Discuss Saturday Practice...Is it necessary or not

I'm probably in minority but we don't do anything on Saturdays. That's staff and players' day off in-season.

I watch our game film and make exchange with upcoming opponents Saturday morning.

Watching college football is my way to "debrief" from our game. I'll break down a half of an opponents' video, then watch some CFB; alternate like that until Saturday night.

Sunday morning-early afternoon I finish breakdowns. Staff meets 3-5 pm, varsity kids watch film 5-7 pm.

So Monday we hit the practice field immediately.

Perhaps I should've mentioned our JVs play on Thursdays, so that's not a consideration.

We couldn't show video to kids Saturday morning because I have not yet watched it myself - am not going to watch it Friday night right after game. Going to watch scores on TV with coaches and wives, and celebrate or commiserate together.

Would have to bring staff in very early (7 or 8 am) and kids afterwards...and I just don't want to do that.

Ive done the 7 day work week before.. but didnt like it.. we didnt bring kids in on the weekends.. but coaches were there..

Previous to that.. we did have the kids up on Sat mornings..

I would never have kids required to show up on Sunday evenings.. just NO WAY..

Now as a HC, I do not even require my coaches to show up on Sundays..

Now.. IF.. you have a planning period that all coaches share prior to practice.. you can get anything done during that time that you could on Sunday evening..

That was the one thing I didnt like when we all had 3rd block off at my first stop.. everyone jetted off and went on a 1.5 hour lunch during 3rd block.. and we had to spend all evening on Sunday at the school.. we could have just done that work during those 3rd block times.

I've done both and I've liked both. We instituted Sat morning practices here three years ago. For two years, the kids came in, stretched, lifted and then we let them watch the film on their own. Captains ran it. Got all the giggles and crap out of the way there and then we watched it with them on Monday afternoon and did the critical stuff. We also never watched a lot of film of the other team with the kids under this system. I liked it. Saturdays went quick, it was pretty relaxed, kids brought juice and stuff to watch the film with and overall it was a nice little break. Also liked not showing them the opponents film because then they didn't get a big head since video is always misleading about an opponents abilities and when it came to prepping them for what they're going to see they just saw what we wanted them to see. Sure, they may have ran a certain play against that team for 150 yds, but that doesn't mean they're going to run it against us. Without them seeing it on film, they have no choice but to focus on what we think they're going to run.

This year we did Saturdays entirely different. Kids watched film with us first thing Sat morning then lifted then went home. I didn't think it was as productive as I didn't get as good an opportunity to review the film and take notes on each play as I normally did. I tried early in the season, but getting done watching film at 1am and then turning around for practice at 8 was not happening. Plus, the kids were not in the mood to watch the previous nights game. Mostly because we lost 7 of 9 games. We then would have staff meetings from 5-8:30ish Sunday nights. Often they turned into watching film silently or watching our HC look at a wipe board without talking for an hour plus.

But I digress. In the future, if given the opportunity to schedule such things, I think I will not have Saturday practices. I think as coaches we undervalue down time and don't give the kids enough time away from us and the school. I know this past year I felt like I never left the school. I imagine our kids felt the same way.

Too much of a good thing, even football, is still too much.

larrymoe, I agree - if you as a coach are tired and sick of being at school, imagine how the kids feel.

Sometimes working smart means - take a break.

the ONLY reason we chose to meet early on Saturday mornings with our players was to begin treatment on those injuries that flare up overnight.

we disguise this will game video (which we could just as easily do no Sun evenings).

Getting those kids treated first thing on Saturday is HUGE.

I've HC'd in programs where we've done the light practice, just watch video, ran conditioning. Getting them treated is enuf reason to have all show up.

Treatment would be the only reason I would consider having kids come in Saturdays, but frankly we don't get many that need it.

We tell them to check with trainer if they have any boo boos or owies before they leave post-game, and to "RICE" any injuries they wake up with Saturday.

And, if you think bringing them in Saturday mornings is going to stop those predisposed to "get into trouble" Friday night, I'd suggest you're being naive.

[/quote]And, if you think bringing them in Saturday mornings is going to stop those predisposed to "get into trouble" Friday night, I'd suggest you're being naive.[/quote]

There's always a few that still go out and put themselves in poor situations, but it's okay to provide them with a little incentive to NOT go out. Unfortunately, unlike you, not all of us coach cyborgs that never get hurt and won't ever need treatment. We could have used a few of those this past season

If you create a culture where a Saturday "practice" is EXPECTED, it works. My high school HC's 300+ wins confirms it. Not saying that if you don't practice on Saturdays, you won't ever be successful, but it's what I've seen, what I believe in, and what we do.

True. Like I said, it's what I experienced. As a young man, I NEEDED it. In fact a lot of us did.

Like anything else in coaching, you need to find what works for you and the environment you work in and wish to create. With our environment of gangs, family issues, drugs, etc., a lot of my teammates WANTED to come in on Saturday. Again, like Phantom said, it could work either way. You just need to figure out what works for you.

We are not allowed by our High School League to meet with kids on Sundays. the system we have developed is that Saturday is optional - but - you better have a good reason for not being there, and you have to let your position coach know you will not be there and why. As incentive, it is the only opportunity to see the entire game film as a group. On Monday we show a few cut-ups and the ST cut-ups and then move on to our next opponent. We watch film, do a light stretch and run, then lift.

We bring the varsity in on Saturday. Our Junior Varsity plays at 10 am.
This is our Varsity Saturday routine.

Captains take attendance - make phone calls if necessary to any absent.
Players Stretch (pretty extensive) and then do some light running.
Lifting Session - High Reps - low weight. All this is done with the intent
to assess any injuries and to alleviate some of the normal soreness from a game the night before. Our trainer is available if someone needs to see
him or for him to make a call to parents/doctor to set up an appointment
if necessary. While this is done we are checking team morale.
We like to make sure we are "all together" when the players leave Saturday. We want any lingering questions as to why someone didn't play more, etc. answered before they leave for the week-end. After the stretching, running and lifting (takes approx. 45-50 minutes) we watch
film as a team of our game the night before. Many times we don't get through the entire film but it is a good way to give feedback to the team.
When Monday comes we are already dealing with our next opponent and scouting report for them. On Saturday the players are required to report by 8:30 am and are usually gone by 10 am. We do not do anything as
a staff or team on Sunday.

For you guys who don't practice on Saturdays, do you bring the kids in on Sundays? Also, for those of you who don't practice on Saturday, do the coaches meet on Saturday, Sunday, bith, or neither.

we have for the past 4 years, we bring them in for film then we jog, stretch and take ice baths to work out the soreness 2 hours max. But after reading alot of things on here might eliminate it.

To not have Saturday practice...

Is down right un-american!

Fricken commies!