5 minute segments

2 ½ Hour Practice Plan
Steve Snider

When developing practices plans the main objective should always be to provide the very best learning environment for our student-athletes. Location, facilities, and time will all factor into that learning environment. As all coaches know, not every student-athlete learns at the same pace. Because of this it is important to provide the ideal environment for the vast majority of your athletes and then to work with others on a case by case basis. Because of the ever changing athlete, the ideal environment coaches need to provide may change year to year along with the athletes that you have in your care.

 Throughout the practice students should always be supervised by at least one coach who is organizing or running the practice segment. Coaches need to be well prepared for each and every practice segment that they are running. The more prepared the coach the smoother the segment will run. When segments run smoothly athletes are getting more repetitions and learning more. When all of these things are accomplished the coaches are providing an ideal learning environment. The smallest things can throw off this environment. Whether it is the coach not being properly prepared when explaining the drill, or it could be doing the drill in a location that is not as suitable as another.

 Assessments of each individual player will take place between the position coaches and the coordinators following each practice. It is important for everyone to be on the same page and understand where we are in the development of our student athletes. In a very small setting with minimal players this is not necessarily going to result in a change in the depth chart but rather give the coordinators and head coach an idea of who they may be able to use in an injury situation or if someone just requires a break. Usually at the beginning of the season a second string player may be a junior or senior but after three or four weeks in the program evaluations can lead to a better understanding of an underclassman and they may be afforded more opportunities during a varsity contest. If no assessments were conducted every coach may have a different idea of who should be in a spot because they do not see that player or hear about him. If there is open assessment between coaches a staff can eliminate confusion.

 Breaking down a practice into five minute segments can be extremely effective and efficient. This allows coaches to get through multiple things in every practice and keeps them on a stricter schedule. If not kept on a tight schedule time can tend to get away from a coach and they may become repetitive or even boring to the athletes. Keeping five minute schedules keeps the athletes attentive and on their toes. Continuously changing will keep them engaged in the learning process instead of finding themselves bored or not paying attention.