Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our program. Please refer to this manual throughout the season as it contains much information that you may find useful throughout the season.
COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR TEAM
At Prime Time Sports, we are extremely proud of the standard we have set in regards to communication. We strive for perfection, but perfection usually has a few stumbling blocks along the way. We have very few complaints about our program, however, when people have a complaint, it is usually in the nature that they are in limited contact with their coach. An experience like this will not make it appealing for the child or family to sign up for our program in the future.
REQUIRMENTS AS COACH:
You will sign up for a set time and location for your practice. Each practice must take place at the same time and same location each week. Prior to the start of the season, you will need to secure a time and location. Because of the large number of teams and smaller number of fields, most youth teams cannot practice on a regulation field on a regular basis. Coaches can adapt any field for football practice.
Create a master phone and email list for your team
You MUST email your players/parents once per week, especially after games and before practices.
Your post-game email should point out:
- Positive points from the game
- Things that need to be worked on
- A note of inspiration
- A reminder for the day and time of your next practice and/or game
**
In each email,
please make sure you promote our league and website which is www.primetimefootball.com AND www.pthoops.com. This web site is the home for the league, which includes, player profiles, poll questions, player stats, standings, schedules, video highlights, action pictures and game recaps. Please encourage your players to use the site.
- HELPFUL HINT-
ASSIGN A PARENT/TEAM MANAGER
This will keep the parents involved by:
1) Keeping track of player stats for the team, including TD Thrown, TD Reception, Sacks, Interceptions and Flag Pulls
2)Help organize team parties/ get-together’s, practices, picture days, all star selections.
3)Team Managers will receive a team roster with player emails, cell phones and season scheduls.
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LET THEM PLAY!
-While teaching skills and strategies is important, keep your lessons as simple as possible. As your team grasps the basics, move on to more advanced ideas. Overloading young players with too much information too early can cause them only confusion...and you headaches.
-Have Fun! We thank you for your volunteer service. This program could not happen without you. But remember, this is fun for you, too.
COACHING AND TEACHING GO HAND IN HAND
Youth coaches should consider themselves teachers of the game. No matter which age group you
coach, youth players will vary in experience and competence. Here are ways in which a youth football coach can connect with players and maintain a successful coaching teaching relationship
1)
LEARN PLAYERS' NAMES
Learn all of your players' names as soon as possible. This will allow your players to feel more comfortable. You can accelerate this process in several ways. Write each player's first and last names either on white adhesive tape, computer labels, or name tags. The tape, labels, or tags can be adhered to players' jerseys.
2)
DON'T FORGET THE BASICS
Not all kids can completely grasp the concept of football as a sport. They must be taught football beginning with the basics. The trick is explaining enough aspects of the sport without overwhelming them. A coach who pays attention to all of his players can best gauge how much time and how many drills to devote to the fundamentals.
3) ONE STEP AT A TIME
When teaching aspects of the game to young players, coaches should use teaching drills that promote a steady progression of learning and success. For example: Don't have your players throw long passes until they have experienced success throwing shorter distances. This coaching philosophy will help your player build a strong foundation of success and leave them looking forward to progressing to the next level of skills.
4)
COACHING IS TEACHING GET THEIR ATTENTION
Kids will be kids, and won't always focus their attention on their coach. When demonstrating a play, drill, or other activity, get your players' attention first. Any show of enthusiasm on your part can be contagious. If the coach isn’t excited about practicing, the players probably won't be either
5)
....AND KEEP IT
Most kids would rather play a game than practice, but preparation is important, too. Successful coaches do their best to inject fun and competition into their drills. There is value in learning through repetition, but kids often lose interest when running drills repetitiously. Practice drills based on contests, races, and games will allow your players to learn and improve without getting bored and distracted. There's no reason these players can't have fun at practice, too.
6) POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
High school, college, and professional players expect to have their coach yell at them during practice and games. A youth league player's idea of having fun doesn't include getting yelled at. Coaches should always stress positive reinforcement. Show encouragement and compliment good play in front of the entire team. Show restraint and respect when criticizing youth players. Talk softly and privately so as not to embarrass them in front of their teammates. Too much negative reinforcement can push kids away from football and the adult mentorship and positive learning environment it provides.
PRACTICING - HOW TO RUN AN EFFECTIVE PRACTICE
For the 1st – 9th graders (Scouts, Juniors, Seniors, Varsity, NCAA, CBA, NBA) our expectations are for them to learn the fundamentals of flag football and basketball, while having a positive fun experience on and off the field/ court.
1. Do your research
2. Watch a video or go on line to look up youth football drills because the fundamentals are basically the same
3. Watch other teams’ practices and/or games (watch a Mo Steel game. Check the web site for times.)
4. Ask for help! Noah and David are willing to run a practice for you if we are given advance notice
5. UTILIZE PARENTS: They can help with communication, beverages for practices and anything you might need. Do not be afraid to ask.
6. You know enough to teach them Discipline, Teamwork, Listening and Basic Strategies
7. Try to utilize KISS (Keep it simple stupid!)
8. Take practice seriously because good practice usually equals good performances in games.
9. Set a consistent practice schedule if possible. Same day and time each week.
10. Practicing before games is not productive. Pre-game needs to be a warm-up, not a practice.
11. Enforce the idea of responsibility. There is nothing wrong with politely telling a parent you need their child to be there on time. Explain that being on a team means that everyone needs to be present to practice and play.
12. For kids of this age, your practices should be no longer than 1 ½ hrs to be productive. Anything longer, the kids will lose focus.
SAMPLE TIMELINE
- 0-0:15: Stretch and Warm-Up:
Start by having them run a lap because blood needs to flow
-
Stagnant Stretching- Concentrate on hamstrings, quads and groins
- 0:15-0:30:
Individual Skills
-0:30-0:45: “Skill of the Day”
- Choose something such as “Flag Pulling”, “Defensive positioning”, “Free Throw technique”, “Rebounding”, etc.
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-0:45-1:15: Plays and Strategy Session
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1:15-1:30: Scrimmage or a FUN type of “Game”
Keep them moving! No player should be sitting around
EQUIPMENT
WATER: Coaches should provide more than enough water or power drinks such as Gatorade for every player to take a number of breaks during practice sessions.
ORANGE CONES: Small orange cones can be used to mark yardage, sidelines, and end zones on your practice field.
BALLS: Coaches should bring enough balls to allow for efficient practice drills.
WHISTLE: Each coach should use a whistle to begin and end practice drills and plays.
Dealing with Parents
No matter how knowledgeable, fair, or kind you are to your team, you can probably expect an irate parent or two to crop up during the season. Here are a few tips I find helpful when dealing with these situations.
1. Don't discuss the issue at the game
The first thing the coach should avoid is discussing the problem with the parent on the field, especially if he/she is visibly upset.
2. Schedule a separate time/venue to have the discussion
Rather than discuss the problem then and there, the coach should agree to meet or speak on the telephone. By doing this, you avoid giving the parent an audience, allow him/her to 'cool off', and give yourself time to prepare an appropriate response to the complaint.
3. Be an active listener
When you eventually talk to the parent, one of the most important things you can do is be an active listener. Doing things like taking notes, maintaining eye contact and nodding to acknowledge you have heard what the parent is saying are crucial.
4. Don't interrupt
Even if parents raise their voices or their stories have are not fact-based, the coach should avoid interrupting. By interrupting a parent, you risk inflaming the situation.
5. Don't get defensive
The coach should avoid defending or justifying their action. Such behavior at this point will only make the situation worse.
6. Show empathy
Respond to their concerns with statements like "I'm sorry that you feel your child has been treated unfairly". This will help the parent to understand his/her problem is being taken seriously. They are likely to be calmer and more willing to find a solution.
7. Clarify the problem
This can be achieved by asking probing questions. This helps both parties to focus on the problem (not personalities), stick to the facts, and avoid being caught up in extraneous issues.
8. Offer a range of solutions
A lot of times, parents just want their feelings to be heard and understood. If they want more, try to offer a range of solutions. This demonstrates a willingness to work together to solve the problem. It's important to avoid making promises that you can't keep. Explain to them what you can and cannot do.
9. Get closure
Ideally, you will given the parent a number of options and agreed on a mutual course of action. At this point it's appropriate to end the meeting. It should conclude with three things:
* Leave the parent with a closing action statement (e.g.. 'I'll get on to that now').
* Thank the parent for their interest (no matter how unpleasant the meeting).
* If follow-up is required, tell them when you will contact them ('I'll call you tomorrow').
This will leave the parent feeling as though their complaint has been heard, and the parent-coach relationship will be strengthened.
10. Leave the door open
There will be cases, however after this whole process where you will not be able to give the parent the response they are looking for. It is important in these circumstances that the coach leave the door open for the parent, e.g.. 'If there is ever anything else, please come to me'.
By doing this the parent will at least feel that his/her complaint has been taken seriously, and the coach-parent relationship, however strained, will remain intact. Not doing this could allow the problem to fester... and the parent could damage your reputation through word-of-mouth.