#1 Problem Of All Practices - Standing Around!

Koach Karl - And more from coach Anagnost…

Coach Rice,

The other thing that really helps is to keep the kids moving like I learned from using 'the 9-Step Practice Routine'.

Don't worry so much about exact instructions in a small sided game for example. Lots of times the girls will say "I don't understand what you mean. What am I supposed to do?" You'll get three girls telling you this all at once. It would take way too long to answer everyone and would bore those who know.

Almost always I simply start the game. The girls who know what to do will do it, and in about 10 seconds the others will figure it out. By keeping them moving virtually the entire practice - except the half time break - you save yourself a lot of grief.

Standing around is the #1 ill of all practices. Parents are amazed that the kids are moving so much in my practices. Very rarely, i.e., the half time break, they stand around. Otherwise, keep them moving.

Actually if you get through the first half of practice, especially the Figure 8's at the beginning, the rest should be a breeze. I virtually never have problems with girls in the small sided games or the scrimmages. Pick some fun ones the girls like and go from there. I love 2 on 2's (you can make 3 of those with 12 kids) or 4 on 2's (you can make two of those with 12 kids). Between these two you can practice lots of different themes.

If I'm short on kids, I usually recruit siblings. Whether older or younger, these siblings can help you out a lot. The older siblings can be used as stronger players to help you, or the younger ones can act as weaker players to help confidence in some of your players.

If you are having troubles in the second half of practice, I'm puzzled. Small sided games and scrimmages are always fun and kids look forward to them.

Koach Karl - Coach Anagnost's players look forward to the Small-sided games and scrimmages because he has taken the time to teach these games to his players. If the players understand 'how to' play a game then they will ask to play it some more. However, if they don't know 'how to' play the game then they will act tired or pretend they are bored. Take the time to teach them the Small Sided Games and as coach Anagnost says, 'Small Sided Games become FUN once the players know how to play them!'