Organizing a Practice Is As Easy As 1-2-3Conducting an organized practice is critical to maximizing the time a coach spends with the team. Here's an easy "1, 2, 3 Practice Planning Model" that enables coaches to plan a practice for younger players who need work on basic skills and on playing together as a team.
1. One player, one ball
Start practice with activities that require each player to work with her own ball. Choose drills or games that focus on dribbling, juggling and repetitive touches on the ball. In between activities--every few minutes--have players do a set of muscle stretches or calisthenics. The aim for phase ONE is to get players warmed up while improving their "comfort" with the ball.
Examples of games or drills to use in phase ONE:
Tag games that have players dribbling around a defined area while avoiding being tagged, hit or having their balls kicked out of the grid. (Blob tag, tunnel tag, hospital tag, avoid-the-goalie-tag, top gun, knock-out games, etc.);
Fundamental ball touch exercises such as the Coerver dribbling moves;
Juggling;
End phase ONE with a "1 vs. 1" drill or game.
Remember: for phase one to be successful, every player must have a ball at practice. Coach must require that every player bring a ball and coach should bring extra balls to practice.
2. Two players, one ball
In the next phase of practice, two players work with one ball to develop basic skills such as passing, shooting, receiving and ball control. Choose drills or games that are dynamic. Players should rarely be standing around. Emphasis is on correct technique and basic-decision making.
Examples of phase TWO activities:
Players work in pairs passing back and forth while advancing toward a shot on goal.
Players practice receiving throw-ins or high balls.
In pairs, players work on volleying (one-touch) or control and volley (two-touch).
End phase TWO with "2 vs. 1" or "2 vs. 2" drill or game. Players work on keeping possession of the ball and deciding when to pass, when to dribble or when to shoot.
3. Three players (or more), one ball
During this phase of the practice teamwork and tactics are addressed. Activities should be game- related. Try to simulate real game situations with two teams competing toward specific objectives. Work on positions, spacing and special game situations such as kick-offs, free kicks, goal kicks, and corner kicks.
Examples of phase THREE activities:
Keep-away games (monkey in the middle, 5 vs. 2)
Games that have two teams competing. Scrimmages with restrictions or scoring variations such as: 1) team gets point for three consecutive passes, 2) team gets point for dribbling ball across endline, 3) team gets point for passing ball to a target player/coach, 4) four goal game. And so on.
End phase THREE with an unrestricted scrimmage using full-size goals and goalies if possible.
To help maximize practice time, write out a "practice plan." Also lay out grids before practice starts so that you can move quickly from one activity to the next when players arrive. Do some research. Try to find activities that players enjoy and that serve to improve basic skills. Give positive feedback and encouragement. Be enthusiastic. Let you players know when they've done something correctly.
A copy of this article appeared in the "Youth Sports Journal" published by the National Alliance for Youth Sports.
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