We ended our Spring practices with a Spring game. No not in pads on a field. Our field is still covered in snow. We broke the players up into 3 teams and played a round-robin of Ultimate Football. It is Ultimate Frisbee but with a football. The competition borders somewhere between structured and unstructured. We give some base rules then just let the teammates play and have fun while our coaching staff observes.
Though largely unstructured, there is a “method to our (seeming) madness.” As coaches, we evaluate gross motor skills (running, jumping, throwing, catching, covering) by observing how they move their bodies in active play. We also evaluate how they respond emotionally to competition. Do they get frustrated or stay positive and encouraging when things go wrong? Our veterans have been taught to be “thoughtfully responsive, not emotionally reactive…” Will they remember? Will they share the lesson with a rookie?
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, we observe how they interact with each other as social hierarchies quickly form within the team. Most players fall into one of three categories: competitive, cooperative or solitary. The rare player(s) who can be both competitive and cooperative while maintaining emotional regulations (thoughtfully responsive) are those likely to emerge as team leaders.
As coaches, we gather a great deal of information about the players and look forward to lively discussions at upcoming staff meetings. As players, they are just playing and having fun.
Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time!
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