You do all your long term planning, your divide the year
into training blocks, those blocks are broken down into manageable microcyles
then you have to work the plan. Working the plan entails a well designed
training session that prepares for all contingencies. It is truly where the
rubber meets the road in the implementation of the training plan. In my
experience the session can be well planned but the secret for optimizing
effectiveness of the plan is actual management of the session. I spend at least
twenty minutes a day detailing out that days training session in term of
exercise selection, sets, reps and rest between exercise, that is the easy
part, it is actually pretty automated. The management of the session is what
takes time and attention to detail or chaos will occur. Things like how many
med balls we need, how many core trainers, what is the weather all seem like givens,
but must be taken into consideration. Facilities can help significantly in
managing a session, but I have learned that sometimes you cannot depend on
facilities. They changed the lock or another team was scheduled at the same
time – now what?
For the last two year with Venice Volleyball we have trained
in the parking lot and hallways, certainly not optimal, but we still accomplished
effective training sessions. Once gain the management of the session was the
key. The captains take an active role in helping because there can be up to 24
players with only one coach, me. The captains and upper class ladies really
have been key to management. They are trained to lead certain portions of the
workout so that I can coach and give individual attention. Grouping the players
is essential to good session management. This year we have the most heterogeneous
group we have had, the range is from advanced training ages who have been the through
the program for three years to ninth graders who have not training background. In
addition there are the individual considerations that must be addressed. For an
outsider observing it looks like chaos but at the end of the day we get
effective workout. Using white boards is a good management tool. I make my own
white boards; I buy 4 x 8 sheets of white laminate from Home Depot and have
them cut into four sections. We meet before the start of the session and go
over the workout on the board and then I point out any individual exceptions or
adaptations. The burden is on the athlete to remember those. I use the Finis
Circuit Trainer to control the time segments of the workout; I find
that the loud horn keeps me on track relative to the time allotted. I structure
the sessions so total concentration is required, there is no standing around,
recovery is active or you are coaching your partner. I want the kids coaching
each other, because that forces them to concentrate as well as build team camaraderie.
I let them play music, but the music is off during instruction. Yesterday was
our last session in the weight room without walls, Monday we start in a new
facility, an actual weight room. Somehow it won’t be the same. It presents some
different management problems, we will be in there with the football team, a
big distraction, no pun intended. We will still do our throws and jungle gym work
outside, overall it should be a big improvement.