How much time is given?

School lets out at 2:40. Practice starts at 3:00.

I think a lot depends on the layout of the school. The pic in this link are our school and one of our league opponent’s. As you can see, just the walk from the gym to the field is a good chunk, so it takes at least 5 minutes for that walk, if not more. Throw in getting from the last class to the locker room and getting dressed too, 20 minutes might be crunching things a bit, but it should be doable. Our V players are excused from the last period, so that makes it better.

http://www.infosports.com/scor...r/images/schools.pdf

Honestly I'm going to answer this as an Athletic Director. How much time do YOU as the coach needs? The first ones on the field need to be the coaches so they can supervise the players. So if you need time to check email, check the school mailbox or some of the other things you have to do as a teacher then factor that into that time.

Yes the walk from last class to the place they change to where the field is are huge factors but give yourself enough time to get changed and get there.

2709...Interesting answer. A coach is always the first to the field because we have an enclosed field that needs to be unlocked. I always spend time debating on how long it takes kids to get to the field, get dressed, and set up so I figured I pose the question.

Well I made my first public appearance as athletic director tonight in a parent meeting for all our fall sports and then went on to make a parent mad because I supported the choice we made in hiring a coach for one of our teams instead of his son. So I try to look at everything from all points of view (although I try there are still times I miss certain angles) and make sure that everyone is protected.

That's awesome a coach has to unlock the gate to open the field. We are trying to move towards that but right now I believe everyone has keys to our facilities from the previous leadership.

I would also say give them as little time as possible to get changed and on the field. The more time they have the more time they have to go to places on campus (or even off campus) and get into trouble.

I'm trying to remember, but I think we had close to 20-25 minutes between the time school got out and the time practice started. Our coach taught at the junior high and they got out after the high school school kids. For a little while he tried getting one of the assistants up there so we could start sooner and get the warm up and playing catch out of the way before he got there, but that didn't really work out..

Now for football, we had ten minutes. I want to say that class got out at 2:50 and the team left the locker room at 3PM to head out to practice. And we all left the locker room at one time and it was a dead-on sprint to the practice field which was 1/4 mile away through traffic, etc.

2709...In our profession we will always anger someone, especially when family is involved.

Bulldog...We try discourage our players from running through traffic. LOL

quote:

Bulldog...We try discourage our players from running through traffic. LOL

LOL.. sometimes our head coach would lead us out..

It was funny because we would shut down traffic right at the super-busy time of the day. We've moved into a new school now so they don't get to do that anymore..

2709 - I agree, the coach should always be there well before the players. With reference to my previous post, Class lets out at 2:40 and practice starts at 3:00. The baseball coaches are at the field around 2:30 to get the fields unlocked and the equipment room opened up. Our players have a bit of a routine that seems to work for them. They go straight to the equipment/locker room and get changed, leave their books, etc and head to the ball field. Each player has an assigned duty (take third base with you; grab the balls, rake, etc.). This helps speed up the process. They usually get to the field with about 5 minutes to spare and usually have a few minutes to socialize while they are getting ready for practice. Warm ups start at 3:00, and we are going full speed by 3:15. No walking on the field also helps get things started on time.

The players learn time management and responsibility of having an assigned job that affects the entire team if they forget a piece of equipment. They learn hustle and respect for their field, equipment and teammates that they are depending on. So far this has worked well for all involved and they even have their own "backups" in case they can’t make it to practice or a game. Somehow the players, equipment, bases and water all make it to the field by 3:00 and they have a good time doing it.

The walk from the equipment room to the field is about 3 minutes... if they walk. Their last class to the equipment room can vary.

I dress out in practice pants, coaching shoes, etc. My players should be there when I get there. I figure it should take them about the same amount of time. I ask anyone that gets there ahead of me to go ahead and start removing tarps etc. We promptly begin practice 30 minutes after school gets out. That allows me and my assistant to dress, discuss practice, and get to the field to get it ready for the day.

20 Minutes after school is out. That seemed to always work. I'm starting practice then. It is not a good idea to be late. Heck, I coach girl's golf at a course that is 13 miles away from our school. I start practice 30 minutes after school is out. It is up to the players to plan in advance. Per the coaches, I emailed a practice plan to them in the morning and then tried to talk to them about it sometime during the day.