From his book “Building A Champion,” the late Bill Walsh talks about the preparation of practice sessions and the advantages.Our first step to developing a plan for the upcoming year would be to hold a series of meetings with our coaching staff, collectively and individually, to discuss the four basic categories of team development:
1. The teaching of individual fundamentals and skills
2. Choreographing the action of groups, such as defensive backs or offensive lineman
3. The development of team execution, such as the offensive unit
4. The implementation of situational football, as related to specific game circumstances.
There were at least four major benefits from precisely scheduling training camp and practice during the regular season.
1. Not time was wasted on the practice field.
Historically, coaches have unwittingly wasted precious minutes on the practice field. They’ve spent time on drills that weren’t relevant to actually playing the game.
2. The learning process was accelerated.
Players would see the practice schedule the night before, so they know those areas they were going to emphasize.
3. We could approach the game on a broad base, rather than piece-meal.
We work on every phase concurrently.
4. Initially, I coached the coaches.
As coaches taught skills to those players, they were becoming more proficient themselves, and they were able to do a great job with the more talented athletes we acquired in ensuing years.
