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Post by dshanko67 on Jul 9, 2014 17:39:46 GMT -6
So as the new season approaches, I was looking to see what some of you other youth coaches do in your first week of practice. I coach a fourth grade team, and our first week must be a "conditioning week" before pads are allowed to be used. We have to get 10 hours in before the hitting begins the second week. So just looking for some suggestions, or what you do if you have the same situation. Thanks
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Post by goose2w1 on Jul 9, 2014 18:12:44 GMT -6
We have the same exact rules in our league. I split the practice into two 60 minute halves. The first half is strength and conditioning work. Different groupings of sprints, suicides, planks, squat jumps, bear crawls for the 1st 13 minutes, then a 2 min water break. Then we do cone stations(4 square, zig-zags, ect for the same 13 and 2. we then repeat the process for another 30 minutes. All exercises need to be football related and done in short bursts with 100% effort. The next 60 minutes we break out in position groups and work on basic skills in those groups. Again with quick explosive movements with tons of reps. As long as we keep the 2nd half going hard and quick, the kids still get tons of conditioning.
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Post by gammelgaard on Jul 9, 2014 18:23:19 GMT -6
So as the new season approaches, I was looking to see what some of you other youth coaches do in your first week of practice. I coach a fourth grade team, and our first week must be a "conditioning week" before pads are allowed to be used. We have to get 10 hours in before the hitting begins the second week. So just looking for some suggestions, or what you do if you have the same situation. Thanks That sounds very counterproductive to me. Since conditioning can be achieved fairly fast, it would make more sense to have that around preseason. Strength and speed however is a longer process. If you want them to do something to get them ready, before putting on pads, I'd suggest easy bodyweight movements. That way they get to now their own bodies, and they will get a better base form, to build on. Whenever you let them get their pads on, teach them proper tackling and blocking. And let them have fun. Fourth grade football isn't about winning, it's about letting the kids have fun, while being as safe as possible. Getting them ready for the next level is a great bonus. I'm not trying to be harsh on you, your plan just sounds a bit off to me.
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Post by dshanko67 on Jul 9, 2014 18:30:36 GMT -6
So as the new season approaches, I was looking to see what some of you other youth coaches do in your first week of practice. I coach a fourth grade team, and our first week must be a "conditioning week" before pads are allowed to be used. We have to get 10 hours in before the hitting begins the second week. So just looking for some suggestions, or what you do if you have the same situation. Thanks That sounds very counterproductive to me. Since conditioning can be achieved fairly fast, it would make more sense to have that around preseason. Strength and speed however is a longer process. If you want them to do something to get them ready, before putting on pads, I'd suggest easy bodyweight movements. That way they get to now their own bodies, and they will get a better base form, to build on. Whenever you let them get their pads on, teach them proper tackling and blocking. And let them have fun. Fourth grade football isn't about winning, it's about letting the kids have fun, while being as safe as possible. Getting them ready for the next level is a great bonus. I'm not trying to be harsh on you, your plan just sounds a bit off to me. Maybe you misunderstood me, its not my plan, its the league/state rules to have 10 hours of "conditioning" before full pads for contact can be worn.
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Post by gammelgaard on Jul 9, 2014 18:38:15 GMT -6
Well in that case I'd give them some easy bodyweight movements, fundamentals and run them through some non-contact indy/team drills.
I just heard "conditioning week" and imagined a team of fourth graders running sprints and laps!
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Post by dshanko67 on Jul 9, 2014 18:40:49 GMT -6
Oh god no. Like you said, many of the kids do need to get use to their body movements and use to football movements again. I know other places have similar type rules for youth teams. Just looking for some insight on what they actually do to keep it fresh.
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Post by gammelgaard on Jul 9, 2014 18:58:01 GMT -6
We dont have a name for this, but we often let our youngest teams do this weird game. Two teams, everybody is passers and receivers. You can only forward the ball by passing and catching it. No plays, breaks - just plain fun throwing the ball around. Of course there is an endzone for each team, and thats how you score. Incompletion=turnover. Its fun for the kids, even the lazy ones gets moving and its still football in some sense.
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Post by dshanko67 on Jul 9, 2014 19:01:17 GMT -6
OH yeah, my students play that type of game in gym class. Its like ultimate frisbee...I think they just refer to it as ultimate ball. Thats a good idea for a team game
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