Off the court frustration...

It is a challenging enough job to get a team of kids together to play as a team in a sport. There's a lot to do - learn the rules, teach the basic skills, teach strategy... Realistically, everything only comes together after the first few games, if that early. If you've hit your stride by the middle or end of the season, that's not so bad.

So what happens when the league you're playing in takes some liberties with the schedule and the format of the games. Liberties like, "it's always been a certain way, and now everything is totally different"... And not just before the season - during the season! First the games are 12 minutes, then they're 8, then they're 12 again, and now there's 4 and not 5. Wow.

This type of situation falls into those buckets where you may have to just throw your hands up. There are things you can control, things you cannot, and then things that just irritate you to no end. This could easily be either of the latter two, or both. Sometimes, league officials may be influenced, and see the light. Other times they will not. In these situations, it is difficult - but likely the best course of action is to roll with the flow as much as possible. Keep in mind, youth sports are about the kids, and having them learn and enjoy the sport in a positive way. It is not about parents, adults, or league officials getting their air time. As a coach, you can very much influence the tone of the practices and games which - despite what else may be happening - can mean all the difference.

I say all of this, and I hope I mean it...

Enforcing Rules

I was looking back on the post from May 4th (Titled "Rules")... I smiled to myself at the Big Lebowski reference - and here's that topic again. Rules.

This time, though - when is the right age to start enforcing the rules during a game? We're about mid-season now with the basketball and soccer teams this summer, and that question is front and center. Not for the 5-year-old soccer league - where they've been doing great. ...except for the one team which likes to try to slide in front of other players... The issue is the 8 and 9 year olds playing basketball.

In basketball, there are a lot of rules. Not a lot like baseball, but quite a few. Traveling, double-dribble, and then a bunch that are a lot more picky - 5 seconds, over-and-back - not to mention fouls. About this age, most leagues start to enforce the rules - resulting in turnovers or free throws... This is a good thing - the kids are old enough to start to follow the rules, and the games look more like "real" games.

All works well, until different "refs" work the games each week, and call wildly different games. Is it so hard to have some consistency - and some basic guidelines? I'm not talking about calling things to the letter - but if someone takes more than 2-3 steps... that's traveling when you're 8. If you're dribbling with 2 hands, or constantly picking up your dribble and restarting, that's double-dribbling.

Why? At this age, cheating actually gets you somewhere. Look how fast you can be if you don't need to dribble - or if you can pick up the ball whenever you want. And if not now, when? Some schools start playing competitively in 5th grade, and I know traveling teams start in the 3rd and 4th grades...

My apologies for the rambling this time. If your son or daughter is 8 - or older - and their games don't begin to resemble "real" games... it's time to ask questions.

Commitment

I think sports teach many lessons. Some will be valuable as the players or coaches move along and face increasingly talented competition. Some are really life lessons, that translate well into a bunch of other situations. Of course a few are both.

One of the lessons sports taught me was commitment. When I was a youngling, Mom and Dad always let me go out for pretty much whatever sports I wanted. I was always excited about the seasons, and usually had no problem motivating myself to get ready for practices and games. But sometimes, during the middle of the season, or after a bad game, it was tempting to take a step back. I was reminded that I had signed up (and they paid "good money") to play, and that it was my obligation to do so.

When you join a team, you've taken on a task - a job. It's your job to learn your role, practice it, and go out and execute to the best of your ability. Now, there's a lot that goes into this for a 5-year-old... Mom and Dad have to make sure they have equipment, and drive them to practice, and sign the waiver... but, that said, once the administrative stuff is taken care of, and the season starts - the coach and the team are counting on everyone to do their best. It is not acceptable - save extenuating circumstances - to quit. In doing so, you let down your team and everyone associated with it.

Sport should always be treated as such - as a game, as competition. Naturally, that is fairly light-hearted and free... but... when you've decided organized sport is for you, there is some level of expectation. You expect the coach to be present, teach, and reinforce concepts. You expect the league to provide facilities. And the player is expected to play - at least to the best of their abilities that day. Being part of the team - counting on and being counted on - is one of those things you can apply daily. It's a bad thing when the lack of commitment impacts sport - or worse, life.

The forgotten joys of "Turnaround"

One of my favorite soccer drills is "turnaround".

As the name implies, the kids start out dribbling the ball, and then when the whistle blows, they stop the ball and turn it around. This is not the first time I've discussed this drill - nor will it be the last - since it is probably one of the most useful things I do at practice with the 4-6 year olds.

I was amazed at the enthusiasm the kids had for this drill in the heat. They think it's funny when you blow the whistle (when normal people would be yelling back at you!)... The benefits, of course, are many. First, you're able to yell "turnaround" in a game, and they all know what to do. It also reinforces stopping skills, and keeping the ball under control and close by for a quick change of direction.

After seeing this wonderful drill tonight at practice, I felt it deserved a mention. Again.

Dealing with Heat

It's the summer. I'm in Arizona. What's the first thing that comes to mind? ...at one point on the drive home today, my car said it was 114 degrees outside. That's pretty hot. Probably too hot to be a child practicing sports outdoors...

Our league does not have indoor practice times available (still not sure why not, but we don't), so the only option is to practice outside. How do you balance the need for work with the dangers of the summer heat? As a coach, there's several things you can consider.

First of all, remember who you're dealing with. If you're like me, you have 5 year olds, or 7 year olds. Not high schoolers, not collegians. It's ok if they do a little less running, and a little less "conditioning". Focus on strategy during practice, and basic skill drills instead. Don't go "all out" or run at full speed. Everyone will understand.

If it's 110+, it's time to consider canceling practice. Under that, take lots of breaks to rest -and make sure the kids drink plenty of water. If anyone feels faint, "funny", or light-headed, make them sit out. I always have parents stick around at practice, so they can watch - and constantly evaluate their child. Sometimes it's hard to make sure all 8 or 9 on a team are being closely watched - having the parents there helps.

The one thing to keep in mind is if there's ever any doubt - don't do it. I suppose that's a good "life rule" - but it definitely applies to practice, particularly in the heat.

Stay cool.

Repetition

Back from a nice and somewhat relaxing vacation back to Wisconsin...

One of the things I try to do during a season is to repeat things. I say the same things, I run the same drills, we run the same plays... This is not because I am unimaginative, but rather it reinforces ideas, concepts, and skills. For the same reason kids practice vowel sounds and math facts over and over again, so it is that they can benefit from the same in sport.

Routine is part of the process. All of the practices are pretty much the same - stretching/warm up, basic skills, advanced skills, strategy - always in that order. It doesn't make sense to talk strategy if the kids don't have the basic skills. Likewise, it is more important that the basic skills are mastered. Structuring practice properly allows for a continual building of skills, and successive use and practice of combinations of skills.

Don't be afraid to run the same drills, and say the same things all season long. This was the hallmark of Fred Kesley when he was running basketball camps where a young Chad learned his craft. I didn't give him much credit then, but it seems pretty logical now.