Fun vs Coaching

Sometimes I have an athlete who tells me we should play more "conditioning games" at practice because it is fun, and training everyday for practice isn't.  This presents an interesting question for coaches to ponder.  Are we supposed to make running fun for our athletes, or should we focus on maximizing the training?  Of course you want your athletes to have fun, but are you doing them a justice by taking away good training days in order to enjoy a pickup game, and what is the risk vs reward of injury?

I tend to shy away from games during the competitive season mainly because an injury could derail fitness, and no athlete who cares about their performance will be happier in the stands watching everyone else run.  That is why, if we play games such as speed ball or ultimate, we play in the summer months.  Furthermore, playing games in the competitive part of the year can send the wrong signal.  If the sprinters and jumpers see the distance runners playing games at practice, they may assume the distance squad is less concerned with team goals and may be more of a distraction.

You want your team to have fun, no doubt, but at the same time you must maintain the legitimacy of your sport.  You want athletes joining your team because they want to compete and learn how to work towards a group goal, not because they can have social hour during practice.  If other sports see that while they are practicing, your team is playing games, they won't view your sport on the same level as theirs.

You need to figure out what you can do to create a fun atmosphere during the season that won't be a distraction from training such as evening socials or workouts that involve an incentive.  It all depends on the culture and atmosphere from the team.  You want your kids to be happy, but you shouldn't have to sacrifice training and the health of your athletes for that purpose.