How would you structure a "social distance" practice session?

[Anonymous]

Hopefully this thread can avoid going off on a tangent like oh so many others, but we'll see...

How would you structure a practice utilizing social distance (or could you)?

Thinking about the practices I've seen, there are three or four areas of concern:

1) Players huddled around a coach getting instructions.
2) Players in a line to do a drill.
3) Players on sidelines or in breaks drinking, chatting.
4) Physical contact during a drill, 1v1, or scrimmage.

I was trying to think of some of the drills undertaken that were distance. You could see a lot of passing drills with players spread out and apart from one another. You might see drills where offense would attack against a bunch of cones (i.e. defenders) rather than other opponents. I was also thinking you may seen 1/2 team practices to minimize the number of kids on the field, in a group, line, etc.

Have any coaches been looking at this with a goal to structure a practice within the health guidelines? Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully this thread can avoid going off on a tangent like oh so many others, but we'll see...

How would you structure a practice utilizing social distance (or could you)?

Thinking about the practices I've seen, there are three or four areas of concern:

1) Players huddled around a coach getting instructions.
2) Players in a line to do a drill.
3) Players on sidelines or in breaks drinking, chatting.
4) Physical contact during a drill, 1v1, or scrimmage.

I was trying to think of some of the drills undertaken that were distance. You could see a lot of passing drills with players spread out and apart from one another. You might see drills where offense would attack against a bunch of cones (i.e. defenders) rather than other opponents. I was also thinking you may seen 1/2 team practices to minimize the number of kids on the field, in a group, line, etc.

Have any coaches been looking at this with a goal to structure a practice within the health guidelines? Any suggestions?

What would the max group be? Split up into smaller groups and drill in those groups entire practice?
There would be some teams that would have less sessions as not as many teams could share a field.

[Anonymous]

I don't see a way for any physical sport that can operate within guidelines. Even if somehow coach can separate everybody by more than 6 feet, it's not like they're not sharing the same ball.

[Anonymous]

You can train, but it just would all be unopposed. Lots of fitness, body weight strength or plyos, footskills, dribbling drills, passing drills, all with no lines and small groups are needed. Can work on "choreograph, etc. You will need have them scatter their bags and water bottles too. Because you have break out groups, not everyone will break at the same time. The coach can avoid team-wide coaching points, just look for individual coaching points. It can be done for sure. No kids handle the ball with their hands. No one touches anything especially each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see a way for any physical sport that can operate within guidelines. Even if somehow coach can separate everybody by more than 6 feet, it's not like they're not sharing the same ball.

Watch what the EPL is doing. Pros will figure this out first, everyone else will come layer.

[Anonymous]

If you have practices 3 times a week, then divide into 3 groups, and each group practices 1 x week. Kids are 6 feet apart and do drills, mostly individual drills. This is at least a start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see a way for any physical sport that can operate within guidelines. Even if somehow coach can separate everybody by more than 6 feet, it's not like they're not sharing the same ball.

I avoid walking on sidewalks that others are walking on too.

[Anonymous]

I would start by making everyone sign a waiver

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would start by making everyone sign a waiver

This.

split up the group to no more than 6 and the same 6 players always play together

put each group at a corner of the field to practice. No close plays

provide the list of drills and videos of drills before practice so players are familiar before practice

[Anonymous]

Here is how Borussia Dortmund is going about it:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/bagged-lunches-long-passes-and-no-showers-this-german-soccer-team-is-the-future-of-u-s-sports-11587978000?mod=hp_major_pos1#cxrecs_s

[Anonymous]

Kids can actually use a lot of practice passing at different distances, chipping, etc. Its something they don't practice very often, if ever, during regular team practices.

[Anonymous]

One other suggestion: ban parents from watching in person. It always leads to a group of chatting parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see a way for any physical sport that can operate within guidelines. Even if somehow coach can separate everybody by more than 6 feet, it's not like they're not sharing the same ball.

You are probably even serious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see a way for any physical sport that can operate within guidelines. Even if somehow coach can separate everybody by more than 6 feet, it's not like they're not sharing the same ball.

You are probably even serious.

+1

[Anonymous]

In a way it kind of does not matter what they do, it's the first step back.

One simple idea is coaches could have the kids do what they are asking them to do at home just together (but distanced) - individual skill work, running. As someone mentioned above, the Bundesliga teams are currently holding practices with physical distancing so we can take cues from their drills and procedures.

I am hoping study and consensus develops that outdoor COVID-19 spread is rare. So far every study on that angle suggests that is the case. Take a few precautions, sick kids stay home, and things should be alright.