In my first season as a coach at the University of Central Missouri, during one of our first staff meetings, our Head Coach, Terry Noland gave us some advice. His instructions regarding how to effectively run a drill were not only good advice to a young coach with eight years experience (me), but lasting concepts that have served me well for over thirty years.
- Have a name for the drill – that way when you run it successive times, you don’t need to spend as much time explaining it.
- Teach the athletes what technique(s) you are trying to improve with the drill.
- Have the drill set up prior to the athletes arriving at your station.
- Have an organized progression as to how the athletes move through the drill – for example “the first person in line will be the ball carrier. You will go from being the ball carrier, to tackler, to the end of the line.”
- Don’t be a part of the drill – Coach!
- Give the athletes specific instructions regarding the speed of the drill – Is it full speed, ½ speed, or walk through.
- Give the athletes a specific start point for the drill.
- Give the athletes a specific end point for the drill.
These are simple concepts that make for effective daily teaching.
Comments and Questions are always welcome!
Remember – You Can Do More… your brain is lying to you…. Don’t Believe It!
Jeff Floyd – youcandomore1@yahoo.com