To scrimmage or not to scrimmage...

I'm not a huge fan of scrimmaging during practice for the under-8 set.

Why? I feel like it takes away time we'd other wise spend on fundamentals. The basic skills are essential for young players. Not only do they learn to do things, and do them well early - it gives them the best chance to work on those skills later through their careers.

There is nothing inherently wrong with scrimmaging, especially for a few minutes at the end of practice. It does actually provide a little glimpse of how the game evolves - hopefully leading to the kids being more comfortable and less scared when it "counts". But at this age, scrimmages can get out of control, and if the kids aren't actually applying the skills they should, it could be worse than not practicing at all.

There are several drills in each sport which you could run to provide "game experience" in lieu of a full-on up-and-down scrimmage. But if you do try an actual scrimmage, consider stopping it at key points (turnovers, great plays, bad plays, etc) for a teaching moment. This is a great time to point out good things, bad things, and what the alternative might have looked like.

It may make sense to run some small scrimmages later in the season - especially if your players have gotten the drills and basics down. Still, don't just switch to scrimmages because you don't have any more drills to run. That would be a WRONG reason.

Good luck!

Bonus: Practice FIRST

We had our first basketball practice tonight for my son's team (3rd and 4th grade basketball).

Games start next Saturday, so we'll get 2 practices in before the first game. This is ideal. It's always a must to get in at least 1 practice before the first game - if nothing else, to discuss the absolute basics (and learn names)... But having 2 will be great.

Tonight, we got to see some of the raw skills - who can dribble, who can pass, who can shoot... We're not in bad shape! But next week, we'll work to refine those skills a bit, make sure we talk about what to do and when to do it, and get the basic schemes down.

I'm curious to see how things will work with the 8 and 9 year-olds. It's been a while since I've worked with this age group. It will be exciting.

Names

Back from the trip to Austin, ready for more blogging...

One of the most important things for me is to learn everyone's name. I'm not good at this, and I frequently use the wrong names at first, but quickly I am able to put faces with names.

There's probably been a billion studies on calling people by their names and the benefits vs. the alternative (hey you?!).

As a coach, you command more authority when you know people's names. You also make your team members feel important, and wanted. It is easier to praise, easier to encourage, and easier to critique and coach when you're on a first-name basis. This also allows other parents to learn kids' names as well, because they hear them more often.

I don't have any memory games, or any tips or tricks for doing it... Sorry - that's probably another blog. But the benefits of knowing names (hopefully by the end of the first practice - which is BEFORE the first game) are many.

Happy coaching.

Scheduling Practices

Why a post on scheduling practice?  I've talked about practice before, but scheduling practice is more involved than you think...

There's lots of things to consider.  First, there's the venue - where will you practice?  What constraints are there on time?  Daylight?  Second, how will the venue support what you'd like to do - are there enough nets?  Hoops?  Is the court, field, or diamond in good repair and maintained?  

Once all that is decided - what day and what time will you practice?  Is it the same each week?  How long will the practice last?  This must all be balanced with your availability, but also that of your assistants, and also all of the players (and parents).  Fun stuff.

Getting the practice thing right is the first step toward a good season.  Practice is important, for sure, and you need as many of the players attending as many of the sessions as possible.  It's also ideal to select a place that will suit your practices.

For the athletes under 8 years old, it's likely sufficient to have 1 practice per week, lasting between 30-60 minutes.  This is where planning, preparation, and execution come in to make your practice all it needs to be.

Good luck.

Interesting Dribble Drill

One of the unique things to try with 7-8 year olds is to have them dribble 2 basketballs at once.  At this age, the kids are used to dribbling, and using both hands.  Now is the time to introduce dribbling with BOTH hands.  

Why?

It will be natural for the kids to favor their strong hand.  This drill not only works both hands, and the muscles that go along with it - but it also makes the kids concentrate.  Try it yourself - it's pretty difficult to keep both balls going under control.  If you've mastered the static dribble (in one place), try moving around...  

You will find that the kids enjoy this drill, because it's fun, and can be very funny to watch.  In a practice where each kid has their own ball, you can have half the team run while the other half dribbles, then switch.  If anyone gets good at the drill, you can have them try to bounce the balls at different heights, or bounce them independently (not in synch).

If this drill doesn't go well at first, try it again later on.  The kids should obviously be pretty comfortable with standard dribbling drills first.

In the Zone

Zone defense is a key tool in sports.  What is it, and is it a good option for the young kids?

While playing zone defense, the defensive player guards a space or area instead of a particular opponent.  This is different than a man-to-man defense, where a defensive player guards a particular opponent.  One of the main advantages of zone defense is that it can be "simpler" to implement, and it is a different look, which may confuse some teams in some sports.

Zone defense is an option in basketball, football, and soccer.  In a previous post, I talked a little bit about implementing a functional soccer defense...  This is not necessarily a "zone" scheme, more of a reacting-to-the-ball scheme...  but it is certainly more zone than man-to-man.  It may be better to avoid man-to-man defense because offense and defense are inter-twined in soccer, and if you're playing man-to-man defense, it's likely that the defenders will be closer when your team has the ball.

For flag football, I completely advocate zone defense for the young (and old!).  Why?  It is difficult for young defenders to keep up with receivers, given the options of running and passing, and the different schemes that can be used by offense to confuse the defense.  I've found that defenders tend to be in better position if they are in an area, and then react as the ball is played.  There's probably a whole post on this...

For basketball, I know there's a whole post on defense.  I suggest man-to-man in this case.  It is easier for the kids to understand finding their "man" and standing between their man and the basket than it is for them to remember which area they have and how to react appropriately.  So - 3 different sports, 3 different strategies?  Yes.  And for good reason.

I encourage you to experiment on your own, and go with what works for your team... 

Be Prepared

Not like in the Boy Scouts or anything like that... well, on second thought - maybe like that. There will be some tangible, Earthly goods that will make your coaching gig significantly easier. Here's the breakdown, by sport...

Soccer: I always buy my own soccer ball to use at practices (and during games when necessary). This way, you can easily demonstrate a drill without constantly borrowing Little Sally's ball. You can also participate in the drills with the kids, which they enjoy. Another essential thing is a set of 4 or 8 small cones. These are the little orange or brightly-colored ones in any store for like $2. They are invaluable for setting up boundaries, obstacles, or marking spots on the field. I'd also suggest buying your own goal (or two). They have collapsible ones now, which are pretty nice. These are a little more money, but the advantage is you'll always have a goal to shoot at or defend wherever you practice.

Football: First thing here is also a ball - for both practice and the games. Get the right size, of course, and make sure it's made of good, durable material - preferably other than rubber. Do they still make those? I remember those from when I was a kid... Next thing you'll need is the cones (see above). If the league doesn't provide them, also buy yourself a set of flags - 1 set per player, probably 1-2 extra sets. Nothing worse than not being able to practice basic offense or flag pulling 'cuz you don't have any...

Basketball: Ball. For this, you can go with the youth size - especially if you're coaching your own kid. Otherwise, you could choose to get the full-sized ball for yourself in demonstrations... Cones are ok here, but not necessary - you can use court markings for drills and boundaries unless you're on a random hunk of asphalt... It doesn't really make sense to buy your own hoops here - use those in a gym, park, or school (or your own home, if you're so inclined) - but hoops are large, bulky, difficult to transport, and I consider the portable ones to be somewhat dangerous.

Baseball: Buy several "tee-ball" or soft-core baseballs. At least 5-6. They'll get lost, too, but you'll always be using all you have. I'd suggest owning your own glove - especially in coached pitched leagues where you have good players. Those liners come back fast - "soft-core" or not... I'd suggest having at least 1 good aluminum bat for you (practice) and the team. It's also not a bad idea to carry around your own rubber or plastic bases. This makes your practice more portable. Baseball hat and sunglasses help in sunny weather, too. You'll be surprised how small that ball is when you're looking for it in the air...

General things you should have include a stopwatch, whistle, and marker-board. The marker-board is usually in the form of a clipboard, but it's great for diagramming plays or for drawing out a drill.

With all of your gear, you may look like a pack mule, but you'll be ready - and eliminate some of your needless hassles.