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Post by kwiknva on Jan 15, 2014 15:24:22 GMT -6
Coaches,
How many practices are you getting in each week during the season? Does your league set the limits? We have used a reduction style practice plan for our league. Ex. 4 practice for first two weeks, then 3 practices until school starts then twice week till season ends. Like to know your pros and cons your current limits. Thx |
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Post by 33coach on Jan 15, 2014 20:34:23 GMT -6
our rules are this:
practice 5 days a week until the first game
after the first game we have to go to 4 days a week, and the younger kids go to 3 days a week.
i just dont see how you can get a kid to be really good at a position if he is only practicing 4-6 hours a week....and only a portion of that is actually working on his position....(at best he is getting 1 hour a week to work on a single position.)
i believe 6-8 hours is the bare minimum you can have and produce quality players.
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Post by CatsCoach on Jan 16, 2014 13:01:32 GMT -6
We practice M-F 6-8 in Aug, then when school start we go down to 3 nights a week 6-8.
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Post by mahonz on Jan 16, 2014 14:20:55 GMT -6
Our League had this discussion a few years ago and decided to apply the science. I am assuming your League is making an attempt at being more Concussion conscious.
Reducing participation time during the season is actually a step in the wrong direction for pre pubescent kids but a good idea for post pubescent kids.
The reason has nothing to do with concussions but all about muscle memory and repair time in-between sessions.
In laymen terms...the first grade body is made of rubber and repairs very quickly while the eighth grade body is / does not. Plus if you factor in muscle memory, the first grader is very uncoordinated naturally while the eighth grader is much more coordinated.
Then you must consider that game day is...well... game day. It is a hard hitting session in an uncontrolled environment. So by reducing the amount of practice time actually creates a more dangerous atmosphere come game day because of the condition of both mind and body are lacking. If both the mind and body are lacking...the players are more open to injury....concussions or otherwise.
The end result for our League....shorten the games. We used to play 12 minute quarters. Now its 10. Practice stayed the same....5 participation's per week in pre season....4 during the season for the little guys....5 for the older age groups. Game day counts as one participation. The older age groups plug in a no pads film study / walk thru session rather than a full pads contact session to allow more recovery time....but they are still in learn mode and doing a football thing.
They also looked into a shortened pre season but that was determined to be a bad idea. It takes roughly 4 weeks for a pre pubescent kid to get into full muscle memory mode. So it makes no sense to take a 9 year old who has been sitting on the couch all summer watching Gilligan's Island and eating Tweekies...throw some pads on him...run him around for a couple of weeks and then throw him into a game.
My take.
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Post by pirate1590 on Jan 17, 2014 9:15:50 GMT -6
We practice 5 nights a week (I practice 4 with my teams) a week for 2 hours until school starts
We drop down to 3 after that (1 is a 1:30 walkthrough/light practice)
Thats interesting about the games being shortened though! We play 10 mins from 8-10 to 10-11 and then 12 mins for 12-13.
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Post by kwiknva on Jan 17, 2014 14:09:32 GMT -6
Hey, thanks for the feed back. Basically my league has had this practice plan in place well before concussions became all the rage. It was parents not liking the work load of school and practices. Also parents in our community have their kids in 2 if not 3 sports at the same time. However with the topic of concussions on everyone's minds it has open up a lot up studies and thoughts that less practice actually equals more injuries not less injuries. I think we are getting that vibe from the local university doing a concussion study on our league. They just haven't came out and said this yet. So I like to bring this up to the league this season to put us back on a min. 3 practice per week for all divisions. We currently are allowing coaches one full week 4/5 days of non contact and then a second week of contact before first game. 2 weeks and the boys are going at it. Only leaves one week to get a scrimmage in etc etc. Then we end the season at 2 practices and kids are almost dropping like fly's. Coaches are now are forfeiting games to help keep players healthy for playoffs.
I think 3 per week at min. should be better. This would allow coaches to get the need time with players that are behind or require more development. Plus we have to burn a practice to do film session. They count as a practice. I think it's gotten to the point kids are now not getting all the teaching they possible could and some parents ask for extra but it's currently against rules to exceed you practice limit for the week.
Thanks again,
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Post by mahonz on Jan 17, 2014 14:21:34 GMT -6
Hey, thanks for the feed back. Basically my league has had this practice plan in place well before concussions became all the rage. It was parents not liking the work load of school and practices. Also parents in our community have their kids in 2 if not 3 sports at the same time. However with the topic of concussions on everyone's minds it has open up a lot up studies and thoughts that less practice actually equals more injuries not less injuries. I think we are getting that vibe from the local university doing a concussion study on our league. They just haven't came out and said this yet. So I like to bring this up to the league this season to put us back on a min. 3 practice per week for all divisions. We currently are allowing coaches one full week 4/5 days of non contact and then a second week of contact before first game. 2 weeks and the boys are going at it. Only leaves one week to get a scrimmage in etc etc. Then we end the season at 2 practices and kids are almost dropping like fly's. Coaches are now are forfeiting games to help keep players healthy for playoffs. I think 3 per week at min. should be better. This would allow coaches to get the need time with players that are behind or require more development. Plus we have to burn a practice to do film session. They count as a practice. I think it's gotten to the point kids are now not getting all the teaching they possible could and some parents ask for extra but it's currently against rules to exceed you practice limit for the week. Thanks again, Any League should do what is best for the kids....not the parents no matter what. The tail does not wag the dog. If a parent has their kids playing 2 or 3 sports at once...no matter what you do for them their kids will still suffer in school. Good luck ! |
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Post by fantom on Jan 19, 2014 12:30:07 GMT -6
Hey, thanks for the feed back. Basically my league has had this practice plan in place well before concussions became all the rage. It was parents not liking the work load of school and practices. Also parents in our community have their kids in 2 if not 3 sports at the same time. However with the topic of concussions on everyone's minds it has open up a lot up studies and thoughts that less practice actually equals more injuries not less injuries. I think we are getting that vibe from the local university doing a concussion study on our league. They just haven't came out and said this yet. So I like to bring this up to the league this season to put us back on a min. 3 practice per week for all divisions. We currently are allowing coaches one full week 4/5 days of non contact and then a second week of contact before first game. 2 weeks and the boys are going at it. Only leaves one week to get a scrimmage in etc etc. Then we end the season at 2 practices and kids are almost dropping like fly's. Coaches are now are forfeiting games to help keep players healthy for playoffs. I think 3 per week at min. should be better. This would allow coaches to get the need time with players that are behind or require more development. Plus we have to burn a practice to do film session. They count as a practice. I think it's gotten to the point kids are now not getting all the teaching they possible could and some parents ask for extra but it's currently against rules to exceed you practice limit for the week. Thanks again, Any League should do what is best for the kids....not the parents no matter what. The tail does not wag the dog. If a parent has their kids playing 2 or 3 sports at once...no matter what you do for them their kids will still suffer in school. Good luck ! I'm not sure that it's fair to say that youth leagues shouldn't take the parents' needs and wants into consideration. The problem may not be that Johnny is playing two sports. It may be that Johnny has brothers and sisters who play other sports. If Johnny has three football practices and a game every week and he has a sister who has a similar schedule for soccer you're asking a big time commitment from parents. |
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Post by 33coach on Jan 19, 2014 13:38:00 GMT -6
Any League should do what is best for the kids....not the parents no matter what. The tail does not wag the dog. If a parent has their kids playing 2 or 3 sports at once...no matter what you do for them their kids will still suffer in school. Good luck ! I'm not sure that it's fair to say that youth leagues shouldn't take the parents' needs and wants into consideration. The problem may not be that Johnny is playing two sports. It may be that Johnny has brothers and sisters who play other sports. If Johnny has three football practices and a game every week and he has a sister who has a similar schedule for soccer you're asking a big time commitment from parents. At the end of the day, its a danger to their child not to commit the time. 6 hours a week does not prepare them. Sent from my ADR6410LVW using proboards |
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Post by fantom on Jan 19, 2014 13:49:41 GMT -6
I'm not sure that it's fair to say that youth leagues shouldn't take the parents' needs and wants into consideration. The problem may not be that Johnny is playing two sports. It may be that Johnny has brothers and sisters who play other sports. If Johnny has three football practices and a game every week and he has a sister who has a similar schedule for soccer you're asking a big time commitment from parents. At the end of the day, its a danger to their child not to commit the time. 6 hours a week does not prepare them. Sent from my ADR6410LVW using proboards I admit that it's been a long time since I coached a youth team but I'm having a hard time figuring out how this is a safety issue. |
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Post by 33coach on Jan 19, 2014 13:52:14 GMT -6
At the end of the day, its a danger to their child not to commit the time. 6 hours a week does not prepare them. Sent from my ADR6410LVW using proboards I admit that it's been a long time since I coached a youth team but I'm having a hard time figuring out how this is a safety issue. Not knowing what's going on. Lack of understanding. That's a safety issue (the kid who picks the most daisys is the kid most likely to leave by ambulance) Sent from my ADR6410LVW using proboards |
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Post by mahonz on Jan 20, 2014 11:58:37 GMT -6
Any League should do what is best for the kids....not the parents no matter what. The tail does not wag the dog. If a parent has their kids playing 2 or 3 sports at once...no matter what you do for them their kids will still suffer in school. Good luck ! I'm not sure that it's fair to say that youth leagues shouldn't take the parents' needs and wants into consideration. The problem may not be that Johnny is playing two sports. It may be that Johnny has brothers and sisters who play other sports. If Johnny has three football practices and a game every week and he has a sister who has a similar schedule for soccer you're asking a big time commitment from parents. Any youth league worth a darn will inform all registrants of the commitment required as they are signing up. If a registrant cant commit to the schedule imposed....don't sign up. The tail does not wag the dog. |
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Post by fantom on Jan 20, 2014 12:00:32 GMT -6
I'm not sure that it's fair to say that youth leagues shouldn't take the parents' needs and wants into consideration. The problem may not be that Johnny is playing two sports. It may be that Johnny has brothers and sisters who play other sports. If Johnny has three football practices and a game every week and he has a sister who has a similar schedule for soccer you're asking a big time commitment from parents. Any youth league worth a darn will inform all registrants of the commitment required as they are signing up. If a registrant cant commit to the schedule imposed....don't sign up. The tail does not wag the dog. Depends on how you define who's the tail and who's the dog. |
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Post by mahonz on Jan 20, 2014 12:13:57 GMT -6
Any youth league worth a darn will inform all registrants of the commitment required as they are signing up. If a registrant cant commit to the schedule imposed....don't sign up. The tail does not wag the dog. Depends on how you define who's the tail and who's the dog. It also depends on what sport is "in season". If a kid wants to play football in the fall and soccer...F soccer...that is a Spring sport. The sport that is really upsetting too me is Hockey....its year round. |
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Post by fantom on Jan 20, 2014 13:29:06 GMT -6
Depends on how you define who's the tail and who's the dog. It also depends on what sport is "in season". If a kid wants to play football in the fall and soccer...F soccer...that is a Spring sport. The sport that is really upsetting too me is Hockey....its year round. If a parent has a kid playing more than one sport that's their problem. What about families with more than one kid? |
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Post by mahonz on Jan 20, 2014 15:35:45 GMT -6
It also depends on what sport is "in season". If a kid wants to play football in the fall and soccer...F soccer...that is a Spring sport. The sport that is really upsetting too me is Hockey....its year round. If a parent has a kid playing more than one sport that's their problem. What about families with more than one kid? No biggie....work it out thru others on the team rather than insist the entire League change for you. I currently give 2 players rides to and from everything including games if Mom or Dad cant make it and have to split time between watching all of the their kids play. It the 5% Rule of rules. Never change a rule if it only effects 5% of the population. This issue is a 5% problem from my experiences. |
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Post by davecisar on Jan 22, 2014 10:55:05 GMT -6
Coaches,
How many practices are you getting in each week during the season? Does your league set the limits? We have used a reduction style practice plan for our league. Ex. 4 practice for first two weeks, then 3 practices until school starts then twice week till season ends. Like to know your pros and cons your current limits. Thx We go 3 days a week until game 1 which is 12 total practices and then just 2 days a week thereafter. Most of my competitors practice more- some a lot more.
Eliminate what you don't heed, get great at teaching what you do and you can do very well
Its all about: Priorities Progressions Precision Pace
We get more real football done in 2 practices than most get in 4 Parents love it- don't have to be at the field 4 nights a week
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Post by bobgoodman on Jan 23, 2014 15:04:47 GMT -6
2010-12 we had 3 practices a week in pre-season, 2/week during the early part of the season, then down to one token indoor practice a week when it got dark early. In 2012 it was cut down to 2/week pre-season. We're house ball, so practice days & times are fixed by the "league". Occasionally we've had a pre-season week with 4 practices.
Where I was in 2007 it was 3/week preseason, 2/week in-season (trading 1 practice day for game day). Where I was in 2008 it was 3/week preseason, and I never found out what it was in-season because they canned me and didn't start playing until Oct.
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