PLAYER ENGAGEMENT
10 Ways
to Use Video Conferences Going Forward
Even if teams are playing games and having in-person practices this fall, coaches will be encouraged to limit the exposure of players to the virus by shortening practices and taking advantage of more remote learning opportunities. Video conferencing platforms will continue to serve coaches as they teach and motivate players. BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
Tips to Leading a Video Conference HEADEN OFFERS
these tips to leading a successful Zoom meeting.
1 “Keep everything
KEEP IT SHORT.
short and to the point. Don’t get off track. Keep each segment 15 minutes in length.”
2 “We have to
SHOW CLIPS.
■■Susquehanna Township (Pa.) coach Joe Headen
Susquehanna Township (Pa.) coach Joe Headen laughs as he looks at the photo that best captures his coaching experience this spring. In the photo, he’s on a Zoom with his players as he’s chopping onions while preparing dinner. “My wife took it without me knowing, but I can’t wait to look back on that in 20 years as the season coaching changed forever.” Headen plans to continue to use video conferencing moving forward, as it’s provided him and his assistants an opportunity to remain engaged with players during the pandemic. “Moving forward, I think it will be a major piece,” Headen said. “I had never really used Zoom before this. I think every level of football, from youth up to the pros, will use it going forward.”
Here’s how Headen plans to use video conferencing.
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Coaching clinics. “When this all started in
March, everyone was on Glazier Live Clinics. I did as many as I could in the first few weeks.” Virtual workouts. “My son plays at Old Dominion, and I saw the way they’d do workouts on Zoom. I watched and started leading Zoom workouts with my staff.” Installs. “That took on an entity to itself. We did installs, position meetings, live walkthroughs. That was from the very beginning.” Game-planning. “The coaches can put a plan in place over Zoom. That may end up being a daily routine. I think it challenged us to become better coaches. We had to prepare for the calls and learn how to use new technology.” Position meetings. One thing we’ve done this week is start having special teams meetings over Zoom. We go over how we’re going to practice before coming into school.”
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teach coaches to share screens and show clips. If they’re traditionally teaching in the building, they have to learn to do it on Zoom.”
3 “When coaches
BE PREPARED.
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Organizational meetings. “We’ll go over how
practice will look each day. Then we apply it in practice. Rather than bringing them into the building to meet as a group, we’ll do it over Zoom.” Locker room pep talks. “The lack of locker room use will change the way we address the team. We’ll have to be creative. We can do that when they’re home and keep it as normal as possible.” Watching film. “Kids love clips. We have to teach in ways that cater to their learning style. Coaches need to learn to be more proficient on HUDL.” Teaching life skills. “It’s teaching kids to be present. We have coaches make sure they’re looking into the camera so we can see that they’re paying attention.” Public speaking. “Coaches are learning to be short and to the point. Kids are learning how to speak in groups while keeping everyone’s attention.”
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are prepared, it goes smooth. You have to know which clips you’re going to show, which topics you want to discuss. Make sure you know how to work the Zoom functions.”
4
REQUIRE PLAYERS TO SHOW THEIR FACES.
“We want the camera on so we can see you. No screen savers. No backgrounds that block your face. We want you looking at the camera.”
5“We have one
MONITOR THE PLAYERS.
coach presenting to the camera and one monitoring the players. One coach is teaching a lesson and one is watching to make sure everyone is listening.”
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