Getting the most out of your practice plan is critical to being ready to execute your game plan on Friday or Saturday night. Wait what? You don't have or use a practice plan? Well... that's a problem Coach, but don't fret, this post may prove helpful.
I am always surprised when I talk to coaches at clinics, trainings, etc. and they explain that they really don't have or use a practice plan. Many coaches simply write down on a legal pad or type a quick note about what they want to accomplish in practice as well as a few reminders. Some don't even do that. I am not just talking Flag and youth coaches, I am talking Tackle football coaches at the youth and high school level as well! Astounding!
This truly surprises me. Some coaches are just new and inexperienced and didn't know they needed a practice plan or should use one. Other coaches have been coaching for a while and still didn't know how to create a dynamic practice plan. And others, well...ego gets in the way and claim "I have been doing this for years and never needed a formal plan", etc.. Hogwash!
Let's discuss why a practice plan at a very high level is important to have if you are the Head Coach:
Helps keep you organized and focused
Helps communicate your practice week objectives to your coaching staff and team
Enables the coaches to stay on a time schedule, which forces them to be efficient with their time
Brings to focus your priorities and tasks for the day and week
Demonstrates you are a competent Head Coach who can plan and execute Head Coach and team tasks, and thus you are or at least appear to be a responsible and competent Coach.
In case of legal, insurance, or parent issues due to injuries, players, etc. you can demonstrate you had an organized, safe, logical, and competent plan to execute ensuring your team and players are successful and safe
It enables you to effectively manage time and tasks
It's your roadmap to success
It's what ALL good and successful Head Coaches do!
What should a good practice plan have in it?
It should be an Excel, Google, Word, or some other type of editable template so you work from a plan that has continuity and all the information you need for daily and weekly practices
It should include things like, your opponent for the week, activities, schedules, time allotment, objectives, notes, etc.
Uniform for practice
Clear and concise information, tasks, times, objectives, and notes
Be simple enough for your coaches AND players to read and understand
Something you can post on the coaching office window/door or lockerroom door
Something that you would not be ashamed to share with parents, ADs, lawyers, etc.
Anything that will help you and the team succeed
The telephone number of the AD and Athletic Trainer is helpful. You may know it...but some of your other coaches may not!
What should NOT be in your practice plan?
Depth Chart
Player Notes
Playbook
Essentially NOTHING that will take away from your organization and execution of your week's practice. Keep play sheets or installs separate, depth chart separate, etc. These should all be separate documents.
Here are two examples of what a solid high-level practice plan should look like
Coach Frederick's PROformance Practice Plan Template
DOWNLOAD COACH FREDERICK'S HIGH-LEVEL PRACTICE PLAN YOU CAN USE AND CUSTOMIZE TO MEET YOUR TEAM'S NEEDS IN EXCEL FORMAT.
As I said, I was shocked to see how many coaches do not use a practice plan or even a proper play-call sheet which we will talk about in another blog post. Do yourself, your coaches, and your team a favor... use a practice plan to get the most out of practice.
Lastly, a bit of coaching advice. Ensure your practices are up-tempo. Outside of install and explaining new plays or defensive schemes, etc., your practices should be up-tempo. No walking to the next station OR water breaks or walking at all. There is NO walking on a football field. Your players should be getting conditioning while they are practicing which elevates the wasted time after practice of running kids. Dumb and a waste of precious practice time. Build conditioning into your practices. Practice like you play, play like you practice. Check out my blog on the Friday Night Football Fairy!
Be a professional (even if you are a volunteer). Plan, organize, and execute. Being the Head Football Coach requires you to plan and execute your practices and games... not just call the offense. Now, you have NO excuse to create, use, and work from a solid practice plan. Use my template, edit it, etc., and make it your own but use it or one like it. You will see a huge difference in your practices AND your game success!
Coach
Comments