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Post by rbrown5 on Apr 16, 2014 18:56:57 GMT -6
I am looking for new ideas to speed up our practice tempo and also the excitement of our players. Any ideas?
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Post by macdiiddy on Apr 16, 2014 20:50:44 GMT -6
We dont do it, but I hear really great things from people that invest in a 200-300 dollar stereo and blast music during practice. People were talking about it in the "Best Practice Ideas" thread.
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Post by coachplaa on Apr 16, 2014 20:58:46 GMT -6
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Post by groundchuck on Apr 17, 2014 3:20:09 GMT -6
Best practice ideas thread is a great place to start.
We make sure we are prepared for practice as coach's. Scripted.
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Post by bigspicy on Apr 17, 2014 9:00:50 GMT -6
coach plaa, thanks for the handout. very good stuff, do you guys have a football class during school time? and how much weight lifting do you do during the season?
Thanks
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Post by coachphillip on Apr 17, 2014 10:32:15 GMT -6
I like to have team sessions with a moving ball with D&D. I give my OC the other team's plays and he calls the game vs our D based on tendencies. My HC/OC is the best. He gets us ready to play on game days with this approach. Each play is numbered and the defensive coaches have a wristband with the plays on it so we are all on the same page. Like this better than straight scripting.
We also do team with music, which makes practice way more enjoyable. Also, my favorite part: we do the team session always going towards the scoreboard. We have an injured kid or the secondary assistant run the clock with a score. Nothing better than having an actual score up on the board for each session. We tell our guys that they have to run sprints for each point the scout team scores and the scout team runs sprints for half of what the defense scores. They fight like mad for shutouts. The scouts love to talk BS to the starters if they score. It makes things competitive. AND the scouts are always in a hurry to run plays because they know they have a better shot at scoring when they run more plays. It's turned team D into the best part of the week.
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Post by coachplaa on Apr 17, 2014 11:48:24 GMT -6
We lift for 15 minutes in the middle of practice. Out on the field, fast rotation, two sets of 6 different stations with their pads on. We let them take their shoulder pads off if they can do it quickly. If not, they do the exercises with their pads on the next day. Cleans/front squats, battle ropes, jump rope, mma/core station, sled dawg drive, kettlebell work.
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Post by coachjd on Apr 18, 2014 6:43:26 GMT -6
We lift 3x per week at 7:00am. We get all our Olympic and squat movements in before school. It also allows me to see all the 10-12 football players in the morning during the season. Been great for us.
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Post by smfreeman on Apr 18, 2014 6:56:04 GMT -6
Get rid of traditional water breaks. Have water in stations around the field and players can grab and go. Don't let the action stop and your tempo stays pretty high
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Post by smfreeman on Apr 18, 2014 6:56:22 GMT -6
Get rid of traditional water breaks. Have water in stations around the field and players can grab and go. Don't let the action stop and your tempo stays pretty high
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Post by blb on Apr 18, 2014 7:39:28 GMT -6
The first thing to realize is, nobody at any level can go all out for two hours straight.
That means, when they reach the point where they aren't going full-speed, it's time to take a break.
Reps done when their energy-enthusiasm (and thus probably concentration) are waning are wasted.
Which is one reason I disagree with doing away with "traditional water breaks."
We practice at a very fast pace (have been told so by coaches who have visited our practices) because I get antsy when their feet aren't moving. And then I start barking.
Be organized. "Coach on the run." Don't spend too much time on one drill or correcting one player. Run plays fast during team - that's not the time to put on a clinic. Demand hustle and effort, criticize lack thereof.
Also, kids will take their "cue" from you. If you're enthusiastic, they will be too by and large. If on your way out to practice field you don't FEEL enthusiastic, ACT enthusiastic - you may fool yourself and them, too.
But we practice smart too. Which means sometimes, take a break. When they're ready to get back after it, go again.
Based on experience-observation some coaches wear their kids out by Thursday including emotionally. |
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Post by joris85 on Apr 18, 2014 7:55:18 GMT -6
The first thing to realize is, nobody at any level can go all out for two hours straight.
That means, when they reach the point where they aren't going full-speed, it's time to take a break.
Reps done when their energy-enthusiasm (and thus probably concentration) are waning are wasted.
Which is one reason I disagree with doing away with "traditional water breaks."
We practice at a very fast pace (have been told so by coaches who have visited our practices) because I get antsy when their feet aren't moving. And then I start barking.
Be organized. "Coach on the run." Don't spend too much time on one drill or correcting one player. Run plays fast during team - that's not the time to put on a clinic. Demand hustle and effort, criticize lack thereof.
Also, kids will take their "cue" from you. If you're enthusiastic, they will be too by and large. If on your way out to practice field you don't FEEL enthusiastic, ACT enthusiastic - you may fool yourself and them, too.
But we practice smart too. Which means sometimes, take a break. When they're ready to get back after it, go again.
Based on experience-observation some coaches wear their kids out by Thursday including emotionally. Thanks, that's an eyeopener. |
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Post by coachphillip on Apr 18, 2014 8:48:46 GMT -6
I agree with blb. I have at least two water breaks as well. It's hard to concentrate on anything for two hours straight. Breaks help kids refocus. Also, we are inherently lazy. My kids love to pace themselves. It's a lot easier for them to go all out when they know that there's a water break after a heavy session.
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Post by fantom on Apr 18, 2014 9:18:40 GMT -6
A lot of excellent posts so far. I'd like to emphasize that the most important factor in an enthusiastic, fast practice is the coaches. If you're organized, efficient, and enthusiastic the kids will be too.
BUT
Just so you're ready for it, you'll still have one or two stinkers a year. Everybody does.
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Post by blb on Apr 18, 2014 9:23:16 GMT -6
Just so you're ready for it, you'll still have one or two stinkers a year. Everybody does.
I tell our kids I know we're going to have bad practices from time to time, but one of them is not going to be TODAY.
We're going to get two good hours in, even if it takes us six.
So Do It Right the first time - we don't play double headers.
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Post by fantom on Apr 18, 2014 9:25:35 GMT -6
Just so you're ready for it, you'll still have one or two stinkers a year. Everybody does.
I tell our kids I know we're going to have bad practices from time to time, but one of them is not going to be TODAY.
We're going to get two good hours in, even if it takes us six.
So Do It Right the first time - we don't play double headers.
I have a DVR. I'm not in a hurry to get home. |
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Post by sweep26 on Apr 18, 2014 11:33:58 GMT -6
The first thing to realize is, nobody at any level can go all out for two hours straight.
That means, when they reach the point where they aren't going full-speed, it's time to take a break.
Reps done when their energy-enthusiasm (and thus probably concentration) are waning are wasted.
Which is one reason I disagree with doing away with "traditional water breaks."
We practice at a very fast pace (have been told so by coaches who have visited our practices) because I get antsy when their feet aren't moving. And then I start barking.
Be organized. "Coach on the run." Don't spend too much time on one drill or correcting one player. Run plays fast during team - that's not the time to put on a clinic. Demand hustle and effort, criticize lack thereof.
Also, kids will take their "cue" from you. If you're enthusiastic, they will be too by and large. If on your way out to practice field you don't FEEL enthusiastic, ACT enthusiastic - you may fool yourself and them, too.
But we practice smart too. Which means sometimes, take a break. When they're ready to get back after it, go again.
Based on experience-observation some coaches wear their kids out by Thursday including emotionally. Spoken like a true veteran. Nice job Coach!! |
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Post by tango on Apr 19, 2014 13:21:18 GMT -6
We have a 5 min. water break after each 20 min. session. We are in Fla. and it helps with the heat and emergency plans incase of problems with heat. They can get water at anytime. I get a quick report form each coach before the next drill. This helps me draw back or dial it up a little. I will go to anyone that is not given a good report or brag on them. You can learn a lot from your team during this time. How do they respond to teammates when hot and tired. Who sits by themselves? Who do the sit with? How do they respond to you?
I like the idea of no breaks but I don't think we will ever do it.
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Post by groundchuck on Apr 19, 2014 22:21:08 GMT -6
We try to have an ebb and flow to practice with high intensity periods followed by a period where the tempo is still high but the intensity isn't. So we try and build some mental (and physical) recovery into practice.
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Post by breakerdog on Apr 20, 2014 13:14:54 GMT -6
We dont do it, but I hear really great things from people that invest in a 200-300 dollar stereo and blast music during practice. People were talking about it in the "Best Practice Ideas" thread. We did this last year and it generally went really well. Two things 1- Play list has to be vetted. Ended up with a few songs that have language thats not inline with our team values. Usually happens right when the administration or parents booster club is in for a visit. 2- Have a remote control for the HC. It's great loud during warm ups, fast drills and team time. We liked to have it turned down during "teach time" because it can be distracting and hard to focus when you are trying to explain to a group where to place your hands on a down block. |
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Post by groundchuck on Apr 20, 2014 13:59:44 GMT -6
Remote is great idea.
We just used my iPad with an amp.
I was in control of what songs. That way I was sure to check them. Even edited versions sometimes contain naughty words.
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Post by powerfootball71 on Apr 20, 2014 14:21:31 GMT -6
Don't know if it's been mentioned but we just plug a ipod into the pa system in the stadium have a trainer monitor it. We alternate which coach gets his music played
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Post by blb on Apr 20, 2014 15:13:10 GMT -6
To those of you who play music during practices - do you play it during games?
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Post by coachphillip on Apr 20, 2014 15:43:11 GMT -6
During pre game only. Our band comes to all of our home games.
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Post by blb on Apr 20, 2014 15:50:39 GMT -6
During pre game only. Our band comes to all of our home games.
Does your band play between every snap?
Does not having your band at away games affect your performance then?
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Post by coachphillip on Apr 20, 2014 16:00:09 GMT -6
During pre game only. Our band comes to all of our home games.
Does your band play between every snap?
Does not having your band at away games affect your performance then?
No sir. I haven't seen any drop off in performance at away games. I don't think we're conditioning them to external stimuli by playing music for certain periods in practice. I can see where that might be an issue, but I haven't dealt with it. |
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Post by blb on Apr 20, 2014 16:05:42 GMT -6
I'm just trying to figure out what the advantage would be then of playing music during practice, especially at cost of $200-300.
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Post by breakerdog on Apr 20, 2014 16:36:00 GMT -6
To those of you who play music during practices - do you play it during games? I know what you are getting at here. I'm pretty sure you have forgotten more about coaching HS football than I know, so I am certainly not going to try to convince you of anything one way or the other. I could sit here and talk about training with ambient noise, chaos and distraction in order to prepare for games, but that's not really the truth. The number one thing that music during practice has done is made our practices more fun and more uptempo. I want our practices to be upbeat, positive and enjoyable. I'm sure you can do this without music, but it seems to help. Making your program fun is important in our region because football isn't the only game in town. I believe that this helps us attract and retain athletes. |
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Post by groundchuck on Apr 20, 2014 18:30:46 GMT -6
I was gonna say the same thing as breaker. Our kids wanted it. We said if it became a distraction then nope. It seemed to be a good thing we plan to keep.
Most of us probably use music in the wt room. Same thing.
But that doesn't mean blb and others are not right. We don't play it during games.
There is no right/wrong here. It's about the kids and what the coaches are comfortable with too.
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Post by bobbybooshay on Apr 20, 2014 21:03:09 GMT -6
Blb , Do you ever find it easier to get kids excited to play a game than practice? From time to time our kids drag a little in practice. Sometimes music helps with the enthusiasm.
Do you ever play music in the weightroom ? If so, why would you or anyone possibly do this if the kids can't listen to it in a game?
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