Simple ways to boost your ball-rolling time

I have found the process of planning, delivery and reflection is ongoing, and that I can’t look at these stages in isolation, as they continually overlap.

As I continue to strive towards improving ball-rolling time within my sessions, I have found this continual cycle of planning, delivering and reflecting to be a powerful tool in supporting my growth and development as a coach. 

Increased focus on the detail of my planning has played a pivotal role in supporting me to improve ball-rolling time within my sessions. 

Considering work-rest ratios within practices, and the overall time players will be performing football actions, has informed my planning. I also find this important for managing player load.

 

Plan a session backwards

It is also important to think about practice design and its impact. The typical considerations of number of players, field space and equipment available supports my session design.

I find it useful to plan my session backwards: considering how I want my session to finish, what the pitch will look like and what equipment will be required. 

From there, I decide where each preceding practice will take place within the pitch area. This process allows myself and the rest of the coaching staff to have a clear picture of how the pitch will be set up.

 

"I carefully consider where I want additional balls placed, to allow for quicker restarts..."

We aim to have this prepared ahead of players arriving. This supports quicker transitions between practices, as we are moving only a few cones or goals before the next practice can begin. 

This element of planning contributes to increased ball-rolling time, as there is less standing about for players between practices, meaning more time with the ball at their feet.

Within practice design, I also consider the selection of practices I use. 

I focus purposeful practices that are game-related, position-specific, align with my session objectives but – importantly, with ball-rolling time in mind – maximize activity. 

One solution for this is duplicating a practice to avoid players resting or being in a line for a long period. 

Another solution I have used, particularly if I don’t have appropriate numbers to duplicate a practice, is running two different practices at the same time which accommodates all players. 

The practices may have similar objectives but set up in a different way; or, they may be two practices that have a differing focus.

 

Think about your resources

Utilising resources effectively also increases ball-rolling time. I give careful consideration to where I want additional balls placed within sessions, for example, to allow for quicker restarts. 

 

Utilising other staff, if available, can support this as well, with roles and responsibilities ranging from feeding balls, managing player rotations or taking charge of timings.

These may seem obvious and simple things, but they all contribute to managing time efficiently, which feeds into ensuring players have more time with the ball in play during sessions.

Another positive from planning staff resource this way is that my fellow coaches have an increased role clarity, and greater confidence around session outcomes and their responsibilities contributing to them.