Some tips for successful practice planning...
1. Create a backwards timeline
Our Director of Coaches, local 4A high school coach Jason Culpepper (also on our head coaching staff) advises coaches to sit down pre-season and ask yourself a simple question, "Where do I want my team to be when we are __________________?" Fill in that blank with your answer, and create your practice plans accordingly. Start from end season practice or even mid-season practices. Create them based on where you would like to be, and progress backwards. This process does take time, but it's worth it. You can also use this system moving forward through your season chronologically. Remember, allow yourself some flexibility. No one can prepare for exactly what the season will hold because the future isn't certain (for instance, player injuries can't be accounted for ahead of time), but having your season's practices planned out allows you the freedom to adjust accordingly.
2. Save and pull
So you don't want to plan all of your practices at once? Perfectly OK! But our second tip for you is this... save your past plans! Put them in a document or a binder, or somewhere you can access at a later date. This will give you a great idea about the percentage of time you are spending during practice focusing on a certain skill set, or perhaps give you insight as to how much time you are spending on single-phase drills as opposed to multi-phase or team drills. Also, you can reuse drills you particularly liked in the past. It's OK to reuse drills and allow athletes to get familiar with them and attempt to master them. This is constructive. But remember, to always set up new goals and continue to push your athletes outside of their comfort zones.
3. Make notes
During practice be sure to allow yourself some room on the side of your practice plan to make notes regarding certain drills. This comes in handy big time when creating future practice plans. Drill didn't flow like you wanted it to? Did it take too long to complete? Next time, make the adjustment and give it a time cap. Was the level of the drill too high or too low for your caliber of athletes? Adjust and make the modifications. Note taking is an overlooked tool that can do coaches an amazing amount of good when applied during practices. After all, there are typically so many things going on it's hard to remember all of your "mental notes" the next time you sit down to plan. If you have notes to refer to, you won't have to worry about that!
4. Modify
Do not be afraid to take a drill and make it your own! Modifying a drill is a brilliant way to get what you need out of it. Many of our coaches on staff have one base drill with 5 or more modifications of that same drill. Don't get caught saying, "Well I don't need that drill because it's too advanced for my athletes." Not true! Modify and tailor it to fit your team's needs. After all, no teams' needs or skill sets are going to be cookie cutter. Make it work for you.
5. Create your own drills
What areas need work on your team? Now, write those areas down. Take different elements of the game and skill sets and smoosh them together. Combine old drill concepts with new. Have a drill that only uses passing and setting? Add a hitter! Have a single-phase hitting drill? Make it multi-phase by throwing in a pass and a set. Don't be afraid to try new drills that YOU have created. Then, make notes about their effectiveness! You might surprise yourself with the awesome drills you can come up with!
6. Ask yourself questions about your practice drills and format
Oftentimes we see the teams that by all accounts should be performing well on the court. Yet, somehow, they're easily beatable. Maybe they all have spectacular individual skill sets but just can't seem to put it all together as a team. Or maybe they are heavy and strong in one area (say, defense) but obviously weak in another (maybe offense). Or possibly you have a team that has every skill set they need, but can't keep up with the pace of the game. This could in fact be a direct reflection on your practice structure and drills. It's important to continue self-evaluating your practices throughout the season. Are they fast-paced enough? Are you stopping entire drills to give instruction to just one player? Could that instruction have been given in a short key phrase (more on the use of key phrases in a future blog post) while the player continues participating in the drill? Are your drills conducive to game-like situations? What percentage of your practice is focused on single-phase drills, multi-phase drills, and team skills? These questions are important and need to be answered. The advancement of your team depends on it.
This blog posts we found through the Junior Volleyball Association's (JVA) Facebook page hits the nail on the head and asks, "Are your practice drills part of your team's problem during play?" Click HERE to answer 8 fundamental questions that will help you analyze the drills you are using during practice.
Just like so many other things in life, as a coach, if you're not growing you're dying. Be ready and willing to expand your skill set. Maybe even ask another coach you look up to or respect to view your practice and give you some insight. What did they like? What do they think could have been done better? How was the flow? Was it conducive to the time of season you are in? Practices can't just be something a team trudges through in between game time. Practice is where it counts. Successful practices breed successful athletes which in turn mold successful teams.
- Amarillo Juniors
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