Let the Players Play

I was out on the field last week watching 3 or 4 different youth teams practicing. At every practice I observed, I saw energetic, well-intentioned coaches conducting skill development drills with the kids. I saw kids dribbling and passing the ball through and around cones, laid out with care, on the field. But what I also saw were kids standing in lines waiting for their turn to do the drill. Oftentimes, waiting a long time.

Think of it this way. Every moment a player is standing in line is time they are not spending on play and skill building. It’s not to say the coach’s drill isn’t a good one, but it is to say that players should be spending more time doing the dribbling, passing, running, etc. of the drill then waiting to take their turn.

Let’s say the coach has set up a drill where kids dribble through some cones and make a pass back to the next player in line. And let’s say the players are in groups of four doing this activity. While each player does the activity, the other three are standing and waiting. For every minute a player spends doing the activity of the drill, there are 3 minutes where they are standing around waiting for their next turn. 3 minutes where they are not engaged in building a skill. 3 minutes without touching the ball or moving their body. 3 minutes wasted.

Every second out on the field is precious and should be treated as such. Use the time wisely. Keep the kids active and let them play. Time on the ball, time moving the body, time engaging the brain and the body in solving in-game problems. This is the pathway to skill development as well as developing the joy of playing the game, not to mention the health benefits of being in motion rather than standing still.

Here are some practical ways coaches can maximize active play time:

• Set up multiple stations with the same activity to reduce group sizes

• Use partner activities where players work simultaneously

• Incorporate small-sided games (2v2, 3v3, 4v4) where everyone is constantly involved

• Design activities where players rotate roles quickly rather than waiting in lines (e.g., one player works while another retrieves balls, then they switch)

• Use circuit training approaches where small groups rotate through different activities

• When teaching new skills, have all players practice simultaneously with their own ball

• Plan transition time between activities to be 30 seconds or less

• Use activities that build upon each other so equipment setup time is minimized