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Post by lochness on Feb 25, 2008 8:51:02 GMT -6
It seems a lot of A.D.'s nowadays are obsessed with setting a limit for practice time. Now, I've never been one to abuse the kids and have practices that are well beyond recommended limits, but I also find it somewhat unreasonable to be absolutely tied into a time limit.
Here is an example of a practice schedule (defensive variety) that I would want to employ in-season. Is this "too much?" What are your total practice times??
DEFENSIVE PRACTICE “IN SEASON”
FULL GEAR
3:00 SPECIAL HELP PERIOD (pre-practice)
Basic, every day drills @ light-to-medium intensity
General instruction
Stances and starts, footwork, alignments, hands,QB warms, etc
Specialists work
3:15 DYNAMIC WARM-UP
2 full laps, jog
high knee hug, backpedal reach, groin shuffle, hip rotations, goose steps, lunges, power skips, tapioca,
3:25 CONDITIONING
Pursuit Drill and “on the ball” sprints
3:35 WATER BREAK / DRILL SET UP
team will take a 5 min water and recovery break
coaching staff will set up drills, equipment, etc.
3:40 TACKLING PROGRESSION BY CLASS
each class will get with assigned coach
2.5 min for form tackle, 2.5 min for angle tackle, 2.5 min for eye open, 2.5 min for open field…3/4 speed, NOBODY on the ground
3:50 TACKLE CIRCUIT BY CLASS (ROTATING)
Chutes, Bag Tackle, Popsicle, Oaklahoma, West Point, etc…4 stations, 2 min per station…full speed
4:00 DEFENSIVE INDIVIDUALS
All positions work fundamentals according to practice plan / installation needs
4:15 RUN GROUP
Reads, keys, alignments, etc. against opponent’s base run schemes (option, wing-t, etc.)
4:25 PASS GROUPS
SKILL POSITIONS- on air or pass skeleton drill vs. opponent formations, motions, and pass plays
DL- pass rush techniques, stunts, screen / draw recognition
4:40 TACTICAL DRILL(s)
in a competitive format, a “game” is played for “points” to practice or emphasize one particular aspect of the defense
Drills must be scripted and prepared ahead of time, reps must be quick and fast-flowing
4:50 BASE DEFENSE VS. OPPONENT BASE OFFENSE
Execution of base defensive game plan vs. base opponent offense
11-on-11, scripted drill
5:16 PUNT RETURN VS. OPPONENT PUNT / KICK RETURN VS. OPPONENT KICKOFF
Punt return for 3.5 minutes, rapid repetitions, scripted against a posted punt return team, scout card available, 11-on-11
Kick return for 3.5 minutes, same format
5:23 GOAL LINE / SHORT YARDAGE DEFENSE DRILL
Team defense in goal line / short yardage situations, 11-on-11
Kickoff Return if they score
5:30 END PRACTICE STRETCH AND ADMINISTRATION
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Post by los on Feb 25, 2008 9:43:14 GMT -6
Sounds good to me Loch.....thats covering a lot of stuff in 2.5 hrs.....that was about our limit with every age group I ever coached....2.5 hrs. more or less.....after that....the kids attention was on the parking lot.....looking for mama.....girl friend.....grand pa....or whoever...lol  |
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Post by lochness on Feb 25, 2008 9:54:44 GMT -6
I agree. I don't know if I could get a full practice in just a 2 hour time slot. We have a 15-minute pre-practice (whatever that means) and we have 2 hours and 15 min of full practice. If We don't do this, I feel like we are leaving something out.
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Post by jackedup on Feb 25, 2008 10:02:53 GMT -6
I prefer not to go over 2 hours because it seems the kids loose focus no matter how organized the practice was. I remember John Wooden saying he never went beyond 1.5 hours in a given practice. That's amazing!
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Post by olinecoach61 on Feb 25, 2008 10:36:04 GMT -6
I usually plan for 2 hours and then when we run over, it never goes past 2.5.
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Post by gregspahn on Feb 25, 2008 10:46:51 GMT -6
I am of the opinion that TEMPO in practice trumps total time. If it is well organized and the pace is up, you can get more done in an hour and half than you could in a drawn out two and a half hour practice. Also, with an up tempo practice, one can work conditioning in to the reps and not have to use practice time to condition every day. As far as schedule goes, I expect my kids to be on time and ready to practice when it starts and I try to give them the same with the length of practice. If we are scheduled for two hours, we are done in two hours. It is up to the coaches to keep the pace during practice and keep the schedule.
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Post by realdawg on Feb 25, 2008 11:12:47 GMT -6
Never longer than 3 hours tops. 2.5 is better, but when you have to practice offense, defense, special teams, warm up and condition-its hard to get done in less time. (at least for us, maybe we are just really unorganized) Our schedule looks something like this Mon-Wed.
3:45-4 Warmup
4-4:20 Special Teams
420 Water
425-525 JV O/Varsity D
525 Water
530-630 JV D/Varsity O
630-Conditioning (if we have it that day)
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Post by briangilbert on Feb 25, 2008 11:14:05 GMT -6
I'm a big believer in the 1.5 Hour rule of actually being on the field. Now spending 30 minutes in a meeting in your ready room, I see nothing wrong with that.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2008 11:26:18 GMT -6
I feel that no more than two hours should elapse between the end of stretching and the start of conditioning. Ideally, I would like to plan a practice that's fast paced enough to not require end of practice conditioning, but that is a preference to each individual coach.
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Post by khalfie on Feb 25, 2008 11:36:30 GMT -6
I would like 3 hrs... but its not a reality...
2.5 is a must, can't see how you get it done with anything less.
We have to touch a little of the O and D everyday, add that to special teams... and you have to have 2.5...
IMHO
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ramsoc
Junior Member
Posts: 431
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Post by ramsoc on Feb 25, 2008 12:17:10 GMT -6
We're usually in the 2:15 to 2:30 range....
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Post by NC1974 on Feb 25, 2008 13:17:51 GMT -6
A few years ago, we were going 3:00 - 7:00, that included practice and film...made me question my comittment, can't imagine how the kids felt...IMO we could get it done from 3:00 - 5:30, then get the kids out of there. any more than 2.5, I think you start to wear the kids down.
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Post by gregspahn on Feb 25, 2008 13:53:58 GMT -6
I feel that no more than two hours should elapse between the end of stretching and the start of conditioning. Ideally, I would like to plan a practice that's fast paced enough to not require end of practice conditioning, but that is a preference to each individual coach. If we add on conditioning, we will do so in the middle of practice or possibly the start, rarely the end. It gives the kids a chance to work when fatigued, and it gives us a chance to challenge them mentally and physically, trying to simulate an in game situation. |
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Post by coachorr on Feb 25, 2008 13:58:22 GMT -6
I know a coach who believed stretching was the responsibility of the players and he started with practice at 4:00.
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Post by coachweav88 on Feb 25, 2008 14:57:19 GMT -6
The school I was at for the last 3 seasons went 2 hours, but it was a very small school (less than 30 on the team). It didn't take long for everyone to get a lot of reps because of the small number. I've also been at schools where practice was 2.5 hours. It was a bigger school, so it took longer for everyone to get reps. Both places I felt that we got done what we needed to in that period of time
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ware89
Freshmen Member
Posts: 36
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Post by ware89 on Feb 25, 2008 15:31:48 GMT -6
Lochness and anyone else interested,
A suggestion I have if you are looking to reduce practice time is the following. You have 13 sections listed in your practice plan. Shave 1 minute off of each section plus 2 minutes off of water (3 minutes is plenty of time for your kids and coaches to set up. Your coaches need to be organized and save the small talk for after practice). If you do that you have reduced your practice time by 15 minutes. Ask yourself, have you really lost anything by cutting off 1 minute form each section? The answer is No. What you have gained is 15 minutes in which your players can recuperate. Add these minutes up throughout the season and these minutes become invaluable. One of the most important things regarding your players especially near the end of the season is that your players have fresh legs. Without fresh legs you can X and O until the cows come home and it doesn't mean a dam thing.
For us a 2 hour practice is how we do it. We have been very successful with this approach. We rarely hit in practice, except 1 day a week, in addition we are in full pads once maybe twice per week not including game night/day obviously.
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Post by groundchuck on Feb 25, 2008 15:39:13 GMT -6
1. We tell our kids practice will be 2 hours and 30 minutes.
2. Practice usually only lasts 2 hours or maybe 2:15. Then hey, we are always done "early".
3. Later in the season practice gets shorter. Maybe now we go a max of 2 hours.
Now as for administrative time limits we don't have anything official from the AD. Last school I was at everything had to be done by 6:30 on Wednesday for church night which was never a problem since we got started by 3:30.
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Post by k on Feb 25, 2008 15:45:25 GMT -6
Wow. I'm shocked by how short the practices listed are.
Warmups/Individuals 2:30-3:00.
Practice: 3:00-6:00/6:30
Conditioning: 15 Minutes afterwards
In high school we used to practice every day until we couldn't see the ball.... And even then we'd go inside sometimes in the gym.
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Post by kcbazooka on Feb 25, 2008 18:17:16 GMT -6
We try limit practice to two hours after warmups. I think you get limited focus if you go longer than that -- that being said - i've worked with and known successful coaches that spent more time on the field than that.
I remember hearing Eddie Robinson being told by a couple of new assistants that his three hour practices were too long. That at other schools they were two hours or less. At the time, Robinson was the winningest coach in the country - he politely explained to the new assistants that the rest of the country ought to be copying him - not vice versa...
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Post by briangilbert on Feb 25, 2008 19:06:53 GMT -6
K I actually have the opposite view. I'm shocked that practices being mentioned are this long. Heck in College I know everyone goes 1 way but we never were on the field for more then 1hr and 45 minutes (At a Mac school). Typically practice was 1.5 hours.
I played for a guy in HS that went from 3-7.... We had literally a 100 play script.
These are HS kids, your body can only take so much. If you prepare accordingly you can run a practice in 1.5 hours (Not counting stretching).
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Post by khalfie on Feb 25, 2008 22:38:18 GMT -6
I'm loaded...
shave off a minute? I'm trying to add 5 minutes per rotation... EDD's, Indy's, Team O, Team D, Specials... Screen period, tackling circuit... huh? I just don't see it!
Maybe we are doing too much... what would you get rid of? And mind you, we don't do water breaks... kids can get water, when ever they want... just pop in and out of the drill... however, when kids are not watering up, sometimes we are forced to make them get a drink!
4:00 – Dynamics
4:10 – Offensive EDD’s -- QB’s – Snaps (25 Single Wing & SG)
- Footwork – With HB’s and FB’s Immediately
- Throwing Drills – Add Wr’s
o Automatics
o Screens
o Quick Game
4:10 – X, Y, Z’s – Work Blocking Drills Until QB’s are ready to throw. Know when to crack or BMO
o Blocking Drills
• Stalk Blocks – sprint off, throttle down, buzz feet, stay in contact
• Crack Blocks – sprint off, adjust angle, head inside, watch their back.
o Join QB’s for Passing Concepts
4:10 -- FB’s & HB’s – Stance, Starts, Box, Blocking, Footwork
o Footwork w/ QB’s
o Blocking – Bob, 100/200
o Receiving – Flare Routes, Bubble Routes, and Middle Screens
4:10 -- O’Line – Stance, Starts, Gun sling, Drive, 5 Drive, Double, Down, Trap, Power, Wedge
- Blocking
o Pull Hit, Fit and Drive – From man over. Left and Right
o Double Teams – 2 vs 1. Punch Number, meld hips, get low, steel arms and drive.
o Dub Teams to LB – 2 vs 2. Punch Number, meld hips, get low, steel arms, drive, turn, and chip off.
- 5 Man
o Blue Veer / Blue Crazy / /silver – Veer Block (1-5)
o Orange / Orange Read / Orange Alpha (3-5)
o Purple / Purple Read / Purple Alpha (3-5)
o Green Jet, Red Rocket, Alpha - Beta – Gamma (Trap Seal)
o Black Iso (Near Ear)
4:30 –Special Teams
- Kick Return
- Punt: 5 Wide and Tight Punt
- Extra Point / FG
4:50 – Power Hour (Together)
- Run Game
- Passing Game
5:10 –Tackling Circuit – 4 Stations 5 Min rotations
- Shoots – Maloy
- Eye Openers – (Shuffle – He comes You come) Block
- Leverage – Ma’
- Open Field – Kalk
- QB Chop - Ely
5:25 – Team – Offense
- Single Wing –
- Automatics –
- Screen Game –
- Inside Run –
- Outside Run --
- Quick Game --
- Combo Routes –
6:20 -- Breakdown
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Post by morris on Feb 26, 2008 6:34:57 GMT -6
I know back in the USFL days the Gamblers beleived if you could not get it done in 1.5 hrs then something is not right. Our problem is we might play on a tuesday and then again on thursday or sat. So we might get 3-4 practices in before a game or we might get 2.
You do not have to do everything every day. There are certain things that need to be done in every practice but yo ucna split up the stuff. Work on screens on tues, blitz on a different day and so on. When you try to practice stuff everyday at what poitn are you not getting the returns on it that you are looking for.
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Post by bulldogoption on Feb 26, 2008 6:58:17 GMT -6
I find myself wanting to make our practices shorter and shorter for the players' and coaches' well being. Get in, get it done, get out. Smaller school, kids get lots of reps, get tired quickly.
I think it really comes down to your PLAN for the SEASON. Have a plan and start from day one practicing the skills and techniques that fit into your overall scheme to score and defend the teams on your schedule. Then your practices will become more 'workmen-like' and less 'stand-around' while the coaches discuss what happens next then explains the new schemes and drills we are going to use to the players.
If you DON'T have a plan then you find yourselves scrambling each week and each night to decide, explain and accomplish those new schemes and techniques that are going to make you successful.
Have a SEASON plan and your practices can be shorter, IMO.
To answer the question, I want our practices to be LESS than 2 hours.
“Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.”
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