Management tips

Management tips


Managing Player Handouts
Date:         Thu, 13 Feb 1997 23:42:58 -0500
From: bruce brownlee 
Subject:      Managing Player Handouts

I liked Ron Tremper's willingness to admit xeroxing away without regard to
copyright.  A lot of us compound this felony weekly by using the company's
copy machine to accomplish this mission at off hours or at least furtively
during business hours.
It's pretty hilarious to be standing at the copying machine making 20
copies of an 8-page double-sided tactical handouts with lots of  X's and
O's when the boss walks up to copy some invoices.

In the old days, we used to bring handouts to practices regularly, but
three of four kids would always forget to pick up copies, and it would be
different kids each time.  Then we got the idea of using print merge with a
roster as the data file, this turned out to be much too tedious.  Step
three, write a player name on each handout so you can know who missed their
copy.  This works, but it's a lot of extra work.

Several years ago we found an easier way.  I bought a cheap plastic
portable file box that holds up to 20 handing file folders, letter size.
We put a tab with a player name on each, add an extra folder for guest
players, the ACT, or whoever.

When something comes off the laser printer, we just snap a handout into
each hanging folder.  Kids pick up from the "gray box" after each training
session or match.  If they forget, you know who did not pick up (and
therefore who missed the schedule change), and the player loses nothing,
the handouts are still ready for the next training day.  Better still, you
don't have to put a name on each paper.

I have been keeping track of how many kids have web access.  I hope that in
a year or two we can send most stuff through a web page, but there's always
something that requires physical delivery (soccer tape, team photo, book).

good luck!
bruce brownlee


A few important tryout tips
Date:         Tue, 24 Jun 1997 08:51:43 -0400
From: Perrone Ford 
Subject:      Re: [COACH] tryouts

Woody Steele wrote:
>
> have been successful using the following format at tryouts with little
> or no
> complaints from parents. has been used this season for our
> u-9,u-10,u-11
> and u-12 travel teams.
>
>                       1. timed dash-distance varies to age
>                       2. speed dribbling -    "      "
>                       3.  1 v 1 -  1min.  time limit
>                       4.  2 v 2-    3 min.  time limit
>                       5.  4 v 4     5 min.  time limit
>                       6.  full field game
>
> we have found in most cases the better players will show thier skills
> in the
> small sided games,but have found 1 or 2  players who did not show will
> until the full field game was played. hope you find this helpful.

A word to the wise...

While this format is great, there is a comment in the post that warrants
emphasis.  The phrase about some players not showing well until the full
field game was played.  There are some reasons for this that need to be
looked at carefully, especially if you are coaching advanced teams.

1.      Player moves poorly off the ball.  Small sided games bear out players
who can anticipate the needs of the player on the ball. The action is
fast and the decisions must be made quickly.

2.      Player is used to playing "a position".  These players have been
groomed to play in a set position and don't know how to deal with the
dynamics of small sided games which require overlaps, switches,
counterattacks, and quick recovery on defense.

3.      Player can't perform basics under pressure.  This is very coachable
but it will make a player all but invisible in small-sided game
situations.  This is a player that will clear a ball rather than get
caught with it at their feet. First reaction is "CLEAR!", rather than
hold and look. An incredible liability to a team in adverse situations.

        In my recent tryouts, we had completely picked the team from watching
small-sided games. Kids at u12-16 rarely play in units of more than 3-5
players anyway.  If you have a u14 player who can legitimately see and
use more than 6 or 7 of his/her teammates, you are truly blessed.


-Perrone