To teach a new skill or technique effectively coaches must ensure they is a clear link between practices, this will make the skill easier to learn increase the athletes understanding and ensure that athletes are progressing at an appropriate rate to their level. These are called Progressive Practices.
Progressive practices should be designed from:
• Simple to complex
• Slow to fast
• Predictable to unpredictable
When learning a new skill, it is advised to go through these practices from low to high pressure. This will support the development of these skills and ensure that athletes have the optimum opportunity to be successful at each level, increasing their motivation and showing them the positive rewards and gains from their training.
Depending on where your athletes are in the skill development, will determine which part of the progressive practice scale you may start your session plan on. For example if this is the first week of a new skill you would start with ‘Static shadow’, however if you were on session 8 of a 10 session plan and your athletes had built good technique and understanding of the skill, then you may start the session with ‘Shadow and Hit’
Here are some examples of the progressive practices: (refer videos in the PPT)
Static shadow
Static hit
Full shadow
Full movement and hit
Shadow and hit
2-shot combination
1-shuttle predictable exercise
Multi-shuttle unpredictable
1-shuttle unpredictable
Conditioned games
Session planning is essential in ensuring sessions are safe and enjoyable and that the development of the player or group of athletes is at the heart of the session. Sessions should be planned around your goals for the group or individual and should show progression from session to session. Sessions should always have a central focus but should always be fun and have plenty of fun games and activities to keep athletes engaged. It is important to consider the needs of the group or individual and any additional needs they may require. These can differ depending on the athletes’ disability, e.g. there may be athletes with sensory needs who need a quieter or darker space, some athletes may require more rest, some may need 1to1 support.
In order to plan effectively it is essential that the following is considered –
Venue
Time
Duration
Space (number of courts)
Group or Individual session
Any additional requirements, such as equipment or staffing
Number of athletes
Number of coaches or assistants
Level of the athletes and any additional needs
Session Goal
Special Olympics E-Learning resources are free and available to register and enroll for. We would recommend completing the ‘Planning a Training Session’ in the coaches page that will further inform you of ways to plan you session around catering for participants with Intellectual Disability
Coaches - Sports & Games
When planning a session, you must also include the following
Warm up, including dynamic movements and stretching
Main content – a mixture of progressive practices working on the goals set for the sessions, this can include physical, technical and tactical development.
Cool down, including dynamic movement and static stretching
Below is one type of session plan. You should aim for a level of detail that if another coach picked up your plan they could run the session based on your plan. The goals you set for each session should help the player work towards the goals set for the training period.
Following a session, you should always take time to reflect on your delivery and session, making note of any challenges, changes and successes. This review will support the development of the next plan, ensuring that steps are not being missed, or are being revised in the skills development process.
Following the above model will support the planning, delivery, review and evaluation of sessions. Making the planning of the next session or a block of session
