- Jun 1, 2015
- 501
- 43
Background Info: 16U "rec"-level team/league (summertime - May through July) - 1 coach (me *) - 1 2-hour practice night a week (Sundays)
During my practices, I often try to cover around 3-4 individual topics (since I only meet with my team once a week due to time commitments). However, I found last season that I struggled to ensure that every topic had enough time. After the season ended, my ladies filled out a survey (anonymously) of things they liked, disliked, would change, etc., and one comment nearly across the board was how we didn't have enough time to go over all the things we intended to each week, and that we should focus on fewer things. I was surprised the girls had the same thoughts as me as I never mentioned this to them at all. I wanted to see their unbiased thoughts and I was happy to see they matched.
Personally, I like this idea - having the ability to spend each practice with one general theme (fielding, hitting, situations) would let me focus on fewer topics and give me a chance to spend 2 hours coaching one specific topic (i.e. fielding - infielding, outfielding, double plays, bunting, for example). Each week/practice would then have one theme (I would have about 8-9 practices, maybe up to 10-12) before the season starts that could be separated by topic. I did find many ladies would not remember specific items from week to week, probably due to trying to cover so many things in 2 hours (as a teacher, I should've seen this coming, but failed, and I admit that.)
For the other coaches out there: Have any of you tried a setup like this for practices (one theme/topic per session) and/or what do you think would work best: QUALITY (of topic per practice) or QUANTITY (number of items covered per practice)? Absolutely looking for constructive criticism from the best softball forum on the interwebz.
(* I have been/am searching for an AC but in my area, it's VERY minimal at best. Parents have occasionally stepped in to help when asked but there's no consistency whatsoever. If I were able to get an AC or a consistent parent, then I can do more of each topic with fewer ladies in a group and it can be more individualized, but I always set up for a 1-coach situation [worst case scenario] and proceed from there).
During my practices, I often try to cover around 3-4 individual topics (since I only meet with my team once a week due to time commitments). However, I found last season that I struggled to ensure that every topic had enough time. After the season ended, my ladies filled out a survey (anonymously) of things they liked, disliked, would change, etc., and one comment nearly across the board was how we didn't have enough time to go over all the things we intended to each week, and that we should focus on fewer things. I was surprised the girls had the same thoughts as me as I never mentioned this to them at all. I wanted to see their unbiased thoughts and I was happy to see they matched.
Personally, I like this idea - having the ability to spend each practice with one general theme (fielding, hitting, situations) would let me focus on fewer topics and give me a chance to spend 2 hours coaching one specific topic (i.e. fielding - infielding, outfielding, double plays, bunting, for example). Each week/practice would then have one theme (I would have about 8-9 practices, maybe up to 10-12) before the season starts that could be separated by topic. I did find many ladies would not remember specific items from week to week, probably due to trying to cover so many things in 2 hours (as a teacher, I should've seen this coming, but failed, and I admit that.)
For the other coaches out there: Have any of you tried a setup like this for practices (one theme/topic per session) and/or what do you think would work best: QUALITY (of topic per practice) or QUANTITY (number of items covered per practice)? Absolutely looking for constructive criticism from the best softball forum on the interwebz.
(* I have been/am searching for an AC but in my area, it's VERY minimal at best. Parents have occasionally stepped in to help when asked but there's no consistency whatsoever. If I were able to get an AC or a consistent parent, then I can do more of each topic with fewer ladies in a group and it can be more individualized, but I always set up for a 1-coach situation [worst case scenario] and proceed from there).