“Th e Ke e p e r s o f t h e Ga m e ” Varsity Practice Organization: Reps! Reps! Reps! Kim Nelson, Head Football Coach, Edina High School, Edina, MN In twenty nine years a head coach, I continues to watch film, unless have been trying to improve the tempo they are specialists and efficiency of our practices. I think that A. Specialists = Punters, kickers, we are finally getting close to something holders, snappers, and returners work on I like. For many years, I organized my their specialty practice like I remember my college B. = “Noose drill” – QB’s, RB’s, practices. Something like this: Centers and all receivers Our tempo was slow, with a lot a. Centers to QB, then steps to of players standing around coaches block a nose guard, receivers work on standing around while the head coach or release and in a five yard area, he plants coordinator stopped the play to correct hard and squares up to QB. QB works on something, or walk through the play. We footwork and throws to receiver; receiver really didn’t get a lot of repetitions, just a tucks and turns straight up for five lot of talk. Water breaks lasted from five yards. All offensive linemen are centers, to sometimes 15 minutes, with players other and we go as fast as we can. (10 and coaches taking a break together. minutes, 20 plays) Warm up and stretch took 20 “The Old Days” C. Receivers move to releases, route minutes while the players drew it out running or stalk blocking. as long as possible and the coaches D. Defense is doing similar waited for it to get done. Individual Warm up = 10 minutes breakdown work (10 minutes) drills often were good drills that we Stretch = 10 minutes 4:30 = Special Teams – team copied from colleges at clinics, but they every day – Scout defense vs. punt #1 didn’t always carry over to our system. Individual = 30 minutes and #2. Left over offensive players go The worst periods were group and Group = 30 minutes to the other end and run screen drill, team time, where the coach would Team = 30 minutes routes on air, PAT-N-GO, or blitz pick up. select plays at random and we would be Rest of team = Drink water. (10 min., 20 lined up against our defense anywhere Special Teams = 30 minutes plays) on the field. The offensive starters and 4:40 = Inside/outside – Scripted 7 the few who rotated in would run the on 7 – (1 vs. 1 and 2 vs. 2) plays, while defensive players made up Conditioning = Until the A. Two groups of QB, RB, and the scout team, while starters waited coach was happy receivers go every other play, defense on the for their turn. rotates in the secondary while one set I believe the old way really limited of linebackers plays coverage, the other the number of repetitions each player or nose guards. All work at about half set is involved in inside run session. got on a daily basis and our tempo made speed. B. At halfway point, QB, RB and LBs the day seem to last forever! We lacked 4:15 = Warm up – Defense comes switch from inside (run) to outside (7 on enthusiasm and I think our players got out, all players go through a warm up 7) and vice versa. Plays are repeated. stale and bored. consisting of position specific drills with C. Both inside and outside are filmed A major change was for us to use the their position coach. Any stretching from , if possible (20 minutes, 40 summer (June/July) to work hard on our needs to be done during this period, if plays) drills. We work out three days weekly and necessary. Each coach is responsible for 5:00 = Special teams #2 have to two week camp in July. Those warming up his players. (15 min.) A. Another special team works against days are built around drills to start each 4:20 = Individual – Each position coach a scout team. workout. Because of this, we don’t really gets this period to rep our offensive plays B. Rest of offense goes to the end of do many drills when pre-season practice for that week. the field for starts. We just review them for 5-10 A. Offensive line can continue dirlls, a. Screen drill, routes on air, blitz pick minutes per day. The rest of the practice but must get to the plays of the week, up, etc. (10 min., 20 plays) is getting reps.! A typical practice looks or protection of the week during this C. Rest of team – Water (10 min.) like this: period. 5:10 = Team – Scripted 3:45 = Defense starts watching film of B. QB, RB line up on the line split hose A. Offense vs. Scout Team our opponent and each back runs each running play a. Receiver coach sets secondary each 4:00 = Specialist and offense go out, we have two times. QBs snap to each play

42 - Minnesota Football Coaches Association b. Offensive line coach sets defensive players We obviously adjust the time segments front seven and places the ball on proper c. Players must be taught to drink every during the season depending on what hash/yard line chance they get between plays, or drills kind of things need more work, but we c. Offensive coordinator follows script 2. Use a timer try to keep the actual practice time under i. Back up QB signals in plays a. Get an automatic clock, if possible 90 minutes. ii. 20 minutes, 40 plays b. Use a manager with an air horn Our players love it. B. Defense vs. Scout Team c. When horn goes off, everyone must Our coaches love it. a. Younger coach is scout team QB move We get more plays run. b. Plays are run from cards 3. Coaches must coach on the run, We condition while playing the game. c. Defensive line sometimes stays on can’t stop the tempo, especially the head We hydrate better than we did before. line scrimmage so LBs and DBs can see coach We watch more film (best teacher backfield action (20 minutes) a. Use a pre-practice meeting to go there is) C. Both groups are filmed over stuff We stay fresh (mentally and 5:30 = Film of that day’s practice – 30 b. Talk during film session at end of physically) minutes practice Good luck and I hope you can use A. Offense/Defense in separate rooms, c. Can’t fix it on the field, must be done some of these ideas -kimnelson@edina. if possible in film meeting, can’t run it “one more k12.mn.us We have used less time than the time” old format, we actually start full speed 4. Script Everything physically practicing at 4:15 and end at a. Each coach and managers has a 5:30. One hour and fifteen minutes of copy repetition has really helped our execution b. Coaches can take turns scripting a improve. More players are involved and session each day learning. We have run approximately 140 5. Set up field before players arrive offensive plays in one practice, if all goes a. Train your managers well. We are still trying to improve our Keys to efficiency: practice schedule every year, but I think 1. No water breaks we are getting a lot more done than ever a. Water must be portable before. Our players get accustomed to b. Managers must move around the fast pace and we actually get in shape practice at all times, pushing water on by practicing faster. Coach’s Rates at the Double Tree $79.00 a night on Thursdays, Fridays, & Sundays $109.00 a night on Mondays, Tuesdays, & Wednesdays OUBLE REE HOTELSD • SUITES • RESORTST • CLUBS Double Tree Hotel • Minneapolis Park Place 1500 Park Place Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55416 952-542-8600 www.DoubletreeMinneapolis.com

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