1) Develop a skills checklist. The checklist should be used to develop your block plans and daily practice plans. This will allow you to make sure that you have covered the necessary skills and strategies to get your players and team prepared to compete. Look at week #14 under “Practice Plans, Skills Checklist, & Other Forms” to give you an idea of what you need to do here. If you are a softball coach make sure you use this as a guideline for your own Checklist.
2) Write out a 2-4 week Block Plan for the beginning of your season. Look at week #14 under “Practice Plans, Skills Checklist, & Other Forms” to give you an idea of what you need to do here.
3) Take your Practice Plan Form that you developed and design 3 practice plans.
a) 1st Day of Practice. This should be very basic with very basic drills and skills. This practice should not be very demanding on their bodies as they are probably out of shape.
b) Middle of the Season Practice. This practice should be more advanced, should have team defenses & concepts, conditioning should not be a factor by this point in the season.
c) End of Season Practice – Before the Playoffs. Practice time by now should be shorter; a lot of the practice time should be on review or specifics of upcoming game(s).
4) The First Meeting with the Team. Write an outline of what you plan to discuss with the team the first time you meet them.
a) Philosophy
b) What you expect from them
c) What they can expect from you
d) Schedule of practice and games so that they know the amount of time they must be ready to commit
5) Evaluation Form(s). Look at pg. 275-276 in your text to give you some ideas.
a) How will you evaluate your players
b) What skills will you evaluate
c) Will your evaluation be just at the beginning of the season or will you do it throughout the season
d) How will you evaluate your coaching staff etc.