We completed our club tryouts last weekend. It’s a crazy time for player, parents and coaches but an important one to make sure that our players are challenged at an appropriate level.

I’ve talked about our process in previous episodes including Episode 105 just a couple of weeks ago.

We’re not working to prepare our teams for the preseason meetings that we hold each year. I’ll talk more about that process on next week’s podcast.

This week’s question is from Cory.

He’s asking about discipline during practice.

Cory says,

“I have a question for you relating to “discipline”. Next year, I will coach a U11 boys house team which has a few boys who have a tough time staying focused. I am pretty good at keeping their attention compared to others who try but I would like to know what my 1-2-3 steps should be if an individual boy is being disruptive or is misbehaving while still keeping things positive. I’m hoping to avoid yelling loader, making them run laps or do pushups as I don’t know if those are positive in nature. I have tried “go and sit on the sideline” and then come to talk to them to see if they are “ready to focus”. If a child is having a really tough time, I will sometime discuss the issue with their parents. This being said, I “get” that they are kids and focussing isn’t always the natural strength for some kids.”

I answer Cory’s question on the show.

In This Episode

This week I’m looking at the most underappreciated key to technical development. Performing technical training exercises at speed is missing link between training day and match day.

I discuss why training at speed is so important and how you can incorporate this focus into every aspect of training from the warm-up through the final scrimmage.

I’ll also tell you when you should consider slowing it down so that you can speed it up again.

Next Week

I’ll discuss the importance of a preseason team meeting and what it should cover so that your players and parents go into the season knowing what to expected.