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As nights get colder and darker in the northern hemisphere, Jolene Murray hands out some red-hot advice on making training sessions more engaging
The summer may be looming in southern hemisphere countries but in Europe, north America and Asia, the nights are drawing in rapidly.
And after a few training sessions under the lights in the pouring rain, it soon becomes hard to remember those warm evenings of July and August where the biggest worry was the sock tan line you were going to get.
We all know that when the weather gets colder and wetter, training sessions become less of a priority for some players in the grassroots game.
We plan and deliver sessions to challenge and engage as best we can, but we sometimes cannot compete with a cosy night in with the heating on - especially after a full day at work.
Understandable on a human level, but not helpful for us coaches. Here are some things I have put in place at my club this season to ensure the players stay engaged and focused during the winter months...
Think about what makes your players tick. How can you use this knowledge to encourage them to attend training sessions? Can you begin a competition between the players around attendance, with some form of incentive or reward? Maybe some weeks could be worth double points if the weather is particularly cold. Below are some of my reward ideas:
Not every session needs to be based out on the pitch. Consider inviting organisations or experts in for one-off workshops to enhance your players’ experience and knowledge base, in areas such as nutrition, sleep, hydration and team cohesion. You could bring in other coaches to deliver one-off sessions, which can also act as a chance for you to see some fresh ideas. It could be a gym session delivered by a physical trainer. Alternatively, contact a special guest to give an inspirational talk - some of your players may learn quicker by watching or listening.
Generally speaking, I would never really encourage the use of line drills anyway. Occasionally in the hot summer months, when players need plenty of recovery - or perhaps during the session after a tough match - there might be a place for them. But the time you really want to avoid players standing around waiting for their turn is when it is blowing a gale and pouring with rain. Try to keep players moving and engaged as much as possible throughout winter. This will also help avoid muscle injuries and maintain players’ enjoyment levels. Winter training is around 24 weeks, so think about the whole programme rather than week-by-week. Don’t be afraid to try something new - competition and reward is best to engage open-age grassroots players.
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