Time Management

After dealing with finals, moving, dealing with end of the school year banquets and working on summer programs, I am being reminded with how important time management is.  Time management is a crucial element for a coach who needs to get a lot of work done in a limited amount of time, or a coach who works with several athletes for various events or even athletes of different ability levels for the same event.  Planning ahead of time and using your time wisely is a common characteristic of successful programs.

One thing that you can do, and I highly recommend this approach because it is something that I personally do and find it highly effective, is to write out a daily plan of action or a list of things to get accomplished.  It helps remind you of things you need to put into a workout that you may forget about when you show up to practice and start working with the athletes.  Don't be afraid to get detailed because you want to know that you covered all your bases.  The more in depth you get, the more comfortable you will feel that you accomplished all your daily goals.

Another approach to time management is giving your team a routine to follow that does not vary day to day.  This will get your team accustomed to showing up to practice and getting the work done in an timely and orderly fashion.  A team that doesn't have a routine often finds itself with athletes who do not have a sense of urgency at practice.  And remember, practice is a dress rehearsal for a meet!