Warming up - practices and games

Taking time to evaluate your program is essential. The obvious time for most coaches to do so is in the off-season. The spring and summer months are great for attending clinics (such as Can-Am), going to camps (like COBA), as well as for reflection. However, in-season evaluation should be an ongoing process. Ask yourself if you are happy with each and every aspect of your team. What can be improved? It is never too late to mix in some changes.

One example is your team's warm up routine. Are you happy with it? Are they getting ready to perform at their expected level and demonstrating great energy, or are they simply going through their usual routine? Why not freshen it up? When Coach Dave Arseneault of Grinnell College shared with attending coaches at a recent Can-Am coaching clinic, he outlined his warm up expectations. Every practice, his team must impress him with a warm up routine when they sprint in to the gym - it needs to be fresh, loud, creative, and show plenty of energy. If it does not have the right spirit then his team must head back out the door and try again - obviously, they begin every practice awake and ready to get to work.

How about games? Is your team ready to play? Are they properly warmed up and energized? With thanks to Alan Stein of StrongerTeam.com, if you watch the clips that follow, you may see a few moves that you want your team to coordinate into it's warm ups (games and practices). Alan is an excellent teacher, shares willingly, and has posted great clips of both Maryland and Duke warming up for games. Enjoy:

Duke - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOwSUEvm1Bk&feature=related

Maryland -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UosNG9aVMXk&feature=youtu.be&a