COACHING APP FAQ

Drill Objective: Flag the ball carrier to prevent them from reaching the opposite side Equipment: Cones, Flag Belts Instructions: On the coaches "Go", two players on the offensive team will try to run through the square without having their flags pulled. The defenders will attempt to pull their opponents' flags. Each time an offensive player makes it through the square without being flagged, they score a touchdown for their team. After four attempts (downs), offense and defense switch. The team that scores the most touchdowns after 5 minutes wins. Rules: Defenders must remain on the line (can only move side-to-side). Offensive players must stay in bounds. Key Points: Try to have no more than 6 players on each team to maximize participation time and reps. Allow for players to rest for 1 - 2 minutes when you transition between offense and defense - provide basic instruction on flagging technique during this time. Variations: Difficulty Variation: If the first row of defenders is consistently flagging the offensive players, modify the rules so that the defending team must pull both flags from the offensive player in order to stop them from scoring a touchdown. Alternatively, you can make the square wider to offensive players more space to avoid the defenders. Skill Progression: Have the offensive team carry footballs

Objective: Work on route running, passing and catching. Equipment: Cones and Footballs Instructions: The coach will tell players what route they will be running. On the coach's call, receivers will run the route and catch a pass from the QB on their side. They will secure the catch, run up field, and give the ball to the QB on the opposite side. They will then line up again and repeat this process. Have receivers and quarterbacks switch after 5-10 reps. Key Points: Have 2-4 players start in each receiver line, if you have more players set up a second passing wheel. Make sure to have players try a variety of routes. For older players (10+), let the quarterbacks call their own routes for the receivers. Consider having the coach be QB if throw's aren't accurate enough to be caught by the receivers Variations: Make it Easier: Run short routes only Have the QB simply step and throw rather than completing a 3 or 5-step drop Game Variation: Create two passing wheels. Each group doing the drill will be a team. If BOTH players catch the ball, the team earns a point. The team who scores the most points in 5 minutes wins.

Drill Objective: Break on the ball and deflect or intercept the pass. Equipment: Cones and Footballs Instructions: The QB will start with the ball and take a 3 or 5 step drop, at the same time the defender will begin to backpedal. As the QB gathers to throw, they will turn their eyes and shoulders towards one of the two receivers. The defender will read the QB by checking their eyes and shoulders. As the QB’s free hand comes off the ball, the defender will plant and drive towards the ball. The defensive back will attempt to either break up the pass or intercept the ball. If the defender intercepts the ball, they will tuck the ball away and run downfield past the QB. If the pass is completed to the receiver, the receiver will return the ball to the QB. Have team switch between offense and defense Key Points: Have defenders practice backpedalling and reacting to break up or intercept a thrown pass Consider having the coach throw the ball depending on the throwing ability of your players Only progress to this drill after players have learned proper backpedalling and forward break technique Variations: Increase Difficulty: Move the receiver cones further apart. This will require the defenders to cover more space before reaching the ball. Introduction Version: If doing this drill for the first time, have the coach throw the ball and receivers run at a jogging speed.

The ability to accurately throw the football is key to success in the passing game. Players should learn to throw from a stationary position before you work on throwing after a 3-step drop or throwing on the run. Coaching Points:

Spiking Spiking the ball is one of the most exciting parts of volleyball. Making sure players learn how to properly do it can mean a lot more points and a lot more fun. Since this is one of the more technical skills, it may be better to start teaching the arm swing before adding the jump. Coaching Points: Step forward with the hitting foot and prepare to jump off two feet Take a big jump up and stretch both hands towards the ceiling, Bring the hitting hand behind the ear Give the ball a big high five in the air with the arm fully stretched as high as you can reach

Bumping (also known as forearm pass or dig) Learning how to bump is a crucial skill as it is often the first when the ball is played over the net by the opponent. Here are some things to look out for when teaching your players how to properly bump the ball: Coaching Points: Hands are overlapped and the thumbs are together Arms out straight in front Bend the knees and have thumbs pointed down in a good ready position Contact is made with the forearms (platform) and arms are close to the body Follow through is made with the body by shrugging the shoulders and a small bounce in the legs

Overhand Serving A good serve can make or break your rally and can determine how well your opponent can attack you. Have players start with underhand serving before moving to overhand serving as it is a bit more accurate in the beginning. Coaching Points: Stand in warrior pose with the ball in the opposite hand out in front of you Step forwards and toss the ball in the air in front of them, and gives the ball a high five Follow through with the hand facing the target

Blocking Blocking is an important defensive skill to help prevent the opponent from scoring a point. It's best to use a beach ball when first teaching the skill of blocking just in case someone misses the ball. Coaching Points: Get the hands up with the palms facing the net Jump straight up and pretend to roll the arms over the net without touching it Make a roof over the ball so the ball goes down towards the opponents' side Land in the same spot as the takeoff

Underhand Serving A good serve can make or break your rally and can determine how well your opponent can attack you. Have players start with underhand serving before moving to overhand serving as it is a bit more accurate in the beginning. Coaching Points: Hold the ball out in front of you with the opposite hand facing up Bring your fingers into a partial fist with your thumb on the outside Swing the hitting arm back and step forward with the opposite foot Swing the arm forward and hit the ball with the palm of your hand Follow through towards the target rolling your weight onto your front foot

Setting A good set can be the difference between scoring and not scoring. This makes it a crucial skill for all players to learn when first introduced to volleyball. Coaching Points: Feet move so that shoulders are facing where you want the ball to go Create a triangle or diamond shape with your hands Fingers are spread on contact and the ball is pushed up and out Finish with the arms extended towards the sky and the hands above the head

Instructions: Each player will take a shot, get their rebound, and pass to the next player in line. Once all 3 players have made their shot, the line will move to a new shooting position on the court. Players will move from baseline to the left elbow, to the right elbow, and finish at the baseline on the opposite side. Repeat the drill in the opposite direction. Key Points: This drill can be used to emphasize various components of proper shooting technique. Variations & Progressions: Simplify this drill for younger players by marking shooting locations with cones and having them shoot from closer to the basket. Combine groups and progress to a game by having teams at each basket race to be the first ones to complete the drill (have all 3 players make a shot from each location). Use cones to mark out the different areas to shoot from Make its so that once a player makes a shot, they can pick up the cone that they shot from and bring it back to their line. The team with the most cones at the end of the drill wins

Instructions: Have all players begin dribbling on the spot. The coach will call out various dribbling moves (crossovers, left hand, below the knees, etc.). After 10 - 15 seconds, the coach will yell out a number. The player on each baseline with the corresponding number must dribble around the cone at the top of the 3-point line and then do a layup. All other players continue dribbling. The first player to finish their layup scores a point for their team. Repeat this process, calling out different numbers. The first team to reach 5 points wins. Key Points: Use the rest time between games to provide instruction on dribbling technique. Switch up the numbering of players between games, attempting to give opposing players of similar speed and dribbling ability the same number to keep the competition fair. Variations & Progression: Setup variation: If you have 2 coaches and 4 hoops, we recommend playing this game cross-court with 2-3 players on each team. Point variation: Award 2 points if a player does a specific type of layup (i.e. uses non-dominant hand) or dribbling move after rounding the cone Game variation: Call out two numbers at a time so multiple players must dribble around the cone and complete a finish at once.

Instructions: On the coaches "Go" call players will begin dribbling the ball. Players will attempt to dribble between as many gates as possible within 30 seconds. The player who dribbles through the most gates wins. Players cannot dribble through the same gate twice in a row. Two players cannot dribble through one gate at the same time. Key Points: Encourage players to go as fast as they can without losing the ball. Use this activity to introduce basic dribbling and a variety of dribbling moves that players would use to avoid a defender in the open court. Use the rest time in between games to introduce or review important coaching points on dribbling technique. Variations & Progressions: Dribbling progression: Each game, have players do a different dribbling move when passing between the gates (crossover, between the legs, etc.) Defender progression: Half of the players will be dribblers, the other half will be gate defenders. Gate defenders will stand stationary in the center of a gate and will attempt to steal the ball as dribblers pass through. Decision-making variation: Create gates using two different colours of cones. Associate each gate colour with a specific dribbling move players must do when passing through that gate. Difficulty progression: Having fewer gates will make the activity more challenging as players will be required to find the open gate and race against opponents to reach the gate first. Point variation 1: Have players complete a figure 8 around the gate cones in order to earn a point. Point variation 2: If players complete a figure 8 around the cones, they earn 3 points for that one gate. While they're attempting their figure 8, any other player can attempt to steal their ball in order to prevent them from getting points.

Instructions: Players will start by moving around inside the grid performing different movements such as side shuffling, jogging and backpedaling On the whistle, players will find a partner and start boxing them out, Have players compete to box out their partner for 10-15 seconds then begin moving around the grid again Make sure players switch partners regularly to keep things interesting and competitive. Key Points: Encourage players to get low and use their feet. Ensure players don’t cross their feet as they battle for position. Variations & Progressions Create 4-5 smaller boxes inside the larger player area. When the coach blows the whistle, two players will get inside the box and try to box the other person out. The player who wins gets a point. Use the same small boxes except this time split the team into group 1 and group 2. Have the players move around the square using different movements. When the coah yells out a number (either 1 or 2), the group correspoding with that number runs to a box and tries to prevent a player form the other group from entering the square by boxing them out.

Section Overview: It is important to always wrap up practice with a game the looks and feels like basketball. During the conclusion game however, you can spend more time coaching in comparison to the introduction game. The main objective of this section is to have players apply the new skills they've learned during the previous practice sections in a game-like environment. Recommended Types of Activities: For very young players, we recommend playing primarily 2-V-2 or 3-V-3 as the focus should be on facilitating skill development rather than game-play tactics associated with the 5-V-5 version of the game. After players have learned the most basic rules of basketball, you can introduce 1-2 rules or choose specific game-types that help emphasize a skill you worked on earlier. For example, making a minimum number of passes before you can score, only scoring with layups, no lay-ups allowed, 1-V-1 to emphasize ball handling and on-ball defense, etc. Instructional Tips: When players are completely new to the game, the most important thing is to introduce 1-2 rules at a time. Rather than focusing on having your team follow all the rules as soon as possible, think "how can I get them playing something that looks like basketball as soon as possible", then progressively introduce 1-2 more rules each practice.

Delivery Structure: If you have two coaches, it can be helpful to run the Offensive and Defensive skill focus sections as stations (both run simultaneously on either side of the court and players switch after 20 minutes). This has four main benefits: Breaking players into smaller groups helps maximize reps during the activity. Players can be separated by experience/skill level, helping promote fair competition during your game-based activities. If you need to pause an activity to deliver some instruction, you're only stopping half of the players and ideally if they're grouped by skill level, the instruction will be more appropriate and relevant for all players in your group. As a coach, you only need to prep for developing one skill during a particular practice instead of two.

Section Overview: Before practice, you should pick one offensive skill category you want to focus on improving during practice. This could be ball handling, shooting, passing, finishing, rebounding, etc. Once you've picked a category, choose an activity that will maximize the number of reps every player will get for that specific skill. If you pick ball handling for example, pick activities where every player has a ball and is required to dribble. Recommended Types of Activities: Although we want to maximize the number of reps for each player, we also want to keep practice fun. This is why it's important to use activities that can be easily progressed into simple games. Great game-based activities share these 3 common factors: Modifications Opponents Point systems For example, let's say your focus is passing. Have players from teams of 4 and compete against one another in a passing race where teams earn a point for being the first to make 10 successful passes. Instructional Tips: If this is your player's first time trying the skill, you likely won't be able to jump straight into a game-based activity. It can be helpful to start by demonstrating how the skill should look, then have players work in pairs to try the skill. Once they are comfortable performing the skill, move to the game-based activity. It is important to let players try the skill first before delivering skill instruction. Many players will improve technique just through continuous repetition and watching others perform the skill. This also will allow you to watch each player and give them more personal feedback rather than overwhelming them several coaching cues.

Section Overview: This section will follow a similar structure to the offensive-skill focus section, only you will focus on defensive skills and general movement. At this early age, it's important to expose players to a variety of fundamental movement skills that are transferable across multiple basketball-specific skills. These include skills like running, jumping, changing direction, leaping, skipping. Jumping is foundational to many basketball skills, skipping mirrors the lower-body movement of a layup without the added complexity of holding the basketball, etc. Recommended Types of Activities: See the previous plan section on offensive skills for recommendations on using game-based activities designed to emphasize a specific skill focus.

Section Overview: When kids get to practice, you want to get them playing as soon as possible. Forget the laps and lunges, just get kids moving and having fun as soon as possible by playing a simple low-organization game. Recommended Types of Activities: Early in the season, tag games are great for introduction activities. Tag games are quick to explain, simple to setup, and can be easily modified to keep kids engaged. As players develop basic passing and ball handling skills, you can include the use of basketballs into your tag games to make them more sport-specific. As you progress through the season and players are starting to understand how to play basketball at a basic level, start your practice by having everyone play basketball. At younger age groups, we recommend playing 3-V-3 cross court or 2-V-2 half court to maximize touches and scoring opportunities for every player. Instructional Tips: During the introduction game you should focus primarily on watching players. Try to limit stopping the game as much as possible, except for basic instructions. For example: Do: Briefly pause a tag game to add a new rule, changing the context of the to keep it engaging for players. Don't: Stop all players during a game to provide instruction on proper dribbling technique.

Overview: Learning how to pass is one of the most important skills in soccer and is based on the concept that the more time your team has the ball, the harder it is for the other team to score. Before getting into possession-based games, go over a few of these key points with your players to help them properly pass the ball. Coaching Points: Plant the non-kicking foot beside the ball pointing in the intended direction Put the arms out for balance, swing the kicking leg back Lock the ankle and angle the foot about 90 degrees Contact the middle of the ball with the inside of the foot, push through the ball Follow through towards the target using a short backswing

Overview: Dribbling at speed and attacking open space is something that gets spectators off their feet and is an exciting way to progress the ball up the field. But how do you make sure the ball is close enough to your feet so the defender can’t get it but far enough to run in full stride? Coaching Points: Take a lookup to identify a dribbling path Use the instep of the foot (just below the laces) to make a feather-like contact with the ball Take a larger touch and accelerate to catch up with the ball Take a look for the next action after making contact with the ball To stop and change direction, slow down and take smaller feather-like touches to make it easier to one way or the other

Overview: Anyone who has played soccer knows that scoring goals is one of the most exciting parts of the game. There is a lot more to smashing the ball into the back of the net than meets the eye. Placing the ball into the corner can be another great way to score those stunning goals that wow everyone who is watching. Building a strong technical base will put any player well on their way to scoring those stunning goals. Here are some things to keep in mind when teaching different shooting techniques. Driven Shot Coaching Points: Plant the non-kicking foot beside the ball pointing in the direction of the goal Swing the heel towards the buttock while keeping the chest over the ball Lock the ankle and create a fist with the foot by curling the toes Contact the middle of the ball with the top of the foot, right over the laces of the shoe Follow through towards the target with the toes of the kicking foot kept pointed down Placed Shot Coaching Points: Plant the non-kicking foot beside the ball pointing in the direction of the goal Swing the kicking leg back bringing your heel up towards the sky while keeping your chest over the ball Lock the ankle and keep the toes pointed up on the downswing. Make contact on the outside of the ball with the inside of the foot Bring the kicking leg across the midline of the body on the follow-through

Overview: One of the most impressive things to see in soccer is the control and manipulation of the ball. Whether it's in the air or on the ground, being able to control the ball well means there is more time for the next action. Here are tips that can help your players control the ball better Controlling the ball with the INSIDE of the foot Coaching Points: Get your body in line with the path of the ball and keep your eyes on the ball Turn toes of the receiving foot out so that the arch faces the oncoming ball Extend the receiving foot slightly forward Make contact with the flat inside part of the foot and cushion the ball by bringing the leg back Adjust your body position and move onto the ball for the next action Controlling the ball with the OUTSIDE of the foot Coaching Points: Get your body in line with the path of the ball and keep your eyes on the ball Turn the foot so the outside of the foot is facing the oncoming ball Extend the receiving foot slightly forward Point the little toe down so the outer edge makes contact with the ball and cushion it by bringing the leg back Adjust your body position and move onto the ball for the next action

Equipment: Cones, One ball per player Instructions: The objective of the drill is to listen to the coach and do the requested command. The players will start by dribbling a ball around the track. At random, the coach will yell out commands that consist of changing of speed, direction, and stopping. Key points: Make sure kids keep their head up to avoid collision Emphasize keeping the ball close like its their best friend Encourage players to make car noises and tell you what kind of car they are! Variations: Get the child to perform the drill with their parent. When the coach yells "STOP", have children pick up the ball.

Equipment: Balls (1 per pair), Cones, 4+ pug nets, Parent volunteers (if possible) Instructions: The objective of the game is to score in the pug net. Players will play their parents in a 1 vs 1 game. You can score in any net. After scoring, the player retrieves their ball an tries to score in another one Key Points: Remind players to keep their heads up so that they are not running into other people around them. Emphasize that players are keeping the ball close so that their parents can't steal it away Encourage the parents to pair up with their child. Variations: Add pairings together so two players can play against two parents

Equipment: Balls, Cones Instructions: The goal of the game is to keep all the balls out of your house and put them in the other teams house (box). The team with the most balls In their house at the end of the game has to make a funny face Key Points: Have parents stand behind each box to gather balls that go out of play Encourage players to help out their teammates and tell them where the balls are in their house Variations: Play parents vs kids Increase the size of the boxes so that kids have to shoot the ball further

Equipment: 5-10 balls Instructions: The objective of the drill is to shoot the ball into the arms of the kneeling parent. The parent will start by rolling the ball to the child who either hits the ball while it is moving or stops the ball then shoots it along the ground back to the parent. If players are paired with another player, have them switch roles after 8-10 shots. Key Points: Make sure the ball is slow enough so the player can make contact. The focus of the practice is to get in repetitions. Encourage players to try and get the ball into your hands, even if it misses, having a target will give them something to focus on Get players to try both feet and try using different parts of their foot to shoot Variations: Work on both the weak foot and the strong foot. Have players take a few steps towards the ball and shoot.

Equipment: 20-25 balls, 10+ cones Instructions: The objective of the game is to dribble from one box to another then grab a new ball and dribble that ball to the next box. Players will use the bottom of their foot to stop the ball and get a new one. Play for 3-4 minutes then switch to a variation Key Points: Encourage players to keep the ball close and use both feet. Tell them that the ball is a special package and that they need to be careful with the ball as if they go to fast they may damage the package! Remind players to keep their heads up so that they are not running into other players Emphasize using both feet. Don't worry how it looks, just worry about the number of touches they are getting on the ball Variations: If the coach yells "turn", players put their foot on the ball and dribble in the opposite direction Visit as many zones in one minute as possible Get coaches or parents involved by running around the grid and acting as "mean dogs" trying to steal the ball way

Equipment & Setup: 1 ball for every 3 players. Separate players into teams of 3. Each team will form a line. The ball is relayed from 1 to 2 to 3 and back. Rotate players in all 3 positions, so each gets to experience as a relay player in the center. Key Points: Have players rotate towards the glove side when throwing the ball. Variations: Have players go slowly at first to concentrate on proper turn in center. Real softballs do not have to be used – nerf balls, squishy balls, lite flights. Progress to a relay race between teams once players are demonstrating proper technique to make this activity fun for kids.

Setup & Equipment: 2 balls, 8 bases. Separate players into groups of 6. Set up bases to make 1 diamond for each group of 6 players. 6 players will line up in infield position, including pitching and catching position. The catcher throws a grounder to each infield player in succession. The infield player will field the ball and throw it to the player on 1st base, who throws it back to the catcher. Rotate positions after each sequence so all players get a chance to throw from each position. Key Points: Athletes should start in the ready positions for an infielder. As athletes progress, discuss coverage principles and imagine where the base runners would be going and who should be moving where. ie: when the 2nd basemen picks up the ball, the shortstop could be at 2nd base. Variations: Skill Variation - Have the catcher throw flies instead of grounders Gamification - Teams score 1 point for each successful throw and catch during the fielding. Track how many points are scored per sequence. Two teams can compete by attempting to have the highest score after all player rotations have been completed. Alternatively, teams can compete with themselves by trying to get a perfect score each sequence.

Equipment & Instruction: 3 batting tee’s, at least 2 balls per tee, 3 bases 3 groups of 4 (1 batter, 1 on deck, 2 fielders) and at least 1 adult per group. Set up 3 tee’s in front of carpet home plates. Draw a circle (or use a hula hoop) on the ground where they bat should be dropped before running. Place 1st base 30’ - 40’ from where the tee is set up. The first player hits off a tee, drops the bat in marked circle, runs to 1st base. Player then returns to be an on-deck batter. Two fielders retrieve the ball and throw it to the adult, who oversees replacing the ball on the tee. Key Points: While the ball is being retrieved, the on-deck batter prepares to hit. Divide the total amount of time you have left after setting up by 2, then give each pair that amount of time to hit – they will be the fielders while the other pair hit. This activity can be dependent on the number of kids you have present. This activity can be set up in the outfield.

Equipment & Instructions: Cones and 1 ball for every 2 players. Separate players into pairs. Mark off two “goals” for each pair of players. The distance depends on skill level (up to 10’ wide). Players will line up a few steps in front of their goal, 1 player starting with the ball. Each player tries to score a goal by throwing a grounder past their partner and through the marked goal posts. Switch partners occasionally. Key Points: Consider setting up 1 goal per pair and having players switch between throwing and fielding every 5-10 throws. Have 1 adult behind each goal or place setup the goals close to a fence/backstop to reduce time spent retrieving missed balls. Variations: Increase Fielding Difficulty - Make the goals wider. Game Variation - Have players form groups of 3 and setup goals in a triangle. The player with the ball can choose which of the two opposing players' goals they want to attempt to score on.

Equipment & Instruction: 1 bat per player, 3 tee’s, 3 whiffle balls on a rope, 6 carpet home plates. 1 adult in charge of every 2 players. 3 tee stations and 3 whiffle ball stations, with 2 players at each station. Set tee’s up in front of carpet home plates. 6 players will practice hitting off a tee. 6 players practice hitting a hanging whiffle ball which an adult can hold in front of a carpet home plate. Groups can switch stations after 5 min. That will give each player approximately 2 min. of hitting at each activity. Key Points: The partner waiting their turn can be taking practice swings. Make sure that all know the safety of swinging a bat and the “safety areas” when another is swinging. Not all children hit from the same side.

FIRE AWAY Setup: Divide the group into 2 teams. Assign one team as the servers, and have each player stand on the service line with a ball The other team are the defenders and can spread out on the other side of the court without a ball. Instructions: When the coach shouts "FIRE", everyone on the serving team serves at the same time. The defending team must try to stop the balls from touching the ground by catching them. The serving team counts how many of their serves hit the ground. The teams then switch roles and the servers become the defenders and vice versa. Make sure to count up scores. After both teams have had a chance to be the servers and the defenders, that is the end of the round. Whichever team got the most serves in gets 1 point and won that round. Play a best of 3 or a best of 5 series. Variations: Make It Easier Servers can serve from close in Players don't need to catch the ball, they just need to touch it while its in the air Make It Harder The coach can specify whether to use an overhead or underhand serve

THE NUMBER GAME Setup: Divide the group into 2 teams. Have each team make 3 equal lines on opposite sides of the court. Give players on each team a number from 1-4. Instructions: The rules are the same as regular volleyball - 3 touches using digs, sets and spiking to get the ball over the net The coach will call out a number from 1-4. The group of players from each team who were given that number run out onto the court The coach throws a volleyball on the court and the players play out a rally until a point is scored After the rally is over, players go back behind the service line The first team to 10 points wins. Variations: Make It Easier Players are allowed have to catch the ball instead of digging the ball before passing or throwing the ball over Make It Harder The coach calls out different number combinations allowing for more player on the court at the same time

SPIKE & CATCH Setup: Have players get in pairs and stand 2 meters apart in an open space in the gym. The player with the ball will start as the server and the player without the ball will start as the catcher. Instructions: Have one player start by tossing the ball up to themselves and hitting it to their partner. The partner catches the ball and does the same thing back. Have each pair complete 10 repetitions while counting how many times they can serve and catch the ball without it hitting the ground Variations: Instead of having their partner catch the ball, have them try to control it by digging or setting Have players throw the ball up high, then jump in the air and hit the ball In groups of 3, have one player throw the ball up, the other hits it, and the 3rd catches it Players now practice hitting and catching over the net to each other

READY POSITION RELAY Setup: Divide the group into 2 or 3 teams depending on the number of players and have them line. up behind the service line at one end. The first player in each line starts with a ball. Create 3 lines of cones set up in a zig-zag pattern in front of each line. Instructions: On the whistle, 1 player at a time must balance the ball on their forearms (dig position) and zig zag through the cones to the net. They then throw the ball over the net and catch it before it hits the ground. After catching the ball, they run back to their line and pass the ball to the next player. The first team to finish wins. Complete 3-4 races, switching the teams after each race. Variations: Have players put the ball between their legs, jump to the net, then pick the ball up and run backwards to the start

No, we currently do not allow coaches to print plans.

If your team has been created by an organization administrator, it will automatically be premium and you will have access to all content. If you created your own team in the app, you can upgrade to premium to access all content by purchasing a premium team upgrade in the app. You can tell if your team is premium by: Tap "more" Tap "my teams" If your team is premium, you will have a gold outline with a premium label telling you the date premium access will expire

In order to populate your plan library, you must assign a game-type and age group to your team through your team settings. To do this you will: Go to your team tab > tap the gear icon in the top right corner > set your age group and game-type. Only a team owner can change your team settings. If you don't see the gear icon and you are the team owner, close down the app and re-open it.

All custom content is saved to your personal app account, not your specific team. This means if you join a different team you will still be able to access all of the drills and plans you've created.

You can tell if your team is premium by: Signing into your account on the mobile app Tapping "more" Tap "my teams" If your team is premium, you will have a gold outline with a premium label telling you the date premium access will expire

No, do not currently have this functionality. Plays in the playbook are intended to provide example plays coaches can use.

Anyone who joins your team on the app can see library content no matter what role they're in. If your team is premium, everyone on your team will be able to view premium content. Any content you create in the My Plans or My Drills section can only be viewed by other team members if you share it through the group chat or schedule.

You can invite others to join your team on the app by: Navigating to the team page Tap "Invite Members" Tap "Share" Use the options on your device to share a join team message and link via text, email or other communication apps Anyone who opens this look will be given instructions on how to join your team

If your organization created a team for you, then you should have received an email with a link and instructions on how to join your team. Please watch this video that walks you through how to join

In order to join, you must first have received a "join team" link or 6-character team code from your coach. Then you will: Download the mobile app from the App Store or Google Play Open the app and choose "join a team" Enter your team code Create your account by entering your name, email & password Choose your role on the team Add your child to the list or select your childs name if they are already listed

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Yes. To do this, go to Team>Notifications Settings> Select the toggle buttons. The default settings send push notifications to every user on a team 24 hours and 2 hours before events that has been added to the team schedule to remind them about the upcoming event.

Sometimes your email provider may completely block the email we send containing the calendar subscription link as it's coming from an unknown sender. To resolve this, please do the following: Log in to your email. Create a new contact and use the email address noreply@athlete-era.com for this contact (for detailed instructions on how to do this in Microsoft Outlook, please visit this link). Save the new contact. Resend the calendar subscription link from inside the mobile app.

There is no ability to print practice plans found in the app.

Yes. To do this, go to Team > Team Settings > Edit Game Type and select the new game type you would like to view content for. All library content is automatically filtered to only display drills, skill elements, plans and plays based on the game type you selected when setting up the team.

You can not add plays to the playbook section. The playbook is intended to provide example plays or be utilized as a standardized playbook for all teams within a specific league to follow.

To use the Coach Planner app, you must log in with your USA Football account or create an account with USA Football. Athlete Era does not manage user accounts associated with this mobile app. If you are having issues, please visit the main USA Football Help Desk here.

All "My" content is saved to your individual user account, not to a specific team. This means if you join a different team you will still be able to access all of the drills and plans you've created.

Please click or tap here to access the detailed team setup guide.

Library content is available to everyone who downloads the app and creates or joins a team. Anyone who joins your team on the app can see the library content regardless of what role they selected when joining your team (coach, player, etc.). My Drills or My Plans is content that has been created by an individual coach and is therefore saved to that individual's account. This content can only be seen by others if the coach shares it in a group chat or assigns a plan to the team schedule.

No. Administrators can only remove users from a team but they cannot delete specific messages posted by other users.

Equipment: Balls, Cones, Badminton net Instructions: The objective of the game is work on serving accuracy. Servers start by using the serve of their choice to serve the ball over the net. The catchers try to catch the balls that are served over. If the ball is caught, the server goes to jail. If a catcher catches the ball, they are now free from jail and can go over to the serving side. If you serve the ball over the net and it is not caught, you are safe and can collect your ball and go to the back of the line Keep going until there are 1 or 2 players left serving and everyone else is in jail Key Points: Remind players to contact the ball with an open hand, not a closed fist Encourage catchers to be in their ready position when the ball is being served over the net Have the coach or a parent help retrieve the balls that miss the court Variations: Make It Easier Instead of performing a serve, players can throw the ball over into an open space Make It Harder Have players try a jump serve Instead of catching the ball as it comes over, catchers must dig or set the ball in order to get out of jail

Equipment: 1 ball, 1 Volleyball net Instructions: The objective of the game is to throw the ball onto the other team's side of the court to get a point. Players can catch, pass, and throw the ball to their teammates for a maximum of 3 touches before the ball has to go over the net. Players will play in groups of 3 at a time. When the coach yells "GO", the first groups of 3 run onto the court and play out the game. They can pass the ball to their team mates with the 3rd person who receive the ball must throw it over the net. As soon as a team wins a point, players return to the back of the line and a new group of 3 enters Players who have the ball cannot move. Play for 4-5 minutes then switch the teams. Key Points: Make sure players start in the ready position so they can move quickly to try and stop the ball from hitting the ground Remind players to look for open spaces on the other teams side of the court to throw to Encourage players to call for the ball so their teammates pass to them Variations: Make It Easier You can have more then 3 players on the court at one time (teams of 5 or 6) The ball is allowed to bounce once before catching it Make It Harder The first touch from your team has to be a dig or a set (can't catch it) Instead of throwing the ball over the net, players must spike it over on the third touch

Equipment: 1 Ball per pair Instructions: The objective of the drill is to introduce players to basic setting techniques. The feeder starts by tossing the ball to the passer The passer then sets the ball back high for the feeder to catch. The passer completes 10 sets then switches roles with the feeder. Key Points: Remind players to contact the ball with spread fingers, high, and in front of them Remind players to face the direction where they want to pass the ball. Tell players to set the ball "high towards the sky" Remind players to move their feet quickly to get behind the ball before passing it Variations: Make It Easier Have players start by catching the ball high in front of their head, then push the ball "up and out" Make It Harder Instead of having the feeder catch the ball, have them keep setting it to each other and start a rally. The feeder now feeds the ball to the left and right of the player then in front and behind so the player has to move Players set to each other over a net and see how many passes they can get in a row before the ball hits the ground Have players get in groups of 3 and have them try to keep the ball in the air for as long as possible. Encourage players to move to different areas to receive the ball Have the groups of 2-3 try to complete 5-10 successful passes then set the ball into a basketball hoop or ball bag.

No, we currently do not allow coaches to print plans.

If you created your own group/team in the app, by default you will not have access to premium content and features. If you want to upgrade, you must contact your organization administrator and ask them to create a premium group/team for you. Then, they will provide you with a group/team code you will enter when selecting "Join a Group/Team" in the app.

Step 1: Tap "SUBSCRIBE" at the top left of the "Schedule" tab in the mobile app" Step 2: Tap "Subscribe" Step 3: Tap "Subscribe" Step 4: Edit the title, account & colour to modify how events will be displayed on your iOS calendar (optional). Then choose "Add" Step 5: Open the iOS Calendar app on your iPhone and you will see event information from your team schedule. You cannot RSVP for events from iOS calendar, you will need to go back into the app. For additional support visit Apple support by clicking here.

Step 1: Tap "SUBSCRIBE" at the top left of the "Schedule" tab in the mobile app" Step 2: Tap "Email Link" Step 3: Log into your gmail account, open the email from Athlete Era and copy the calendar subscription link Step 4: Open Google Calendar and choose the + button in the "other calendars" section Step 5: Choose "From URL" and paste the link you copied from the email you received Step 6: Choose "Add Calendar" and your teams schedule should now appear on the "My Calendars" section For additional support visit Google Calendar support by clicking here.

All custom content is saved to your personal app account, not your specific team. This means if you join a different team you will still be able to access all of the drills and plans you've created.

Sometimes your email provider may completely block the email we send containing the calendar subscription link as it's coming from an unknown sender. To resolve this, please do the following: Log in to your email. Create a new contact and use the email address noreply@athleteera.app for this contact (for detailed instructions on how to do this in Microsoft Outlook, please visit this link). Save the new contact. Resend the link from inside the mobile app.

You can tell if your team is premium by: Signing into your account on the mobile app Tapping "more" Tap "my teams" If your team is premium, you will have a gold outline with a premium label telling you the date premium access will expire

No, we don't currently have the functionality to post hyperlinks in the app.

Step 1: Tap "SUBSCRIBE" at the top left of the "Schedule" tab in the mobile app" Step 2: Tap "Email Link" Step 3: Log into your gmail account, open the email from Athlete Era and copy the calendar subscription link Step 4: Open your Outlook calendar and choose "Add Calendar" Step 5: Choose "Subscribe from web" and paste the link you copied from the email you received Step 6: Choose "Import" after pasting the link and your team calendar will now appear For additional support visit Microsoft Office support by clicking here.