Preseason Camp Schedules - Help

Coach I have been a part of 6 "team camps" now. The last two as the head coach. Each year has been unique as far as the intensity level of the camp. Some have been more chalk talk and classroom time oriented, while others have been extremely demanding physically.

I have to be honest. Next year our camp will be much more intense, physically. We suffered this season, because I feel I didn't push the kids hard enough at our camp. We lost 5 games this season. Every single game we had a 4th quarter lead and lost in the final minute of the game. In years past, we have been able to draw from our "Boot Camp" experiences when we were in tough games or facing adversity in general.

Here is a general itinerary of years past:
Wake-up early and be on the field right at day-break. I have fond memories of our guys going through agilities and fundamental drills barely being able to see their hand in front of them.

We would ususally practice for 1.5-2.0 hours and go eat breakfast.

Team meetings/Individual mtgs.

Free time

Lunch

Special Tms Mtg/ Practice

Free Time

7 on 7 (one evening)
Team Building (Ropes Course type exercises) (another evening)

Practice #2 for about 1.5 hours with pretty grueling conditioning to follow

Dinner

Free Time
Unity Group Mtgs (7-10 kids per group) having small group discussions, answering some pretty serious questions about their families, goals, relationships, etc.

Lights out

Usually one night we would wake them up around 2 a.m. and do something special. This could be physical in nature, or loading up and going somewhere. In 2000 while an assistant at Redemptorist HS in Baton Rouge, LA, I booked the indoor facility at LSU for 3:00 am. (Pretty unusual request) We were a pre-season favorite to win the State Title. We loaded up the guys on the bus and didn't tell them where we were going. We pulled up to the facility, got out and our guys silently walked into the facility. As they got in their usual pre-practice lines, as our head coach, like a prophet, explained to the boys that we were going to start our year by preparing the same way we would end the year, practicing indoor for the Superdome. It was pretty awesome. But, I don't think you can always pull something off quite like that.

I have found that our Boot Camp experiences have been extremely beneficial to the success of our teams.

P.S. We did go the State Finals that season. We lost. However, I feel that our camps (and some pretty talented kids) allowed us to win 2 out of the next 3 State Championships.