is a key element to effective operation. Routines are created and players and coaches get in a groove. It establishes consistent end times, which allows everyone to leave at the same time each day.
Forward Thinking
This organization extends to calendars that include the agenda for the year. Forward-thinking, professional coaches anticipate when activities will take place. The off-season schedule must be set months in advance so players and coaches can plan accordingly. Parents need to know where rest periods are built in to keep balance.
Unite Strategy with Communication
Great leaders are organized and communicate clearly with those who work for them. They use tools that are proven to relay their message. Leaders effectively unite strategy with communication to create desired outcomes consistently. They meticulously craft their detail.
The Elite Football Coach Blog Series
The Elite Football Coach Part 1
Video Production Savant Part 5
Teach Monotonous Behaviors Part 9
Bypass to the Community Part 10
Coach at Every Position Part 12
Wrap Up
You can download the Elite Coaches Blog Series in EBook format at the Youniversalife Shop. It is free to download, and you can access it anytime on your phone or other device. I have named it The Emerging Coaches guide. Feel free to share it with your staff or anything considering coaching. Thank you and enjoy!
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