It is one thing to build a good team. It is quite another to build a good program. A good team enjoys success for one season. A good program maintains consistent success over several seasons. Following are some keys to building a successful program.
If you are coaching at the high school or middle school level, I recommend you begin by working with the younger players in your community. Summer camps and fall clinics provide a great opportunity for you to help the younger players develop the skills needed to play at your level.
I have typically run week long summer camps that focus on skill development as well as game play. It is important to maintain a low camper to staff ratio…I recommend no higher than 8:1 to help ensure maximum skill development. Also, I recommend a heavy dose of small sided games (2-on-2; 3-on-3; 4-on-4). We’ve all seen 5-on-5 games where one or two players dominate the action. Small sided games provide more opportunities for each player to play an integral part, thus helping to speed up the developmental process. After a heavy dose of these games, add some 5-on-5 play so that players have the opportunity to transfer their skills to a full-game setting.
In the fall, with school in session, I have found that a series of weekly, two-hour clinics provides ample opportunities for development without overtaxing players and families. I devote equal time to skill development and game play, with a heavy emphasis once again on small sided games.
Another thing that is helpful in developing a successful program is to develop grade based teams that play a spring/early summer schedule. These teams typically practice twice per week and play two or three weekend tournaments per month. This is a great opportunity for the younger players to get real game experience under your supervision. Also, if the teams play in the same tournaments, it provides opportunities for the players to watch each other play and build camaraderie across grade levels.
As you can see, building a successful program requires a tremendous amount of effort and the help of others. I recommend using current and former players and assistants to help you with your camps, clinics, and grade based teams. I recommend that you recruit feeder school coaches and/or parents to serve as head coaches for the younger grade based teams. They are usually more than willing to help, and working with them gives you an opportunity to develop relationships that will strengthen your program over time.
While certainly a lot of work, building a program will help ensure success over the long haul. In the process, you will have the opportunity to instill in the younger players a love for the game and develop friendships with players, parents, and coaches. Remember, you get out of it what you put into it!