1st time head coach question about practice

Here's our system:

We break our practices down into 24 periods, each 5 minutes long. Our warm-up and stretch time (we do not stretch as a group) does not count toward this. Once the clock hits 4 o'clock we start out timer. A trainer blows the whistle every 5 minutes and announces the period we are in.

Regardless of what drill or exercise we do, we always incorporate as much as possible to augment it. If we're on the blocking sled, we're going to go over steps and stance in addition to pushing it around. If we are practicing handoffs, we are going to make the backs run a play. It helps overlap teaching plays with skills.

By making a schedule and adhereing to it, you will eliminate almost all of the dead time in practice. Keep it moving, but make sure whatever is taught is done right. Better to get 1 thing right than 5 things half right because you're cramming. A fast-moving 2 hour practice can do a lot of conditioning work for you.