There’s a good post on Jim Stone’s blog where he talks about what needs to go into planning a practice. It features five key points.
- Front-load the Practice Content to the Players – Basically, let the players know what’s going to be happening in advance
- Use Practice Tools to Assist in Time Management – Use a whiteboard to lay out the plan, name games/drills for easy reference, etc.
- Spend Substantial Time in Pre-Practice Planning Logistics – This is the bulk of the work and where you’ll spend the most time.
- Feedback on the Fly – Use video replay and pull individuals aside rather than stopping the whole activity.
- Post Practice Evaluation and Debrief – Don’t forget to evaluate things after the fact.
Definitely give Jim’s post a read.
