As we all kick into full swing with our fall camps, and two-a-day practices, it’s important to keep our priorities in line. With the grind that comes with the start of a season, it’s easy to get stuck in the same rut of drills and methods of teaching things the way we always have done them. We will naturally fall into what we are already comfortable with, and drills that we know well can sometimes allow kids to coast if you don’t shake things up from time to time. There is a place for every day drills, but if your entire practice session is becoming a series of “Every Day Drills”, then it’s time to ask some questions.
These bottom line questions need to be answered after every individual position group session: did the drills we do today directly make our players better at the skills they need to thrive at their position? Also, can the players who did those drills tell you how those drills relate directly to on-field performance? If the answer isn’t a resounding yes (let your players be the gauge on this), with the players being able to link the specific drill to the specific skill, then you should re-evaluate what you’re doing, and how you are going about it.
Here are some simple things to consider as you go about planning practice:
- * Mix up where you practice on the field. One reason road games are often more difficult is because players are taken out of their comfort zone, and out of their normal routine that they have at home. By simply practicing in a different spot of your stadium or practice field than you did the day before, you can help the players practice on blocking out new distractions, and focus on the task at hand.
- * Switch up your teaching method. Instead of teaching your players how to line up to a certain formation, teach it first to your quarterback or middle linebacker, and have them line up their teammates when it comes time to teach it to the group. This lets them exercise their communication skills, and lets you analyze how well they know the subject.
- * Utilize your resources. There are more resources out there now than ever before. While you might have an “Every-Day-Drill” that you do which works a specific skill, there may be other coaches who have material online that works that same skill, just utilizing a different method of drilling it. Sites like americanfootballmonthly.com, brophyfootball.blogspot.com, and coachhuey.com, are excellent free resources that have a wide range of topics and are just a click away. You would also be surprised at how many great drills you can find by searching through YouTube.
Keeping your players on their toes with how you conduct your position group sessions will keep them engaged and help you make the most of your time. Let them in on why you are doing a drill, and it will help them understand the importance of doing it, and doing it right.
Always communicate your expectations clearly and make sure you’re holding your players to a high standard. As the saying goes, “you’re either coaching, or you’re allowing it to happen.”