Typically, we practice in preparation for our next game. We then evaluate how we did in that game to develop our next practice. This was the typical routine, as games were the reward for practice and games were the prize. But these are not typical times, and practice is now the prize.

It is very important as coaches, parents, and players that we adjust our mindset and understand the NEW important of practice. We are fortunate to be able to skate on the ice in a practice format so we need to make sure we fully construct the importance of practice.

Yes, we want practice to resemble what practices are typically like to give ourselves a sense of normality in this unusual time, but at the same time we have a great opportunity to reconstruct practice to meet any new goals that we may develop this early part of the season. Since games are not the current goal, we need to look at practice as a time to really focus on development. You now have more time to practice and you are able to work on those elements of the game that you may not have had time before.

But after working on skill and development there are some many more elements of the game that we miss by not competing in games. So now we need to incorporate those elements into our practices as well to keep us sharp and eager to develop. One such component is the element of pure competition. Many of us play because we enjoy competing and games naturally allow us to do that. So how do you practice and develop competition? How do we work on this in a practice setting?

This was a key aspect to our boys and girls high school soccer program the last few year. We wanted to make sure that we were developing competition as well as skill development. To foster this, we made sure that there were one to two activities during every practice were players would compete and we would keep score. For instance, you may have a 2 verse 2 battle drill that ended with a shot on net. We would divide the players into two teams for that activity and we would keep score. The team that scored the most goals (or prevented the most goals, depending on the focus of the drill) would win and earn a point for that activity. At the end of the week the player with the most points would be the player of the week. Every Friday, we would meet as a program and honor the new player of the week and this became a highlight for the season, even more so than games!

This process of building competition as a focus during practice gave our training great focus and direction. The focus was on more than just the game. So now that we are in an unprecedented time were games are not an option, we need to redirect our focus and develop new goals for our training. What those goals are can be developed amongst each team. Get the players involved on want they want the goals to be. Make a goal for each month of training. There are so much opportunity in this unique time, so take advantage of the setting and design practice with a NEW purpose. Below is a process for setting goals as a team. Through this process of setting goals as a team you achieve several important aspects including:

It is very easy to get stuck in a routine of doing and you lose sight of your purpose and goal. There is no need to reinvent the wheel, just make sure the wheel is traveling in the right direction. Remember, "A goal without a plan is just a wish."