Club, AAU and other grass-roots sports programs have become an important option for young athletes and their families over the past 10-15 years. Kids are specializing in a sport before they even get out of middle school, and teen athletes are sometimes getting more practice and playing time in the offseason than during a typical high school campaign.
Although the rise of club play has been met with some criticism, the people who run such programs are passionate about their sport and fostering their athletes’ growth — competitively and as human beings. Families sacrifice much, both financially and in time, so their kids can play. Club directors and coaches, in turn, feel a responsibility to deliver the best experience possible to the young women and men they guide.
Therefore, being unorganized is simply not an option. In many programs, club dues go toward gym, field, court, pool or ice time, as well as equipment and the salaries of coaches. Practices must be productive and educational — otherwise, the kids can become disillusioned, and parents may grow annoyed.
Good practice planning is key for club teams to get the most of every workout. Practice Planner Live can help. Consider:
- Club teams might practice at different locations from week to week, with different coaches running the workouts. Our tool allows assistants access practice plans — and then chart results — thus eliminating the need for scattered text messages and emails.
- Larger club programs may have multiple teams in different age groups — all of whom are learning the same schemes and following the same philosophies. Practice Planner Live helps ensure consistency among practices and develop athletes from year to year.
- With our platform’s capability to chart practices and leave notes and comments, program directors can review each workout, look for progress, adjust practices as needed, and determine which players are surging and who needs more work.
Running a club or grass-roots team takes an incredible amount of work and dedication. Practices should be a highlight of what your program offers, not a hindrance. Practice Planner Live provides a way for athletes to ultimately get the most from each workout. Email us at [email protected] or give us a call at 801-426-9895 to learn more.