From Chaos to Kickoff: Mastering the First Week of Practice

 

Ahhh, the first week of practice—it's finally here! Whether you're part of a club team, a rec team, or a travel team, kids and parents alike have been counting down the days. Now, here they are, huddled around the field or gym, pretending to be casually engaged in adult conversation while secretly scanning for signs that their child is the next all-star. The pressure is on, my friends.

So, how do you make sure this week doesn’t devolve into a chaotic mess of forgotten water bottles, parent meltdowns, and kids who suddenly "don't feel like playing anymore"?

Step one: Hold a parent meeting. Trust me, this will save you a world of headaches later. I've handled this a few different ways. One option is to ask parents to meet me at the field or gym about 30 minutes before practice ends. Simple, quick, and straight to the point. But if you’re working with a younger team or a group of fresh-faced rookies, a "meet and greet" works wonders. This gets parents and kids together, sets expectations early, and eliminates any confusion about how things will run. Because let’s be honest—without clear expectations, parent behavior can spiral faster than a kid who just lost their post-game snack. If you and the coach are on the same page from the get-go, it’s much easier to keep things in check.

A great option for a meet and greet is a local park. Have everyone bring a snack or something small and make it a little picnic. I've even set up games for the kids to break the ice while the parents mingle. This is also the perfect opportunity to introduce the head coach and assistant coaches in a relaxed setting. Plus, in either type of meeting, the coach and I go over how we communicate and what parents can expect for the season—because trust me, nothing causes more drama than a team-wide case of "I didn't get the memo."

At this meeting, we talk about the basics: being on time, coming prepared, volunteering, and—most importantly—being involved in a way that actually helps the team instead of, you know, causing drama.

And finally, after a week of grueling practices and information overload, I like to wrap things up with a little treat. For hot August football, I bring popsicles (which, by the way, has now become a full-on organization-wide tradition). Because nothing soothes tired muscles and sweaty little faces like an ice-cold reward for surviving the first week.

So, there you have it—parent meeting, clear expectations, and a well-earned sugar rush. With those in place, your first week of practice will run smoother than a perfectly executed play. Well... hopefully. Good luck out there!